Seen here in the protected waters of Matia Island, IRONBLOOD slips along easily under oar power. The augmented keel and skeg improve upon the faering's sailing abilities without obstructing the boat's interior with a centerboard trunk.
Doug Vliet
Michael Colfer
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Where can I purchase plans for IRONBLOOD?
Michael, there are no plans for IRONBLOOD per se. But, buy a set of plans for Shearwater from WoodenBoat for $75. Raise the freeboard by a fraction and the ends as you can see in these photos. From the stem run a straight keel to 7″ depth at what is now the rudder post. I put a stainless-steel strip on the bottom of the keel, and I fiberglassed the bottom panel. Other than that, the only difference from Joel White’s plan is to use a spritsail instead of the lug. It is a hell-for-leather boat.
Great article. I enjoyed reading this as it gives me—a complete newbie to sailing and boatbuilding—a good feeling about size and shape in different conditions.
Glad you liked it, Alex. This is an excellent family boat—stable and safe. I love her, as you can tell from the article.
Michael, thank you for sharing your creative genius. Your boat looks pretty darn good.
My wife and I are consummate rowers and I am always looking for good pulling boats for island-hopping camping trips here in the Penobscot Bay in Maine. Right now we row an 18′ Chamberlain gunning dory. She’s seaworthy and roomy but we wouldn’t mind a bit more speed under oars. How does IRONBLOOD feel rowing? I notice you say, “…makes way under oars well.” Could you elaborate?
Thanks, Wes. For simply rowing, I leave lots of gear at home. The mast, sprit, sail, rudder, and tiller are fairly hefty, and I can really feel the difference. The really nice part of rowing tandem in IRONBLOOD is that, at 17′, the distance between forward rowing station and aft rowing station are enough that oars never collide, even when the strokes get out of whack. I have only rowed tandem a few times in IRONBLOOD, but those times have been very pleasant. Once, my son and I rowed against wind and tide in Puget Sound for a distance of some two or three miles, against a severe chop over shallow water. IRONBLOOD would lift her bows nearly clear of the water, and there would be spray out both sides, but not into, the boat. It was pretty wild, and Greg and I found ourselves yelling in glee, like a couple of banshees. We still made very good time over the bottom. In calm waters the boat moves very, very easily. She is heavy for a rowboat, but in waters like Puget Sound, where tidal rips happen a lot, and where the chop gets heavy, that weight is a distinct advantage. You should go over to WoodenBoat and row a Shearwater, for it is essentially the same boat. I am pretty sure Woodenboat has one there at their dock. Bear in mind, though, that I made mine higher, especially in the ends, included gear lockers at both ends, and my floorboards are 3/4″ pine, so IRONBLOOD is a good deal heavier than the standard Shearwater. And finally, the only way to get an IRONBLOOD is to build her yourself.
Is this a comfortable boat for a family with two small children?