16ft surf launchable plywood boat

Thanks Bruce...id say the simmons sea skiff would be a good design for over here i like the bow design although im no expert but it looks like a well designed boat and ive read good reviews....it would be a trickier build than some other designs maybe...
Thanks for the advice though... i was seriously considering the skoota 18 by Richard woods but it would of taken a long time for me to buy the materials alone for the build and id prefer to have a boat i can fit in my garage....Richard had been really helpful and through all that catamaran talk ive been considering building a cheap to build sailing/motoring/paddling outrigger canoe mainly to get into sailing but realised that people can fish offshore in these boats which is a bit left field i know but it can be turned into a catamaran in the future by building a second hull...now i would get wet no doubt and would probly need a wetsuit on but on a calm nice day could be allright for 2kms out...
Anyway thats a cheaper colder option ive been mulling over just to catch a cod ...cherz fellas

 

No, I built the 18 version. If you go this route, the extra 2 ft only costs a few $ more to build and a few pounds more to trailer for much more space. Mine has the self bailing deck and a side console.

I will be honest that it can pound over boat wakes and short chop, but don’t think it is going to pound like a Jon boat. I’ve ridden in boats with shallow V bottoms that were much worse.

The boat inspires confidence in crazy water. We built it for fishing the jetty’s in Ocean City MD inlet and the water there can be four foot confused seas regularly. I never had any fear of flipping or taking on water. My father launched it one night and forgot the plug. The next morning it had taken on two inches of water and was fine.

It can be a little tender, meaning walking from one side to the other will cause more than average leaning, but I’ve had over 1200 lbs of bubbas on the gunwhale and it just simply was Not going to flip. She also corners like a ski boat, leaning over on her sides in turns and simply will not skid at all. Normal loaded she draws about 6-8 inches with the motor up.

If you were shopping for Mako center consoles or offshore machines, no, stay away from this boat.

I see it as a cheap boat to launch in moderate surf, use low hp outboard, use little gas, and always get you home even if your back is a little sore. It also makes a great skiff for back bays, crabbing, etc. and gets a lot of looks at the boat ramp.

 

Thanks for the info mate much appreciated...sounds like a useful boat
so what size motor do you have on yours?...cherz

 

I am running a 60hp 2-stroke Johnson, but a 40 would be fine unless you were planning on hauling massive loads. I believe it is rated for 70 max.

If you search “pacific dory” on YouTube there are many videos portraying beach launches with this kind of boat.

 

Thanks for the detailed description mate .....did you end up getting a uno skiff?

 

Not yet. I still plan to though.

BTW the description I've given applies to planing hulls and sandy beaches - "go hard or go home" scenarios.

For slower craft or rocky beaches, everything changes and I have no experience of using slow powerboats on surf beaches - plenty with kayaks though.

 

Paul, If you get more interested in the Simmons, I can try to provide plenty of details. They were never "designed", just evolved. The original builder could turn out about one a week working by himself, but he had a wood shop and had developed patterns to work from. It is a simple boat with a low material count, but not nearly as simple as some of the stitch and glue designs. Total hull weight is under 400 lbs with a layer of glass so there really is not a lot of wood for a 17' boat. Also, there is no designer to help you with building issues, not the least of considerations. I don't think it should have anything more than a light center console and/or a modest bimini. It only has a 42" wide bottom so stability is limited, however, the narrow bottom also helps give it its performance. A 25 hp short shaft outboard is the suggested power, I have a long shaft 35 two stroke and it is probably a little too much. My boat will go over 30+ with two adults, it can carry a couple more but it gets crowded and slower. One or two adults is a proper load but it could carry a couple of smaller kids also.
The boats have been in limited production since 1952, there have been kits and fiberglass production versions, and there are still models being built in wood and glass so they are well tested and respected.
Bruce

 

Thanks Bruce really appreciate it looks like a nice boat and 17ft can be done in my garage ...cherz i will look more into it

 

nice looking boat....glad you are stuck on wood. I have a 17' aluminium canoe with an outrigger i like to surf launch and the thing grabs onto sand like velcro, just like the canoe grabs onto rocks in the river. Something about aluminium just isn't slippery on sand and rocks. It makes a difference when one is trying to beach the thing between sets

 

Thanks Dave....how do you like your outrigger canoe for sea fishing etc...do u have a motor on the outrigger arm?..

 

LOVE the outrigger...very, very stable fishing platform. Got the idea off Youtube. Next step is to get a motor. I can stand up in and try to flip it and it won't...had a wave try to flip me as I was beaching and the outrigger stopped it. Saved me from being dumped, gave quite a show for the folks on the beach. My wife won't go out in the ocean in it with me. The bay, anywhere else...but not the sea. I would feel comfortable taking the canoe out past the sight of land if I knew a bit about navigating (and had a motor).

 

Thanks Dave ....yea wouldnt be much fun losing your days catch being capsized by a wave lol.....ive been contemplating building an outrigger canoe as a cheaper option for going coastal for a fish was thinking in the 18ft range self draining footwells etc i been out fishing in a kayak coupl times but an outrigger canoe with a outboard would be more suitable...id definitely need a wetsuit here where i live tho...

Unfortunately ive realised alot of these boats and plans ive liked and been given great advice on are going to take me longer to build due to finances and family obligations ...but this forums advice has helped steer me in the right direction and everyones advice has been much appreciated .....so id like to be out fishing this summer which is December here so something like a outrigger canoe could be an option i know im guna get wet etc...and its also a bit left field from my dream boat but just need someting to catch fish safely enough haha...anyway any opinions on outrigger canoes much appreciated cherz

 

We saw heaps of outriggers in use in Hawaii last year - all the modern ones were moulded fiberglass. We even rented one for a day and had a blast. I looked around for stitch and glue patterns when I got back but couldn't find anything. Utility outriggers (fishing, diving etc) seemed to have plenty of rocker, racing hulls very little

 

Ive been looking at the waapa design by Gary Dierkings from here in nz...takes 6 sheets of 6mm ply and is stitch and glue..he said 2hp outboard could push it 15kms per hour..

 

I imagine outriggers being a nuisance with a big fish needing to be gaffed.