Skiff Plans

[bluewatermd]

I have contemplated building a boat for a long time now. I have a decent woodworking background and lots of boating experience. I am looking for a boat to be used mainly for inshore, and maybe some flats, fishing in SW FL and the FL Keys. I was almost set on building the Bateau FS17 which fits my needs almost perfectly, especially if I lowered the freeboard a bit. The thing I can't get over is the hard chine plywood design of most of the designs you see online. I truly believe you have to love your boat, and if I am going to spend the time, effort, and $$$ to build a boat, I can't have any reservations when it comes to the design.

In terms of styling, i have always been drawn to the classic mahogany runabouts, down east style center consoles, flaired bows, and tumble home transoms. I am especially fond of the West Pointer/ Ocean Pointer, but am looking for something a little smaller. My ideal boat would be a 17' west pointer with a slightly shortened beam and freeboard. I need the lower freeboard as this is going to be used as a flats boat, and I want to minimize wind effects on the boat for easier poling.

Specs:
Length 16-18'
Beam 6'-7'
Draft 6-8"
HP 40-60? (30 kts is enough)

As far as construction methods, I am thinking strip or cold molded. The reason I chose these methods are for astetics, as I can get better contours than with plywood. I know these aren't as easy as building a plywood boat, but they have been sucessfully completed by amateurs before.

I would appreciate any advice on boats that might fit my needs, or suggestions on the possibility of modifying the west pointer would be appreciated.

[Rick Tyler]

Hard chines work well on planing power boats. Curves at the chine just mean more power to plane. Are you interested in the curves of the topsides or is it really the chines you are bothered about? For fuel-efficient flats boats I don't think any active designer has more experience than Mertens. That FS17 certainly won't need 60hp to get to 30 knots, and it draws three inches less water. If I were you would be torn between the looks of the Pointer and the high probability that the FS17 is better suited to your use. More functional or more curvy good lucks? It's a tough one.

Good luck. I can't help much, though. The only designer I know of with plans focused on skinny water fishing boats is Jacques Mertens.

[pipefitter]

I was faced with the exact same parameters. What you are basically describing is a bay boat. I wasn't too crazy about the boxy stitch and glue computer generated designs. Something about knock offs or adaptations to that extreme seem to lose something in the translation. The lines and finished project too crispy perhaps.

I also didn't want an all out extremely shallow flat bottom because fishing in the cold weather with wet feet isn't much fun either when the wind gets up. I needed a boat that poled easily, got on plane quickly and was a confident boat when the weather gets up. That's a lot to ask for I know but I have found the closest thing with my Simmons Sea Skiff 18. The parts can be the same as the originals, including the tumble home that you like. I adapted some modern structural considerations but the essence of the boat is really unchanged.

Here it is at home on the flats. And when it gets to 2-3 footers on the way home?, I can deal with it on plane while many boats are bow up squatting in the stern to keep from taking waves over the bow and at most I may get a touch of wind blown spray but even that is mostly able to be outrun.

http://home.earthlink.net/~tigmaster41/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/splash31.jpg

[arcadiainc]

To each his own. My needs are similar to yours. Except I wanted more seaworthyness. There is always the Tolman skiff. An obscure design I found that caught my eye is the Baby Blue. A 60 yo design by Luther Tarbox. My playground is north west Florida. Also I wanted a slightly smaller boat that could be launched from unimproved boat ramps. Something 15-16 feet with a maximum of 35-40 hp. Even thought about one of John Gardner's simi-dories (too slow). Ultimately I found a 49 yo Herter's Quebec. Even has a soft chine and that lovely tumblehome. Just random thought and not directly applicable to your wants. However it is my solution to a similar problem. Hope this sheds some insight.

[bluewatermd]

I appreciate everyone's suggestions.

Rick - To answer your question, I think I am more concerned about the curves of the topsides than the hard chines. At the same time, a lot of these boats with hard chines just look too boxy for me. From bateau.com the FS17 draws 7" so that isn't any shallower than the Ocean Pointer. As far as functionality, this is going to be an inshore boat to be opperated in relatively sheltered waters. I am not looking for high performance, nor do I have a need for it. It just has to take me a few miles through calm water to go fishing. I would choose looks over performance here.

Pipefitter - I have looked at the simmons and especially love your variation of it. Absolutely beautiful boat, and it fits my needs almost perfectly. I agree in that I am looking for a bay boat. I would however prefer a boat without the motor well inside the boat.

[pipefitter]

I appreciate everyone's suggestions.

