14’ CABIN SKIFF

These boats are a fixture for so many cabins and lakes home in Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, but most all of them have come into the winter of their usable life. Using the priorities of what a customers wanted out of this boat, namely initial stability, ease of rowing, and a minimum of maintenance, I came up with the Cabin Skiff.

The Cabin Skiff is semi dory in construction, with the transom angle modified to carry a small outboard or electric motor. The bottom and garboards are domestic marine plywood. This will eliminate both the seasonal movement from a planked bottom and the cleaning system required to hold it all together. With the bottom being a sheet good, I can also eliminate all framing across the bottom, keeping it free for ease of movement, and making for a much easier boat to keep clean.

As I often say, “the less wood you have in a wooden boat, the longer it lasts”. This a perfect example of that axiom holding true. The remaining hull is planked in Northern White Cedar that I harvest and mill. The planks laps are bedded with an oil based, non adhesive compound and mechanically fastened together. This makes for a straight froward plank removal should a planked get damaged or need replacement over time.

The stem is one piece of Tamarack root stock. The sweeping grain of the root matches the stem profile for an exceptionally strong bow assembly. The transom is Wisconsin White Oak that I mill and air dry, and the frames are steam bent White Oak, lapping down onto the bottom board enough for secure fastening, but leaving a nice open area on the bottom.

The interior ( which can be modified some) is a combination of Northern White Cedar, White Oak and Ash. All fasteners used in the boat are copper or silicon bronze.

The boat is finished with a nice ratio of about 70% paint and 30% varnish. This not only highlights the colors and hues of both finishes, but it makes for a much easier boat to maintain annually.

A highly recommended option is a custom marine cover. There is a wide color palate to choose from, and the investment in keeping both sun and rain off the boat when not is use is well, well worth the initial cost.

So, go out and enjoy a quiet day of fishing, rowing, reading, and general decompression in my re-imagined version of a venerable north-woods classic. It’s time to invest in creating tomorrow’s memories!

Cost: $11,500.00

*Standard with all boats are a set of oars and a buff three strand spliced bow painter and two docklines.

**Optional and encouraged- a custom Sunbrella vented marine canvas cover. This has snaps along the sheer, buckles at the stem, and removable straps for trailering. Available in a wide palate of colors. $1,200.00