Bay River Skiff 17

[SScoville]

I've just ordered the plans for this boat from B&B yacht designs. Other than a builder in Poland, I have been unable to find anyone else who has built one. Anyone on here built one?


http://www.bandbyachtdesigns.com/brs.htm

[davebrown]

i am interested to learn about your progress. i am torn on my next build between the mythical shearwater 18 and a 17 foot(ish) slight V sailing skiff. the shearwater is more interesting but with each boat i learn so much about how to not build a boat, i might need one more build before i tackle white's masterpiece. plus i love the looks of those sailing skiffs. thus, i hope you will post pictures of your build.

[SScoville]

I'll post some pictures once I make some progress. So far, I 've only scarfed a couple of panels.

[chicagoross]

The one that "cruised Baja" probably wasn't shipped from Poland - maybe you can track that one down.

[SScoville]

That was the BRS 15 that cruised Baja. I have found a few of those. It's the 17 that seems very rare.

[Ray Frechette Jr]

Have you asked Graham and Carla at B&B?

They are generally your best source for knowing who has built and where.

Curious as to why you chose the BRS 17 as opposed to the CoreSound 17.

What swayed your decision making to the BRS?

[SScoville]

I have not asked Graham and Carla yet. I chose the BRS over the CS for a couple of reasons. 1. I want to finish the boat by the end of the summer and the BRS construction appears to be simpler and faster to build(fewer decks, primarily). 2. The BRS should cost less in materials. 3. I want to use the boat as more than a sailboat and as I understand the two, the BRS rows and motors better than the CS. After reading about the boat that traveled the Sea of Cortez, I don't think there's anything I'll do with the boat that the CS will do much better, other than keep me dry. Note, however, that I'm not even a novice sailor yet.

[Ray Frechette Jr]

The forepeak deck on the BRS is shorter and less framing than the CS, and the sidedecks and coaming of the CS is more than the BRS.

As a pro builder of the CS I would guestimate a day savings from coaming elimination, and another days saving from sidedeck elimination and foredeck shortening.

So figure about 16 to 20 hrs saved. Other thanthat there should not be a whole lot of building difference between the two.

The BRS does have flatter forefoot sections . I don't know if you have the 6 mmto 9 mm transition for the hull bottom as you do on the CS. If you use 9mm for entire hull bottom that would be another 8 hrs saved over CS.

The BRS is better rowing primarily due to ergonomics as sidedecks are eliminated.

however the downside to side deck and coaming elimination is about downflooding angle

The CS was created to allow it to venture further offshore and hence the larger foredeck and sidedeck coaming addition.

As to powering, I don't know that a stock BRS si any better than a CS. Perhaps Tom Lathrop can comment on this.

I do know Graham redrew the BRS to a Bay River Runner for planing performance under power. And it is a different hull form than Bay River Skiff.

[Tom Lathrop]

BRS will be a bit easier to build, probably more than Ray imagined. The forefoot of the CS is more trouble, with scarfing two different thicknesses of ply and added stringers. No big deal, either way.

Under power, they are quite different.. 3 - 4 hp is about the limit for the CS while the BRS117 should handle a 9.9 hp and make over 10 mph with it. Changes made to the BRS to create a BRR is only straightening out the aft buttock lines to make them straight and parallel. Of course all the sailing stuff is eliminated also. Thus the Bay River Runner is very happy with a 25hp motor and can handle larger ones as well. A BRS gives the best combination of row/power/sail capability of any boat I know of while the CS is a sailboat and the BRR is a powerboat.