Help me identify this one...

[Easy]

This
http://easytigermodels.com/forum/index.php?topic=505.0
came with that 8.5 foot Skimmar I posted about...which is all finished now:
http://easytigermodels.com/forum/index.php?topic=495.15

Supposedly it is a Gamefisher 3.5, but I don't see any pictures like this one...
Whadizzit?

[chrisremkus]

Sorry I'm late to the party. The boat appears to be an 8' Skimmar that was built by Skimmar Boats in Greenwich CT in the late 1950's early 1960's. I used to have one as did a number of my cousins in Sag Harbor. In fact, I'm in the process of building one now for my two boys (11 and 8). I had found an old one in CT many years ago and made some crude plans from that one. Would be interested to hear how you're getting on with yours.
Cheers
Chris

[Easy]

Yep! Found out that's what it is...
Mine is all finished with restoration:
http://rctruth.com/index.php?topic=279.0
I did the motor, too, but I won't be using it on this:
http://rctruth.com/index.php?topic=384.0
I will find a powerful electric for this, since the lake it will be on only allows electric.
I need to find a small trailer for it next...

[chrisremkus]

Thanks for sharing the link to your pics - that's great!

Our Skimmar story starts back in the early 1960’s when my father and his two brothers took an original wooden Skimmar as a template to the Toy Town Boat Company in MA and had ~ 8 manufactured for my brother and our cousins. Originally, mine belonged to my brother (10 years my elder) but I took it over at the ripe age of 6 in 1968. I had it equipped with a 5 1/2 hp, 10hp and 9.5hp at different times growing up. I kept it for many years past its use but eventually it deteriorated beyond repair and we took it to the land fill.


While living in Greenwich, CT in the early 1990’s I started making inquiries and found someone that had an original Skimmer in Darien. We took some measurements from that boat and I started a project of building one with my brother-in-law in ~ 1993. This was to be for my nephew – who is now 25 – but life got in the way and we did not progress. Now that my own sons are 11 & 7, we’ve restarted the project.



My brother-in-law is a part time carpenter (full time Chief of Police) so at least we have someone who understands a bit about building with wood. We’re more or less “winging it” but so far it’s coming out pretty good. We’ve made a steam bending pipe out of 2” PVC yet it’s still a challenge to bend the Oak and Mahogany ribs we’ve been using.


All measurements from the boat in CT are fairly basic – but I’d be happy to share them with anyone if interested.


Just purchased a Tohatsu 9.8 fitted with electric start to power it and have installed Teleflex steering. It should move this little boat along nicely...

[Easy]

That is amazing that you loved it enough to have production re-started and eight new ones built! Mine is sitting in New Jersey at the moment if you want further measurements, feel free to come over and examine it.
I'm looking for some advice as to what electric motor to use, what is equivalent to a 5hp gas...

[chrisremkus]

Hey - thanks for the reply. Actually, the reproductions were ordered by my father/uncle in the early 1960's and all of those boats have since been destroyed. I'm currently building a skimmar reproduction from scratch off the plans I took from the Darien boat in the early 1990's. Would be fun to see your boat sometime but not sure when I'll get to NJ next.

In terms of an electric motor, I don't have any experience with them as we live on the sea - so have always had gas models. However, I found that there is a company in WI that offers a 5hp outboard that seems to have the ability to hook up remote controls - see:

http://www.cloudelectric.com/product_p/ob-f5erl.htm

Looks to be a really nice little unit. I'm amazed that they have such powerful electric engines available....

Best wishes,
Chris

[Easy]

If it is helpful for you to see an intact one, stop by anytime, but sounds like you have the data you need already...
That 5hp motor looks beautiful, but it's a lot more than I want to spend on a boat for my kid...
But looking at that listing is very helpful, it gives the equivalents of horsepower to thrust to watts, which really helps me pick a trolling motor of the right size.
The control thing, I am still working that out...no big deal to make the appropriate bracketry to connect the motor to the steering, the real question is how to get the controls forward to the driver...there are some of these trolling motors that have remotes and such...I think what I really want is just a foot pedal, I do not know. Have not done that much research.
Not surprised at all at the power available from electrics...I manufacture radio controlled aircraft, and some very large electric motors, including one that has about double the power of that outboard...the real question is how much battery do you want to carry...
Here's a little sample...that Triplane in the video weighs about 40 pounds...
http://youtu.be/yAhHefh7WhA
Power is not an issue!
What strikes me as funny about these Skimmars is it seems like an awful lot of them were built, but virtually none survive. I do not know of another intact one like mine....

[chrisremkus]

Dear friends,

Long time since I've been on this Forum but thought I'd share a few pics of the 9' Skimmar project I finished earlier in the summer. Here's a link to photobucket:

http://s943.photobucket.com/albums/ad273/cremkus/

Was a fun project and I really like the Tohatsu 9.8 4 stroke with electric start. Boat goes like hell and is equally quiet. My older son got his boating license when he turned 10 - now that he's 11, it doesn't get any better than having your own Skimmar. I've taken it out with him on Sunday morning bagel runs to our village - its an 8 mile round trip. The boat is amazingly sea worthy and a lot of fun. If anyone out there is considering building a 9' skimmar, let me know as the rough plans I took off an original skimmar back in 1993 may be helpful...

Cheers,
Chris

[J.Madison]

http://i943.photobucket.com/albums/ad273/cremkus/IMG_1331_zpsa5d454f8.jpg

Oh wow. Is it supposed to do that? Does it ever even touch the water? Why make it boat shaped if it flies? The same motor on the back of a lazyboy might give a similar effect with more lumbar support...

[chrisremkus]

http://i943.photobucket.com/albums/ad273/cremkus/IMG_1331_zpsa5d454f8.jpg

Oh wow. Is it supposed to do that? Does it ever even touch the water? Why make it boat shaped if it flies? The same motor on the back of a lazyboy might give a similar effect with more lumbar support...

Lazyboys with lumbar support are for old farts who do their boating on the web, not for young bucks who like to tear up the water! Note the 1-2' swell he's coming off. Of course, Skimmars of the 1950's / 60's were notorious for porpoising at high speeds and this one is no different. However, at cruise, the boat rides smartly in the water...