Chugger boat?

[matt167]

I'm thinking a bit into the future, but also more curious than anything. Browsing Youtube as usual and found somthing that I'd like to build. Originally ran across just shanty boats, but then ran across the Chugger, not the older commercially built 16', but rather the home built 1 from Lewis Boat Works free plans Chugger ... My intentions for use were my intentions of boat use well before I got my Custom craft and at that time had planned to build a 16' Glen-L Cabin Skiff as I wanted a comfortable boat to overnight in while traveling down rivers/ and canals. Obviously a 15' runabout would not make a good overnighter and the 65hp Merc would like a little too much gas.

My thought is ( once I get the Custom Craft done ) build a larger version of the Chugger. 16-18' long, bring up the cabin roof about 12" over the height the plans call for but put most of the extra length into the cockpit and put remote steering/ helm on the rear cabin wall. Also increase freeboard a little and beam to 96". Scarf the hull bottom and all topside joints rather than butt blocks, also add traditional stringers/ deck, fiberglass/ epoxy on all joints and below water line. Power it with a brand new Tohatsu or Merc 15-20hp which might not plane out but be enough for displacement speeds anyway... That would allow me to have a go-fast ski boat and a boat for relaxing or even fishing a lake on a nice day.. Is the Chugger a viable design?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Chugger boat?

If you spend a LOT of time looking, you can probably come up w/ a plywood home built 16-18' long by 96" beam boat that might suit your needs. Sounds like a great deal of boat for such a small hp motor:

Power it with a brand new Tohatsu or Merc 15-20hp which might not plane out but be enough for displacement speeds anyway...

A home built wooden boat is going to weight a good bit....

Probably need to look into trailering a boat that big, 8' is often the width limit, so the trailer tires would have to be UNDER the boat, so it's gonna ride high on the trailer..........

 

[matt167]

Re: Chugger boat?

I'd probably find a Starcraft Chieftan before I found a plywood boat that met what I needed. A Chief is a little big but it would still work for me..

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Chugger boat?

Lots of plans out there:
Hartley boat plans 'Flareline 18' power boat

An 18' I/O or OB, OB rating is for 40hp - 100hp

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Chugger boat?

This list ought to keep ya busy for a few days :watermelon: Scroll down to the list of free plans

Might be something close to what you're after in there......

 

[matt167]

Re: Chugger boat?

That Flareline 18 looks like what I would want, but I know that boat is a traditionally built boat built over sawn frames and a building form, so the cost goes up immensely.. The Glen-L Caricoa is the same size but is basicly a topside copy of a Starcraft Chieftan but also of that same building technique. The Cabin Skiff/ CS-20 would fit my needs perfectly being a flat dory hull'd cabin cruiser and a comparable C-Dory is much more than the build cost, but I would still be in it $5-6k+ power

I just thought the Chugger would go togther quick, do what I wanted as mostly a canal/ flatwater boat and be able to afford a brand new motor.