I recently built myself a rowing boat. Alice Ward is 4.2m overall, with a maximum beam at the gunnels of 1.030m.This is written with the objective of giving those sitting in I would like to build my own boat, but Iπm not sure if I can land, a push into the land of I'm glad I built her myself.
Lloyd

Building logic

Loading it on the car

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LOADING ALICE
Lloyd Houghton built his boat with a roof rack in mind.
Here are a few pictures to show you a way of loading and unloading a small boat onto the roof of a car single-handed. Alice is 4.2m long and 1.1m beam at the gunnels. This boat has been designed so that the gunnels fit within the gutter edge. A roof rack is not necessary. An ordinary bike rack, without any modifications, is the key.
Roof storage
Alice waits in the roof of the garage. The rear rack is angle bracketed on the wall. A hook and rope hold up the outer end. A prop is placed under the end during unloading. The forward end is lifted up on a pulley.
Front view on roof
All loaded and ready to go. A very tidy view from the front.
Side view tied down.
The front rowlock blocks have a piece of closed cell foam under them. A 4mm nylon rope goes over the boat and through the open car doors. Foam blocks are placed under the rope where it crosses the plank edges. This rope is pulled up tight and the doors shut. The painter goes through the two towing eyes under the front bumper. The locking bolt is tightened up on the bike rack. Finally the aft end of the boat is tied to the bottom of the bike rack. The transom doesn't touch the bike rack.
Carrying her round
The handle on the locking screw has to be positioned and loosened just enough so that the rack can turn on the towball. Then pick up the stem and carry it around in an arc to the front of the car.
Transom loaded
The trolley is used to enable precise manoeuvring to get the transom onto the hooks of the bike rack. The aft end is tied to the rack, just in case the wind should decide to play up during loading.
Off we go
Show me the water. The trolley was lying under the house waiting to be recycled. It has had more use in its' second life than its' first.
Foam in place
Two u-shaped closed cell foam pieces are clipped over the gunnels. They grip tight enough not to fall off when the boat is upside down The foam supports the boat at the gutter edge and protects both the boat and car from damage.