Drifter skiff

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by DriesLaas, Dec 30, 2016.

  1. DriesLaas
    Joined: Aug 2009
    Posts: 159
    Likes: 4, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 48
    Location: South Africa

    DriesLaas Weekend Warrior

    Skeg, dammit, I meant skeg
     
  2. ondarvr
    Joined: Dec 2005
    Posts: 2,929
    Likes: 573, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 506
    Location: Monroe WA

    ondarvr Senior Member

    I wouldn't use a skeg, just some strips of wood, these will do double duty, they'll make the boat handle better, plus be sacrificial wear strips that can be replaced when needed.
     
  3. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
    Posts: 10,386
    Likes: 1,042, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 702
    Location: Australia

    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Designing a boat around a 5hp outboard, pretty well rules out planing types, for most practical purposes. This is severely limiting, to put it mildly, and the result is not going to be much chop.
     
  4. kfly
    Joined: Jul 2009
    Posts: 8
    Likes: 0, Points: 1, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: NZ

    kfly Junior Member

    Micro Skiff I think is usually what such craft are referred to as. I've designed and built something quite similar. Although I went for an inverted V hull form, the overall dimensions and weight were very similar and I used an 8hp outboard.

    In my experience pounding in choppy waters is only an issue for the passenger seated in front (presuming there might be one?) For anyone standing it's a non issue as legs make for an exceptional shock absorber!

    As for how wet the ride is - Because the standing position keeps you so high in reference to the hull I think if there's any spray it will be low down and only bother your lower legs.

    5hp will be enough if you are solo although I think it wouldn't be enough to comfortably plane with a passenger. on my skiff 8hp is just enough with 2 people and gear. I think by myself I get around 18 knots top speed which feels very fast on a boat this size.

    I wouldn't be too concerned with some of the comments here, I think you will be quite happy with how it turns out. My only concern would be the 249 litres of buoyancy. It might sound ample but bear in mind you make up a large portion of your displacement so any movement fore/aft or side to side will drasticly affect the hydrostatics.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. DriesLaas
    Joined: Aug 2009
    Posts: 159
    Likes: 4, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 48
    Location: South Africa

    DriesLaas Weekend Warrior

    That's a very cool boat!

    I fully expect not to be able to plane with two people up, which is going to happen now and again. That's why the console is on rails to be able to adjust COG.
    With buoyancy I meant the easily available volumes to install bottles or foam for safety purposes, which is a local legislative requirement
    The total buoyancy of the boat is considerably more, I will ask the computer. I determined the COB and the answer is there somewhere.
    Hoping to get the deck on today, so off to the workshop.
     
  6. DriesLaas
    Joined: Aug 2009
    Posts: 159
    Likes: 4, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 48
    Location: South Africa

    DriesLaas Weekend Warrior

    Where in NZ do you fish? And can you pull the boat over soft beach sand with those wheels?
     
  7. kfly
    Joined: Jul 2009
    Posts: 8
    Likes: 0, Points: 1, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: NZ

    kfly Junior Member

    I live and fish in Tauranga.

    Being able to wheel it across soft sand is why I designed and built it! I'm 12km from the nearest ramp but just a few hundred metres from the beach where I can now launch!

    I've been really surprised how sea worthy they are. At first I thought it might just be a cool harbour boat but actually I've been out in some pretty shitty stuff and amazed how well it handled it.

    I designed an alloy version that a mate built too. I'll try and upload a video, I just have to try and compress the file size a bit first.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. DriesLaas
    Joined: Aug 2009
    Posts: 159
    Likes: 4, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 48
    Location: South Africa

    DriesLaas Weekend Warrior

    We have a great beach called Cape Vidal, where the drop off is close enough to shore that you can catch Dorado just behind the back line. But you need a 4x4 to beach launch a boat there, which is one of the reasons I designed this skiff. And to use the one hour fishing opportunities that I don't use with a bigger boat.
    I live in Richardsbay on the Zululand coast by the way.
     
  9. SaltOntheBrain
    Joined: Feb 2007
    Posts: 123
    Likes: 7, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 87
    Location: crosbyton, TX

    SaltOntheBrain Senior Member

    Yes, it'll plane. Yes, it'll be wet. Yes, it will pound, but not terribly at the speeds you'll see. Yes, you need some runners on the bottom for it to track properly.
    Check out Microskiff.com for a forum of guys with similar boats.
    Google one called Grass Slipper in particular.
    and you will eventually want more motor.
    Extending the side flotation chambers beyond the outboard and possibly even putting a 1 cm hook may help, too. Especially when you get that larger outboard down the road.
     
  10. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
    Posts: 10,386
    Likes: 1,042, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 702
    Location: Australia

    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    You don't have the idea to launch this off a beach onto the open sea ? :eek:
     
  11. DriesLaas
    Joined: Aug 2009
    Posts: 159
    Likes: 4, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 48
    Location: South Africa

    DriesLaas Weekend Warrior

    Yes, I do.
     
  12. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
    Posts: 10,386
    Likes: 1,042, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 702
    Location: Australia

    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Well, if you're not a very good swimmer, wear a life jacket. Bear in mind there are old boaters, and there are bold boaters, but not many old, bold boaters.
     
  13. Angélique
    Joined: Feb 2009
    Posts: 3,003
    Likes: 336, Points: 83, Legacy Rep: 1632
    Location: Belgium ⇄ The Netherlands

    Angélique aka Angel (only by name)

    -
    No reason for much worry Mr. E., see post #1 . . . . :idea:

     
  14. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
    Posts: 10,386
    Likes: 1,042, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 702
    Location: Australia

    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    I just had a look at those fish, and they appear to be very similar or identical to what are known as Spanish and Spotted Mackerel here. The former the better eating, but very occasionally known to carry the dreaded ciguatera toxin. If he caught a couple of decent ones, the boat would feel every extra kg.
     

  15. DriesLaas
    Joined: Aug 2009
    Posts: 159
    Likes: 4, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 48
    Location: South Africa

    DriesLaas Weekend Warrior

    Aah we live in hope...!
    I am probably the most prudent seaman I know, so no heroics for me. I will only go to sea from the beach if conditions allow. And there's always a life jacket to hand, even though I am a strong swimmer.
    By the way, the deck is on.
     
Loading...
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.