Backyard Birding and Building a Small Boat
T'ain't no doubt that you live somewhere close to some form of water. Even if the water is some distance off, it's still out there along with the birds. Let's see if we can't get a little closer to those birds and take a gander via a home-made hull...
The two boat designs that follow are good weekend-birding platforms. These are not meant for rough or open water, but rather for still ponds, and protected waters. And given their proper element, both are exceptional. (Yeah... I've built and used both - wonderful small craft.)
The first is the Bolger (and Dynamite Payson) "Teal". At 12' long, she consists of only two sheets of 3/8" marine plywood and some standard lumber-yard stock. They don't call this one an "Instant Boat" for nothing.
The Teal weighs around 100 pounds, making it "car-toppable" for two, (though we prefer simply tossing it in the back of a small pickup). As for rowing, the Teal is an absolute dream under oar. The build time (depending on woodworking experience) is somewhere around 50 hrs. And the total cost to construct will probably nudge the $500 mark, though it can be built for less. Perhaps best of all, the Teal has a nice flat bottom that holds a small tripod perfectly.
The second boat is the CLC "Mill Creek 13", and it certainly is not an "Instant Boat". A 50 pound, single-seat kayak, the MC13 is a remarkable and beautiful boat.
One final note... Both "Instant Boats" and CLC have fantastic forums... Help is always just a post away.
While birding from a hand-crafted boat ain't the usual, it still presents a fun and reasonable challenge, and who knows what you'll find...
See you on the water maybe, and wear your PFD!
CapeCodAlan
P.S. Don't forget that we've got an open contest for the best "New York City" style pizza recipe!
