WAVE DANCER
WAVE DANCER is designed for two people and fishing gear, up to a total weight of 600 pounds. You could stretch the length several feet without major changes. The design waterline shown on the plans is for a weight of 274 pounds. At full load, the boat will settle another 3 inches. The bottom has a moderate amount of rocker, and will turn easily when lightly loaded. She is a good fishing boat, and will handle moderate white water and surf, assuming a skilled operator. An outboard, up to 5 hp, can be mounted off the transom or within a well. Some builders have glassed in a sole 2" above the design waterline, which makes the boat self draining (but 50# heavier).
Rendered View, Wave Dancer
Lines Drawing, Wave Dancer
3/8" plywood is used for the bottom and transom. 3/8" x 1" wood strips are used for the sides. Both the inside and outside of the hull are then covered with 2 layers of 8 oz. fiberglass, with generous overlaps at all seams. The reason for using wood strips on the sides is strictly for appearance. When varnished, the strips will shine like a fine piece of furniture, resulting in a really unique boat. Some true believers even claim that fish prefer the bright finish! My experience with wood strip construction is all positive, and well worth the extra mess of working with white glue and staples. They are easy to build, and only require a coat of varnish every 4 or 5 years.
Traditional plywood sides can also be used. Two pieces will have to be scarfed together and cut with a pattern developed by taking measurements off a thin batten bent over the frames. The panels can be epoxed together using wires to hold the joints together, and white glue to hold the panels to the building frame. The fiberglass schedule is the same. A list of books on wood strip / epoxy construction is included in the instructions. If your not familiar with these techniques, I recommend buying one for reference.