12' v-bottom skiff recommendations

[DuoDex]

Ahoy denizens of WoodenBoat Forums!

I am a long-time sailor, etc, who is in need of a small utility skiff. I would like to build it, rather than purchase a Whaler or something...would give me more experience and something to do in the winter.

Ideally it would have the following characteristics:

• Below 14' (even better if 12')
• Can mount 15-20hp outboard
• V-hull
• Solidly built
• Excellent stability characteristics. Speed less important, although being able to get up on a plane with two or three passengers on board would be nice
• Plywood or glass construction
• Bilge sump

Ideally there is a set of plans out there that fits some or all of these features, but I'll be darned if I can find them! I am a reasonably skilled carpenter and have several friends who have much better skills than I do, so I'm less worried about complexity...

I have already considered and rejected a couple of suggestions from said friends, including a Brockway/LYS (find their speed characteristics very poor) and a Garvey... A little more reading suggests a Tolman skiff, but the smallest plans I can find are quite large.

Does anyone have any recommendations for plans? Am I setting my goals too high? Should I give more details?

Thanks very much for your time.

[Christopher Morgan]

The 12' Jessy Skiff from Graham Byrnes seems like it might be a good fit: https://bandbyachtdesigns.com/jessy12

The max HP is 9.9. But if you want to use a bigger motor, there is a 15' model, too. It looks like both models have a 8* deadrise.

[Breakaway]

The Brockway and LYS are flat-bottomed not V-bottomed.
15-20-hp is a lot for a 12 footer.
A 12 footer is kind of small for a V bottom.

Those three out of the way, take a look at:

1. Little Moby 14'6" V-bottom. Plans from our host: https://www.woodenboatstore.com/prod...2b9fc214&_ss=r

Screen Shot 2023-02-15 at 10.01.03 PM.jpg

Or, Rifleman, 14'9" https://www.woodenboat.com/boat-plans-kits/rifleman
This is by Forumite John Welsford.

Screen Shot 2023-02-15 at 10.04.11 PM.jpg

Kevin

[swoody126]

¿ Tango Skiff ?

sw

[DuoDex]

The 12' Jessy Skiff from Graham Byrnes seems like it might be a good fit: https://bandbyachtdesigns.com/jessy12

The max HP is 9.9. But if you want to use a bigger motor, there is a 15' model, too. It looks like both models have a 8* deadrise.

Great suggestion, thanks! I'll look more into this design - I wonder if it would be possible to create a watertight compartment/deck a few inches above the hull so as to avoid standing on the hull itself. I do need at least 15HP as I occasionally move some floats around (and really 15HP is a bit small)...maybe I'll be one of those people who deliberately over-engine their boats...

The Brockway and LYS are flat-bottomed not V-bottomed.
15-20-hp is a lot for a 12 footer.
A 12 footer is kind of small for a V bottom.

Those three out of the way, take a look at:

1. Little Moby 14'6" V-bottom. Plans from our host: https://www.woodenboatstore.com/prod...2b9fc214&_ss=r

Screen Shot 2023-02-15 at 10.01.03 PM.jpg

Or, Rifleman, 14'9" https://www.woodenboat.com/boat-plans-kits/rifleman
This is by Forumite John Welsford.

Screen Shot 2023-02-15 at 10.04.11 PM.jpg

Kevin

Thanks a bunch. I do know that 12' is a bit small, but I am limited to it - can't keep vessels over 12' on the dock! The Brockway style (and LYS, and I think the Ladybugs as well) struggle in any kind of sea in my experience, especially at speed, although I know they have good stability. Maybe I should just bite the bullet...

Same thing for the outboard - need at least 15HP as I mentioned above.

Liking the look of both of those suggestions, particularly the Little Moby. Maybe I could get the plans and scale down around 15%...reconfigure the cockpit for a tiller outboard...would prefer to have as much open space in the cockpit as reasonable...or am I being unrealistic? Please let me know! Same thing goes as above for the desire to avoid standing on an inclined deck/hull as well.

¿ Tango Skiff ?

sw

Looks good...another one to add to the list and keep researching.

Has anyone here had any experience with the Almaguin 400? http://marine.marsh-design.com/content/almaguin-400

I like the high sides and it looks like it wouldn't be impossible to add a deck...


Thanks for all your help. I am very new to wooden boatbuilding although I do have some experience with pontoons & steel hulls so any advice is appreciated!

[coelcanth]

what about an Amesbury type dory skiff ?
i think the small fiberglass ones are around 12 feet

[DuoDex]

what about an Amesbury type dory skiff ?
i think the small fiberglass ones are around 12 feet

Not really my style and I am the last person to be working on a fiberglass hull as well. Very little experience with glassing and don't have the space to do it justice...

