I just came across these great videos & can tell these are quality designs & boats indeed, what a shame he left too soon yet each life has its path. May his work be preserved in a book to leave his legacy forward. Be even better if a boat building syndicate bought the rights & made his work available to its members - RIP.
Great timing Jeff. I see you even included some of your answers to the questions I asked of you in the past couple of days. I plan on starting tonight after work drawing out the frame templates. This will be a lot of fun and I will be sure to take photos and video of my experience.
HEY JOEL, I HAVE RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT JEFF SPIRA HAS PASSED AWAY. I FOUND OUT THIS BAD NEWS WHEN I ORDERED THE PLANS FOR THE 19' GALVESTON GARVEY. THE PLANS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. IF YOU HAVE A COPY OF THOSE PLANS COULD WE POSSIBLY WORK OUT A DEAL FOR A COPY?
Back in the mid-1980s, I used to fish out in the Pacific on a friend's aluminum 23' garvey on the reefs surrounding the lighthouse on Destruction Island off the coast of Washington state. The boat had a Mercury jet drive. Because the drive wouldn't foul up their salmon traps, the Native Americans let us launch in their river on their reservation in exchange for a fish if anyone wanted one from us. We'd go down the river and out over the sand bar and burst through the big rolling breakers into the open sea. We would go out for 36+ hours at a time so we could fish three tides. We jigged with a heavy, short, roller-tipped rod and silver/blue lead jig-bait with a big single tail hook on 80#-test monofilament line. We'd pinch the barb smooth so we could quickly rip out a gill and shake the fish off onto the ice. Lol, this wasn't "sport" fishing; we hauled them up fast as we could crank our Penn reels. We mostly caught 8 - 10# "Black Sea Bass" but every once in a while we'd get a big barn-door halibut or a +100# "Ling Cod" would swallow a hooked sea bass on its way up to our boat. Swallowed them bass whole; just like a bait! It would take up to 45 minutes of fighting to slowly tire the cod out so we could crank them up. Even though they weren't hooked themselves, those cod wouldn't let that meal go until they saw us, so we would fight them and haul them up until a red thread we had wrapped and tied on the fishing line 6' up from the bait reached our rod tip. Then the guy with the rod would yank it up quickly while a guy with a gaff hook would gaff the fish with a hook on a stout pole. That took coordination! The trick was to shoot the wiggly fish in the head with a 38 caliber pistol BEFORE you hauled it over into the boat. Otherwise, those monsters with their huge and sharp teeth would try to eat us! That 23' garvey was super steady with three guys fishing and filling a huge open chest freezer filled with ice and many fish. We stayed out there in swells up to 12' with wind waves on top of that up to 6' high and I never once even got seasick. I LOVE this hull form and it is the only one I would build. Jeff, I'm VERY interested in seeing your upcoming larger than 23' plans and also your looper concept. I hope you'll give the larger than 23' garvey boat and the looper your offshore treatment! That's what I want; at least as an option, okay? I dream of a long (maybe even 32'), but still trailer-able (maybe with a wide-load permit) offshore garvey with a walk-through cabin for overnighting amidship, a ramp with room on the foredeck for shore vehicle(s), and a rear fishing deck. THAT would be just perfect!
Sorry, the last one had music in one of my customer's videos that was a copyright infringement. I kept the video but removed the music, so this one should be fine. If you saw the first one, please look at this, also to make up for removing the first. Hope you enjoy.
Looking to build a 16’ Garvey for flats fishing in SW Fl. Stability is essential and would like to power it w: 40hp 4 stroke Suzuki. A roomy front deck, and a closed in stern would top it off.
I got a 14ft Garvey dory with a 25hp shortshaft Yamaha motor and it handles rough seawater as well as inshore lakes etc...my bow nose is completely different to any other Garvey I have seen so far...I wish I could share some pictures with you all...regards B.J.
Would this design work with building a cabin on it? Say the 23’ with a cabin that had a sleeping birth , small kitchen area with table and a decent captains area for chair and electronics ? What size of motor for that kind of setup? Love the idea of its stability but would it be a good bow design for the inside passage of Alaska?
