The Mucky Duck
By Tony AndersonHi Shorty,
As I’ve now launched The Mucky Duck* it seemed time to order a HIN plate and provide a few pictures and notes about the build as promised.
My physiotherapist suggested rowing as a good exercise for my creaking back. Originally I thought about ways to make a rowing machine that could be stored in a space 6 inches wide (we live on a narrowboat and believe me, they’re well named). Eventually it dawned on me that we were surrounded by water so my rowing machine could actually - you know - float. The complication here was that our marina managers fight a constant battle against moorers trying to encroach on the pontoons and quaysides with their possessions, so I was told that hauling the boat out and leaving it on the bank was a no-no. However, I could keep it in the water next to our narrowboat without charge. Thanks,Guys! OK, so we needed materials that would survive a year in fresh water.
Then my imagination went into overdrive. I’m converting a van to a camper so we can tour Europe next year, assuming they’ll let us in after Brexit. How about a boat that could fit on the roof (needs to be light and low)? We could explore the canals of Venice and Amsterdam, dip an oar into the Mediterranean, look up at some of those amazing castles on the Rhine. Then it would have to carry 2 of us and 2 dogs, maybe camping gear too (stable, big load carrier), and we could go much further if it wasn’t just a rowing boat (sails, outboard). I can’t stop work on the van though (quick to build) and can’t spare too much of the budget (cheap).
I looked at loads and loads of designs but kept coming back to this odd, square little thing that just ticked all the boxes; people seemed to have a lot of fun with them too.
To prevent rot after a year in the water it would need to be made of high quality marine ply, so I thought a foam and glass version, besides having built-in buoyancy and hopefully less weight, might be cheaper (HAHAHAHA!) and quicker (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!) to build.
Well, after all sorts of delays, we finally launched it last night. I can’t really report on the results yet as a quick row round the marina revealed several jobs that need doing and in any case it’s only going to be a rowboat for quite a while. However, if anyone wants more information on the construction method (including a long list of things NOT to do), send me an email.
It appears that I'm now master and commander of 2 vessels; one weighs 15 tons and the other about 50lb.
Regards,
Tony
*There’s a well known local canal pub called The Swan, known to boaters as The Mucky Duck
As I’ve now launched The Mucky Duck* it seemed time to order a HIN plate and provide a few pictures and notes about the build as promised.
My physiotherapist suggested rowing as a good exercise for my creaking back. Originally I thought about ways to make a rowing machine that could be stored in a space 6 inches wide (we live on a narrowboat and believe me, they’re well named). Eventually it dawned on me that we were surrounded by water so my rowing machine could actually - you know - float. The complication here was that our marina managers fight a constant battle against moorers trying to encroach on the pontoons and quaysides with their possessions, so I was told that hauling the boat out and leaving it on the bank was a no-no. However, I could keep it in the water next to our narrowboat without charge. Thanks,Guys! OK, so we needed materials that would survive a year in fresh water.
Then my imagination went into overdrive. I’m converting a van to a camper so we can tour Europe next year, assuming they’ll let us in after Brexit. How about a boat that could fit on the roof (needs to be light and low)? We could explore the canals of Venice and Amsterdam, dip an oar into the Mediterranean, look up at some of those amazing castles on the Rhine. Then it would have to carry 2 of us and 2 dogs, maybe camping gear too (stable, big load carrier), and we could go much further if it wasn’t just a rowing boat (sails, outboard). I can’t stop work on the van though (quick to build) and can’t spare too much of the budget (cheap).
I looked at loads and loads of designs but kept coming back to this odd, square little thing that just ticked all the boxes; people seemed to have a lot of fun with them too.
To prevent rot after a year in the water it would need to be made of high quality marine ply, so I thought a foam and glass version, besides having built-in buoyancy and hopefully less weight, might be cheaper (HAHAHAHA!) and quicker (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!) to build.
Well, after all sorts of delays, we finally launched it last night. I can’t really report on the results yet as a quick row round the marina revealed several jobs that need doing and in any case it’s only going to be a rowboat for quite a while. However, if anyone wants more information on the construction method (including a long list of things NOT to do), send me an email.
It appears that I'm now master and commander of 2 vessels; one weighs 15 tons and the other about 50lb.
Regards,
Tony
*There’s a well known local canal pub called The Swan, known to boaters as The Mucky Duck
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