Cape Cod Skiff

[Chillmark]

I grew up in Woods Hole on Cape Cod and remember these skiffs we used to bang around in. They were plywood with simple pine framing, high bows, flat bottoms and we stood up in them with tiller extensions on outboards. They were good for fishing, did well in a swell, were dry and simple to build. I have recently got into boat building and I am wanting to try and build one of these for my son and I to muck around in here in Baltimore. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

[Chillmark]

I thought this might help. You can see a red boat similar to the ones I'm talking about.

http://www.capecodphotoalbum.com/eelpond.jpg

[Kevin G]

That looks a lot like a Brockway. They were built in Old Saybrook, CT.

Same type built now by Old Wharf in Wellfleet Mass.

http://www.oldwharf.com/


Kevin G

[BrianY]

there's also these:

Chog and Mummichog Westport Skiffs:

http://home.earthlink.net/~woodzowl/index.html

[sv Lorelei]

That looks a lot like a Brockway. They were built in Old Saybrook, CT.

Same type built now by Old Wharf in Wellfleet Mass.

http://www.oldwharf.com/


Kevin G

Similar but not quite. Brockways have more of a plumb bow. Still find a remarkable number of them around.

[Chillmark]

I agree, close but not quite. As I remember these ranged in size from maybe 14-20 feet and were simply built in backyards without too many complex compound curves.

The lumberyard skiff is close, but I think there is more sheer to the bow.

This picture is of a lapstrake boat, and it has an engine well, but the lines are similar to what I recall...


http://www.worldseafishing.com/images/1/poole_canoe_main.jpg

[Dagnauts]

Check out the Pilgrim's Pride on Shoestring Shipyard. I used to see the clammers use these in Onset, MA when I was a kid. http://www.shoestringshipyard.com/

[Chillmark]

now THAT looks a lot like it. I think I may have winner in the Pilgrim's Pride! Thanks!

[Andrew]

http://www.thomasjhillboatdesigns.com/images/long_point_01_tn.jpg
Tom Hill's Long Point
http://www.thomasjhillboatdesigns.com/the_long_point.html

[Chillmark]

the long point is lapstrake, no? The ones we used to use were just a single piece of plywood. Though I guess without too much effort at all the Long Point design could be adapted...

[mitchellm]

I agree, close but not quite. As I remember these ranged in size from maybe 14-20 feet and were simply built in backyards without too many complex compound curves.

The lumberyard skiff is close, but I think there is more sheer to the bow.

This picture is of a lapstrake boat, and it has an engine well, but the lines are similar to what I recall...


http://www.worldseafishing.com/images/1/poole_canoe_main.jpg
What do you know about this boat? where can plans be found?

[Chillmark]

Sadly, I know nothing, I did a lengthy google image search looking for pics of the boat I want to build and this came up.

[alwaysasolution]

The red boat in the picture is most likely a Williams' Skiff also known as a George Williams; made by, appropriately enough, George Williams.
I believe George makes a 16' and an 18', though I've seen smaller 12's and 14's. With a little more rocker in the bottom than a flat-iron skiff, they are typically made of 1/2" plywood, the bottom may be 3/4". Two or three frames are fir or spruce 2x6's sandwiching plywood. The chines and stem are likewise 2x material. The transom, probably built-up of layers of ply. In the stern where the transom meets the topsides are 2x "nailers" which extend beyond the sheer, as does the stem. Forward, the first frame is also a bulkhead with an opening in it to create an anchor locker. A 2x6 on the flat becomes the keel shoe and 2-4 2x longitudinal stringers are spaced evenly across the bottom to the chine.
I've seen 16'ers with 8-25hp tiller outboards; 18'ers with up to 50hp and a center console.
George has some details he's worked in to these boats over the years that make the boat last for a long time. I've picked up on some, but I'm sure there's lots only he knows.

[alwaysasolution]

Google "Williams Skiff".

[would work]

I was involved with a small boatyard in CT for a while where similar boats to the ones pictured were built, we made skiffs and scows in the 12' to 24' range. The nice thing about these boats is that they are highly durable, dry and seaworthy and to some degree portable. We used pt for the stems and rails and doug fir for the frames 1/2" marine ply for the sides and 3/4 for the bottom. most transoms were 2 sheets of ply or 2x6's dependent on the boat's use.

[Chillmark]

Well after a busy summer (I run a sailing school) I checked back in here. The Williams Skiff is exactly the boat I'm talking about (though I still really like the Pilgrims pride). I googled Williams skiff and got a couple pages of references to the boat, but no references to build-it-yourself plans. There was one photo I found as confirmation, and the boat was sitting in Eel Pond in Woods Hole no less! Anyway, I'm not good enough to make it up on my own...anybody know of any plans out there? I was able to find he goes under the name Tri-Werx, but thats about it.

thanks!

[JimD]

Spira has some plans that don't get talked about much but look quite nice to my eye: http://www.spirainternational.com/index.html

http://www.spirainternational.com/pic_men_caro.jpg

[adampet]

You may also want to take a look at Walter Baron's Lumberyard Skiff( not to be confused with our sponsors efforts). Web site for the boats is here http://oldwharf.com/ow_workskiffs.html

Plans are $50 from Walter.

Adam

[alwaysasolution]

Hard to say from the pictures but the skiffs in the two above links seem to have a lot less rocker than a Williams; similar sheers and layouts, though the frame layouts differ.

I know you want to build your own, as you should. But if the itch to get some of the lingering bass on Middle Ground gets you, or anyone else, I know of an 18' Williams for sale. 2006, maybe, center console, 50hp Tohatsu, Interlux... the works. Owned by a boatbuilder (not me), no trailer, Located in Falmouth, MA.

