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Chincoteague Skiff


SMD Yawl

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  I started the Selway-Fisher, Chincoteague 17 Skiff this weekend.  Is there anyone on this forum that has constructed (or plans to...) one of these skiffs?  With the exception of the  stem joint details, the plans look straight forward enough.  Just wondering if anyone has any advice, experience, or warnings that I should be aware of... 

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Welcome and I have been reading your post on the other thread. I am not sure if I have seen anyone talk about that boat. But if you ask a specific question pertaining to the build, its quite possible to get an answer. Keep in mind this forum is not the type that people are sitting there awaiting to answer, but will come along and give you a substantive reply that in most cases you can count on being pretty pointed and spot on sometimes with  a twist of spice too.

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Thanks Oyster for the advice about asking a specific question. 

  On the detail drawing, the forward girder (fore and aft, underneath the foredeck) is shown in between the hull chine sections at the bow.  That's easy enough to do but, the instructions state that this girder is installed after the hull sections are wired together.  Which means that the girder would be epoxied in on the inside of the hull bow joint.  That too is easy enough to do. 

  Question is which way has it been done, and/or would one method be preferred over the other?

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I take it that it is tape and glue or stitch and glue method? If so what I think you are describing is a filler piece glued in place using thickened epoxy along the area where normally a keel would be down the centerline? Is the boat flat bottom in this build? If I recall correctly the bow of the bottom has some shape to it? Fore and aft would not be a thwart piece foward to hold the bow shape in place if I am correct in what you are asking but along the middle of the boat bottom? Post a photo of the exact boat for others to see if you will.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I sent an email to Selway Fisher and explained what I planned to do.  OBTW, They are great about responding to questions.  Paul Fisher agreed that a butt splice (located between stations 14 and 15 on the plans) with strips of 6x30mm plywood from the bow joint to the splice would resolve the problem.  I'll post pictures of the workaround as it progresses.

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Hello!  My name is Rex Hess I live in Anchorage Alaska, and I'm an amateur boat builder.  I've built a Northumbrian coble last year from a Selway-Fisher design, to get acquainted with the process and in preparation for the Chincoteague Skiff.  I'm working with my Father in-law on the chincoteague and we have just cut out the frames and will begin scarfing planks this week.  I am excited to see another builder and prospective builder(s), on this site in dialog.  If I can assist in anyway I will, I've noticed you posed the question about the Forward Girder and whether or not it is "sandwiched" between the planks or put in afterwards, what have you come up with there?  Also curious about you "work around"  and how you forced the bow into its shape.  I will post photos as i begin to take them and will try to be in contact early and often.  Thank you for your time and have a great Presidents day!

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Hi Rex,

   Glad to see someone else is spending the winter building a new ride.

    :( The work around was needed because the bottom hull panels cracked during the "stitching" process. Paul Fisher said they had difficulty getting the bow of the one they built to come together, but that their plywood did hold up under the stress.  I'm using 6mm okume from Joubert.  There was no warning of an overstress (i.e., cracking/tearing sound) only a loud "bang" that scared the be-jeesus out of me. :o

post-0-129497639507_thumb.jpg

   Last night I started stitching the 6x30mm plywood strips in place.  No pics yet.  It was late and the need of sleep finally took over...

post-1683-129497681573_thumb.jpg

post-1683-129497681579_thumb.jpg

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Thanks for the warning!  I think I may try soaking the section in warm water before stitching or kerfing the backside and later filling with thickened epoxy.  I have had good luck with wet-bending plywood especially if you take it very slow and not try to bend it all at once.  Of course, we may end up with matching bows anyway!  ;D

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  • 2 weeks later...

Stitch up is just about complete, as we now prepare to start a little epoxy work on the seams.  We had a bit of trouble with the 1/2 frame and forward girder but remedied the situation with steam, hot water, patience and a lot of wire, sometimes I think too much wire.  I will post ome pictures soon when I download them from the camera.

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  • 2 weeks later...

...and the build continues to go well.  Tonight I roughed in the inwales and prepared the Centerboard for installation.  Most of the taping is done, but we ran out of the epoxy blend we started with and now will go on to mixing our own thickened epoxy blends.  We started using System # brand epoxy with their application specific formulas and all was well but local suppliers don't seem to be carrying much in the way of fresh stuff and the prices from one distributor to the next can be a little ridiculous.  This weekend we hope to have a big weekend and have the boat very nearly ready to turn over.  My fingers are crossed.  Still no photos and for this I apologize, I'm having trouble adjusting their size to meet this forums requirements, I haven't given up just for now I'm busy with other things.  Hope all the other dreams and builds are going well.

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I haven't given up just for now I'm busy with other things.  Hope all the other dreams and builds are going well.

The build here in southern Maryland was also going well... until I developed a health "issue".  The bow section is "repaired", and port side is completely filled and taped.  Starboard side should be finished this week.  I'll post pictures tomorrow...

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 4 months later...

I'm new to this forum, drawn by the chincoteague builds, and am wondering how they  are progressing. I am fascinated by the design and similar skiffs by Chapelle and Stambaugh. I'd love to hear how it handles in the water, and feels at the end of a mainsheet....

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hello Hello, it has been awhile since I last logged on and am sad to say that there is not much more progress to report.  We have the seat supports and the bilge supports in, the boat flipped over we have glassed the entire exterior and installed much of the exterior trim.  We fought a lot of the hardwood and ended up going with dougfir runners with hard wood caps.  We will begin sanding soon and hope to bring it to paint before the winter sets in and maybe just for fun put the boat in some water just to feel it afloat.  August is winding down and our time to work in the sun is now becoming limited, we hope to have a productive summer and put the boat in the water as soon as ice is out.  In the mean time I'm still learning to sail my 11 ft Coble that I built last year, another design from Selway-Fisher.  Much trial and error on that one but for the most part I am staying dry.  We hope to have that in the water pretty extensively over the next couple of weeks.  I hoped to be telling stories about the Chincoteague under sail this year and am sorry that's not a reality.  The dream still lives, and we are not giving up on it just yet.  Good luck to rest of you.

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