tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391209018021799205.post2944121537174779745..comments2023-11-25T20:47:51.262-05:00Comments on Oar Cruising: Bolger's CartopperTom Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11013279285537701544noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391209018021799205.post-75291692777023348882017-07-09T17:41:59.948-04:002017-07-09T17:41:59.948-04:00HI Andrew... good to hear from you again.
One ton...HI Andrew... good to hear from you again.<br /><br />One ton displacement seems high to me, unless she's (really) heavily built... She certainly is a sweet looking little cruiser!<br /><br />I can definitely relate to your 'fly in the ointment' issue... I'm feeling the same way... Scares the heck out of me... How are you coping with it?<br /><br />BR... TomTom Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11013279285537701544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391209018021799205.post-14484866907032881652017-07-09T07:42:50.630-04:002017-07-09T07:42:50.630-04:00Hi Tom, Have just revisited this item: Bolger'...Hi Tom, Have just revisited this item: Bolger's cartopper as an oar cruiser as I like visiting your blog whilst I try to find the best way forward towards 'oar cruising perfection'.Of course increasing maturity is a 'fly in the ointment' to which consideration has to be given both to the boat's design and to the considerable effort involved in building the craft ones self.Many of the innovations and ideas to be found on your blog are extremely interesting and helpful not only to building from scratch but also to improving a second hand purchase to suit ones personal circumstances .<br />By the way the small cruiser 'Pearl' shown in the my id signature is a Newbridge Topaz 17 ' bilge keel cruiser GRP and wood about one ton displacement. I restored it some time ago and had a lot of fun with her. Many people liked her pretty looks!Plimbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00005832957076775359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391209018021799205.post-1620377681948605052017-05-03T16:06:01.252-04:002017-05-03T16:06:01.252-04:00Hi Gerry... I looked over the Birder II... nice! I...Hi Gerry... I looked over the Birder II... nice! I think it fits your requirements (as long as the distance between the two bulkheads is greater than your height)<br />She looks about 15.5 feet long and with just one person, the chines are just touching so she'll move very well with a double paddle...<br />Thought of another one... Michalak's Toto, probably his most popular design... Jim, himself, has camped in it, sleeping aboard.<br />Another possibility is Dave Gentry's Chuckanut... take a look at his site... I built his Wee Lassie and building SOF is fun and the boats are VERY light...<br />TomTom Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11013279285537701544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391209018021799205.post-50533821563823067772017-05-03T11:37:02.773-04:002017-05-03T11:37:02.773-04:00Thanks Tom! This is terrific. From first reading...Thanks Tom! This is terrific. From first reading about the various boats, I really like the Oarmouse! I look forward to many hours of charts and drawings. Your own conversions are invaluable! I also came across Byrnes' Birder II. That includes a method I've never tried. Bonus! Thanks again. I shall keep in touch. Gerry GerryLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06899438040602127423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391209018021799205.post-47698638522210690362017-05-02T08:59:04.942-04:002017-05-02T08:59:04.942-04:00Hi Peter... Thanks! And no, I can't make the E...Hi Peter... Thanks! And no, I can't make the Eastern Messabout.<br /><br />TomTom Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11013279285537701544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391209018021799205.post-1383434341510765132017-05-02T08:57:25.633-04:002017-05-02T08:57:25.633-04:00Good morning, Gerry...If I understand you correctl...Good morning, Gerry...If I understand you correctly, you are looking for boat that you can sleep in, that can be paddled (no rowing) with a double paddle and I assume you can handle either on a trailer or car topping.<br />Given those requirements... here are some suggestions:<br /><b>Lars Boat<</b>, which you mentioned, would work... to make is lighter and easier to handle, use SOF (Skin On Frame) for the decking... she's 15'6" long and 30" wide and will hold a load of cruising materials and be easy to paddle with her narrow bottom and long waterline length.<br />Michael Storer's <b>Quick Canoe</b> is very similar in dimensions to Lars Boat... easy to build.<br /><b>IMRE</b> seems to me to be too small for overnight sleeping on board, but that 'smallness' makes her easier to handle and paddle...and she's designed to be double paddled (low sides too save the knuckle busting)<br /><b>Bolger's Minium Kayak</b> is another possibility, but too small, I think, for overnighting.<br />A more radical idea would be <b>OarMouse</b>... she's only 33" wide, V bottom to reduce wetted surface and keeping the chines out of the water... you'd have to sit on a low seat to paddle it... use SOF for decking... she'd be plenty big enough to sleep in and carry cruising stuff.<br />Another Michalak design that would work would be Marksbark, 18' by 3'... plenty of room for cruising, but heavier to handle and paddle.<br />Gerry... all of these (except IMRE) are buried in this blog in one form or another... hope this helps... Please keep us informed about your quest and/or write me at tomoarcruising@gmail.com<br /><br />TomTom Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11013279285537701544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391209018021799205.post-72286582721679502272017-05-01T15:43:07.855-04:002017-05-01T15:43:07.855-04:00Very nice work, going to the Eastern Atlantice mes...Very nice work, going to the Eastern Atlantice messabout?Peter Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03776469261502977463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391209018021799205.post-81575110637345631672017-05-01T12:14:35.135-04:002017-05-01T12:14:35.135-04:00I have been following your blog and find it very i...I have been following your blog and find it very inspiring. A year ago I sold my rowing dinghies due to advancing arthritis. Over winter, I built a couple of paddling boats. I use the rowing machine now and again for painful reminders about rowing. I would like a camp aboard paddling boat. The best idea I've seen on your blog is Michalak's Lar's boat. I am now using his Imre's Boat and think it is very good. Any other boats I should consider? Thanks, GerryGerryLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06899438040602127423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391209018021799205.post-90459796831335734182017-05-01T07:33:29.167-04:002017-05-01T07:33:29.167-04:00Good morning, Andrew... glad you found some ideas ...Good morning, Andrew... glad you found some ideas to inspire.<br />What sailboat is your "Pearl" (in your ID photo)? She looks like a very compact cruiser...<br />TomTom Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11013279285537701544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391209018021799205.post-48298292966279638182017-05-01T05:46:46.387-04:002017-05-01T05:46:46.387-04:00Yes food for thought indeed.Many innovations to in...Yes food for thought indeed.Many innovations to inspire and stimulate.Plimbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00005832957076775359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391209018021799205.post-49643823686803990862017-04-30T12:06:33.236-04:002017-04-30T12:06:33.236-04:00Hi Lou... Thank you... On a dreary Sunday morning,...Hi Lou... Thank you... On a dreary Sunday morning, I appreciate the words..l<br />'Glass' boat? Who cares... it gets you out rowing and enjoying the quiet, the solitude and the satisfaction of depending only on yourself, and not petrolium nor wind.<br />TomTom Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11013279285537701544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391209018021799205.post-33238259508257654662017-04-30T08:27:06.205-04:002017-04-30T08:27:06.205-04:00I must say that your ideas with respect to 'oa...I must say that your ideas with respect to 'oar cruising' are interesting, inspiring, and, like Bolger, often enough 'thinking with an open mind.' <br /><br />While I'll continue to row my beat-up 'glass boat (heretical in some on-line circles) I'll also continue to read what has become my favourite rowing related blog. LouPUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00578358365875241964noreply@blogger.com