Newbe needs help to build a Solo Skiff

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by captbob, Nov 8, 2015.

  1. captbob
    Joined: Nov 2015
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    Location: Savannah, GA

    captbob Junior Member

    I just joined this forum as I would like to design and make from wood a fairly new concept in a kayak. It is called Solo Skiff and is readily available in roto molded form for about $1850. It is totally enclosed and will not sink. Their website calls it a kayak on steroids as it will hold up to a 5HP outboard, do 18mph and draw very little water. It is the perfect boat for hunting tailing Redfish in the marshes of Georgia/South Carolina and also hunting marsh hens on the Spring Tides.

    I am retired and prefer to build with wood rather than buy. I have found some plans on YouTube for inexpensive wooden Stand Up Paddle Boards which I may be able to adapt to this project.
    I do NOT plan to make a wooden version of this boat and sell it.

    I am looking for the challenge of building a unique craft that will be the envy of my friends and also fun to use. Also I would like it to be lighter in weight than the rotomolded plastic version(150lbs) of which it will be copy. I think it will help the manufacturer sell his boat as imitation is the most sincere type of flattery.

    Back in the 50's I built an 8' sailing pram from a kit and also an 8' sailing board (like a Sunfish) from plans. I also recently repaired an old fiberglass Mohawk Canoe which had two broken ribs and leaked.

    Any and all advice toward the design, materials, construction etc. will be appreciated. Thank you and Tight Lines
     
  2. upchurchmr
    Joined: Feb 2011
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    upchurchmr Senior Member

    Nice looking boat. 150# is way too much.
    Sitting up that high is unsafe, they even say so.

    The only reason it won't sink is the fact that it has foam blocks.
    You could do that to any boat.
    Totally enclosed - not, they even say the storage area could get wet. Rotational molding doesn't allow that, without additional structure.

    Have fun, the hull design is so simple I think you could just start building.

    I had a friend who did just that to make a modified Pirogue. Just for paddle, but it worked just fine.
     
  3. captbob
    Joined: Nov 2015
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    captbob Junior Member

    Build a Solo Skiff out ofwood

    Thank you That is encouraging and at this point I need all the encouragement that I can get.

    In researching how to build this boat out of wood, I stumbled upon Stich and Glue Construction. They didn't have that in 1952! The young man making the wooden paddle board used a similar technique except he used mono fishing line instead of copper wire. His first board, he used zip ties which caused his fiberglass tape on the seams and edges to be ugly and maybe leaked. To support his weight on top of the paddle board he made a stringers and braces inside of the board which gave it strength. To see his homemade wooden paddle boar go to DIY Paddle Board on You Tube or just google

    He recommended PL and Simplicity Boats recommends the Concrete version of PL. I have used a lot of 3M 5200 and know it works well.

    I have a few questions:
    Does marine plywood come in 14'x 4' x 5mm?
    I reckon I could use 14'x 4' x 1/4" exterior plywood if I painted it in order to lower cost?
    The stringers and braces could be made out of exterior plywood, I assume to lower cost?
    When one is "notching the stringers, how does one "cut" a perfectly notched "notch' for the brace to slide into? Any tricks here that I need to know?

    Thanks again for the reply and Tight Lines
     
  4. captbob
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    captbob Junior Member

    I can only assume that you went to the Solo Skiff website which is http://www.soloskiff.com/ There is another website that has a motorized kayak in it called http://wavewalk.com/blog/motor-kayak/ That design of a twin hull looks a lot harder to build out of wood than the solo skiff. Both are neat concepts however.
     
  5. upchurchmr
    Joined: Feb 2011
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    upchurchmr Senior Member

    I don't know of any 14' plywood and it would cost a fortune to get it shipped if you find any.

    You could use 1/4 but it would be a lot heavier than required.
    Go here to look at a materials list for a board built from a kit or plans. http://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/surf_boats/kaholo-stand-up-paddleboard.html
    They show 4mm and 3mm Okoume marine ply being used.
    One problem with exterior is that it does not "guarantee" to have void free plys.
    Marine bends more uniformily, has better strength. Exterior glue should be fine if you edge seal the ply (epoxy)

    There has been lots of discussion with PL adhesive. It is not even advertised as waterproof and has been shown to be lower strength than epoxy. It does not have any recognized water proofing like epoxy.
    You can make anything work for a little while, maybe.

