Building three boats, need suggestions for third...

Greetings,

I will be building three boats in the next twelve months (my first!). The first two will be a pair of "Portugese Dinghies" from Hannu's Boatyard. They appear to be pretty easy to build, with simple techniques, and a great start to familiarize myself with the fundamentals of boatbuilding. Plus, they are just the right size for my two children, to whom I have already promised the finished boats. I plan on starting these in about a month and hope to finish them by mid-August.

I'm looking for a simple skiff to build over the winter, twelve to seventeen feet, that I can build inexpensively and with only the abovementioned experience and basic tools. It should be able to carry two adults and two children, and I'd like put a small outboard motor on it. This Herring Skiff looks like it's exactly what I am looking for, but I wanted to solicit some general opinions on the matter. So, if you have comments, general advice or alternative plans for a decent, seaworthy skiff, I'd be grateful to hear from you. FWIW, I'm also keeping this fishing punt in mind (also from Hannu) though it really looks more like a lake boat than what I really want, which is something to put in the Atlantic.

Thanks in advance for you feedback,

Winston

 

This is a strange coincidence. I built the slightly larger version of the Portuguese dinghy, the 10 and a half ft skiff, from plans on Hannu's website about 3 years ago. It worked out great and would defiantly recommend this as a starter boat, if you are building two be sure to look at his efficient use of ply sheets in other boats also.

I was also in the same situation in regards a larger skiff with a strong transom to fit an outboard. I found that exact one myself as it happens but in the end decided not to go ahead with it at all. We have two many boats as is. When looking around I found these.
(This one in particular)
These plans are quite old but it looks like a reasonable boat and it was built recently by the looks of things, my only problem with either one would be that they aren't at all as efficient when it comes to use of materials as Hannu, so looking at his other boats would be worth considering.

How about this with a beefed up transom and a general strengthening up of the whole lot. It only needs 2 sheets of ply.

 

Well, I guess great minds think alike, eh?

The little dinghy is the sharpest easy-to-build boat I could find, but what I really want to build is a larger skiff to fish from and run around the harbor, and maybe out to some near islands. But I think I gotta walk before I can run.

I decided to build two because in the build instructions Hannu mentions "why not build two?" with the rationalization that two only costs 1.5 times the cost of one for the plywood, and I'll be buying enough glass tape and epoxy to build two anyhow. This made sense to me, and I've got two kids anyhow and figured I might as well buy an extra sheet and build a boat for each of the kids. I get some experience in boatbuilding to prepare myself for my next project, and the kids are gonna love it! Win-win!

I've looked at Svenson's a bunch of times, but the plans don't look as easy to follow as some of the other sites & plans I've found. Maybe after I've build the dinghies I'll have enough confidence to reconsider.

 

Hi, Winston,

Welcome aboard. I envy you your project ... and the bonus of each child having his/her very own boat ... good fathering.

For your own next boat, I recommend reading this thread. It started on the subject of rowing and quickly developed into a discussion of various skiff designs. There are good photos and links to plans and designer sites. You didn't mention if you wanted much speed, or just a motor to replace rowing. Most of the skiffs in this thread could take, or be modified easily to take, a small motor. http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=14250

Enjoy your project.

 

Love to see Dads building boats for the kids, it teaches both the father and the kids to value things so much better. Any turkey can go buy a boat, building one and then looking after it (them) is a real credit to you.

Now of course, they will fall in love with sailing, then yachting then cruising and beforeyou know it they will be adults on their own boats......don't you feel sorry that they will miss the computer games........NO, says Dad.

Believe it or not, they also tend to shy away from drugs and excessive alcohol, they are too tired or too content within themselves to be bothered.

I sold my Marina business the day my daughter was born basically, we spent the next 5 years together, 3 years cruising with her Mum, so we all grew up together, she is 18 now and a beautiful person to be with, congratulations on spending the time with your children mate.