skiff conversion

[pasty63]

I would like a 16 to 18 ft open boat to carry camping gear and 2 to 3 crew on trips up into inlets on the coast of BC - perhaps even southeast AK at some point. During the summer, we look forward to taking our 32ft cruiser up to the Broughtons or maybe even around the corner to Rivers Inlet, but find the 10 ft avon dink too small and under powered to make any excursions. It's nice to find a good anchorage and let the "big" boat sit while we go hiking or wildlife watching. Many of our friends tow whalers - but I find them a bit wet (and expensive). I am pondering the idea of picking up a outboard run-about in the 17 ft range and removing the windshield, seating and any soft surfaces - then build in a helm further aft with a large open space forward for a folding canvas enclosure. I think a boat with a closed bow would be a good candidate - as it would be a nice place to stow gear. I would like to be able to cruise at 20 kts with fair efficiency - so maybe one of the newer injected 4 strokes in 60 or 70 hp would be the power option. Has anyone performed a conversion like this - any suggestions?

[KCook]

Why not a Center Console fishing boat, just add bow enclosure? There are a lot of CC boats less expensive than the Whalers.

Kelly Cook

[sal's Dad]

You should get a copy of Dave Getchell's Outboard Boater's Handbook.
http://www.amazon.com/Outboard-Boate.../dp/0070230536

He goes into some detail on the ways to convert a small (under 20') outboard for cruising or camp cruising. As I recall, his preferred boat for a Labrador trip, and the Maine coast, was a Lund Alaskan, with a smallish tiller-steered outboard.

Sal's Dad

[pasty63]

That looks like a great book! I'm starting to look more toward a tiller controlled boat as I will always have gear or crew that I can place forward to balance the load for planing. The console it seems, no matter where it's placed, takes up too much room in a small boat.

-.b

[sal's Dad]

I don't really understand center consoles, but then I have never had one.

There are lots of little tricks for weight distribution - I use an extension handle, of black platic pipe... Moving crew and/or cargo around (a long gas hose can do wonders).

Getchell addresses this kind of thing, and puts a good dose of common sense back into boating. I give this book as a gift to friends getting into boats.

Sal's Dad

[pasty63]

I have had a 14 ft Alumacraft with 18hp Evinrude that we've been using on lakes in the area for a long time. Its bottom is too flat, and freeboard is limited - so it's not the best open water/inlet boat. It has been around since 1967 though, which got me to thinking about a new Alumacraft. The Classic Camp series is a nice, deep, wide boat.

http://alumacraft.com/deluxe-tiller-...mp-165-new.php

I like the tiller model - and I think the modified deep v bottom and 50hp capability make it a boat to look at a bit closer.

I'm not sure how it would pull behind the big boat though - that would have to be an element of a sea trial.

-.b

[Pericles]

This could help.

http://www.bateau.com/

And this.

http://www.boatdesign.net/directory/

Pericles

[pasty63]

I received my copy of the "Outboard Boater's Handbook" this week. It is an awesome resource! I'm having a lot of fun drawing up mod's to any boat I might eventually get. Thanks to Sal's Dad for the recommendation.

[sal's Dad]

OK, you liked my first suggestion. Here are two more:

Phil Bolger's books and articles - I think "Boats with an Open Mind" is the only one now in print. Even if you don't care for his famous Boxes, the premises that he starts with - that boats should be simple, inexpensive, and use the least power practicable for the application - his clear analysis and presentation, and "out-of-the-box" (so to speak) solutions will change the way you think about small boats.

Before people here jump down my throat on this, I will say: Bolger's aesthetic sensibilities are not to everyone's tastes. Even he acknowledges they can be ugly ducklings. But if you are thinking about small boats for specialized applications, you shouldn't dismiss his insights. For your application, I would suggest you take a look at Diablo and Diablo Grande; plans are available from Payson's website. I have a customized Diablo for 12-month use in Maine; it's not perfect, but damned near, and my wife wants me to build a new one in aluminum.


The second suggestion is a magazine - Messing About in Boats. I can't begin to describe it, so I will shamelessly steal the words of the late great Robb White (apologies to Wes and family, but you know where to find me!).

Sal's Dad

[sal's Dad]

OK, you liked my first suggestion. Here are two more:

Phil Bolger's books and articles - I think "Boats with an Open Mind" is the only one now in print. Even if you don't care for his famous Boxes, the premises that he starts with - that boats should be simple, inexpensive, and use the least power practicable for the application - his clear analysis and presentation, and "out-of-the-box" (so to speak) solutions will change the way you think about small boats.

Before people here jump down my throat on this, I will say: Bolger's aesthetic sensibilities are not to everyone's tastes. Even he acknowledges they can be ugly ducklings. But if you are thinking about small boats for specialized applications, you shouldn't dismiss his insights. For your application, I would suggest you take a look at Diablo and Diablo Grande; plans are available from Payson's website. I have a customized Diablo for 12-month use in Maine; it's not perfect, but damned near, and my wife wants me to build a new one in aluminum.


The second suggestion is a magazine - Messing About in Boats. I can't begin to describe it, so I will shamelessly steal the words of the late great Robb White (apologies to Wes and family, but you know where to find me!).

Sal's Dad

http://robbwhite.com/story.internet.html

This is a story I wrote for the little family published magazine, Messing about in Boats whose editor is Bob Hicks. He is an independent-minded peculiar type of editor and has published quite a few very successful small magazines about everything from motorcycles (he raced them until he got way too old) to all kinds of different boating specialties. His current effort is into its 22nd year with some five thousand peculiar type subscribers ("messers"). The subject matter of the magazine is more varied than any other publication I ever saw. The current issue has an article about boating in Georgia.... that ain't the Georgia down by Florida, that's the Georgia over there by Russia. The estimable Phil Bolger has a piece in MAIB every two weeks. Yep, that's every two weeks. You get 24 issues a year for $32. You can read the shipping news of the world in there.... who sank what and where... who is polluting and who caught them... which cruise ship sickened how many cruisers.... what the pirates in the South China Sea are up to and.... I have a story in almost every issue so this is an unabashed plug. If I didn't have that resource, I would have to resort to posting all that drivel on these idiotic forums on the internet. It is a good little magazine... 29 Burley St., Wenham MA 01984-1943. The "Boston Globe" said, "Alongside the information superhighway, Messing about in Boats is a dirt road."

Despite the fact that Bob Hicks has extremely widespread interests (might publish your story) he is not immaculately indiscriminate. He rejected this.

Even though it was rejected by MAIB the rights still belong to me and it is illegal to cut and paste or even copy this onto a piece of paper with a dull crayon.

<remainder of Robb's rant on the internet is snipped>

[bribrih]

I think I know of a boat that is like what you are looking for. go to www.siestaskiff.com and check out there model 173. it's an open boat with a little side console and lots of room. Hope it helps