Rick - To answer your question, I think I am more concerned about the curves of the topsides than the hard chines. At the same time, a lot of these boats with hard chines just look too boxy for me. From bateau.com the FS17 draws 7" so that isn't any shallower than the Ocean Pointer. As far as functionality, this is going to be an inshore boat to be opperated in relatively sheltered waters. I am not looking for high performance, nor do I have a need for it. It just has to take me a few miles through calm water to go fishing. I would choose looks over performance here.

Pipefitter - I have looked at the simmons and especially love your variation of it. Absolutely beautiful boat, and it fits my needs almost perfectly. I agree in that I am looking for a bay boat. I would however prefer a boat without the motor well inside the boat.

The motor well was a concern of mine as well and it's one of those things that you either like or don't. One day, we were out in my buddy's 16ft double wide jon and I hooked a 40" plus snook on 12lb tackle and the damn thing took me around the lower unit and cut me off and it wasn't the first time it had happened. Anyone that fishes for these beasts knows how adept they are at using any thing for a cut off point and how often they take their last run right under the boat when you think you have them beat. Not trying to convince you to change your mind but that I found a few advantages in the design after the fact. Also, When I am poling from back there, I can sit atop the motor and push pole one handed just kicking it along all relaxed like. Other than aesthetics, I don't really look at it as if the motor is in the boat. The boat could just as easily have been a 16ft'r with the engine on the stern but I now have a little added room of being able to get further back without stepping out of the boat which is really advantageous when fighting bigger fish.

Thank you for the compliments and I hope you find a design that suits your needs as I went through the same things and it took me about 3 years to settle on the Simmons.

[nonsense]

Like you I have a fondness for the Pointer style hull, but my workspace says that Ocean Pointer is too large. The second volume of Building Classic small craft shows a Downeast Work boat roughly 18' x 6' that might fit your needs.

[Spokaloo]

Actually, there are a few ways you can cheat with that FS and get the best of both worlds. If you take the panel dimensions for the hull normally, then cut your sides but leave them about 12" proud on the sheer and a little on the bow, you have the room to make what you want.

Give them slits at about 6" intervals from the tip of the bow to roughly the location of the console. Stitch them loosely, then shape them with forms internally. You can actually cram an almost carolina-style bow into plywood given this pseudo-strip method. If shes not contorting to your liking, reslit between each slit, dropping your strip width to 3". You can manipulate a ton of flare into the boat, its just going to add a little fairing to the project.

If you really love the boat, see if JMM will send you the information on making the bow of the CS23 or the FL26. Both boats have flare worked into their topsides to make them less boxy.

As Rick says, definitely keep the hard chines, you will get a tremendous boost in performance v. a round chine boat, no matter how tight the radius. I love the look of the Ocean Pointer, but she doesn't have the planing performance, won't run as shallow on a plane, or make the best use of your gallon of $5 gas.

E

[Kermit]

Oh, THAT kind of skiff. I was thinkin' oars...

[RodB]

Is this skiff too boxy? Tracy Obrien (tracyobrien.com) designed this for me and it would be simple to have him design you a skiff that exactly met your requirements. Say, you wanted lower freeboard or wanted it longer or shorter, more beam... "V" hull, side console..etc. FYI, I wanted exactly what you say you want... a very shallow running skiff for fishing the shallow flats of the Texas coast. I had it developed in 16 and 18 foot versions. My skiff is powered by a jet pump, so I went higher in horsepower. If I wanted a craft like this lighter and powered by say a 50-60 hp outboard... I would lower the freeboard and lighten the construction some... but still for shallow running I would run a jet pump or a tunnel setup.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/Prestoboat/susan%20const%204/TxflatssunsetportOstakedout.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/Prestoboat/susan%20const%204/Texskiff-firstlines.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/Prestoboat/susan%20const%204/txflatsfloatbow.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/Prestoboat/susan%20const%204/txflatsbowon-72.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/Prestoboat/susan%20const%204/txflatsJet-stern-inwater-72.jpg

Good luck,

RodB

[Banjo]

How about this stylish little runabout?

http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/rifleman/index.htm
http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/jw/rifleman/index.htm
http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/rifleman/riflemanlines.gif

She's a little smaller than your criteria but send an email to John, possibly she could be scaled up a touch for a larger boat.
Pro's; small motor (less fuel used, less cost, less weight to tow), looks curvy and traditional topsides, planes easily with less horsepower, easy to build and maintain.
Cons; none that I can think of :)