PDRacer Sailboat

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Other Interesting & Novelty Boats

Plank Rat
As simple as it can get, and the fastest construction method of all the boat building techniques I have ever seen. Basically 2 planks of 1x12 material make the sides, a curve is cut in the bottom to make your rocker, then simply nail a piece of plywood on the bottom. Can make basic hull like this in about 2.5 hours. The construction method is a very simple one and could be used for making a PDRacer very quickly. Plank Rat Info Page

Ke-Pau
Not sure if Glen-L spotted my plank rat, but a couple of months after I published the plans for the plank rat, they came out with this neat paddle wheel boat. I really like the paddle mechanism, it uses a couple of standard bearing assemblies bolted on the sides. Would be neat to make a paddle assembly that could bolt across the gunnel of a pdracer. For more info on the Ke-Pau, see the Glen-L.com website or see their building photos page.

Corky 1
Many of us have spent numerous hours floating down rivers in truck tire innertubes. This is taking the concept a little bit further, putting a sail on one. The plans for this were drawn up and published back in the 1950's, see the plans page. Jason Nabors who built #33 has built a corky and added a daggerboard to his to improve it's windward performance.

Skin On Frame Kayak
They originally were made by creating a frame from reeds & sticks and then using the skins of various animals to cover the frame, creating a floating hull. Innuit hunted seals this way, beaver trappers made bowl shaped oracles to float down stream, and many other examples can be found through out history. This is cheap and modern aproach, a frame can be made rather quickly with canvas stretched around the outside. The canvas is then painted to make it waterproof. If you have a staple & brad gun, this construction method is extremely fast and an entire boat can be made in a single weekend.
Duckworks Article Leo Monsen's website

Polytarp Kayak
To show how simple the skin on frame concept can be, see this kayak which was made by creating a frame of reeds tied toether with nylon zip ties, and polytarp is stretched over top and held with clips. See the Shelter Systems website.

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