Last week I posited the NEW 210. A great response from old friend John Welsford but all quiet from the rest of you. ??? Thousands (truly) read these pages every month. What is so daunting about the registration process? I’d love to hear your thoughts… If you don’t want to register to comment (it takes only a second, and requires only your email address — so we can keep spam at a minimum), please send me at carl@woodenboat.com. I really hoped this would be the beginning of something dynamic. But, instead, I’m feeling like a solo voice in the wilderness. Just register and comment. We’ll never use your email address for anything — I promise. That’s not the intent.
This week: Our hypothetical boatbuilding company with some money and vision to spend, and wants to explore an investment in their future and to keep their workforce in place. They’ve been paying attention to our Design Challenge, and have decided that’s the area they are going to explore with their few investment dollars [name your currency] for spec building.
And here is one that is doing just that. I applaud them.
This one ISN’T hypothetical.
PT Skiff
The latest from Paul Biecker and Eric Jolley, designed to be an entry in our Design Challenge [photo by Eric Jolley]. No, we haven’t announced winners yet, but we will in the Nov/Dec issue of WoodenBoat. Prior to that — and we’ll give you advance warning — we’ll be “meeting” with some of the designers and designs of some of the more notable, via a virtual (online) seminar and available to all.
If you recall, the general parameters of the Design Challenge was a fuel-efficient powerboat, 16-1/2 - 18-1/2′ LOA, burning 2 gallons/hour at 10 knots. This, too, would be my goal If I Were a Boatbuilder.. Part Two. Interestingly, Russell Brown is in final development of this design (the PT Skiff) as a kit boat. Further details on his website in October.
I’m not saying this design is one of our winners, but she certainly has some great features.
PT Skiff 2
Photo by Russell Brown and Ashlyn Ecelberger.
As boatbuilders — as car makers, as TV manufacturers, as paper-pushers, as humans in all walks of life, in all our endeavors — we need to embrace efficiency. To me, the PT Skiff is a wonderful example of one such.
And here she is on video:
So, something like this would be my approach to the current powerboat market. What do you think?
The website for the PT Skiff: www.ptwatercraft.com.
Now, for something different: The Skua, an 8′ Ply Hydroplane, by Charles MacGregor. In 1939!
A Skua, At Rest
These were a hit at this year’s WoodenBoat Show. Kim Grambery and family in Virgina built four of them, and displayed — and raced — them at the Show.
Skuas on plane
Charles MacGregor designed her for The Rudder magazine in August 1939. All her construction details are included on page 38 of that issue.
Skuas Racing
Based on that family’s presence and enthusiasm at the Show, we have heard that many people will be building them this year. For sure fun, they’re hard to beat.
The winner of the Skua races:
Skua Winner
If YOU would like to build one or more, you can order that one page from Mystic Seaport. The Rudder magazine August 1939 issue, page 38. That, and some plywood, fasteners, etc. — and you are ready to go. Maybe we’ll have a mega-Skua Regatta at next year’s show?
To order:
https://www.mysticseaport.org/collections/services/copyorder.cfm
Thanks for this week Please don’t be silent (you are normally VERY vocal on the Forum!).
And please join us for Tuesday’s WoodenBoat Live Q&A at 2 pm Eastern (US) Daylight Time — a fascinating experience. Join in for five minutes if that’s all you have available. And you can ALWAYS read the transcript later.
Go here to be reminded. Sorry, the service also requires your email address. Don’t be paranoid. http://www.woodenboat.com/woodenboat-live.php
My best wishes to you, and hoping for comments and participation. Carl