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Length: 17 ft (Hull 16 ft,
Motor mount 1 ft.)
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Beam Max: 7ft 5”
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Beam at waterline: 7 ft
3”
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Height: 5 feet (hull bottom
to roof top)
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Draft: 10.3” leeboard
up, 4’ leeboard down
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Cabin dimensions: 12 ft X
7 ft, 4 ft 6 in. Deck to ceiling head room
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Cabin slot width : 24”
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Ballast: Up to 750lbs (fresh
drinking water-90 gallons)
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Displacement: 2750 lbs.
(Maximum)(1650lbs with gear and supplies but no people or
water)
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Boat weight: 950 lbs.
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Sail: Polytarp, Sprit or
Lug rigged, 110 sq. ft.
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Leeboard area: 4.8 sq. ft.
(submerged)
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Rudder area: 3 sq. ft. (submerged)
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Mast Height: 12 ft. (above
roof of cabin)
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Motor capacity: Up to 40hp
but 7-15hp recommended
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Fuel capacity: (2) 6-10 gallon
portable remote tanks, strapped on back of cabin for ventilation.
Boat:
Jonbird is a flat-bottomed, slab
sided camping boat designed for cruising on rivers, lakes and
impoundments. It can accommodate 2 persons for a significant
length of time. It may be powered by drift, sail, pole, or motor
or any combination of the four. It is constructed of lumberyard
wood to help keep the costs down. It uses Instant type construction
with a chine log and with the chines, bottom and first foot
of the hull glassed for abrasion resistance. Space between the
floor and the inner hull bottom in the middle of the boat is
sealed and used as a fresh water tank, with the water doubling
as ballast. Accommodations include an enclosed head, a small
galley opposite the head, a 2-person settee with a 2-seat couch
opposite. By combining the couch and settee you get a queen
sized bed across the width of the boat. The birdwatcher type
cabin allows enjoyment of the open air, sun and stars as well
as standing movement for the length of the cabin. For foul weather,
the slot can be covered with a hard or soft-top. Shown flat,
the roof can also be made sloped for improved headroom and better
drainage. Cooking is done on a propane/multi-fuel camping stove
and BBQ (if brought), personal ablutions with a porta-potti
and hand pump sink in the head. The head could conceivably be
sealed and used as a shower stall, ala some travel trailers,
then pumped out. A portable tank placed on the roof to heat
up in the sun would provide warm water. A hand pump sink is
also provided in the galley area for dishes and cooking water.
Electric power for the boat comes from 12-volt deep cycle batteries
recharged by solar cells, and a supply of disposable batteries
for flashlights, radio, TV, etc. Propane or multi-fuel lanterns
can also be used. A small generator is not budgeted for but
if you already have one, or can borrow one, it would be a nice
addition. It would eat into fuel supplies so it would have to
be used prudently though.
With a maximum overall displacement
of 2750 lbs. the boat will draw 10.3 inches of water with the
leeboard up (7.3” of hull +3” of skid depth). With
a boat weight of 950 lbs., and assuming 350 lbs. of people,
this allows up to 700 lbs. of supplies and gear and 750 lbs.
of fresh water doubling as ballast. With its high sides and
bird watcher cabin, the boat is almost impossible to swamp,
even if turned on its side… and with water in the tank,
the tendency to be pulled back to an even keel would be even
greater. In event of a holing in the main cabin, above the water
tank, foam sealed in plastic and stashed in various nooks and
crannies will provide flotation to help keep the boat afloat
until rescue arrives. All storage spaces are also watertight
compartments, providing further flotation and compartmentalization
in the event of a holing in one of the storage spaces.
In sail mode, Jonbird is
powered with about 110-sq. ft. of sail. Draft with leeboard
down will run about 4ft. A sprit or lug rig is indicated for
ease of use, balance and shortness of mast and spars. The mast
folds down onto the roof, via a tabernacle, and is secured there
along with the spar(s). Leeboard and rudder are removable, for
use with the motor. Motor capacity is up to 40 hp but 7 to 15
hp would be more practical for this trip. Weatherproof items
can be stored on the roof or lashed to the sides of the cabin
for storage. Three heavy-duty skids will allow the boat to be
pulled up onto a regular flatbed tow truck for portaging around
obstacles. Rollers are built into the skids to assist in this
effort. A lift or two from sympathetic boat trailer owners would
help reduce the Portaging costs. Calculating an average of 50
miles/day and adding in some portaging time, site seeing time
and bad weather time the trip should take about 60 days or so,
barring any major catastrophes. Although equipped with navigation
lights, most, if not all, travel would be done during daylight
hours, with the evening and night hours spent anchored, beached
or tied up at a friendly dock.