Throwing it out there.

[abbyj]

What do you know about this boat? where can plans be found?

quick search: It's a design based on the Poole Canoe (http://www.worldseafishing.com/boating/boatreviews/poole_canoe_boatreview.html)

Contact these Brits:

Salterns boatbuilders (http://www.salternsboatbuilders.com/index.html)

[abbyj]

Hard to say from the pictures but the skiffs in the two above links seem to have a lot less rocker than a Williams; similar sheers and layouts, though the frame layouts differ.

I know you want to build your own, as you should. But if the itch to get some of the lingering bass on Middle Ground gets you, or anyone else, I know of an 18' Williams for sale. 2006, maybe, center console, 50hp Tohatsu, Interlux... the works. Owned by a boatbuilder (not me), no trailer, Located in Falmouth, MA.

Throwing it out there.

You mean this craigslisting (http://capecod.craigslist.org/boa/818259425.html)?

[alwaysasolution]

Yes, that is the one.
I hired the owner to make some gratings for me. I saw it in his shop while dropping off materials. Thought I'd toss it out here. Nice boat.

I have seen lots of skiffs and lots of plans but not for these particular boats. Maybe Chilmark could work it out with lots of photo's and measurements? That might be a fun winter project...

[alwaysasolution]

I recieved another request for info on the above Williams Skiff for sale.
I thought it might be worth sending along a link. http://gcarusoboatworks.com/for-sale/
The owner, a boatbuilder himself, saw the value of these boats and bought one.

Personally, I've convinced myself there is room for improvement. I set about designing and building what was supposed to be a v-bottomed alternative to the Williams skiff. The result is attached. The design, The West Bay 15, was simple enough. Heights of keel, chine and sheer. Half breadths for the same. I lofted it full size last winter. A few revisions, and construction drawings for the major joints this spring. I built the hull in a month early this summer.

I had a motor lined up but that fell through and is a story for another time. In the end, I got busy and the new boat (my wife has named Cyanea) hasn't been splashed yet.

Is there a moral to this tale? Well, I haven't added up materials, time and labor, probably never will... but haven't been out fishing on my new skiff either.

[Chillmark]

THIS (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29949167@N04/2856022501/) is indeed the exact boat. A friend in WH built one almost exactly the same and is sending along the particulars...I'll post more info as I get it

[wallacethegreenmonster]

I finished a 14 footer a couple months ago built in 6 days because I only had access to the garage for that long and it rides better than the 16 footer I built two years ago and spent 8 months on. Lots of excess materials were used from the prior one(screws, PL cement, some random lumber for framing) and painted it with rustoleum. Not sure I'm really supposed to do this but I took plans for a 16 footer and a 20 footer of the same type and extrapolated the measurements down to a 14 footer so that it would best fit the 18hp crap mercury I have. I have the numbers for the beam, stem angle, sides, transom written on an index card and just have to dig through some stuff to find it so if anyone is interested let me know. It's in the trunk of my car I think. With this 14 footer and 18 horses it gives me more than enough speed with three adults and even with it being a 2 stroke I was able to fish every day for a week and still have some gas in the 6 gallon tank left. Have thought about the 4 stroke but don't use the boat enough, don't have the cash, and would probably have to reinforce the transom some more.

[alwaysasolution]

OK Kids,
I'm curious about the last post (WTGM). Any pictures?

I picked up some product from(and had a beer with) Caruso (http://gcarusoboatworks.com) this evening. The skiff is still in his shop; still for sale. I grabbed a tape measure with the intention to document the boat, Chappelle style. However, the fear of violating intellectual property rights prevented it. I did file some info away for my own use.

I love the internet you never know what you might find... Chillmark check this out! Ladybug! (http://www.ladybugboats.com/) OMG! Is this Williams' stunt double? You might like the "construction" link and there are some pictures of the new boats in the raw.

Most of the following has been mentioned:
Ladybug says that they build from the Brockway Skiff (http://www.oldwharf.com/ow_building20lys.html) ideas. A quick search pulls up Shoestring's Pilgrims Pride (http://www.shoestringshipyard.com/pilgrimspride18.htm). Pretty close. WTGM commented about Brockway in another thread (http://www.woodenboat.com/forum//showthread.php?t=62596) His link goes nowhere and the Devlin (http://www.devlinboat.com/homebuiltgibson.htm) link required too much of my time.
I've been considering doing a set of plans and construction drawings of a skiff similar to the Williams (or Brockway), because I like the exercise, but Old Warf sells plans (http://www.oldwharf.com/ow_buyplans.html) and has lots of pictures (just omit the last two feet from their 20' and you've got 18), so I might hold off.

However, I'd be happy to share some construction details I've seen.

Looking deeper here's another link (http://www.yaimkool.com/). This is as close to a real Brockway as I've gotten. My opinion is my own but this boat lacks the sheer of its northern kin and the frames appear slighter. The anecdotes of the Brockway's are fun.

[Ted Webber]

Plans for the 14-0 Brockway Skiff can be found on Gavin Atkin's INTHEBOATSHED.NET.

[markmoseley]

You can get the free 14 ft Brockway plans here. They will also send you a free copy of the 16 ft one.

www.soundschool.com/brockwayfull.pdf

[KingKuvas]

You should check out Lady Bug Boats Ken will give you his cell # so if during construction you have any questions he will be there to answer he also cut me a sliver of his stem to use as a template when i was cutting mine just a great guy who whants you to build a boat.

[KingKuvas]

http://www.ladybugboats.com/photogallery/photo23625/2008_0722westonvid00010_13.jpg here is a lady bug