[David G]

Here's a plans index from Duckworks you might be interested in perusing --

https://duckworksmagazine.com/r/plansindex.htm

[koederfischgriller]

Hi,

Mark Bowdidge´s EDGE TRACKER 365

https://bowdidgemarinedesigns.com/edgetracker-365/

18° Deadrise + Waterballast

best bet i guess

[MushCreek]

Check out the Sponge Docks 13, kind of a wooden version of a Whaler. I've never seen one in person, but it looks like a good utility to me.

https://www.bedardyachtdesign.com/de...ocks-skiff-13/

[adktripper]

Another potential option https://devlinboat.com/product/oolichan-13-plans/

[wizbang 13]

Here’s something from left field, maybe consider redirecting a dead RIB.
You get a well proven bottom that is made for a 15yammie.
I see a lot of funky attempts to do that here in the West Indies.
But also a few wonderful jobs.
I swear,one more year of Covid I woulda done it myself,
Anyway… I think with creative SnG construction, based on a few scale matt board models….!
Bruce
edit… I meant to say “resurecting “, but redirecting works.

[Dave Wright]

Hi,

Mark Bowdidge´s EDGE TRACKER 365

https://bowdidgemarinedesigns.com/edgetracker-365/

18° Deadrise + Waterballast

best bet i guess

You've provided the very best candidate that meets the poster's requirements, and more. Good suggestion!

[DuoDex]

Hi folks.

Thanks so much for the suggestions - lots of good info and designs that I would have never found in a hundred years out there.

Right now I'm really liking the look of the Edgetracker 365 and also the Magnum which both seem to fit my needs. https://bowdidgemarinedesigns.com/magnum-12/

What is the exact term for the deck/sole that the Magnum has over the bilge with the inspection port in it? I really like to be able to stand on a level deck (well, at least level in flat calm).

Are there any designs without an aft bench (seems to take away space from the cockpit)? Can I cut down the aft bulkhead without severely impacting strength?

Finally, I'm also still considering downsizing the Little Moby by about 10-15% as I like the sawn frames more than the plywood frames - better strength?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puBflncD7mI

I am going to talk to some friends who have some boatbuilding experience and see what they have to say tomorrow I think.

[Matt young]

Paul Fisher's Sand Martin 12. You can lay her out however you want, and takes a 15hp. He wrote she will do 15 knots with a 10hp. Looks like a sturdy simple skiff.

https://www.selway-fisher.com/Mcup16.htm
502A0FBF-D531-4EC6-A1D2-C78485509079_4_5005_c.jpeg

[Don MacLeod]

Suggest a look down under.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeeBH294v6I

Here in NZ we have had a history of 12 footer vee bottom powered by 20hp outboards.
Unfortunately the 12' tinny has meant no one has to build a boat.
Here are two good choices both simple ply over sawn frames construction.

The Hartley Spearfish - outboard version https://hartley-boats.com/product/spearfish-12/

The Pelin Nomad - can be run with a 30hp, but 20 hp is plenty. Seaworthy little boat
Build log on Wooden Boat - http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...ot-Nomad-build
Build blog for a 30hp engine - http://scottjcarpenter.blogspot.com/
Plans are available here - https://www.pelinplans.co.nz/boat-plans/dinghies/aquarius-nomad-12-detail

From Australia Bowdidge has some proven designs worth looking at. I like the 365 which has an 18 degree deep vee.
https://bowdidgemarinedesigns.com/dinghy-designs/

[DuoDex]

Hello, I am back after a delivery trip down south (warm weather, I wonder why I live in New England sometimes...)

Lots of great advice, thanks to all.

Anyways, there seems to be a lot of excellent advice here. Here is an important question:

As far as I can tell, none of these designs have a flat, waterline-level deck. How difficult would it be to add a secure, watertight deck which creates a bilge compartment (with access port to bilge below) approximately at the waterline, or are there any designs that do this? Obviously I would need to buy extra ply, etc, but my knees aren't what they used to be and I'd rather not be standing on an angled deck...

If possible, I would like to put a self-bailer at the stern, but obviously this would not work without said deck.

Thanks...

[wizbang 13]

The “design” in post 12 has all these things .

[Don MacLeod]

DuoDex, the best boat that is designed with a flat deck and bilge and water ballast, is the Bowdidge Edgetracker.
The boat is designed this way so does not require extra ply, and the weight of the ply is taken into account with the design.
This page in this forum shows the Edgetracker 426 (14 footer)
http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...Marine-Designs

[DuoDex]

The “design” in post 12 has all these things .

Thanks! It's hard to tell as the link only has pictures of the hull exterior.

DuoDex, the best boat that is designed with a flat deck and bilge and water ballast, is the Bowdidge Edgetracker.
The boat is designed this way so does not require extra ply, and the weight of the ply is taken into account with the design.
This page in this forum shows the Edgetracker 426 (14 footer)
http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...Marine-Designs

Excellent.

Look for an AAR / build report in the coming months!