The boat is a creation of mine, maybe a little bit unusual or unconventional. I have been told by boat builders that no one builds with wood anymore. So be it! This one is of locally cut and processed timber. The shape is more like a barge or landing craft. Top speed will probably be only 5 miles per hour. I have a cable that runs from the front of the boat where a rope can be tied to a reinforced post at the base of the slant so the force will be dissipated among all members of the boat including the floors and siding. The boat has two feet above the waterline that is waterproof. During hurricanes, I will tie it with long ropes to large trunks of trees and let it float up with the flooding. Only rarely does a hurricane damage structures in this village. If a really bad hurricane is forecast, I will put outriggers on it to protect it from going over sideways.  Most damage occurs with flooding and of course, an ark survives.

The boat is being built by Alan, a 23 year old furniture maker, and his helper, Myrna, a married woman with four children. I am amazed at the expertise and skill Alan has in building. Alan’s father owns the shop so I pay him when he helps and for the use of his shop. So far I have refrained from working on the boat since Alan is taking great pride in building it. So far it has cost almost $10,000 US and will probably take another 2000 to finish the basic boat and 5000 for the solar system, refrigerator, and motor. Not too bad for an income producing home. Most wood parts were glued and then screwed or bolted together.

The ribs are made from mahogany and bolted together. The hull is from cedar logs that have been cut, planed, and tongue and grooved into one inch thick lumber. The lumber was kiln dried in a home made kiln in the shop. All outside pieces of lumber are screwed from the inside through ledgers that are screwed to the ribs so no fasteners are subject to corrosion. Wood glue was inserted into the groove and silicon was squeezed onto the outside edge so when the boards are put together, the silicon protects the glue. Cedar was used to well above the water line and then replaced with siding cut from various species of tropical hardwood trees. The front of the boat though is skinned in 1 inch mahogany. The tongue and groove bottom floor is secured to the ribs and packed below it are hundreds of two and three litter plastic bottles with caps to be a safety net of floatation. I bought them from kids who rescued them from the trash burning in the village. The second floor is of tongue and groove hardwood flooring that will sometimes be subject to rain. I finally conceded to laying linoleum on it to make it waterproofed.

The top floor has arches made from strips of palmetto trunks tied together. A canvass tarp covers the arches. Along each side are tables and benches of mahogany that are hinged and can be raised for cleaning the floor and other uses for the space. In the front will be a gang plank that can be lowered onto the side of the San Antonio Bridge for easy access to the top deck from the bridge. Four feet of the front will not be covered so we can look at the stars and wildlife and get suntans. Also on the second floor is a compost toilet. The captain’s chair and a kitchen area is at the back and a place for an outdoor barbeque cooker will be at the back. A water tank to collect water from the back 8 foot shed roof will be the main water supply. Stairs are at the rear connecting the two floors.

Down stairs is not partitioned, can be secured with a hatch at the top of the stairs and a locked door at the rear of the boat. Downstairs is the galley, living, and sleeping areas. The main bed is elevated at the front of the boat where the boat angles up. The table and benches are hinged and can be folded upward. Windows have screens with inside mahogany shutters. The galley uses pans for a sink, and shelves on the wall for food storage. Hopefully I can get a DC refrigerator later. I now use a LPG cooking top.

The bottom has been treated first with styrene, resin, and hardener. The final coats are bottom coat paint with a lot of copper in it. Two seams leak so the boat is now back on land for finishing and for coating the bottom with fiberglas. I did not want to use fiberglas due to its un-ecological status but couldn’t find a better solution for the bottom. The old timers here use asphalt but it needs constant repair. It is not practical on a large boat that will stay in the water.

If I can afford it and can get one, I will purchase a Torgeedo Electric Outboard motor and a solar system that will power it. It is equivalent to about a 10 horse power motor. I can’t find the motor or the good golf cart batteries here so will have to order them from the States when I get the funds. I also dream of making it bicycle powered too. Or maybe a human pushed turnstile that turns a propeller? I will use SunNightSolar room flashlights for most of the lighting.

The boat is designed for multi-functions: a home for me, class rooms, restaurant, tour boat, and private rental for weddings or a weekend on the river. I will keep a place in the village when I need to stay off the boat. The name is The Ark of Albion Education Center (this island in the river is named Albion). When the boat is put back into the river I will install running boards along each side just above the waterline for access from the river and also to grow in 5 gallon containers a lot of vegetables. A trellis built out from the sides of the boat will support vegetation that will hide the boat. I will try to grow grape vines over the top of the boat. I will have a cage hooked to the back to house, feed, and collect eggs from ducks. I will let them roam in the river when it is safe from alligators.

The boat is finished except for the fiberglas. Hopefully the boat will be launched again later this week. It will be moored until I can get batteries and a motor.