The TC35 35ft plywood self build riverboat as a vacation or simple liveaboard with excellent economy with high thrust outboard/s for power builds in a prefabricated style to reduce labour and material cost
Plans $190 (were $400) delivered by email to print yourself.
Plans on paper attract additional print/post/handling charges
Length – 11.7m (35ft)
Beam – 2.13m (7ft)
Displacement – approx 1800kg (1.8 tons)
(includes crew and tankage half full)
Power – 10 to 15 hp High Thrust Outboard for cruising speed of 7 to 8
knots (or 2 x 10/15) for 9 to 10 knots
- Simple to Build – Prefabrication Method – Most of the major parts can be finished before the boat is assembled
- Modest outboard cost
- Almost silent
- Cheap liveaboard
- Drawings for all bulkheads and panels to allow prefabrication of parts. Position of major interior items is given on bulkheads for fast assembly of interior.
Slight redesign of 35 Riverboat or Canal Boat details
I revised this design for a North American Client. It added more detail to the plan to make it more user friendly. Also I managed to resolve some of the aesthetic issues that had always bothered my by altering the window size and position.
A little touch of le Corbusier – the great Swiss-born architect responsible for modernism … well … less is more anyhow! But I had been digging around looking at some of the early Corbusier houses.
I have left the original drawing below – the new one is above. “Smoke and Mirrors” – but good smoke and mirrors!
The Riverboats have the admirable qualities of being among the easiest boats to build, having excellent performance with small powerplants and being very easy on the wallet.
These performance is because the boat is slender and light. Lot of length for a given width. This results in minimum drag underway and a large reduction in the amount of building materials needed.
The smaller versions (less than 30ft) are also very light to tow, opening up all sorts of cruising possibilities.
23ft Dayboat Launch
27ft Venezia
Derived from the Riverboat work by Phil Bolger.
The designer of the original 30ft Tennessee was innovative American designer Phil Bolger. Duck Flat in Adelaide built several Tennessees, each slightly different. For use on the Murray River, the Gippsland Lakes and similar areas.
The reason for the rediscovery of the design were a mix of trailerability, a speed of 7 to 10 knots from a near silent 4-stroke outboard/s. Making the long stretches of Australian rivers into easy going.
The original Tenessee is a delightfully simple boat which helps keep the cost down. This larger version provides a permanent double berth in a separate cabin and room for a larger galley. And a separate head (toilet/shower) compartment.
More of a riverboat is useful if trailerability is not a high priority
The advantage of this version over the original Tennessee is that the plan has more detail and the hull has a double floor to allow services (electrical, plumbing and tankage) to be placed underneath.
Brilliant range and speed with low power outboards – rig for silent running
Travelling is easy with the crew able to relax and take turns at the helm while eating through the miles while leaving only a minimal wake.
The extreme shallow draft allows exploration of waters not frequented by waterskiers or jetskis. Where birdlife and quiet stretches are abundant.
The boats have a very smooth ride. The fine bow cuts through a steep chop with no pitching pounding or spray.
A major factor in the success of the boats is availability of the 4-stroke, high thrust Yamaha outboards. They are nearly silent, smokeless, vibrationless, but with heaps of pushing power. Civilised.
Two built but no Photos :(
35ft Riverboat – a live aboard home for a couple (with occasional company) was built on the River Kwai in Thailand. A good galley, separate loo, cruising speed of 8 knots with 15hp or over 10 with a twin 10hp setup.
For a discussion of the rough water handling properties of the type please see the article on the 23ft Dayboat/Launch that has a similar hullform. Dayboat/Launch Page
The plan does not have step by step instructions like my smaller designs. But has comprehensive drawings for all the bulkheads including the framing positions for furniture (image). This means that the furniture does not have to be measured up separately. Saving a great deal of time and energy.
