Panga 25 by Bateau.com

Amateur builders love our Outboards Dories, OD16 and OD18 because they are simple, economical and easy to build seaworthy boats. Many asked for boats with the same qualities but with a vee-hull. We designed a set of rugged, simple to build work boats with a vee-hull based on a proven work boat type, the Panga.

In Mexico, the word "panga" applies to any small boat but mostly to beach launched skiffs between 18 and 26' long. The pangas have a narrow beam and high bow. They are powered by relatively small outboards

That type of boat is also very common in Africa and in Asia, in particular Indonesia and the Philippines. The most beautiful example of the type is the famous Saintoise, very seaworthy work boats some as long as 35'.

All those boats evolved from the same hull shape: fishing boats designs from the FAO for third world countries.

In the FAO project, the accent was on ease of building and economical operation. Max. HP rating was 10. Because of their hull rocker, the FAO boats were limited to displacement speeds. Builders modified these plans to allow the boats to plane with larger outboards but kept the original narrow beam, fine entry and high bow. The result are fishing boats of moderate speed designed to hold heavy loads while maintaining fuel efficiency.

Our design is based on that hull type. It includes the straight run needed to get on plane. Like other Pangas, our boats are strong but simple to build and economical to operate.

We propose our Panga 25 in two versions: the PG25 and the PG25S. The only difference between them is the sheer line. The PG25 has the typical pronounced sheer of those workboats. The freeboard is a few inches (2-1/2") lower in the middle. The PG25S has a slightly straighter sheer. This gives a little bit more cockpit depth and eliminates one plywood cut: that sheer line is made from a panel with a straight edge.

The Panga 25 is a very able boat for it's length. The cockpit is self-bailing up to a displacement of 3,400 lbs. at level trim. She can be made completely unsinkable with the addition of expandable foam under the sole and under the gunwales. Each two gallon kit of foam provides on the average 500 lbs. of flotation. Considering that the hull material has positive buoyancy, we recommend 5 kits for a total of 10 gallons. We recommend a 75 to 125 HP outboard.

Pangas are designed as work boats, not speed boats and while the PG25 can accept engines as large as 150 HP, we do not recommend to install anything larger than 125 HP.

The USCG calculations show much higher HP ratings. Stay within our recommended limits.

The interior is clean and simple with a lot of room. With all the open space it can easily accommodate a family for a day on the water.

The builder is given complete freedom in the layout of the boat. As long as the frames shown on the plans are present and common sense is used in weight distribution, almost anything is possible: simple open plan with a center console, thwarts, longitudinal benches, small or large casting deck etc.

The plans show an 55 gallon fuel tank under the casting deck. Even with the largest recommended engine, this will provide sufficient range for more than a full day on the water but if necessary, larger tanks can be installed.

Comparisons

Compared to our flat bottom OD boats, the Pangas with their vee hulls will require a little bit more skill and more labor to build but not much.

Because of their narrow beam, their performance and behavior can not be compared to other vee hulls of the same overall length except for seaworthiness. In the hands of an experienced skipper, they can venture far offshore and take bad weather but they will not offer as much room or speed as a wider boat of the same length.

Options

The plans show a basic layout with dimensions for a standard center console. The center console is easy to modify if the builder wants to make it taller or wider

Seating, fish boxes, cooler and storage benches can be added almost anywhere. The casting deck can extend further back and the console can be moved back a little bit. We take in account that most builders will have batteries in the stern and compensated by putting the console further towards the boat than usual.

The plans include a typical drawing showing how to cut lids in seats or in the casting deck.

Do not install excessively large engines: top speed increase will not be significant because this hull is designed for moderate planing speeds.

Our designs are consistently faster than fiberglass production boats of the same type and size thanks to the lighter, stiffer hulls and careful design. A larger engine will weigh more, result in poor trim and use more fuel.