Larger than a Simmons Sea Skiff?

[Michael R]

I have built the 18 Simmons Sea Skiff and love it. I am looking to build a boat that is larger than the Simmons, but keeping some of its features; graceful lines, narrow beam, high bow, low HP, seaworthy, and speed not important. The larger Simmons is not what I am looking for. The boat I am thinking about might be around 22' and powered with a 50 HP. While surfing the net I came across the www.caribiana.com (http://www.caribiana.com) which is interesting, but no plans are available. This boat would be used in the Gulf of Mexico within sight of land, passes, and jetties. Does anyone know of a plan for me to consider? Thanks

[Wayne Jeffers]

Capt. Jim Orrel of "Texas Dory Boat Plans" had some designs like that, but he hasn't been around for several years now. Anyone know if his plans are available anywhere?

Also, you may want to look at the larger designs at http://www.swanboatdesign.com/

Wayne

[dcobbett]

Michael,

Look at Harry Bryands (sp) HandyBilly. He has plans for an 18' and a 21' (LOA) version and the boat was featured in a "how to" type series of articles in reecent issues of WB. I had a good look at a 21' version tha I think was built by Doug Hyland a season or two ago, and I was very impressed with what I saw. I think the boat has a lot of the features you say you are looking for.

[Eastman]

Take a look at the Tolman skiffs. Several sizes and easy to customize. I built the 20 footer and have loved it. Try foggybayboats.com.

[AngWood]

Also check out http://www.oldwharf.com/index.html

[Wild Dingo]

Eastman that link to http://www.foggybayboats.com ... takes you to a network site... but there is a link at the bottom for boatnet maybe thats what you meant? and that comes up with an error... unable to determine the IP address for www.boatnet... (http://www.boatnet...) oh well http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/frown.gif

Its good to see the Simmons still hangin in there... I really like that boat has to be one of my favorite motor fishing boats.

Take it easy
Shane

[chill31]

Originally posted by Michael R:
I have built the 18 Simmons Sea Skiff and love it. I am looking to build a boat that is larger than the Simmons, but keeping some of its features; graceful lines, narrow beam, high bow, low HP, seaworthy, and speed not important. The larger Simmons is not what I am looking for. The boat I am thinking about might be around 22' and powered with a 50 HP. While surfing the net I came across the www.caribiana.com (http://www.caribiana.com) which is interesting, but no plans are available. This boat would be used in the Gulf of Mexico within sight of land, passes, and jetties. Does anyone know of a plan for me to consider? Thanks

[DavesFlatsBoat]

How about Tracy Obrien's Headwater 24?
http://www.tracyobrien.com/uploads/h24thumb.jpg

http://www.tracyobrien.com/moreinfo.asp?id=44

[TomMcKinney]

See the design below found on FAO site. The boat is similar in lines to caribiana- its what we on the west coat call a panga after the mexican fishing boats of the same name- It is also the long narrow "canoe" style hull that is quite common in the rest of the world-- the narrowness means you don't need that big 50HP-- If you want more power/speed, you might want to take out a bit of the rocker in the rear of these plans.

Also- I like the Obrien headwater boats- very cool

http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/W7260E/W7260E00.HTM

[ 01-11-2003, 07:02 PM: Message edited by: TomMcKinney ]

[Bill Perkins]

Michael here's Pete Cullers' 24 footer .He designed an 18 footer that's pretty much the same which you could stretch to 20 .

I love the 18ft. Simmons too ( it was the builders favorite also ). I needed something bigger and decided I preferred this boat to the Simmons skiffs of similar size . The boat shown is said to plane 7 people with 75 horses .The plans show a manger for the outboard but this doesn't show in the pic of this particular boat .

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid37/p927f9b84424f553826eaa0e5af5bf458/fd1d98f2.jpg

[ 01-11-2003, 09:24 PM: Message edited by: Bill Perkins ]

[Armedmariner]

Tom McKinney my good man! I've been looking for a design LIKE the Caribiana for self build and now you have found it. The COOL thing about this website you have found is that it is a complete set of plans, you don't need to buy plans, it is all right there and you can build 17, 20, 24 and 30 foot versions. This is definitely going into my bookmarks. Thanks Tom, this may be my "next boat."

In the introductory comments they talk about how these boats are designed for about 7 knots speed using an 8 or 10hp motor. That is fantastic and these boats get daily service as fishing boats. So, what you get is a skinny, long traditional seaworthy hull that doesn't take much engine expenditure and is easily trailerable. Excellent characteristics.

If you look on the Caribiana web site you see testimony after testimony from people who have bought that (plastic) boat and they all like to talk about three things:
1. Its basic simplicity as a boat
2. Its seaworthiness
3. Its low cost of operation

Hundreds of years of boat design by do it yourselfers has evolved a very nice design.

Again, thanks a BUNCH for this website. What a gem.

[D]

They (the builders) are extremely proud of those boats also. stripped models are around 30k.

[D]

Sorry, Caribiana Sea Skiffs that is.

[Jack Heinlen]

This is a little off topic, but not much.

Chris Craft built an interesting boat in the mid sixties called a Cutlass.

I'm pulling on memory, but 24 ft. lapstrake like their hugely succesful Sea Skiffs. It had a ply lapstrake hull that was, as was the fashion, way over powered by an eight cylinder. A v-bottom with a chine if memory serves. A kind of power dory but with a v to the bottom and with way too much power.

Looking at the boat in the past I've thought a re-power with one of their flathead sixes, and it would make a wonderful boat. If memory serves it had a fiberglass cuddy, with a v-berth and head.

They are offered for sale very occasionally. I think very few were built. A boat with a lot of potential.

Just a little off topic.

[warthog5]

So you like the Simmons? John Henry aka John Henry power planer jigs built a custom 23ftr. It had a 150hp outboard. He said it would fly. I say a video of it, at his house.
He built it for someone else. You might contact him about specifics.

[Randy Sweet]

Depending on what you are looking for the boat to do, the Downeater 18 is a good overall boat. It has good free board, high bow, (relatively) narrow beam. It comes in inboard and outboard design. I tweaked it slightly to accomodate a Mercruiser 135 HP I/O. I've had it on the coast of Maine and Cape Cod.

[D Gobby]

Not to hijack this thread but Bill which of Cullers designs is that 24' that you show. Which book could I find it in and do you know if Mystic has the plans.Also you mention a 18'any info on that would be nice as well.

Bill or anyone else if you can e-mail me with the info that would be great.

Darrel