Shallow Draft Bass Boat: A 15 ft Paddle-Wheel Fishing Boat
Hi Sibley's flat-bottom bass boat swaps a propeller for a paddle wheel driven by a little 1.55 hp air-cooled engine, with a built-in live box.
Picture a quiet bass boat churning gently along on a paddle wheel, live box sloshing with the morning catch. That is Hi Sibley's design: a 15 ft (4.6 m) flat-bottom boat with a 4 ft (1.2 m) beam, fir or pine sides and a 3/8 in. exterior marine plywood bottom. Power comes from a Briggs & Stratton 1.55 hp air-cooled engine turning a paddle wheel. It is unusual, practical and perfect for shallow fishing spots.
Shallow Draft Bass Boat at a glance
| Detail | Shallow Draft Bass Boat |
|---|---|
| Type | Paddle-wheel fishing boat |
| Length | 15 ft (4.57 m) |
| Beam | 4 ft (1.22 m) |
| Construction | Fir or pine sides, 3/8 in. exterior marine plywood bottom, flat bottom with live box |
| Power | Briggs & Stratton 1.55 hp air-cooled engine driving a paddle wheel |
| Designer | Hi Sibley |
| Craft Print | No. 11 |
| Plan sheets | 4 |
Why a paddle wheel makes sense
A paddle wheel works happily in shallow water where a propeller would scrape bottom or snag weeds, and the flat bottom keeps draft to a minimum. The small 1.55 hp air-cooled engine is simple and frugal, ideal for slow trolling and creeping into coves. Weeds are rarely a worry.
Fir or pine sides and a marine plywood bottom are easy materials to find and work. The built-in live box keeps fish fresh, a thoughtful detail that shows this boat was drawn by someone who actually fished. It is a quirky choice, but a genuinely practical one.
The original plan sheets
These are the 4 original sheets, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.
Who designed it
Hi Sibley designed this paddle-wheel bass boat, preserved as Craft Print 11. The four original sheets cover the flat-bottom hull, the live box and the engine-driven paddle wheel. It is a practical design with real character.
Before you build
- Guard the paddle wheel and its drive so hands, lines and clothing cannot get caught while the engine runs.
- Seal the live box carefully and give it a drain, so it does not leak into the hull.
- Keep this slow boat to sheltered, shallow water and carry a paddle in case the engine quits.
Download the plan
Hi Sibley's complete bass boat plan, four sheets in one file, ready to print or view on a tablet beside the build.
Download the complete plan (PDF, 4 sheets, 1 MB)
Tools for this
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to say what you think of this post.