Well I got quite a bit of interest and comments on my first build, “the blue center console I just finished” so I figured I would share my next and current project. I started about a month ago when my boat was out getting the aluminum work done and construction halted when the center console came back to get it finished for the fishing season. Now im ready to get back to construction on this boat. It is actually a custom build for someone that liked the center console so it will share a lot of the same finishes except this boat will be Fighting Lady Yellow. It is 17’ long with a 7’ beam and will have a 90hp engine. Hope you enjoy. Here are a few pictures leading up to its current stage.
Next step is planing all the chine logs, keel, sheer bands, and gunnel bands. Then to two layers of planking.
I would just like the money, you have tied up in clamps! Please keep us updated with pictures. I really enjoyed watching the progress on the Big Blue one. If I can ask a question? Why all the painters tape? Is that to keep edges form splintering if, they get banged?
seachaser, not much of a boat building background, I just really liked the look of the big carolina style sportfishers and thought, well I cant go buy one of those but wouldnt it be cool to build a smaller boat with the same look. I dont think you can go wrong with the carolina flair and tumbolhome. It’s actually harder to fit those curves on a smaller boat like this one I can guarantee you that.
Ferreel, that is actually douglas fir wood and yes it stays as part of the boat. It will get plained down to flow with the corners of the boat.
Bandit, I had another post for the center console on here. It’s title “needing Supplies” from when I was looking for the plywood. Im not sure how to past the thread here.
Easy, The blue tape is on there so that when you plank the boat, you don’t glue the planks to the jig. The planks are glued at the keel, chine, and sheer and also on the rib bands in between. Once the boat flips over you pull those jig pieces out.
who cut your jig??? looks like you have a great transition from the flare going into the tumblehome. i know a lot of builder go with a reverse tumblehome with the small boats because they dont want a flat sided boat, but it looks like you nailed it. keep us posted, you have an estimated weight???
The jig was cut by Marc Shlaes out of North Carolina. I cut the last jig out by hand and it wasn’t fun so I let the CNC machine handle this one. Having one yourself, im sure you realize what an art it is to make that exact transition your talking about in the carolina style boats. This boat is much more extreme than the last one I just finished so we will see how it turns out. I can already visualize it on the water just by the framing though. Im highly considering taking this boat to the Miami show next February to see how the response is. Unlike the center console that I built spec. out of pocket, this is a custom build for someone and it doesn’t really have a budget so I can get a lot more creative with this one. Thanks for the comments and interest.
As far as the weight goes, it should be real close to 1,500 w/ a 90 hp engine. This is with teak flooring. That’s a little heavier than a hells bay or mitzi skiff but I think the visual appearance of those lines is worth every last pound.
This might not be the right section to ask this question but to the skiff owners and backwater fisherman, would there be any interest in a jet powered skiff to cut down on the draft under power? It would be the same theory as a jet ski basically. The average draft on a skiff this size is 6" to 9" which could be cut down to basically nothing with a jet drive set-up. Obviously when fishing, the boat can be polled around by someone on the platform in and depth but I know in the lower keys there are a lot of backwaters where people cant run very fast just because of coral and rocks that run across some of the 12" skinny backwaters that could catch the prop. Just an idea that I haven’t seen done yet.
…would there be any interest in a jet powered skiff to cut down on the draft under power? It would be the same theory as a jet ski basically…
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No. Way too many better options. All you would do is add HIGH maintenance to an already expensive (aquatic) vehicle. Ask Yamaha how well their jet boats are doing. I have only seen ONE in my lifetime.
Well here is a little update on the flats build. Finally got back to work last Thursday and made some progress over the weekend. The time consuming part was shaping the keel, chines, and sheer bands with the planer. Felt like Micheal Angelo for a while. Got one layer on the bottom and one layer of planks on the port side. Hope to get the starboard side planked and then the second layer on all three sides by this weekend. This tight bow flair at the sheer brake sure has my nerves rattled. Ow well, guess that’s the price for the finished look.
The planks are screwed on. The screws are just used as a clamp while gluing and then they come back out. The holes then get filled with a thickened epoxy before glassing.
jki4405, can’t wait to see it finished. Is it more/less economical to build yourself. I’ve always liked the idea of a carolina flare on a shallow boat. Like you, I think someone will make a shallow “jet boat”. Kayak fishing has come on so strong, because they go where boats can’t. It’s only a matter of time before one of the makers catch on and make a fishing sytle SeaDoo.
