Camping Boat Indolent Wind

by Kirk Uslabar
(Green Bay, WI, USA)

Name: Indolent Wind
Type of Boat: Shantyboat/camping boat
Build Year: 2017
Length: 18 feet
Beam: 81 inches
Construction: 5/8 inch plywood hull, 2 x 4 stringers, 1/2 inch plywood floor.

The hull is wrapped in fiberglass and epoxy.

A coat of gluv-it was added to the hull in 2022 and the hull was bottom painted at that time.

Indolent Wind is a barge-hulled plywood shantyboat constructed beginning in 2017.

The first test float was in 2018 and that is the year of the title.

Indolent Wind is powered with a Yamaha 4 stroke 9.9hp high thrust engine and can make about 6-7MPH with the stock propeller.

The engine is a 1997 I bought used.

I carry 9 gallons of fuel and the boat is very economical to run.

It cruises very nicely at any speed but the engine is nice and quiet if I keep it under 5mph.

I have 3 full length running strakes on the bottom that are 2 x 4’s.

The boat handles and tracks well.

I don’t intend to use it on rough water but on our last trip we needed to get the boat from the cabin we were renting to the boat launch and crossed a bay that had 3-4 ft chop and the boat handled the waves well.

Overall I’m pleased with how the boat performs.

There is much work left to be done, including making the boat a true camping boat.

Currently it’s a day boat as I don’t have an enclosure for the open bow.

That’s the last major step forward to take, but there will always be little things to do.

The boat has a walk on roof that we have been enjoying.

It’s a fun boat to cruise, hang around on and have a beer or two.