Welcome! Need support, you got it. Or share you ideas and experiences.
I have "had it" with big stuff. I just found this forum so I would like to bounce some thoughts off of you all. I already own an Osage 15' square stern canoe, a 5hp Nissan, a 16' Lowe aluminum fishing boat. I want to be able to cartop my passagemaker. I tow a Jeep behind a converted bus. I want to do beach camping with whatever I end up with. My crew includes my wife and my 65# lab. I would like to turn the canoe into the passagemaker, and add outriggers, and maybe a sail rig. On the other hand, the Lowe, which weighs 186#, can carry more weight. I also would need to acquire an outboard for the Lowe. Or am I missing something. I would consider another vessel, but what? I need to keep the vessel under 200#, which is what a standard Jeep roof rack will carry. We are not going to the Bahamas or crossing any oceans. Beaching and fishing for 2-3 days. I am familiar with the Keys, and a small boat down there has many possiblities. I have even thought about buying another Osage canoe and creating a catamaran, with motor amidships, and maybe sailing rig, bimini, blah blah. Let the expertise flow!
![]()
Follow Ups:
Well Capt’n, after searching the SBF library a few small boats might be suggested. Your criteria that the boat be car topped onto the Jeep limits length but glad to see the 16’ Lowe would be considered - not a short boat or a terrible light for that matter - so that gives us some ‘latitude’… The above is “WIDEAWAKE” a modified dory from the board of William and John Akin. She is suitable for plywood/glass/epoxy saturated construction. LOA 13’4”, Beam 4’4”, Boat Weight under 100lbs, she can be rowed or powered with a 2 to 5 hp outboard. With her 1’ 11’ freeboard at the bow and a draft -- with gear and motor maybe 6”-- she would scoot along most any shore, and bring you home, with style and safety. Plans can be obtained from Atkin & Co see http://www.by-the-sea.com/atkin&co for plans address.www.pygmyboats.com has a nifty Wine Glass Wherry, LOA 14’ Beam 4’ Hull Depth 16” Boat Weight 90lbs. She can be sailed, used with a small outboard motor and has a reputation for speed under oar power. This vessel has actually made a number of long arduous passages with full camping gear. See the Bowron Lakes Expedition story on the Pygmy Boats site.
Another 15’ vessel that has ‘passage maker’ qualities is the Bay River Skiff found at www.bandbyachtdesign.com This vessel is probably about as heavy as the Lowe 16 but far more versatile. She has made the two-week 140 mile trip from La Paz Mexico north to Puerto Escondido carrying 30+ gallons of water, camping gear, food, a 3.5hp outboard w/gas and managed a 35mph gale! Click the link ‘Cruising Baja on a Bay River Skiff’ on the B&B site.
Yes, none of these boat proposed here are available from your local ‘boat store’ -- but they may be available in a near local classified ad somewhere and are well worth either building, having them built or building them yourself.
Oh, how about Campanoe.com for the idea of using 2 square stern Osage 15 canoes in tandem as an on the water cruiser camper?
![]()
Thanks, Thom. I appreciated your response and have printed it out. I have thought about buying another canoe and creating a catamaran. I am inclined to make do with what I have, however, but who know??
![]()
Hi,I don't know how popular they are over your side of the pond, but for an all-purpose car-toppable small boat that is both extremely capable and great fun to sail I would ernestly recommend the Mirror 10ft 10in pram dinghy. I have had mine for nearly 20 years and love it dearly. Since over 70K have been produced, you might find one! They really do make truth of the saying that "the smaller the boat the greater the pleasure".
![]()
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: