Dedicated To The Smallest Of Skiffs banner

Rocky Creek Boat Designs - skiff building made easy

1 reading
9K views 38 replies 10 participants last post by  winn_mrgn  
#1 ·
Hi everyone,

We are a new business offering plans for flats skiffs. The goal of the company is to provide boat designs to the public that combine high performance hulls with a quick and easy build process. All of our designs will be compatible with the stitch and glue build technique, using the bulkheads as mold stations to increase accuracy and building efficiency. We will offer plans of fully developed hull panels, meaning no lofting needed. This will include DXF files for CNC cutting, full sized templates that can be printed at any office supply store and combined into 4 by 8 sheets, and dimensioned plans in some cases. All designs and plans will accommodate your choice of either wood or foam core. We are very excited to share our love of boat building and make it easier than ever to have a great performing skiff without having to pay 50+k or spend all your free time for years in the garage.

So far we have two series of skiffs, called the Flats Master series and the Spartina series. The flats master series is a classic technical poling skiff design that is currently available in a 16 foot version but will also include a 14 and an 18. It includes a large integrated spray rail and reverse chine. The Spartina series is intended for the first time builder and those that want a super easy build process. It is currently available in a 16 ft and two 18 foot versions (one narrow glades style skiff and one wider beam). The Spartina comes with the most detailed plans you will find for such a boat, and can be ready for paint in as little as 50 hours if you have some basic construction experience. Also in the early stages of development are a couple of unique skiff designs for a river skiff and a small deep v lake skiff for the freshwater guys.

Check out our website at Rocky Creek Boat Designs

Check out the build thread for the spartina 18 pusherman currently under construction.

Also please follow us on instagram at Login • Instagram

Image

Flats master 16 and 14 bottom view

Image

Flats master 16 render

Image


Flats master bulkheads installed on 2 by 6's. Fully developed hull panels can then be mounted on it. This combines the accuracy of a strongback-jig build with the ease of an upright stitch and glue build.



Image


The spartina series
Image

Spartina 16 with bulkheads and stringers shown.
 
#6 ·
Thanks!

Specs for flats master 16:
Length overall: 16 ft

Max deck beam: 70 in

Max waterline beam: 50 in

Draft with 2 people and gear: Approximately 4 to 6 in

Deadrise at midship: 10 degrees

Max HP: 30



Weight: 275 lbs (wood), 375 (foam)

The FM 14 is not finalized but it is just a scaled down version by 14/16. Length and beam scaled down, height kept the same, deadrise reduced on the whole boat because it is meant as a true microskiff that can draft sub 4".

Specs for the spartina 16:
Length overall: 15 ft 10 in

Max deck beam: 56 in

Max waterline beam: 46 in

Draft with 2 people and gear: Approximately 4 to 6 in

Deadrise at midship: 8 degrees

Max HP: 20

Weight: 250 lbs


Specs for the pusherman 18 are the same but 18 ft long and 300 lbs.


Specs for the spartina 18:
Length overall: 18 ft

Max deck beam: 66 in

Max waterline beam: 58 in

Draft with 2 people and gear: Approximately 4 to 6 in

Deadrise at midship: 8 degrees

Max HP: 40

Weight: 350 lbs
 
#3 ·
A boat that could be built out of core but in a stitch and glue technique would be money. It would have to have no hull slappage though.
 
#4 ·
Stitch and glue with core is possible with partially laminated panels, say 4 or 6 oz on each side, then stitch and glue as you would plywood. I've done it with 1/2 inch core and 4 oz glass. All the poling skiff designs have the chines below a 6 inch draft water line for no hull slap, unlike the other S and G offerings out there. These are specifically meant as technical skiffs, designed by someone who actually spends lots of time on the flats sight fishing.
 
#9 ·
You can put a floor in the foam boats if you wish. Stringers are included in all of the plans packages. It is especially appropriate for the 18 footers. However, a floorless model with doubled core on the running surface and carbon laminated on the inside will be stiff enough, save build time, and weight. The wood boats require the stringers and floor.
 
#15 ·
The 4 and 3/4 inches required draft applies to the whole Spartina series, and the flats master has similar bow deadrise but I would have to check to be exact.