The Great Loop - Down the Mississippi to the gulf, along the gulf bays to the Florida Coast, to the Florida crossing through Lake Okefenokee, up the east Coast inside passage, through the Erie Canal to the St. Lawrence, through the Canadian Canals to the Great Lakes - Through the coast of Lake Huron and down Lake Michigan to Chicago, out the Illinois River to the Mississippi, and connect again to your starting point. There are actually a number of bypasses and alternate routes you can take, but that's the gist of it.
Easy ToBuildBoats Thanks. SOUNDS like a transom bow v-bottom modest power outboard CABIN class cruiser in the 18 ft. range would be JUST the ticket for such an adventure!
@@tjkid07 Myself ,while loaded with my pack, bow, climbing sticks and tree stand. I'd sure like to be able to keep my boots dry and just walk out the front and head to my tree. This was my thinking on it anyway. Also; the reason I was drawn to the smaller offerings was being able to get up small rivers and creeks here in central Missouri. Your Garvey's look perfect for this part of the world. Thanks for the response.
Just curious: why are you calling this a garvey? The garvey I'm building (GV11 from bateauboats) has more "shape" (ie the bow comes inwards, although there's still a bow transom) and it's V-bottomed. I would consider a flat-bottomed, squarish design like yours more of a jonboat. Comments?
It's way different than a Jonboat. It is a "Garvey Bow" Pacific Power dory, so I call it a Garvey Dory. I know not a true Garvey. My own unique design, designed for a customer a dozen years ago, and expanded the line since based on requests for different sizes.
i can't believe you didn't mention this design is based off of the Higgin's Boat. You know the boat that was credited to having "won the war" (along with a few other things) and landed troops on D-Day.
Well the boat design is not based on a Higgins boat. The boat design was designed around a Garvey with a Pacific Power dory bottom - Both of those designs greatly pre-date the Higgins Boat. The door option on this boat, (a la Huggins Landing Craft) was added later from a customer request.
@@tjkid07 No. I meant the higgin's boat being contracted by the US. lol I assume you know of andrew higgins? He started his designs for the oil and gas industry in the 30s so they could go into really shallow marsh. His original design was called the "Eureka Boat". Or course I'm sure people all over the world with the same needs developed nearly identical construction. Higgins: ruclips.net/video/NApiZeUsLYM/видео.html
@@poppaluv Of course I know all about the Higgins boat, their purpose and their use. I even have a set of original drawings for it. I'll assume you haven't read any of my shipwreck or voyages books, or seen some of my other videos, like the one about 2 Voyages in Japan 1945 that never took place.
Check your settings for child content. It won’t let us get notifications when you post a video when we subscribe to your channel it says this option turned off for material made for kids
I just came across these great videos & can tell these are quality designs & boats indeed, what a shame he left too soon yet each life has its path. May his work be preserved in a book to leave his legacy forward. Be even better if a boat building syndicate bought the rights & made his work available to its members - RIP.
The more I see these and Jeff's plans I really love the idea of the optional ramp.
I want to build a boat with my 8 year old son. This looks like it would be a fun, safe project :)
I enjoy listening to you . I have always wanted to build a boat . Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Enjoy 😉
Great timing Jeff. I see you even included some of your answers to the questions I asked of you in the past couple of days. I plan on starting tonight after work drawing out the frame templates. This will be a lot of fun and I will be sure to take photos and video of my experience.
HEY JOEL, I HAVE RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT JEFF SPIRA HAS PASSED AWAY.
I FOUND OUT THIS BAD NEWS WHEN I ORDERED THE PLANS FOR THE 19' GALVESTON GARVEY.
THE PLANS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
IF YOU HAVE A COPY OF THOSE PLANS COULD WE POSSIBLY WORK OUT A DEAL FOR A COPY?
Nice overview of the concept Jeff! I'd love to see what you do with the "Looper". The drone footage was cool to watch! Thanks!
