A skiff design of my own

[jsjpd1]

Hi Everybody,

I was inspired by the first design challenge (and the desire to have a new skiff) to try and put together a skiff design of my own. This is the result so far after much head scratching and erasing.

http://s646.photobucket.com/albums/uu186/jsjpd1/?action=view&current=091115_87.jpg&t=1258425215657

http://s646.photobucket.com/albums/uu186/jsjpd1/?action=view&current=091115_86.jpg
lwl is 14'6"
beam at wl is 4'8"
Max Length is 16' and max beam is 5'3"

It will be used on the inside passage in Southeast Alaska, so fairly sheltered but it can get pretty choppy in a hurry. I am shooting for about a 15 or 20 horse outboard. I'd like to go with copper riveted clinker construction. We have a good local source for yellow cedar planking here.

I would appreciate any feedback you care to give.

Thanks for looking,
Jim

[Thorne]

Looks a bit similar to Welsford's lovely Rifleman design, with much the same design and power parameters. I like the slightly raked transom on yours but think you may want a teensy bit more sheer -

[jsjpd1]

Thanks for the imput Thorne. I do like a nice strong sheer line. Originally I started with a much stronger sheer and then shaved it down. Perhaps I took a little too much off.

[kenjamin]

Looks like a great skiff! The 20HP Honda four-stroke would be great on this boat. (No stock in Honda. Just from looking at the specs, it seems to be a great motor.)

[ShagRock]

I second Kenjamin's opinion..that's a lovely design! I really like the rake you gave to the bow. It's similar to wooden speed boats built in Newfoundland. The hard round turn from bottom to side gives the skiff more beauty and reflects a more traditional design. I too would vote for a 'little more' sheer.

[johngsandusky]

Not a designer or a motorboater, but it looks really good.

[Daniel Noyes]

Looks good, about right to me.
Quite similar to the now famous Jericho Bay Lobster Skiff that appeared in the advertisements for the contest...

Here's my entry in the Design challenge 18' skiff
Dan

[switters]

Dont know much about boat design but I have done a bit of recreational fishing in the inside passage on 18-20' skiffs. The first thing I thought was could use a little more up front, and then Dan posted his, that is exactly the type of look I was thinking. I've been out several mornings when the passage between bays was usually 4-foot or better swells and a high bow helps keep you dry.

But good on ya for getting into your own design, and it's a fine looking boat.

Also, honda is well supported up in that area and the lodges I've fish out of swear by them.

[jtb]

I like your design and I think it would look good planked lapstrake. Have you thought about plank thickness yet? It does remind me of the Jericho Bay Lobster skiff, and I've wondered about that in lapstrake too.

[MiddleAgesMan]

Since weight is usually a critical factor in small boats I'm surprised how quickly (and easily) people suggest a heavy 4-stroke motor for small craft when a 2-stroke model of the same horsepower will be 30-40 percent lighter. I looked at a lot of motors for the Simmons I'm a'building and I couldn't bring myself to committing to carrying an extra 50-70 pounds around just to get a (more complex) 4-stroke motor. As long as the E-tecs and good used 2-strokers are around I'll have to take a pass on the Hondas.

[jsjpd1]

Thanks for the response guys. I definitely fall into the traditional camp when it comes to astheics and have been influenced quite a bit by the traditional wooden skiffs from up around Newfoundland that I saw on one of ShagRock's threads and of course that Jerico Bay skiff is one fine looking boat. So, it looks like I'm back to the drawing board to add a little more to the sheer. I'll post the new version as soon as it's done.

jtb- I was thinking 3/8" planking would be about right with 3/4" steam bent frames every 5"-6". I was looking at a 10' clinker skiff, that wass built in the '30s, I have hanging in my boat shed and it's a little lighter than that, but not by much.

The biggest dilema I'm facing right now (aside from do I have my lines right) is the choice of wood for the build. I would really like to use all local wood but that limits my chioces quite a bit. Yellow cedar is available and a good choice for planking so I'm good there, but what about the framing and back bone? We don't have any suitable hardwoods around here or doug fir, which would probably be my first choice. I do have access to a large pile of sitka spurce lumber thats been well seasoned (going on forty years now) in my Dad's back yard. I worked great for the mast I made for my Caledonia Yawl and it's light and very strong. The down side is that if you look at it sideways it starts to rot.
BTW - That's a nice looking skiff you've drawn up Dan.
Jim

[jsjpd1]

"Since weight is usually a critical factor in small boats I'm surprised how quickly (and easily) people suggest a heavy 4-stroke motor for small craft when a 2-stroke model of the same horsepower will be 30-40 percent lighter. I looked at a lot of motors for the Simmons I'm a'building and I couldn't bring myself to committing to carrying an extra 50-70 pounds around just to get a (more complex) 4-stroke motor. As long as the E-tecs and good used 2-strokers are around I'll have to take a pass on the Hondas. "

I have to agree with you on the weight issue. My Dad replaced his old Johnson 8hp two stroke with a fourstroke 9.9hp Yamaha and that new motor has got to be twice as heavy as the old one. One the other hand that fourstroke is a whole lot quieter and starats alot easier too.

[jsjpd1]

Hi Everybody,
It took alittle while, but I managed to rework the sheer line. Here is the result.




What do you think?

Jim

[Lewisboats]

TerryLL..look at the lines aft...it is designed to plane and would be tedious to row for any significant distance...the transom would be dragging a hole in the water. He could actually go to about 50 hp if he remoted the steering and controls to a console about midships either on centerline or to one side or the other. Personally I would go with on centerline.

[jsjpd1]

TerryLL you are certainly right about the need for a backup way to get home. I wasn't thinking about that when I drew that transom, but I'm thinking about it now. I've been on more than one trip where something went haywire and the kicker is what got us home. And oars are just a good idea on any boat this size.

[jsjpd1]

You're right about putting the main on the center line. I'm going to redraw the transom to accomodate a kicker.

[Lewisboats]

Ah...I see...I misinterpreted and thought you were suggesting his main power be oars or a small motor...boy...this crow sure tastes good....num...num

[Bruce46]

In looking over your lines drawings the only potential problem I see is that you have shown a skeg extending to the transom. I believe that this could cause cavitation problems.