: Hi,

: Has anyone built the Guillemot Guide Boat?

: I'm looking for a river craft that can be used for fly-fishing, and whilst
: I'd love a drift boat (such as at www.montanaboatbuilders.com ) they're a
: bit impractical in being unweildy and needing a trailer pick-up at the
: bottom of the river. Whereas a kayak/guide boat/canoe can be car-topped so
: one car can be dropped off downriver with no need to shuffle trailers.

: Anyway, I digress a little...I'm soon to start building a Night Heron and
: possibly Micro bootlegger, but I like th eide of the slightly larger and
: more stable Guide Boat for 2 or 3 people to go fishing in.

: Has anyone got one underway or built? Look like a lovely boat, and stable.

: Another thought is whether the boat could be rowed facing forwards when
: required - i.e. for control downriger, when a lot of pulling power isn't
: required?

: Would be interested in opinions on this as well as build/use reports and
: suitability as a fishing platform.

: Thanks,
: Darren
: Melbourne, Australia

Hi Darren,
I haven't built one so can't help there but the facing forward rowing is no problem.
To row, you set two oarlocks so that the oars can be swapped between them and all you do is turn around on the seat.
Another way is to scull from the stern, like a gondola.

Hope this helps,
Mike Savage
South West Cork