Budget:
Building and Trip supplies:
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1/2” plywood: 8 sheets:
used for bottom, floor, bulkheads, buttblocks ($20/sheet =
$160)
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3/8” plywood : 8 sheets:
used for sides, roof, bulkheads, furniture, buttblocks ($16/sheet=
$128)
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1/4” plywood: 2 sheets:
used for cabinets, drawers etc ($10/sheet=$20)
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3/4” plywood: 2 sheets:
used for front and rear transoms, rudder and leeboard , deck.(
$30/sheet= $60)
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2X stock for mast, spars,
push pole ($35)
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1X2” furring strips:
30x8’ strips: various framing (.99/ea= $30)
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1x3” furring strips:
25x8’ strips: keel skids.(1.59/ea=$40)
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Plexiglas: for windows:
1/4” x 4’x4’x2. ($90)
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Paint: Primer and topcoat
($70)
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Glue, Epoxy and fiberglass
cloth: ($175)
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Foam for flotation ($50)
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Carpet remnants (for outside
deck and cabin deck) ($100)
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Fasteners, sandpaper, application
tools, misc.: ($50)
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Metal for skid bottoms (Stainless
or Aluminum) ($50)
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Wheels for skids ($50)
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Pump faucets (2) for sinks
($50)
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Sinks, Stainless (2) ($100)
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Stove, Air mattress, camping
gear, Porta-Potti, cushions from home (for couch), lanterns,
etc ($0)
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Deep cycle batteries (2)
($100)
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Solar Battery Chargers (2)
(5 watt/ea.) ($160)
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Light fixtures (12 volt)
(4/$25 ea.) ($100)
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Used 10hp motor and tank
($350)
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Anchors (2) ($30)
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Navigation lights ($50)
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Bilge pump ($50)
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Polytarp for sails (2)($75)
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Fuel allotment ($600) ($1.90/gal
@7.5 mpg for up to 2300 miles)(Average of prices + oil)
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Portaging costs (Flat bed
tow truck) ($540)(Maximum, depending on persuasive powers)
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Food: $250/person/month
X 2months =$1000 (Max. may be less)
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Propane/kerosene/batteries/toothpaste/TP/chemicals
for toilet/paper towels/laundry/misc. ($250)
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Entertainment/Emergency
fund ($400)(Variable)
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Shipping charges ($36)(for
catalog/internet orders)
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Total: $4999.00 (All numbers
were researched at the local lumberyard or through catalogs,
the Internet or from personal experience).
Explanation:
All plywood with the exception
of the ¼” is of BC grade pine or fir, the ¼”
is Luaun. 1x and 2x stock is pine or fir mixed. Paint is standard
porch paint or exterior house paint, primer is the usual stuff
available. RV parts (lights, faucets and battery chargers) were
quoted from JC Whitney. Motor is what I paid for a 10 yr. old
motor with 100 hrs use (9.9 Johnson) + 5 gallon tank and 2 clamp
on seats. Polytarp assumes making the sails yourself. Any freebies
from friends or relatives would contribute to the cause. 12
V. Batteries include 1 new, 1 used/ re-conditioned. Foods, non-food
consumables, fuel and entertainment/emergency form a pool of
funds that is not fixed and can be allocated as needed. Finding
an old, used travel trailer or fold down trailer and stripping
it of useable parts may be cheaper than purchasing or making
some of the interior stuff (table, cushions, sink, faucet(s),
stove, lights, curtains etc). I once bought an old 13-ft Winnebego
for $200 that would replace about $400 of purchases. Careful
scavenging can also save some money on building supplies ie:
plywood, lumber, cabinets, countertop, etc, from someone remodeling.
Being able to borrow a motor would save a lot too. Propane tank
(if needed) is from BBQ, or even the whole BBQ is brought from
home, or 1lb disposable cylinders are used. Any savings in one
spot would cover overages in another.
Bio:
Steven Lewis: Age: 42.
I have been designing and building boats for over 6 years. To date I have built 12 boats and designed over 120. Of the 120, 30 to 40 have made it past my “2 month rule”. I reexamine the design after it sits for 2 months. If I still like it, I might develop it.
Of my designs, others have built 6: Chugger, LilJon8, LilJon10 (compromise) CubCanu, Dinghbat and a PodYak (currently under construction), for a total of 10 boats. I currently live in Sioux City, IA and I am retired from the US Army.
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