Let's build a Jericho Bay Lobster Skiff

[Oldad]

Rich, I mounted the controller on my Peeler Skiff vertically and I must say I was not crazy about it. Yes, you don't have to lean forward, but it is not comfortable this way either. If I had it to do over... Of course vertically the cables come right off the bottom, makes it easier to run them on a center console so there is that advantage but it does not translate to easy use.

[Rich Jones]

Here is the mock-up I've made.
Heeding Grant's advice, I'll play around with different angles for the controller before making a final decision. Right now, it is not quite vertical.
I'll sit in the boat tomorrow, envisioning myself zipping over the water and see how it feels.

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How do you like my wheel? A couple of coats of paint, hook up the steering cable and I'm good to go!

[Garret]

Don't forget to make vroom-vroom noises while you're testing it out!

[Rich Jones]

Don't forget to make vroom-vroom noises while you're testing it out!

Remember, it's only going to get a 25 hp engine, so I'm not making vroom noises, but rather putt-putt-putt sounds...

I had the adjustable helm chair set at 14" and it seemed a bit high, so I lowered it to 12" and cut 2" off the console. Seems much better.

[Gib Etheridge]

The wheel needs a suicide knob which will be useful doing slaloms and finding dead center.

Is the wiring long enough to reach the outboard?

[Rich Jones]

The wheel needs a suicide knob which will be useful doing slaloms and finding dead center.

Is the wiring long enough to reach the outboard?

Yep, wiring is plenty long enough.

[Rich Jones]

I picked up the new trailer today. The dealer was two hours away but the only dealer around with the trailer I wanted in stock. All other dealers would have to order it with no promise that it would get here by spring due to Covid delays.
My dealer knew this and charged accordingly. But, the trailer is at my house and ready to go.
It is a wet, sloppy day and the trailer was covered with frozen slush by the time I got home.
When I designed my garage I put in both a cold and hot water faucet for the hose. So, ten minutes of hosing it down with hot water did the trick. The trailer will now live in a snow bank until spring.

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[hawkeye54]

Congratulations on your latest acquistion, Rich - I can't tell from the photo, is it conventional springs or a torsion suspension ?




Rick

[Rich Jones]

Congratulations on your latest acquistion, Rich - I can't tell from the photo, is it conventional springs or a torsion suspension ?




Rick

Thanks. They are conventional springs. 1800 lb. capacity, more then twice what I need, but it's the length of the trailer that I needed. With a wooden boat, you can't have the back end hanging off the trailer.

Here is the center console going together. Cleats glued with epoxy to the plywood sides and held by temporary screws, then the end panels screwed/glued on. Cross cleats will hold a shelf.
Once the epoxy is dry, the screws come out and I round off the corners before fiberglassing the whole thing.
The top and face plate for steering wheel will be cherry wood. Those, the transom and a few pieces of trim will be the only varnished items on the boat.

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[Rich Jones]

The center console and both seats have been glassed and sanded. I just finished putting on a layer of fairing compound.
This marks a milestone: I'm done with the epoxy/fiberglass!
Eight gallons of epoxy! The material list that comes with the plans calls for four gallons. While my boat has a lot of interior structure the the prototype didn't, I still don't know how they built it using only four gallons. I do believe their numbers are off a bit.
The next time you'll see these components, they'll be in the boat.

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[Breakaway]

Hey, Rich, just something to consider. Many center console boats are best run standing up unless you are trolling. The helm placement is generally further aft than aboard a windshield boat and this can make visibility while seated challenging.

But if your control is comfortable for sitting, it might be less than optimal while standing. Having to reach below belt level to operate the control lever is clumsy ( to me).

Kevin


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[Rich Jones]

^ That's one of the reasons why I lowered the forward sheer on the boat. I've heard from other owners that visibility is not so good with the high bow.
We'll see how it goes. I can always re-position the controls if I find that standing is better.
I'll just be screwing the center console in place instead of with epoxy just in case I want to rebuild it differently.

[Breakaway]

^ Gotcha. Sounds like a plan.

Kevin

[Rich Jones]

Chugging right along here.
Seen here are the hatch rainwater drains put in place.
Second shot shows the center piece of the seat glued in place and shows how the drains work. They drain both fore and aft.

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[Rich Jones]

Foredeck seat fillets done. Hatch in place, just needs hinges. Fillets are done on the center seat also.
I'm now working on mounting the controls on the center console and figuring out
the best way to rout the control cables/wires to the engine.
I'm also having second thoughts about adding a cockpit floor. Added expense, added labor and added weight.
I've only seen one Jericho Bay skiff with a cockpit floor. I did some calculations and I don't think the floatation I wanted to put under the floor would make that much of a difference. I've got some in the bow compartment and will also put a bit in the center locker and perhaps have some room in the center console for more. The boat, being of wood, would float and I just need enough floatation to support the 160 lb. engine. The prototype built by WoodenBoat had no floatation at all.

