10' Geodesic Rowboat (1992) - BANANA BOAT

The original 18# “Banana Boat”, built in our garage of aircraft Spruce stringers over steam-bent Ash ribs covered with heat-shrink Dacron, was given away to a teen-aged friend in North Dakota when the Air Force sent me to Korea. Now retirement allows me to build a replacement with Douglas Fir stringers and wet, green, cold-bent oak ribs covered with heat-shrink Dacron. The wood grew and was milled on our property by the owner/builder, myself. Banana Boat II will also be painted with aircraft finish in bright yellow. It seems a little heavier that the original 18# boat but perhaps it is that I am about 30 years older! My wife and I can row together even though it is only 10″ amidship with a 16″ stem.