Steel Boatbuilding

[shenandoah]

How does your barge handle on open water???? I have been doing alot of internet reading and research on Dutch barges. I have been unable to find any American builders that offer a boat of this style. I am so pleased to have your reply due to my fondness of the Dutch barge. I would like to build or have the hull built and fit out myself a 55 to 60 foot by 13 or 14 foot beam barge to cruise the Great lakes, the Erie barge canal in New York and the Intracostal waterway.

hope to hear from you again

Frank aka Weekend Welder

Frank,

The Shenandoah was built to withstand 4 meter seas and Force 8 winds, so she is theoretically a coastal vessel too. I brought her out the Thames Estuary and across the English Channel, east up the coast of France to Nieupoort, Belgium, where I entered the inland waterways.

I would not do it again.

There is no longitudinal stability in a flat-bottomed boat with no keel. She is built that way because draft (or lack of draft) is very important. If a keel were designed into her hull, she would handle quite differently in a sea. As it is, on canals she has a tendency to "skid" around tight turns. I know about it and deal with it and it isn't a problem.

As for American boatbuilders, there probably are many who would tackle the job. All you would need would be the plans, the rest a good weldor / welder could accomplish.

[alanrockwood]

Old thread I realize, but I thought I would post some links to plans or kits for Dutch-style barges or somewhat similar designs:

http://www.euroship.hu/index.php?pag...hu&language=en
http://www.dutch-barges.net/
http://www.selway-fisher.com/Mcover30.htm

Also, although not listed on his website, in some email correspondence with Bruce Roberts he said that they could also supply plans or kits for a Dutch-style barge. He emailed me a little bit of material on a nice looking design titled "Johanna 1350". Here is his website.

http://www.bruceroberts.com/

Bruce Roberts says that his boat designs to conform to RCD B classification, which means that they are suitable for offshore conditions with waves up to 4 meters and Beaufort force up to 8. (http://www.hpi-uk.com/inspection/rcd...directive.html)

[Boatbuilder]

I built a 26' aluminum boat for fishing off the coast of Vancouver Island. Took me 2 years of evening and weekends to complete it. Was a lot of hard work but fun. Now I have a boat that will last my lifetime and most of my kids.
I tried to up load a pic but for some reason it would not upload.

[Scott Hightower]

Yes, welding the hull is very feasible. In boating, just like racing, weight is paramount so go aluminum if you can. You can even weld the aluminum with your MIG. Just use straight Argon as the shielding gas. It takes allot of practice though to lay down a pretty bead.

To keep the weight down even further use thinner gauge material and add some ribs. Another thing to consider is that most boats built today still float when you fill them up with water. To achieve this quality add a secondary layer of aluminum/wood/plastic on the inside of the hull filled with foam.

Happy boating!!!
Scott
Fab Manager
http://www.welders360.com/

[1930case]

Build one for fun, but there are much better ways to get a boat in this economy. Repos and desperation sales abound.

Here's the best forum I've found. I don't boat, but had some particular questions they answered. Great place, lots of info:

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-building/

[Daniel]

I built a 26' aluminum boat for fishing off the coast of Vancouver Island. Took me 2 years of evening and weekends to complete it. Was a lot of hard work but fun. Now I have a boat that will last my lifetime and most of my kids.
I tried to up load a pic but for some reason it would not upload.

Try again, I'de like to see it. I'm thinking of building myself one. Harborcraft style with the cuddy cabine with twin outboard.
I would have a few question to ask you.

[Daniel]

Build one for fun, but there are much better ways to get a boat in this economy. Repos and desperation sales abound.

Here's the best forum I've found. I don't boat, but had some particular questions they answered. Great place, lots of info:

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-building/

Thanks for the link.

[sailor]

When I was salmon fishing in the 70's, n.cal and orgeon, I was impressed by the fleet of orgeon dories. Simple design mostly built out of plywood and then fiberglassed or aluminum. I've seen them little buggers fishing some tuff weather of cape mendicino and cape blanco

[crabber]

When I was salmon fishing in the 70's, n.cal and orgeon, I was impressed by the fleet of orgeon dories. Simple design mostly built out of plywood and then fiberglassed or aluminum. I've seen them little buggers fishing some tuff weather of cape mendicino and cape blanco

The Mendocino Ridge is one hard a$$ bit of ocean. Window busting, wheelhouse breaking, jacka$$ seas...Lovely place!

~Ian

[walker]

Hey signwave, there are 2 Ns in Annals, you might want to edit your post as I hate to think of anything stored in the prior.