    If you are interested in the Wavewalk, try this: http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/gumprecht/cat12/index.htm at least you can start with plans for wood.

    Paint does not waterproof wood as long as epoxy. (That will start loud contrary opinions!) If you want to know about epoxy, here is a free book that started most of the Wood epoxy building: http://www.westsystem.com/ss/assets/HowTo-Publications/GougeonBook 061205.pdf FREE, but there is a lot of information.

    There are hundreds of boat plans that will get you out with a small boat and a small motor. Try the duckworks site where the Gumprecht rowing cat is shown.
    Look up Bolger. I don't really know all the good sites - I don't like motors.
     
  6. captbob
    Joined: Nov 2015
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    captbob Junior Member

    I struck gold when you answered me topic. Even if you do not like motors, you are OK in my book Thanks for the info I will check it out Tight Lines
     
  7. upchurchmr
    Joined: Feb 2011
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    upchurchmr Senior Member

    Capt'n,

    There are lots of guys who can help here.
    Sometimes you have to give them a little time.

    Quite a few who want and have built something very similar to your ideas.
    I'm just offering what I have.

    Search thru this forum, wooden boat forum (http://forum.woodenboat.com/index.php), and even the Kayak Forum Guillemot (http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/index.cgi/page/1/md/index/#m_215803).

    The kayak forum will not be exactly what you want but some of the building techniques will still apply.

    There is a Texas Kayak Fisherman's forum which may have something also.

    For a different possibility try: http://www.gaboats.com/boats/ Skin on Frame (SOF) is not usually used with a motor, and these boars are really intended to be the lightest possible row or paddle boars.

    Lots of kits and plans at clcboats.com

    I'm going to quit flooding you with this last one. http://bateau.com/proddetail.php?prod=OB15#.Vj_N_V4assQ

    Good luck, if you refine what you want, start another thread with a better title/ description.
    More detail gets you more response, usually.

    Have fun.
     
  8. upchurchmr
    Joined: Feb 2011
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    upchurchmr Senior Member

  9. captbob
    Joined: Nov 2015
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    captbob Junior Member

    Re: Bateau Website

    That may just be the ticket! Thanks
     
  10. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Bob, welcome to the forum.

    Forget about designing this boat yourself. You might be able to modify some plans to suit your needs, but your questions so far suggest you don't have the hydrodynamic, nor engineering skill sets to consider self designing one yet. No offense intended, just an observation.

    Your needs certainly can be met and a few designs such as Jacques FS-13 fit. I don't think much of the looks of shapes used on the FS-13, but it would be a simple build, which is the intent of the design. The Solo Skiff is a round bilge and though hard to tell from the images on the site, likely better shaped and certainly less noisy underway and parked in the weeds. If this set of shapes was employed, in wood and varnished, she'd be the envy of everyone out there, that's for sure.

    Given her general dimensions (Solo Skiff) a wooden version would be in the 100 pound range, unless you used a molded build method (Ashcroft, double diagonal, etc.), which might bring the weight down to near 80 pounds, which exceptional techniques.

    I have an old hand drawn design for something like this, intended to be strip planked. It's built over molds (naturally) and if the scantlings were adjusted to accommodate a heavy internal sheathing, the strips could be lighter and the exterior varnished. It would be a true custom design, that no one else in your area owns and she'd be uniquely suited for your needs too. Drop me an email (click on my icon) and we can talk about it.
     
  11. captbob
    Joined: Nov 2015
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    captbob Junior Member

    Solo Skiff Build

    Thank you Not to worry about me becoming a naval architect or even a designer of boats. I do like to tinker and the Flats Skiff 13 really looks ideal. I can even buy the plans and maybe build a 1/4" plywood version. That Okume marine grade is out of my price range. The boat will probably outlive me anyway! I am not familiar with a molded Build method like you refer to above. I am eager to learn. I will send you an email Thank you so much for helping this old salt in his relearning process!
     

  12. THESKIFFGUY
    Joined: Oct 2014
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    THESKIFFGUY New Member

    Interesting thread :D
     
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