Definitely want to see the looper! Considering coming up with my own barge type boat. Unless you beat me to it! Thanks for all the great vids.
Back in the mid-1980s, I used to fish out in the Pacific on a friend's aluminum 23' garvey on the reefs surrounding the lighthouse on Destruction Island off the coast of Washington state. The boat had a Mercury jet drive. Because the drive wouldn't foul up their salmon traps, the Native Americans let us launch in their river on their reservation in exchange for a fish if anyone wanted one from us. We'd go down the river and out over the sand bar and burst through the big rolling breakers into the open sea. We would go out for 36+ hours at a time so we could fish three tides. We jigged with a heavy, short, roller-tipped rod and silver/blue lead jig-bait with a big single tail hook on 80#-test monofilament line. We'd pinch the barb smooth so we could quickly rip out a gill and shake the fish off onto the ice. Lol, this wasn't "sport" fishing; we hauled them up fast as we could crank our Penn reels. We mostly caught 8 - 10# "Black Sea Bass" but every once in a while we'd get a big barn-door halibut or a +100# "Ling Cod" would swallow a hooked sea bass on its way up to our boat. Swallowed them bass whole; just like a bait! It would take up to 45 minutes of fighting to slowly tire the cod out so we could crank them up. Even though they weren't hooked themselves, those cod wouldn't let that meal go until they saw us, so we would fight them and haul them up until a red thread we had wrapped and tied on the fishing line 6' up from the bait reached our rod tip. Then the guy with the rod would yank it up quickly while a guy with a gaff hook would gaff the fish with a hook on a stout pole. That took coordination! The trick was to shoot the wiggly fish in the head with a 38 caliber pistol BEFORE you hauled it over into the boat. Otherwise, those monsters with their huge and sharp teeth would try to eat us! That 23' garvey was super steady with three guys fishing and filling a huge open chest freezer filled with ice and many fish. We stayed out there in swells up to 12' with wind waves on top of that up to 6' high and I never once even got seasick. I LOVE this hull form and it is the only one I would build. Jeff, I'm VERY interested in seeing your upcoming larger than 23' plans and also your looper concept. I hope you'll give the larger than 23' garvey boat and the looper your offshore treatment! That's what I want; at least as an option, okay? I dream of a long (maybe even 32'), but still trailer-able (maybe with a wide-load permit) offshore garvey with a walk-through cabin for overnighting amidship, a ramp with room on the foredeck for shore vehicle(s), and a rear fishing deck. THAT would be just perfect!
I have the 27 footer done now. It'll be up on the website in the next few days. I have a 30 footer lines complete as well.
@@tjkid07 Wow! That's fantastic! I can't wait to see your study plans! Thank you very much, Jeff!
@@tjkid07 Jeff could a Garvey dory be powered by sail or pedal drive?
Thanks! Getting closer. I think the world needs a transom-bow v-bottom moderate outboard powered CABIN class cruiser in the 18 ft. range
Sorry, the last one had music in one of my customer's videos that was a copyright infringement. I kept the video but removed the music, so this one should be fine. If you saw the first one, please look at this, also to make up for removing the first. Hope you enjoy.
Thanks. I think the drone is keeping up!
Looking to build a 16’ Garvey for flats fishing in SW Fl. Stability is essential and would like to power it w: 40hp 4 stroke Suzuki. A roomy front deck, and a closed in stern would top it off.
I got a 14ft Garvey dory with a 25hp shortshaft Yamaha motor and it handles rough seawater as well as inshore lakes etc...my bow nose is completely different to any other Garvey I have seen so far...I wish I could share some pictures with you all...regards B.J.
Please email them to me, I'd love to see: info@spirainternational.com
Have a good day
Mr, Spira The page for the 27ft Mobile does not load might want to double check the page the link is pointing to.
I guess my comment went away. I would love to see the looper version.
Would this design work with building a cabin on it? Say the 23’ with a cabin that had a sleeping birth , small kitchen area with table and a decent captains area for chair and electronics ? What size of motor for that kind of setup? Love the idea of its stability but would it be a good bow design for the inside passage of Alaska?
