Sorry I don't have any real construction pictures, but I was doing this alone and didn't
think to stop and take pictures, and it goes together so quick I didn't really have time for
photos. So here are some of it finished.
The OSS was designed by Herb McLeod. Thanks Herb for making these great plans and
instructions avaliable on your web site. (Go there and check out all the OSS builders).
This first one is of the hull inverted to show the full length skeg and fin skeg I used.
I started with just the full length skeg but felt the boat needed more directional
stability, so I added the additional fin, worked great.
Positioned next to the boat are the oars I built from the plans Herb provides.
I bought the oarlocks from Walmart.
Here it is with the correct side up. This was while I had the seat and
flotation
foam removed to attach the fin skeg through the bottom and full length
skeg.
I used half inch ply for the seat instead of the recommended quarter
inch, but I'm
going to change these back to the quarter inch recommended, half inch
adds
ten pounds to the boat. Without the seat the completed craft weighs 35
lbs.
You can see I added a breasthook and bow ring for attaching a bowline
and/or
anchor. The blocks seen on either side are temporary blocks to hold the
oars.
Trailer? I don't need no stinking trailer!! I live in a small town in
central
Florida, where folks have seen any and everything to do with boats, but
this gets looks from the best of them. Another great use for the bow
ring.
I tie the line to the seatbraces in my Mustang GT convertible and cover
the leather seats with a blanket. And away we go!
Here I am on the lake.
You can see from this picture that the temporary oar blocks need to be
moved
more aft. This will move my weigh more aft which will bring the bow up.
[This has been accomplished since this picture and it works great.]
The boat was assembled from quarter inch luan, fastened with drywall
screws,
stained, polyurethaned and all seams sealed with silicone. It will be
used by me for
those quick fishing trips down to the lake when there's not enough time,
and it's not
worth the effort to get the big boat out. I can throw this boat in the
car, drive to the
lake (we only have about a million) and be on the water fishing in less
than ten minutes.
This excursion was strictly for the photo session for these pictures,
all of
which were taken by my lovely and supportive wife. So here I am headed
back to the car. I just pick the boat up and carry it to the car and
then take
the long trip back home, about three minutes.
Thanks again Herb for the great plans.
These last three are after I got a small electric trolling motor for
the boat.
There's still plenty of freeboard even with the battery and motor.
This thing is really alot of fun.