First time builder looking at 15.5 sailing skiff??

[gedaggett]

Hello, wanted some input from those more experienced than me about a boat I would like to build. I am waiting to pull the trigger on the plans until I am sure this is what I want. It is called a Goat Island Skiff designed by Michael Storer. Goat Island Skiff (GIS) - A real sailing boat - Michael Storer Wooden Boat Plans

I am looking at this because it seems to be quite versatile in that I could also use it as a river fishing boat and would make a good camp boat. This will be my first boat build though I am an established carpenter and manage a CNC department and do all the CAD programming which gives me the access to using the routers. Does this boat look like something that is feasable for a first time builder with woodworking background?

What draw backs do you see to this particular design and are there any alternatives that you would suggest from your experience?

Thanks for any input you may have.

Gary

[tommays]

It looks like a nice little boat

The drawback is that your going to need to enjoy the huge amount of time it will take to build correctly


I build a LOT of my own stuff and have lost the desire to put years into projects when i can be out doing


I wanted to add that my dad and us built a plywood boat from plans(breeze baby) as a family project about 40 years ago and we used the boat a good 30 years as the motor version and i remenber it as fun



BUT it did not have all the bright work and was really simple to build

[sailingdog]

Was a good article on the GIS in SCA not too long ago IIRC.

[JohnRPollard]

I think you could build this boat without too much difficulty, given your handiness and experience with carpentry/CNC etc.

I like the overall look of the design. But I wonder about the form stability - yes it has a fairly wide beam overall, but the waterline beam is much narrower. What makes me especially hesitant is the photo of the guy hiking out in what looks to be moderate conditions.

We have an 11.5 foot sliding gunter/sloop rigged sailing pram that we built from kit. Even in fairly heavy air, we never have the need to hike out. That is because we can shift our weight outboard far enough to counterbalance any breeze the rig can withstand, all from within the hull. On the design you're considering, the narrow beam along the sole limits how far outboard you can shift your weight and still remain in the boat. Hence the need to hike-out in moderate winds -- not always a good choice for sailing with kids/family (which may or may not be an issue for you).

Just some quick thoughts...

[gedaggett]

Originally Posted by JohnRPollard

I think you could build this boat without too much difficulty, given your handiness and experience with carpentry/CNC etc.

I like the overall look of the design. But I wonder about the form stability - yes it has a fairly wide beam overall, but the waterline beam is much narrower. What makes me especially hesitant is the photo of the guy hiking out in what looks to be moderate conditions.

We have an 11.5 foot sliding gunter/sloop rigged sailing pram that we built from kit. Even in fairly heavy air, we never have the need to hike out. That is because we can shift our weight outboard far enough to counterbalance any breeze the rig can withstand, all from within the hull. On the design you're considering, the narrow beam along the sole limits how far outboard you can shift your weight and still remain in the boat. Hence the need to hike-out in moderate winds -- not always a good choice for sailing with kids/family (which may or may not be an issue for you).

Just some quick thoughts...

Totally understand the concerns with the heeling. The sails as I am planning them will have full 75% and 50% (via reef points) so when I want it to bit a bit lazy in the water I can reef it down. The think I do like about the narrow beam is I can let her lay over a bit and get a better cut in the water (in theory) Thanks for the great insight on that.

[Delirious]

Back in the winter of '92/92 I built a 15-1/2 footer with a very similar rig; though on a MUCH simpler hull. I made mine out of 6mm door skin Luan and, by gum, it was still rowing as recently as last summer and may be still. I sold the sail and gave away the hull.

I had the sail made up by Robin Lincoln at Center Harbor Sails. Wrote a construction article on it for Messing About in Boats that made the Nov 1, 1993 issue.





The designer named it the Balsam Swamp Bateau but there was some conflict with a similar boat in Texas (though OUR Balsam Swamp is outside of McDonough, NY). The name was changed to "Budget Swamp Bateau".

The rig is a good performer, though not as efficient to windward as a sloop. I used a single leeboard and a push-pull tiller - which was my own contribution to the design and stolen from a Norwegian design.

The plans called for "build in a weekend". Took me four months though I did gussie it up a bit.

Oh. PS - don't write to the designer for plans. He passed away five years ago when he had a heart attack on his restored 1960 MotoGuzzi.

God, I miss him. The picture below is the same boat on a bowhunting trip to Balsam Swamp. The Luan started to weather after five years or so (there were voids) so dug out the bad spots and laminated in epoxied layers of brown paper shopping bags and then painted it with gray porch enamel. Still holding up.

[ckgreenman]

I'm actually looking at tackling the 4.5m dinghy from dinghy.pl. It looks fairly straightforward but since this is my first build too we'll see . Another nice thing is the plans are free and the designer is an active member on the wooden boat forums

[BillBrush]

Hi Gary.

I'm kind of in the situation you're in with contemplating a boat build, but you have nicer tools available than I do.

I've found a couple of sites to be VERY helpful for small boaters and boat builders.

messing-about.com Home Page
Back Yard Yacht Builders :: Building and sailing Home Built boats

These are two designers that help sponsor the forums:

Stevenson Projects
B & B Yacht Designs

They both have nice, although different designs. Stevenson designs seem to be stylish and intended to be easy to build and easy to sail, but aren't high-performance racers. The B&B designs are designed to be easy to build, and good sailers, but are very functionally oriented.

The really cool thing about the forums is there are a couple of naval architects and yacht restorers that post frequently and they are just invaluable resources. I've learned a ton just from reading what they write. The community is VERY nice although not as active as Sailnet (being much smaller.)

[davidpm]

Originally Posted by BillBrush

Hi Gary.


B & B Yacht Designs

)

I can second that the b and b forum has been very helpful and i have called the architect several times and he has been very helpful too.

Good plans with a lot of detail.

I'm building his nesting dinghy.

[boatmik]

Howdy All,

Pic of Goat Island skiff sides and bulkheads.


farm3.static.flickr.com/2338/1504568362_0e88a4d5ef.jpg

To be added:
1 x Centreboard case
3 x seat tops
1 x bottom and two longitudinal bottom skids
2 x gunwales and inwales
1 x mast partner and step blocks

Photo series of assembly here

A number of galleries here
Collection: Goat Island Skiff

The comments about form stability are correct when sailing one up. However the boat has very high reserve stability because the sides of the boat are very high.


farm1.static.flickr.com/144/379091135_dac1a798cd.jpg

It also steers at such high angles because of the volume distribution and deeper rudder, but is best kept fairly flat. The heeling was under some serious gusts that were coming through on that day.

We wanted to get some planing pics. Would have been more comfortable with another person or a reef.

Plans are detailed step by step. I also like the B&B designs a lot too. Good boats and good plans as well.

Best wishes to all
Michael Storer
(Designer of the Goat .. so probably not completely unbiased!)