Saving Old Seagulls

A plug for the "Instant Boat" series of books by Harold "Dynamite" Payson. I have built a number of these boats- plywood, no lofting or jigs, go together like model airplanes. Many boats suitable for Gulls. My favorite- I have built 2 of them- is the Skimmer in "Build the New Instant Boats" by Harold Payson. 2 sheets of plywood, seaworthy even though flat bottom, can accept up to 15hp. Worth a look.

here's the link to the "Power Designs" http://www.mcssl.com/store/hhpaysoncomp ... ng-designs

Are you able to post any photos of your tubs Deacon?

Regards,
S

Unfortunately due to my stupidity and a wife uninterested in either boats or motors, I have no pics. However, here is a good place to start:

http://www.instantboats.com/

These are all flat bottom and easy to build.

I can vouch for this fleet, having built a number whose study plans are someplace in the books published by Payson:

Teal. 12 ft. double ender; sails and rows well. My first building attempt. Beautiful lines. 2 sheets 1/4 inch ply.

Elegant Punt. Built 3, sold first two. 8 feet. 2 sheets 1/4. Sail, power, row. Powered two with Silver Century. Overpowered.

Zephyr: 18 foot, narrow double end. lateen rig. Good in calm to moderate sea.

June Bug. 14 foot, narrow. 4 sheets 1/4 ply. Sails and rows well. Built 2

Skimmer. "Poor Man's Whaler." 8 by 4 foot. Two sheets 1/4 ply. Motor only. Built 2. Used with Johnson 6 hp and Silver Century. Payson says it can take up to 15 hp and has pic showing that.

Am going to try Silver Century again on Elegant Punt.

deacon bruce wrote:Unfortunately due to my stupidity and a wife uninterested in either boats or motors, I have no pics. However, here is a good place to start:

http://www.instantboats.com/

These are all flat bottom and easy to build.

I can vouch for this fleet, having built a number whose study plans are someplace in the books published by Payson:

Teal. 12 ft. double ender; sails and rows well. My first building attempt. Beautiful lines. 2 sheets 1/4 inch ply.

Elegant Punt. Built 3, sold first two. 8 feet. 2 sheets 1/4. Sail, power, row. Powered two with Silver Century. Overpowered.

Zephyr: 18 foot, narrow double end. lateen rig. Good in calm to moderate sea.

June Bug. 14 foot, narrow. 4 sheets 1/4 ply. Sails and rows well. Built 2

Skimmer. "Poor Man's Whaler." 8 by 4 foot. Two sheets 1/4 ply. Motor only. Built 2. Used with Johnson 6 hp and Silver Century. Payson says it can take up to 15 hp and has pic showing that.

Am going to try Silver Century again on Elegant Punt.

I too am a fan and builder of Bolger's Instant Boats. In chronological order and over an nine year period starting in 1980 I built Surf, a 15 1/2 ft version of Teal fitted for rowing and sailing and used extensively in Miami, FL and Mobile, AL. Then Scooner, a 23 1/2 ft gaff rigged sharpie schooner powered by a 2 hp Evinrude fitted into a clever stern well. Used extensively in Mobile and Key West, FL after transferring there. (USCG for 20 years). In quick succession over 1988-1989, the Skimmer, powered by a 9.8hp electric start Mercury and The Handy 10 1/2 ft Pointy Skiff powered by the trusty old 2 hp Evinrude and oars. Both of these saw good usage here in central Florida until I passed them on to new owners when returning to shipboard duty based out of South Carolina.

Skimmer and the 10 1/2 ft Pointy Skiff are both good candidates for Seagull power. Scooner would need a larger motor well to take a Seagull. It was specifically designed to use the very small 2 hp Evinrude/Johnson motors. And Surf had a decked over stern with no place for a motor.

Hhmmm.... I still have the title to the long gone Skimmer. If I only could find time to build another one just to try the Forty Plus on it. Oh well, it will be great on the sailboat (as soon as a decent stretch of weather without thunderstorms returns).