Taking Attendance... and Throwing Down the Gauntlet

There's some lurking going on here. Lots of it. We know this because this blogging service has a handy device that tracks visits to this site, and how those visitors were referred to us. It doesn't tell us who you are, though. So, I hereby ask you to do that. Use your screen name if you wish to remain anonymous. Click the "comments" toggle below and leave a note telling us: 1) who you are, 2) your level of boatbuilding experience, 3) your boatbuilding ambitions, and 4) whether or not you intend to build a Lumberyard Skiff. Which bring us to the gauntlet throwing:

The first reader to send us a photograph of him- or herself at the oars of their completed and painted Lumberyard Skiff will receive copies of Greg Rössel's book, Building Small Craft, and David C. "Bud" McIntosh's book, How to Build a Wooden Boat. Both books promise to make you even better boatbuilders.
—Matt Murphy

Comments

[DCLoppy]

I know that you have just transitioned to this blog service, but before you get too invested in it I do think that you might consider a different format. Blogs work best as a "one to many", with limited comments.

I think that this community would work better as a forum or bulletin board type of discussion - just my thoughts

[Andrius]

I plan to keep lurking and let my friend build this one - I'm having too much trouble with the project I'm on: http://faculty.stritch.edu/atamulis/boats/canoe-yawl/

NOTE - if you transitioned to another service, perhaps someone should change the www.woodenboat.com link.

[Delboy]

Just lurking also.
Built a ply Kayak, but that's it so far.
Have my mind set on Gardens Tom Cat.

[Matt Murphy]

DCloppy makes a good point. He thinks this service would work better as a true forum, or online community, rather than the "one to many" format of the blog. We wrestled with that, too, and decided on this format so we could vet instructional information, since this program is intended for rank beginners. This blog, however, will actually be a "several to many" format, as different authors will be chiming in at different times.

So, for now, you can e-mail your photographs and progress reports to us, and we'll post them. If things gain sufficient traction—if a fleet of Lumberyard Skiffs emerges from this—we'll certainly be tempted to start an online community.

[coffeebean]

I'm interested in building it but will be waiting to see if you publish a sail version. I'd hate to get half way through and have to trash it because the sail version requires a different approach.
I too would recommend a forum approach. check out www.bigwatersedge.com they provide instruction, discussion and community. I'm not associated with them other than as a user of the board. my 2 cents

bean

[coffeebean]

almost forgot
1) I'm me, i live in California
2) None, have built other things with wood including a double door cabinet thats 7 ft tall, recently finished refurbishing a sabot and am going to start on a ghost 13 soon. i really prefer wood to glass though
3)&4 dont know yet. would love to start with the LYS if it was a lumber yard sail boat

[Scott Huff]

I just picked up the August issue and immediately read the LYS insert. Very cool! I have really enjoyed reading WoodenBoat magazine over the years with the hopes building my first wooden boat. I have 3 year old twin boys and am looking forward to building a family project.

The LYS may be just the right thing for us! I'm anxious to see the sailing rig, as that will be an option I will want to incorporate in our build.

I can't begin an LYS project until I finish the 12' by 28' platform deck on the back of our house. This will probably be a winter project ... I'll be closely monitoring this site until then!

[Northerner]

I'm in Winnipeg, Manitoba - Canada that is. I'm about 60-70% through a Redbird cedar strip canoe project. I'm probably going to give the skiff project a try this fall and gift it to my niece and nephew. I'll let you know how it goes.

[MikeWinVA]

I am in Virginia and am in the process of building a LYS.

I have made 3 modifications:

I could not locate 16' long boards. So I am using 10' boards scarfed together.

Instead of wasting that extra 4', I am lengthening the boat in the center at its broadest point.

I had trouble locating WRC for the bottom that was clear enough to use. I found a lumber yard that stocked cypress and am using that.

[boatbeginner]

I have no boatbuilding experience but do have some woodworking skill and equipment.
I would like to try the lumberyard skiff, but I'm conflicted about the lumber for the sides and concerned about the bottom. Clear WP 16' long is difficult to find in upper Michigan. Cedar boards butted at their edges sounds like either a guaranteed leaker or a wet bottom at best. Will the bottom be painted or sealed? What alternatives could I consider for side lumber? I think I can do this if my concerns are answered adequately.

[tex]

HI I'M TEX, I HAVE NO BOAT BUILDING EXPERIENCE,BUT I'M A PROFESSIONAL CABINET MAKER,I WOULD LIKE TO BUILD A SMALL SAILBOAT OR SKIFF,AND BE ABLE TO CARRY MY FAMILY OF 5,AS I HAVE READ THE SKIFF MAY NOT CARRY THE LOAD I REQUIRE,WITCH MAY TURN ME TOWARDS BUILDING A DIFFERENT SAILBOAT. IF I COULD BE REASSURED THAT THIS BOAT WILL BE A SAILING SKIFF THAT CAN HANDLE THIS LOAD I WILL BUILD THIS BOAT. THANK YOU.

