Neat small boats

[John Gearing]

Just stumbled across this great set of photos of a variety of small boats, many of which I've seen in the Launching section of WB. I do like that 18' cat-ketch, and the diesel inboard launch is an eye-catcher. Yeah, the site is for Mike Kiefer's boatshop, but I have no connection with him and am not putting this up as a buy/sell type of posting. I just dig the boats on the page!

http://www.greatwoodboats.com/c-thumb.htm

[ken mcclure]

ooooh! and isn't that 18' Oyster Sloop pretty!!!

[JimM]

That 18' Oyster Sloop is really pretty. Wish I knew who designed it.
Jim McGee

[Wild Dingo]

I am in lust again!!... sigh
http://www.greatwoodboats.com/tn_c9_jpg.jpg

Flamin heck I feel like some sorta floosy!!! what a crew of boats!! oh wow!

Oyster!
http://www.greatwoodboats.com/tn_c10_jpg.jpg

15' Marshcat
http://www.greatwoodboats.com/tn_c16_jpg.jpg

I can see me hangin around in there mates... finest kind! Thanks John... you been tryin to find the finest kind of boat porn mate??? well let me say this... just keep goin!!! :cool: ;)

Now aint that weird?! the site such as it is simply states "Call or e-mail for pricing on your custom boat design" inneresting cause there aint no phone number address or email address on the site!! innerestin or what?! :rolleyes:

[ 01-27-2003, 01:26 AM: Message edited by: Wild Dingo ]

[TomRobb]

Mike Keifer
7066 103rd Avenue
South Haven, Michigan
49090
616 637 6805
Google will get you to the web site

[Wild Dingo]

Thanks Tom a gentleman as always :cool: sorta wonder why they dont have it on the site... is it new?

[JimM]

Shane
Woodenboat Magazine sells the plans for the 19' Mackinaw Ketch and the Marsh Cat. Lots of room for the Kids. Sure wish I knew who designed the Oyster sloop?
Jim

[ 01-28-2003, 01:12 AM: Message edited by: JimM ]

[Ed Nye]

I'd like to know about the Oyster as well. The one pic shows a very sweet boat.
Ed

[Tom Galyen]

Gentlemen

I am proud to say I've done business with Mike Kiefer and am in the TSCA group of which he is the "leader". He is really a nice person and a lot fun to be around as well as a great boat-builder.

Tom G.

[garland reese]

Anybody found out what design the oyster sloop is built to? Man, that's pretty!

[Bill Perkins]

The 18 foot Fast Outboard Skiff is , I think , Pete Cullers design .The distinctive forefoot with its high chine and straight keel is typical of his 15 ,16 , 18 , 24 , and 30 foot file bottoms .He liked the post visible behind the skippers back for towing and hanging on to . Also Fast Outboard was a term he used to describe some of his boats . If I'm correct the plans are in John Burke's " Pete Culler's Boats " under Outboard Workboats ( p113 ) and are available at their original scale from Mystic Seaport .

[ 02-24-2003, 08:26 AM: Message edited by: Bill Perkins ]

[Tim.Diebert]

I just called Mike to get some info on the Oyster Sloop....nobody there right now. There is an answering machine though.
I too am mighty intrigued with this design and would like to know more.
I will try calling him again and let you know how I do or what I find out.
It does say on his web site that he does custom designs and this may be an example of that.

[Tim.Diebert]

Mike Keifer is indeed a great guy to talk to.

He built this little Oyster sloop 20 years ago and you would have to pry it from the owners cold dead fingers.

Mike has sailed this boat a lot and say it is fast, weatherly and points high. An awesome boat.
Turns out it is a John Leather design. (of Gaff Rig Handbook fame)
Mike says there are plans available....but a cursory search found nothing for me.

Mike personally owns an Outred Caladonia Yawl and feels that this boat, along with anything Ian designs sails wonderfully. He couldn't recomend this design enough...both the Leather Oyster and the Cal Yawl.

[Tim.Diebert]

Mike mentioned they are well into contruction of a 28' Lobster boat. 140hp outboard, strip planked. There are some great step by step images on his site.

I was very impressed with his experience, both as a builder and as a sailor.

"At present we have a 8.5"x 28' Maine lobsterboat under construction in the shop. The boat is built strip plank with West epoxy and nearly all sassafras lumber. The boat will have a 140 hp outboard and accomodations for two for summer cruising in the Great Lakes. Launch is scheduled for June this summer. Visit again to see more pictures of the boat in progress. Hopefully we will post new pictures weekly. "

28' Maine Lobster boat (http://www.greatwoodboats.com/l-thumb.htm)

[John Gearing]

I like his cat-ketch a lot, too!

http://www.greatwoodboats.com/c5.jpg

[JimM]

Thanks Tim, Glad to finaly know who designed the Oyster Sloop.
I tried to call an get information, but didn't get a reply back after leaving a phone number and email address.

Jim McGee

[ 02-25-2003, 06:11 PM: Message edited by: JimM ]

[Phil Joseph]

I see some questions on the "Oyster Sloop". That's my boat, hull by Mike Kiefer, finished by me. If you search under Oyster Sloop in the design section, there are some particulars on the boat. I would be happy to answer other questions. It's a great boat and I plan to keep on sailing it for a long time, but what's that about my "cold dead fingers"? Comments on Mike Kiefer are right on. He is a first rate builder and knows boats.

[garland reese]

Hey Phil,

can you post some more pictures of the Oyster sloop? Do you know where one might acquire plans for this design? Great looking boat!!

[Beowolf]

I have a little old 7.5 hp evinrude fleetwin motor that is just dying to be slapped onto the back of this boat!
http://www.greatwoodboats.com/cpb03.jpg

Jeff

[Big Red]

As posted by Garland Reese :

Hey Phil, can you post some more pictures of the Oyster sloop? Do you know where one might acquire plans for this design? Great looking boat!!

Seconded :D

[JimM]

Hi is John Leathers mailing address. You should be able to buy plans for Oyster directly from him. I recieved the address from John Greenfield at Watercraft Magazine.

The Saltings,
Ferry Road
Fingringhoe
Colchester
Essex CO5 7BX
UK

Tel: +44 1206 729853

Jim McGee