Fast skiff

    I am indebted to On Board reader Mike Chalmers who sent in this picture of his sailing skiff. Mike tells me that the boat which he built is capable of impressive speeds under her balanced lug sail. The bow wave under her forefoot would certainly seem to bear this out. The boat seems graceful in its simplicity, flat bottomed with hard chines and only one panel on each side it is none the less to my eyes at least a work of art. Plywood boats can be boxy but this 12 foot long dinghy is a delight to behold.

I've asked Mike for additional details about the boat which I shall pass along just as soon as I have them as I am interested to know who the designer is amongst other things. From what I can make out of the trim work in the boat and the high gloss topsides it looks as though the builder has done a first rate job.

This photo just goes to prove that boats do not have to be expensive, exotic or large to be beautiful.

If any other readers have pictures of boats that they have built please e mail them to me and I will share them with other readers.

Comments

[NedandNeva Asplundh]

Looks like a Goat Island Skiff:

[Mark]

You are quite correct it is.