With the high cost of plywood, is there other kind of lumber to use
Looking to build 16ft fresh water camper, light,easy to trailor
Looping. New one on me. Can you describe it briefly? Thanks
The Great Loop - Down the Mississippi to the gulf, along the gulf bays to the Florida Coast, to the Florida crossing through Lake Okefenokee, up the east Coast inside passage, through the Erie Canal to the St. Lawrence, through the Canadian Canals to the Great Lakes - Through the coast of Lake Huron and down Lake Michigan to Chicago, out the Illinois River to the Mississippi, and connect again to your starting point.
There are actually a number of bypasses and alternate routes you can take, but that's the gist of it.
Easy ToBuildBoats Thanks
@@dennisharrington6055 Typically a year jaunt, but some people do it in a few months. I'd take my time - more enjoying the shoreside than sailing.
Easy ToBuildBoats Thanks. SOUNDS like a transom bow v-bottom modest power outboard CABIN class cruiser in the 18 ft. range would be JUST the ticket for such an adventure!
Jeff, I'm curious as to why the 12 and 14 foot variations can't/don't have the option of the front landing door?
Well, they're mighty small, what are you planning to load through there?
@@tjkid07 Myself ,while loaded with my pack, bow, climbing sticks and tree stand. I'd sure like to be able to keep my boots dry and just walk out the front and head to my tree. This was my thinking on it anyway. Also; the reason I was drawn to the smaller offerings was being able to get up small rivers and creeks here in central Missouri. Your Garvey's look perfect for this part of the world. Thanks for the response.
How is the bow slap on this boat? I imagine its pretty jarring at times.
No, it rises out of the water at speed, and rises quickly when you come up on chop. No slaps.
Where are the plans?
I think Higgins landing craft were built from plywood.
Yes to save the steel for the war, the PT boats were wood as well.
Just curious: why are you calling this a garvey? The garvey I'm building (GV11 from bateauboats) has more "shape" (ie the bow comes inwards, although there's still a bow transom) and it's V-bottomed. I would consider a flat-bottomed, squarish design like yours more of a jonboat. Comments?
It's way different than a Jonboat. It is a "Garvey Bow" Pacific Power dory, so I call it a Garvey Dory. I know not a true Garvey. My own unique design, designed for a customer a dozen years ago, and expanded the line since based on requests for different sizes.
how hard would it be to roe a 14' Garvey Dory ? thanks ....
Doable, but it's not a row boat. Not much glide.
Anyone put out a supply list and average cost of completed hull without motor.
The bill of materials (supply list) is on the free study prints you can download from the link right under the video as it says in the description.
i can't believe you didn't mention this design is based off of the Higgin's Boat. You know the boat that was credited to having "won the war" (along with a few other things) and landed troops on D-Day.
Well the boat design is not based on a Higgins boat. The boat design was designed around a Garvey with a Pacific Power dory bottom - Both of those designs greatly pre-date the Higgins Boat. The door option on this boat, (a la Huggins Landing Craft) was added later from a customer request.
@@tjkid07 That customer being the US.
@@poppaluv The US? No, it was for his brother in a wheelchair.
@@tjkid07 No. I meant the higgin's boat being contracted by the US. lol I assume you know of andrew higgins? He started his designs for the oil and gas industry in the 30s so they could go into really shallow marsh. His original design was called the "Eureka Boat".
Or course I'm sure people all over the world with the same needs developed nearly identical construction.
Higgins:
ruclips.net/video/NApiZeUsLYM/видео.html
@@poppaluv Of course I know all about the Higgins boat, their purpose and their use. I even have a set of original drawings for it. I'll assume you haven't read any of my shipwreck or voyages books, or seen some of my other videos, like the one about 2 Voyages in Japan 1945 that never took place.
Check your settings for child content. It won’t let us get notifications when you post a video when we subscribe to your channel it says this option turned off for material made for kids