[Gringo]

Hello. My son and I are interested in building the skiff, but only if it will be easily retrofittable for sailing. If the sailing version is much different, i.e. if a centerboard trunk is needed, then we'll wait...

[MacDSmith2]

I have no boat building experience or wood working, but my mom was a wood artist and I have always wanted to get into building boats. Have followed Wooden Boats for years. This Lumberyard skift looks like a good starter for me, but I am also worried about the butted bottom boards leaking. How do you get an effective seal on the bottom of the boat?

[Dion9146]

I'm probably the most non-traditional 'boater' to frequent this board. I currently restore and race old Porsches, but I grew up on the Northcoast of Ohio boating in a Lyman on Lake Erie. A small piece of my heart is locked in on wood boats, and the older I get, the more I want an old wooden boat instead of the go-fast cars.

I don't plan on building this skiff anytime in the near future, but I will be following the progress closely. I need a new skiff for my pond/lake next year, so I may undertake the challenge sooner than expected...

BTW, I agree, a newer discussion board format would yield greater results.It's not boat related, but this is one of the best and easiest to use:
www.914club.com

D

[bob c]

I plan on building but will wait until I get two skin on frame Kayaks that I am restoring done. Probably a spring project. I am a 1750 reenactor and on the weekend row a 23ft batteau. New to buidling but it looks very interesting.

[Geoff Drew]

I'm in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Descended from a long line of boatbuilders. My great-grandfather, as I understand it, built boats as a sideline to his housebuilding business in Waukesha Village, Wisc., before he left for Australia in 1884.
Still deciding whether or not to build the Lumberyard. I've always wanted to build a "Junco" and a "Sea Mew" from Rudder plans.

[Stephen]

Chattanooga TN - No boat building experience, just furniture, though I've read a lot in past years. I plan to start this project +/- 3 months with my 4 girls (right after I finish my wife's coffee table). I too am interested in the sailing version and trust you will have published the supplemental information within that time frame. I like the idea of my girls sailing a "brick", at least is sounds safe! I appreciate this forum and the WB insert. If you had spelled out every single detail; there would be little challange in the construction.

[IceCycle]

I have not had any boat builing experience but am seriously considering this project. I was curious though, could we use cedar as our side boards? The plans call for pine or cedar for the floor. Would pine not be too soft? Does the trolling motor option have much variation to these plans?

[beachpea]

From Mid-coast Maine. My 2 sons, 12 and 14, are building this skiff with only a little help from Dad. They have only built rafts before this with scavanged materials.

Having a hard time deciphering a stern detail.

[Edward Brush]

I have found that putting together a scale model of the boat from heavy card-stock gives a lot of insight as how the parts fit toghether.
I am about 10 hours into this project now. I have built a couple of plywood "box" boats, but was never really happy with them. So far, this one is going together a lot easier and straight-forward.
I am using white pine for the side planks, No.2 grade, full of knots. I was very careful to find boards with knots that ran perpendicular to the plank. They have bent around the form straight and fair.
I laminated the stem from oak, with epoxy.
I am using stainless steel deck screws for fasteners, they seem to have plenty of holding power.
That keel batten steam-bending rigamorole, that's gonna be fun.

[MIKE V]

also lurking, from burlington vt. no boat experience, no wood working experience. 26 yr old with automotive background. recently got the urge to build a boat, saw magazine w/lys insert. currently acquiring tools and materials as i can afford them. keep you posted on progress. and thank you for the dictionary, i never would have guessed what a thwart was with out it . seriously.

[Downunder Dad and Kids]

OK so I've stopped lurking and am heading out to the lumberyard. My small challenge is I live in a metric country so have to allow for minor adjustments in lengths and wood sizes to match lumber sold. Also slightly different wood sold in Australia. Looks great though. Been looking at plans for ages and this should be a good first project.... i hope.

[Tim Collins]

I built a pair of Wee Lassies and a Freedom 17, wood strip/fiberglass canoes from plans and books. I can't really tell my wife I need another canoe! This skiff looks like a walk in the park by comparison (the 17'-er project spanned 2 years and I'm almost sad it is done.) I do plan to build one and rig it with a trolling motor I can also use in my Dad's boat. I spent Sunday sailing a rented 420, and the notion that I can convert this skiff later is a big selling point. That's a huge advantage to making your own -- you can bend your project to your will for just the cost of a few more boards.

[Beeg687]

Yes lots of lurking. I cannot start on my boat until I get my 56 Plymouth painted & out of my wood shop. I am also holding for a sailing version. Although after reviewing the plans, it appears you could drop a daggerboard and fit a blanced lug sail with very little effort. Even less effort if you wanted to use leeboards.

[Frank]

I've been looking for something simple to build to go along with my 1962 Wheeler. When I picked up this magazine and found the booklet I said "this is it"!!! Unfortunitly I live on my boat with no garage availible. I will build this boat, you've hooked me, when is the question lol.