Been away for a while. I haven't built a boat in a few seasons. It's time to strike again.
I like a lot of designs, and have bought 3 sets of plans. I believe the one I'm building will be Uncle John's Bayou Skiff, a bit modified. (Nothing wrong with her as is, just want to tweak her to my home waters).
I plan on using 3/8" Arauco for the bottom, 1/4" Okume for the sides (they don't make 1/4" Arauco) and have bought a nice piece of ash for some of the timbers. Probably go sapele fer them thwart thingies.
I may make the transom from a scrap of 3/8 Arauco. I may make it 3/8" or laminate it up to 3/4" as directed. I don't have a small outboard, so I don't know that I'll go all the way up to 3/4". No need for the extra weight there if no outboard.
Uncle John says the 12" sides may easily be raised to 14". I am leaning hard towards 16" sides (I have extra plywood stuff). Thoughts? This boat will see a decent bit of open, windy salt water. Core Sound, from the OBX Challenge if you're familiar with it.
I mainly plan to use her to row and sail. I have a nice, larger fiberglass skimmer for rod and reel fishing and this will be a 3 season knock around boat. Bigger than a canoe, but not a full sized, proper commercial fishing skiff for sure. What's a full sized skiff? 16' long and 5' beam on the bottom, minimum, built of Juniper planks and used for clamming, oystering, and net fishing.
My big question: What weight nylon ripstop material would be good for a decent sail? I'm thinking it would look nicer than poly tarp. A lady who lives over in Oriental NC who makes sails told me one time to use basic, Wal-mart variety nylon ripstop flag material for a good cheap sail. I just wasn't smart enough to ask what weight cloth. Any suggestions? I'm probably going with the sprits'l, and will make the largest one shown. It doesn't seem like an overly large sail for a boat this size, not that I'm an expert.
The other two boats I bought plans for are Mr. Ross Lillistone's drop dead gorgeous "Flint" and Mr. Conrad Natzio's excellent Sandpiper skiff. I'm building the one I'm building because she's narrower and lighter, and I couldn't decide between a skiff and a canoe. The Bayou Skiff seems to split the difference nicely.
I like a lot of designs, and have bought 3 sets of plans. I believe the one I'm building will be Uncle John's Bayou Skiff, a bit modified. (Nothing wrong with her as is, just want to tweak her to my home waters).
I plan on using 3/8" Arauco for the bottom, 1/4" Okume for the sides (they don't make 1/4" Arauco) and have bought a nice piece of ash for some of the timbers. Probably go sapele fer them thwart thingies.
I may make the transom from a scrap of 3/8 Arauco. I may make it 3/8" or laminate it up to 3/4" as directed. I don't have a small outboard, so I don't know that I'll go all the way up to 3/4". No need for the extra weight there if no outboard.
Uncle John says the 12" sides may easily be raised to 14". I am leaning hard towards 16" sides (I have extra plywood stuff). Thoughts? This boat will see a decent bit of open, windy salt water. Core Sound, from the OBX Challenge if you're familiar with it.
I mainly plan to use her to row and sail. I have a nice, larger fiberglass skimmer for rod and reel fishing and this will be a 3 season knock around boat. Bigger than a canoe, but not a full sized, proper commercial fishing skiff for sure. What's a full sized skiff? 16' long and 5' beam on the bottom, minimum, built of Juniper planks and used for clamming, oystering, and net fishing.
My big question: What weight nylon ripstop material would be good for a decent sail? I'm thinking it would look nicer than poly tarp. A lady who lives over in Oriental NC who makes sails told me one time to use basic, Wal-mart variety nylon ripstop flag material for a good cheap sail. I just wasn't smart enough to ask what weight cloth. Any suggestions? I'm probably going with the sprits'l, and will make the largest one shown. It doesn't seem like an overly large sail for a boat this size, not that I'm an expert.
The other two boats I bought plans for are Mr. Ross Lillistone's drop dead gorgeous "Flint" and Mr. Conrad Natzio's excellent Sandpiper skiff. I'm building the one I'm building because she's narrower and lighter, and I couldn't decide between a skiff and a canoe. The Bayou Skiff seems to split the difference nicely.