Flint in the Water

Here are a bundle of photos of the on water testing of Flint. I’ve got over 200 plus three video clips. As soon as I can I’ll put a page on my website www.baysidewoodenboats.com.au with expandable thumbnails and captions.

She proved to be a super boat to row in the flat conditions of the day. There was a reasonable breeze, but no wave action other than the huge wakes generated by the waterski muscle boats and the monster jetskis. Tracking was excellent, she carried up to three adults without having her transom immersed more than an inch, and she could be rowed and re-entered with all the water we could get her to take on during a deliberate capsize.

Re-entry was easy from the stern, or by rolling in over the gunwale. In deep water, we were able to empty her of water by pushing down on the gunwale and pushing the boat away from us sharply.

Speed under oars was 4.5 knots with firm effort; 4 knots at a sustainable rate, and 3.7 when paddling gently. Speed under power using a 2 hp Yamaha 2-stroke with a fine-pitched (5 inch) propeller was 6.1 knots with two adult men and two children aboard. With the engine at dead-slow idle, we still went 3.5 knots. All speeds were obtained from a hand-held GPS.

Ross Lillistone

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