Seeing an AF4 on the water for the first time is a bit of a surprise. At a distance, the raised deck profile fools you into thinking you are looking at a classic cruiser from a bygone era. As the boat gets closer, you realize she is smaller than you thought, and that she is built of plywood. When you get a closer look at her elegantly utilitarian form, you think that maybe it is a classic after all—a new kind of classic.As a young aerospace engineer, Jim Michalak moved from his native Massachusetts to work at a missile plant in St. Louis, Missouri. Finding a flat land of broad lakes and rivers, his attention wandered to boats. After building a Gloucester Light Dory and the prototype Bolger Birdwatcher, there was no going back. Jim now has nearly 100 designs to his credit, and the AF4 is one of the most popular, for this simple cruiser is among the most accessible designs available.What do I mean by “accessible”? Most obviously, external-chine “Instant Boat” construction is conceptually simple for the beginner, as well as quick and easy to build for anyone. Yet this simple construction provides a purpose-designed beach cruiser with about 4" draft. This creates access for boating in places many of us haven’t even considered. With a low trailer, an AF4 has cruised where few motorboats can even launch.
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“A modern motor should do much better”? Old 2 strokes are so superior to “modern” 4 strokes, it is not even funny! The cost can be 75% lower in price, the speed and power increase is amazing. They can be made as quiet as low-powered 4 strokes, by using cowling insulation, and they are lightweight. This is the kind of boat we want to see instead of impractical, but nice – and classic looking sail boats.
You nailed it! Pun intended. I built a 9′ 4” Berkley Marine Micro tugboat. I love it – flat bottom, cute, nautical looking. However, I chose to encase it in fiberglass cloth and about five layers of sanded down epoxy (between each layer). It took me fifteen months and over $1500 to build a “four week $400” boat. Your plywood joined by nails and glue is the way to go for a boat that is trailered.
One of these boats made the first Salish 100 in 2019 out here on the Puget Sound. The memory of his little boat has stuck with me. Summer weather conditions in the south Sound are often conducive to AF4 boating, though the north Puget Sound, north of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, might be a bit sporty. Here’s a picture: https://www.flickr.com/photos/old_salt7/48130217027/in/photolist-2gk6EjW-2gk6WG4-2q1kS4i-2qoE16J-2qoGmxf