A challenge for home boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff

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A challenge for boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff

This sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff looks extremely difficult to build, at least to me – but it’s wonderfully pretty nevertheless

A challenge for boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff A challenge for boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff A challenge for boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff

A challenge for boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff A challenge for boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff A challenge for boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff

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A challenge for boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff A challenge for boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff A challenge for boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff

A challenge for boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff A challenge for boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff A challenge for boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff

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16 thoughts on “A challenge for home boatbuilders: a sweet 10ft clinker-built double-ended skiff”

  1. Easier, though still not easy. I'm tempted to model one up using CAD for epoxy lapstrake, but even that will be tricky.

    I just think that anyone who can build this in clinker and make it tight with these hard bends would more than earn my respect. Anyway, I'd love to see someone do it!

    Gav

  2. If you're tempted to do a CAD model, I'd be tempted to build it… if only I had more time!

    It would certainly be interesting to see a bit more 'shape' than that suggested in the drawings accompanying the original article.

    Steve

  3. A further look through the site leads me to think the 10ft skiff plans are in a book called "Boat Building for the Amateur". Does anybody know the author and publisher ?

  4. Thanks for "info" on Skiff book , have done the deal with Amazon and maybe over a year or so it will turn into a proper boat

  5. Hi, I have downloaded the plans to make a model of this boat and would welcome some advice as how to achieve the bending of the planks and clamping them in place, Would steaming them be the answer?.

    Many thanks for making them available.

    Eric

  6. Hi Eric,

    I think the answer to your question depends mostly on two things: 1) what scale are you considering? and 2) what style of construction are you planning on using? If you're planning on glued plywood lapstrake construction, I would suggest taking a look at the files on the following pages (if you haven't already)

    https://intheboatshed.net/2009/08/07/plans-for-mak

    https://intheboatshed.net/2009/06/10/model-making-

    That model was 1/8 scale and assembled with cyanoacrylate glue (aka superglue). I cut and permanently assembled all the parts of the keel, stem and sternpost out of 3/32" model balsa first and then temporarily glued them to the model building jig for planking. The planks were 1/32" model aircraft plywood, and I just taped the expanded plank sheets to the plywood sheet and cut them out carefully with an x-acto knife – you could also use a box cutter. To get them seated properly on the jig you have to bevel the landings on the stem, etc. but you can do that pretty easily bye eye since the balsa is very soft. To clamp the planks in place I used a small pair of vice grips and an assortment of binder clips, but it was a bit tricky to get everything set up. I'd recommend doing no more than one plank at a time and alternating sides. No steaming was necessary, but you want to be sure that there's adequate glue and that the glue has set properly, since the planks will spring out if unclamped too soon. The inwale and outwale were also cut from hobby balsa, and these might benefit from steaming into place before gluing – mine cracked after they were in.

    If you're planning on a different scale, you should be able to scale those sheets to whatever you'd like. I had a little trouble finding 1/32" ply, so I think 1/8 is about the smallest you can reasonably go unless you up the planking thickness.

    If you're planning on a more traditionally built model, I'm not sure I can help you too much. I would think that at 1/8 scale it'll depend on the material you use – balsa will probably have to be steamed, as shown by my cracked gunwales – but stronger or more elastic woods might not. Anything larger than that (say 1/4 scale) will probably need steaming, but I'm not sure. Something else to consider is that most hobby woods will probably be quite dry and may have been kilned, which makes them a little harder to bend.

    Anyhow, I hope that helps. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask.

    Regards,

    Paul

  7. I'm planning on attempting to build this boat, difficult curves and all. I went to the Beale Park boat show recently and picked up some tips from people who've taken on similar projects, so I'm fairly well armed.

    The planks will be steamed in my Barn, and I'm intending to solve the problem of the boat's difficult angles by steaming them for longer than normal, and giving them a resin undercoat once they're done, just to make sure they hold the flexibility.

    I'd love to show you the pictures once I've finished, Gavin, and can I say what a wonderful resource your posts have been – they've steered me on the right course from the start!

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