I'm the one who reported it! Indeed, it is true. I built the ledge top on Mike's boat and the boat did flex a little before additional supporting elements were added to the hull. It's because a long t-shape section IS NOT completely rigid when lateral forces are applied. The top will tend to warp a little to allow some movement. But, that is fine for his design. I'm NOT sayinby andersenpj - Drift Boat Building
I built that ledge top! Yes, it's 3/8 ply. I think about 5" wide. I made a cardboard version first, then traced the cardboard one on to some (5) ply pieces and scarfed them together. I cut them about 1/4" too wide using a jig saw so I would have some room for error, and could route the waste off. It was a big floppy wishbone shaped piece until I glued it onto the boat. After tby andersenpj - Drift Boat Building
Cool Sandy, I'm nearing completion on a traditional 'fletcher' Hindeman double ender w/ transom. After Mike's boat I couldn't bear to work with glass/epoxy exclusively anymore. That stuff sux. Maybe someday I'll do it again on a racing sailboat, but old-timey ply is fun and fast to build. I debated with Mike a lot: de-luxe petro-chem and glass or cheap-o ply, and finby andersenpj - Drift Boat Building
Sandy, You are not getting much feedback because everyone is waiting patiently for your next move. This is an exciting boat build...!!! Chop-chop!! ;-)by andersenpj - Drift Boat Building
Samuel, I'm curious what you find for self-bailing deck height/seat height/gunwale height arrangement. I'm just not sure it's going to work out well with a boat that has both it's sides cut from a single 4'x16' piece of ply. I suspect the Honkey might be able to though. There are plenty examples of smaller decked boats, but self-bailing seems to be tricky to pull offby andersenpj - Drift Boat Building
Analysis from Freeship of various hull displacement/depth. Looks like you'll draw about 7" at 1100lbs.by andersenpj - Drift Boat Building
NW school of wooden boat building made a traditional rogue river driver. I think Fletcher's design is for ply.by andersenpj - Drift Boat Building
I don't have Roger Fletcher's book in front of me, but Zane Grey's Rogue River driver is laid out in it. Sounds like what everyone is talking about above. Maybe take a look at that?by andersenpj - Drift Boat Building