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[amish rob]

Chugging right along here.
Seen here are the hatch rainwater drains put in place.
Second shot shows the center piece of the seat glued in place and shows how the drains work. They drain both fore and aft.

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Geez. You gotta horse trough in your boat? Luxury, man.

Inside’s coming along!

[Rich Jones]

I had just enough scraps of Khaya left over from the transom and keel to glue up the two halves of the breasthook.
Should be fun shaping this big chunk of wood.
Angles and rolling bevels and all that boat-buildy stuff.
Wish me luck!


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[Garret]

Luck!

"boat-buildy stuff" huh? Beyond my pay grade. Oh wait, I don't get paid for any of my wood work...

[KenStocker]

"boat-buildy stuff" , that might be my new mantra!

Ken

[Rich Jones]

It seems that some folks are confused about the term "boat-buildy stuff' so I took a few minutes to look it up.

Boat-Buildy Stuff:
A term used by retired house carpenters as they desperately try to cobble together a boat without the use of the familiar words straight, level, plumb or square. Anything to do with the mysteries of the ancient art of boat building.

[Rich Jones]

Is it a blank for a breast hook or a model of the latest stealth fighter jet?
Could be either...
I hope to get it shaped tomorrow.

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[Gib Etheridge]

Book matchy stuff.

[Garret]

I particularly like the free-form plywood base.

[Rich Jones]

I particularly like the free-form plywood base.

That's one of the station molds. I then cut the breast hook patterns from it to endow it with more curves!
Maybe I'll paint it purple and sell it as modern art.

[Rich Jones]

Book matchy stuff.

I never noticed that until you mentioned it.
It's just how the limited wood I had on hand worked out.

[Rich Jones]

The boat cradle had a flat tire last night.
Climbing into the boat, I heard the splintering of wood and the cradle lurched and dropped.
Seems the way I attached the wheels was not quite up to the task. Either that or I have to go on a diet...

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[Rich Jones]

On a brighter note, the breasthook is installed.
Cutting the compound angle to accept the inwales was a head-scratcher but I finally bumbled my way through it.
Now, it's on to quarter knees and inwales followed by the helm console.

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[Liberty53]

Looking awesome! Nice work on the breasthook.

-Derek

[Oldad]

Beautiful as always, Rich. Really enjoying the build (both of us).

[Garret]

Beautiful as always, Rich. Really enjoying the build (both of us).

Me 3!

[hawkeye54]

The boat cradle had a flat tire last night.
Climbing into the boat, I heard the splintering of wood and the cradle lurched and dropped.
Seems the way I attached the wheels was not quite up to the task. Either that or I have to go on a diet...

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Rich, it must have been those unaccounted-for 4 gallons of epoxy !!!

[Breakaway]

Either that or I have to go on a diet...

Well, as the Forum's most prolific boat builder, your construction expertise is hardly a question!

Kevin

[Rich Jones]

Well, as the Forum's most prolific boat builder, your construction expertise is hardly a question!

Kevin

Well, let us hope that my boat building skills surpass my boat cradle building skills, otherwise I'm in big trouble when I get out on the lake.

I ordered the steering gear today and hope to have the boat at the outboard dealer by the end of the month for engine installation. I know nothing of those things and will gladly pay the experts to mount the engine and get it properly set up including the correct propeller.

For all the kind words, I thank you, gentlemen.

[Oldad]

Well, let us hope that my boat building skills surpass my boat cradle building skills, otherwise I'm in big trouble when I get out on the lake.

I ordered the steering gear today and hope to have the boat at the outboard dealer by the end of the month for engine installation. I know nothing of those things and will gladly pay the experts to mount the engine and get it properly set up including the correct propeller.

For all the kind words, I thank you, gentlemen.

Rich, you might want to see if you can get the motor holes template from the dealer or make your own from the motor if you have it so you can pre drill the holes and seal them well with epoxy before taking to the dealer. I don't think most dealers are concerned with protecting the transom from rot other than a squirt of some sealer into the freshly drilled hole before inserting the bolts.
Knowing you, I imagine you have already planned for this.

[Rich Jones]

Slowly but surely, things are getting done.
Quarter knees are in and I installed a lump of ash I had lying around as the helm pedestal base.
Inwales tomorrow.

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