My love for Phil Thiel’s Friend·Ship canalboat began in September 2011 when I read an article by Christopher Cunningham about Phil’s quiet and simple boats (WoodenBoat No. 222). I reread the article multiple times and daydreamed about the day that I could have a floating RV on which my whole family could live aboard for extended lengths of time. Harry Bryan’s article on shanty boats in WoodenBoat No. 224 pushed me into action, and I called Phil to purchase the plans for his Friend·Ship.Our first call was interesting, as he asked me why I wanted the plans and if I understood the purpose of the design. While Lake Ontario is literally at my back door, its open water is not what the Friend·Ship is meant for. I explained to Phil that the province of Ontario has hundreds of kilometers of canals and rivers and small lakes for which the Friend·Ship would be perfect. Satisfied by my response, Phil sold me a set of plans. They included one page of written instructions, construction specifications, building procedures, and 13 pages composed of measured drawings and joinery details.I pored over the plans and used the scaled frame drawings as full-sized patterns to build a 23″ model at 1:12 scale to visualize how the boat would go together and how it would look completed. I sent pictures of my model to Phil, and he loved it.
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I like it! What is the top speed of it when loaded with your cruising gear and supplies. 3 knots is ok, but if a current or headwind is encountered…….
Even with 7 people on board my 9.8-hp motor is able to push the boat at 5 knots at max throttle. The Friendship is for leisurely cruising, if it is too windy, seek a close harbour.
Jim
Insightful article about a great build – thank you for sharing your experience.
Thanks for your comments. I found the article harder to write than actually building the boat. But now both are done.
Jim
Very sweet. Feels like a canal boat influenced by the ’30s flush-deck cruisers. An elegant twist on the usually down-homey canal boats.
A friend and I were looking at a similar sort of concept on the Cumberland River in TN a few days ago. A 25′ manufactured aluminum box, reminded me of a Gibson style house boat influenced by one of the new hyper-mini pickups. Has everything a Gibson has, except air past your elbows. I asked my friend: “How would you emphasize that? Is it a Tinyhouse boat, or is it a Tiny Houseboat?”
He thought for a minute, and said: “Its a River RV. A RiVer.”
Be a good name, if another reader builds one.
Thanks for your comment. A self-propelled river RV is what it is. You can still buy the plans from Wooden Boat Magazine for $75.00 and save yourself a lot of money, if you have the time.
Jim