Thanks, please mention it to your buddies if you think they'd be interested. The pusherman version has the benefit of being the first one to be built full scale, as I'm building it as my personal skiff (at least for a little while). Just made a build thread for it. They've all been built at 1/12 or 1/6 scale out of cardstock to check fitment, but I'm sure people will want to see full skiffs.
 
#17 ·
I really like the spray rails (frs 16 doesn`t have it) combined with the hard chine that stays under the waterline (same), combined with stitch and glue build (which the conchfish and beryllium don't have), and stations that double as bulkheads and aren't wasted (same). It seems to combine the good points of each boat.
Is there any way to soften the square hull point under the bow, or does keeping the hard chines under waterline and in a wood s&g build make that not possible?
 
#18 ·
I really like the spray rails (frs 16 doesn`t have it) combined with the hard chine that stays under the waterline (same), combined with stitch and glue build (which the conchfish and beryllium don't have), and stations that double as bulkheads and aren't wasted (same). It seems to combine the good points of each boat.
Is there any way to soften the square hull point under the bow, or does keeping the hard chines under waterline and in a wood s&g build make that not possible?
Thanks, was trying to fit that exact niche you mentioned. It is possible to have a fully rounded bow like that with S and G. That hard, straight bow was actually the main stylistic element I mulled for a while. Eventually went with the straight shape above the chine like a maverick because it makes things simpler for the builder.

If someone wanted to do a rounded bow I could create a one off set of plans for a fee. It wouldn't be too bad because doesn't require any new bulkheads etc. That's another thing I want to offer that others don't: the ability for customers to work with me to tweak elements of the design like that to their liking.
 
#20 ·
Yes, I thought it could be partly stitched together, then sneak up on a rounder bow by using a multi tool with a very good blade, shave a little off at a time symmetrically, and keep the hard chine below waterline by ending it a little sooner.
Great combination of ideas you've put together there.
 
#24 ·
S18 Pusherman being built now, client will start an S16 this summer. I'll build a FM 16 myself most likely next, but it's the same hull geometry as the S16 more or less, plus a reverse chine and a spray rail.

Scale models of all boats are being built before the design is released to ensure fitment.
 
#27 ·

The Flats Master 14 is now published and live. Check out the link for specs and additional info. A true microskiff for those who want an easy to build skiff in a small package that doesn't compromise on silent, fish stalking performance.

Image

Image

Image
 
#28 ·
Also...
It's become clear to me that people are understandably hesitant to buy plans until hulls have been built. Sadly, I can't build one of each myself, but in addition to the Spartina 18 P I'm building, I will try to find time to put together some better quality wood models of the other boats. All boats get a quick cardstock model to check fitment before publishing them, but here is the FM 16 1/9 scale model I'm building out of basswood. As you can see, despite the small scale, it all fit together well. This was built using the same build technique as the full scale one, with templates to trace and cut all bulkheads and panels (or DXF for CNCing them), mounting the bulkheads, and stitching and gluing the hull panels on them. Will probably finish this model off nicely with epoxy for showing in the future.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
 
#29 ·
the boat design looks nice!!!!

but....

you are doing yourself a disservice with those little models... people want to see, touch, etc etc etc etc.

the quicker you get a real boat built, with pictures, video of it on plane, showing how it rides how dry it is etc etc.

the quicker you'll start selling them.

like i said earlier find someone interested in building one and give them a set of plans for free for building the first one.
 
#35 ·
I’m away seeing my grandparents right now so progress is slow for a couple weeks, but I just posted an Instagram update with what’s coming. Next I intend to get some variety in the lineup with a couple of V bottom higher freeboard skiffs. First one is called the Mojarra 17 and I’m really excited about that. Then I’ve got a Lake/bay 16 that could come out afterwards, or the FM18 could be finished before it if you want that design. Both are done but awaiting the conversion of the design to usable templates and DXF, which takes a while. Been sitting on them for quite a while since I was focused on finishing the S18 hull number 1.
 
#38 ·
I know there are some other pangaesque S and G designs out there. The mojarra is inspired by some of the great features of a panga and a v bottom work skiff such as Louis Sauzadde’s 23 ft New England work skiff. I may build that one next.