A Guide to Practical 18ft. to 22ft. Outboard Skiff DesignsAuthor: Thom VetromileIn recent years, with the advent of 4-stroke and sophisticated 2 stroke outboard technology, the possibility of larger amateur built skiffs takes on new relevance. This lat est era of outboards actually have economy and reliability factors unavailable in the recent past -- specifically the affordable 25hp. through 70hp. units (compared to the super power outboards needed to drive same sized deep-V production glass boats). Today’s plywood soaked in epoxy with fiberglass over building techniques offer strong, lightweight hulls that have excellent longevity.A thousand plus of the T.N. Simmons designed Sea-Skiffs have been built from 16’ to 22’ with the lions share going to Simmons himself. He and his son made a living in southeastern North Carolina on Myrtle Grove Sound building these excellent sea boats. Simmons started off building flat bottom skiffs for fisherman. As outboard horsepower increased in the early 50’s (25hp was a big deal then) he developed a hull with a shallow vee bottom, with a slight hook in the aft section, giving a softer ride at speed in a chop. This skiff became an instant success for its ability to ‘go outside’-off the North Carolina coast-to fish the Gulf Stream. The skiff had the reputation it could bring you back, especially when the weather turned for the worst.Otis is a handsome 18’ plywood flat bottom skiff, again with a motor well and can be driven by a 25 of 30hp outboard. Dennis Dignan of Hadlock Boatworks Port Hadlock WA designed this skiff to be a yard or marina workboat. However, Otis would do just as well as a fishing/picnic boat.Robert W. Stephans designed this nice 18 foot plywood utility launch. She has a very finely shaped forward vee bow section not usually found on plywood boats. The stern section has moderate deadrise to gain stability while trolling. The chine stretches further forward before turning up to the bow sections to gain load carrying ability. This skiff can handle a 25hp to 60hp outboard and carry upwards up 7 people or comparable cargo.In 1973 Harry V Sucher published a book “Simplified Boatbuilding: The Flat Bottom Boat”. On page #301 is a rather simple skiff used in the Pacific Northwest to ocean troll for salmon, probably in the 40’s and 50’s. This skiff has some unusual features to achieve the purpose. Notice the forward motor well to house the outboard. This kept the fishing lines and the fish from tangling in the propeller. The low top sided stern with turned up bottom provided clearance to reel in the salmon and minimum wake while trolling. The steering shelter was most welcome to get in out of the rain, while the extended coamings on the bow kept the windshield dry while slogging throug h a head sea.Here is a 19 foot Garvey Workboat designed by Robert W. Stevens. There certainly are many garveys in this world with aluminum being the predominate hull construction. However, Stevens has taken extra care throughout the sections, not only to be able to build in 3/8” plywood, but to be fine in shape and end in a small bow transom. This work skiff is about as classy as it gets and would make a dandy fishing platform.As may be noticed, good sheet plywood powerboat designs of any s ize are hard to find… One designer that stands the test of time and designs good looking high performance plywood powerboats is George Calkins the originator of the Bartender. The Bartender is a West Coast symmetrical double-ended plywood hull known for their ability to negotiated rough water – especially the tricky shallow tidal waters of large rivers like the Columbia. Calkin’s designed the first Bartender more than 45 years ago and over a lifetime built more than a 1,000 boats. The Bartender family design range from 19’, 22’. 26’, and a 29 footer. It is interesting to note that with George turning 90 this past summer (2002) he keeps a 19’ Bartender in his boathouse built out in an open skiff style (no windshield) with starboard mid-console and handrails along the gunnels.John Gardner, the patriarch of the home builder for latter part of the 20th century, has written a number of books and collaborated with magazines and museums to produce some of the most doable designs ever. John’s long standin g association with the publication National Fisherman produced many designs, usually due to the prompting by readers. Waterfront camp councilors to commercial fishermen wrote in with particular boating needs and John would turn to his rich knowledge of boat design and produce plans of a easy to build model based on traditional hull forms. John Gardner’s “Dory Book” is an all time effort to present one of the most ubiquitous small boat developments of mankind and put it into a readable form with which one could actually build a boat.The power dory, in particular the West Coast Pacific City Dories generated queries and comments to John from time to time. In the late seventies John designed a 22’8” X 7’9” Pacific City Dory. In the mid eighties an oysterman for a fishery south of San Francisco asked John to modify this Pacific City Dory design to carry 1,500lbs. of oysters including 2 or 3 men and be somewhat dry on her way out and back to the Tomales Bay oyster beds. John responded with this 20' plywood outboard dory that has some interesting features.The John Gardner 20’ Pacific City Style Oyster DoryThe Tolman Skiff was developed and built by Renn Tolman. Born out of a need for a safe, strong, economically built boat for the rough waters of Homer Alaska, this skiff, also known as the Alaskan Skiff has matured from 18’ & 20’ versions to the latest 21’ & 22’ wide body boats.The Tolman Alaska Skiff 18’-20’ Profile & Sections Drawing.Particulars: LOA 20’ Beam 7’, Beam at chine 5’, Weight 700lbs. Power 40/50/hp.Renn Tolman’s skiffs utilize the strengths of plywood. Setting up the supporting members to run lengthwise includes bottom stringers, spray rails and deck ‘shelf’ (the way the side decks are constructed to provide strength along the length of the sheer). The crosswise members are semi bulkheads the transom, ‘rear framing’, and the bow stem. Tolman Skiffs have a dory flavor with high bow, flare to the sides, a sweet sheer-line and ‘V’ bottom sections (‘vee’ bow, deadrise amidships 14 degrees, deadrise at transom 8 degrees). The building process utilizes the stitch-and-glue method--epoxy saturating the wood, with epoxy saturated fiberglass over. Tolman’s latest efforts of this successful skiff are the Wide Body versions. Aside from the additional length (21’ & 22’) and adding beam to the chine sections and gunnels (5’6’ – 7’6”), the telling difference is the addition of a ‘chine flat’-- an extension of the chine horizontally from bow to stern. This lifting shape allows the skiff to get on a plane sooner and keep her bow down at economical cruising speeds.In 1995 Dick Bird took a 3 month trip in 21’ Tolman Skiff with cuddy cabin down the Bering Sea side of the Alaska Peninsula, crossing south to the Pacific Ocean at Isanotski Strait. Bird then cruised up the Alaska Peninsula catching a 30’ wave over the stern in Shelikof Strait that left him knee deep in water. The skiff and Bird survived. These are tough boats!John Atkins Ninigret LOA 22’, Waterline 20’, Beam 6’8” Depth 12” Weight 1,200lbs.Here is John Atkin aboard his own Ninigret he had built shortly before his death. She is constructed of 3/8” Bruynzeel waterproof plywood over white oak frames. The sides are lapstreak white cedar and she is pushed by a 30hp. outboard in an insu lated covered well. This is a warped plane design with a pronounced ‘V’ in the bow sections, which flattens out to a slight deadrise at the transom. This skiff slices through a chop with a soft ride. Though not quite on a plane in this picture, the bow wave shows an uncommonly clean form. John’s skiff toped out at just above 18mph. Others have used 45 – 50hp. with top speeds in excess of 20mph. There are 2 camp berths forward with room for a head. The cabin top is canvas and is removable. There is provision for a fish well on the port side of the motor well.There are many more skiff designs that might work for your situation… None-the-less, the abovesuggestions give a broad selection for the amateur builder to contemplate.。