Simmons Sea Skiff

Paul's Simmons Sea Skiff 18

Here is a brief overview of the pictures from start to current.I have alot of pictures in between these but these are to show just the relevant stages.

First week,evenings after work and a weekend.

After glass and epoxy

Planking was easy,one weekend.

I saved a whole sheet with my own cut layout

Main deck dry fit,console pedestal welded.

Steering hose/cables and wiring hide in rear legs

There is 3/4 plywood knees 16" on center glassed

and screwed/glued under the cap

Alot has been done since these were taken

I think the weather is going to cooperate this weekend

I used a bosch power planer for the plank laps and anything else that needed alot of wood removed in a hurry. I chose this one because it was light and the knives go all the way to the edge. It took me approx. 15 minutes per plank. I did it in 4ths from end to beginning of each rabbet. By the time I got to the last plank I was getting pretty good at it. :) I found it best to get them close and finish up with the small belt sander. I think this planer has carbide blades but I am not positive of this. Would be a good thing to do practice runs on some scrap ply first.

Years as a drywall finisher made fairing work easy

Note the 6th floor frame.It is made from 3 pieces

using biscuits epoxy and screws.

Gunwhale cap made in Doug-Fir.

This part will be glassed. Hull is now very rigid

Inwhale and coaming rail installed on cap

All the fair curve cuts for the chines and the bottom side planks were cut with a circular saw set just past the thickness of the plywood. This was so much faster and smoother than the jigsaw and alot easier to set up than would have been needed for my bandsaw. All the planking butt joints were done using biscuits and Dave Carnell's suggested epoxy/glass tape method. These are very strong as I tested each of the joints that were cut off from the plank taper. The biscuits just made it easier to keep the adjoining butts flush and aligned while gluing. Tools used: circular saw,biscuit jointer,router,belt sander,cordless drill and dual action sander. I used my bandsaw for the floor frames and cap knees. I traded a weekend welding for the classic fifty 45hp merc with power tilt.Thanks to my boss Brian for this deal plus he threw in a tilt hydraulic helm and controls and guages and gas tank. I actually chose the boat around the outboard. It is immaculate! I should be done by end of March. Have yet to build the 24"W x 22"H lean post/seat with rocket launchers and the passenger seat that folds and slides under the console. Also the raised fore deck for throwing the cast net and the raised aft deck around the motorwell. I may fab a 12 gal aluminum fuel cell to fit on the starboard side of the motorwell with the batteries under the fore deck. A small livewell can fit under the lean post. Have to see how it sits in the water.