Rowboat Construction Update #1

As previously stated the idea of building a small rowboat sounds appealing.  The ability of a flat bottomed boat to chase Redfish up the creeks without getting stuck on the bottom tops the list.  A light 12 foot boat would push a lot easier than the 19 foot Deep Vee I was on that did get stuck, would fit in the garage with room to spare, and with a small motor cost much less to operate and maintain.  On line I found an ad for an Old Towne flat bottom row/powerboat from the early 1900's that looked a lot like what my dad built.  You can motor close then break out the oars and sneak up on hungry fish.   No plans available for that one but I did find plans for similar vintage boats that gave me a period construction method.  I started by selecting the best lumber I could find at Home Depot (Lumber Yard Yacht) and  by finding an 1890's wooden Ohio Tool Co. #116  1" Skewed Rabbet Plane.  Just what I needed to make a lapstrake hull.  I then built a table, or jig, or strongback to use as a form to hopefully bend the hull planks on.  Can't have a lopsided or crooked boat. I then learned how to set up the vintage plane and proceeded to make shavings.  Lots of shavings.  No power tools here.  The hardest thing so far has been talking Barbara out of her half of the garage. 

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