My Old New Rowing Skiff work in progress

[Zane Lewis]

Hi All,
This is a John Welsford designed and built rowing skiff. His "Deal Huff Boat" or "Huff Boat" approx 17'6" long. Designed as a very easly driven light rowing boat. I believe it was partly an experiment in a design concept John was working on for distance racing over several day carying store etc. It has some notable design features. Particually the aft water line design so the Transon is just touching the water at comfortable hull speeds. Very fine entry to carry through chop and both ends ballanced.

I brought it from John just over a year ago and had done very little with it other than get it dryed out and start stripping some of the exturnal paint off. It had rot in the stem, breast hook, gunnel and top plank either side of the bow where moisture had go in between the gunnel and top plank and I suspect down the towing eye fastening in the breast hook. I've had this damage repaired along with sepairing a split seam aft.

This is a very light boat that I can get on and off the roof rack on my own and carry it down the beach on my back (As long as it's not too windy) The Oars are carbon windsurfer masts with wooden handles that are lead filled for ballence with long narrow blades. Designed for extended rowing rather than short bursts.

Anyway It's just has a coat of 2 pot penetrating sealer applied to all surfaces to toughen up the ply. Some of the ply outer surfaces where getting very aged under damaged paint and from weathering.
Next step will be painting, but that could be a couple of months away.

Bow
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii39/zqlewis/Rowing/ScreenShot045.jpg

Inside
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii39/zqlewis/Rowing/ScreenShot050.jpg

Bow and Sten views
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii39/zqlewis/Rowing/ScreenShot047.jpg
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii39/zqlewis/Rowing/ScreenShot046.jpg

Bow 1/4
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii39/zqlewis/Rowing/ScreenShot048.jpg

Stern 1/4
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii39/zqlewis/Rowing/ScreenShot049.jpg

Thanks
Zane

[Richard Jones]

Nice boat! I love stripping down and bringing back to life an older vessel. How old and what construction? Looks like glued-lap. Skeg on bottom must mean good tracking. Perhaps add a rowing station forward for balance when a lady friend is sitting in the stern with her parasol?

[Thorne]

Sweet! Particularly like the bow.

[Zane Lewis]

Thanks Guy's.
Glued lap ply construction.
Not sure how old. Maybe 10 years old but had spent at least 3 years outside uncovered. Undercoat was an experiment I'm told that did not work out that well.

I'm thinking of adding a second set of rolicks and foot riser to allow 2 up rowing or better ballance with 2 on board.
Zane