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I am now setting up shop in Mt. Olive NC to build this winter 3 skiffs of my design. Eric Kimes owns the shop where I will be building the Beryllium skiff along with a Boron skiff. I will assist Eric as he builds my PUFFER FISH 19 Glades Spliff edition in strip cedar and epoxy.
The shop is in a space in the back of an old Feed, fertilizer hardware store. Rachel and I live 4 blocks away now so it’s a great setup.
I will be photographing the builds so I have gone a bit extra in building the deck strong back and having a nice cutting table and cloth rack to be able to show how things can be done.
I am used to building outside and in real limited spaces and conditions so this setup is a dream come true. Real quiet here other than the Pickle trucks getting their loads of pickle jars next door once in awhile.
The Beryllium skiff is going to Capt. Robert Alexander in Beaufort SC once I am finished. I will as I go along post all the design elements that will be built into this skiff along with the others.
I will build the cored skiffs using epoxy resin and Basalt cloth on the exterior skins and finish the insides and deck in polyester resin.
Eric will build the PUFFER FISH in epoxy, cedar and Ocumme plywood with core being used sandwiched between ply in the ring frames.
The PUFFER FISH skiff design is about getting into the deepest reaches of the Everglades under all those overhanging branches that makes it impossible to get a regular skiff into. Years ago with my wife we paddled the length of the Everglades in an aluminum canoe taking 10 days. We got into many incredible bays by sitting in the bottom of the canoe and pulling ourselves along by the overhanging branches to reach theses bays. You have to abide by the spiders though. The fishing in these untouched bays was unbelievable, but we had to move on to the next dry campsite. With the PUFFER you can stay aboard as there’s enough room in her. No more permits and if it’s good just anchor for the night.
The Puffer is designed to carry up to a 15 Hp which should give around 20 knts speed empty in flat water. She will carry a 2,000lb load as shown. The design is to be able to cross large rough bays, staying dry and out of the weather and to be a sneak box extreme for duck hunting and other pursuits. This design gets built in 2 halves and then glued and glassed together. This will be a fun build.
Will be posting as I go along.
