An Easily Built Open Boat

This little MoToSkiff is a move to the left, to something new. She was designed for use with one of the popular little inboard marine motors such as the Briggs and Stratton, Falcon, Wisconsin, Johnson Iron Horse, Lauson, etc.

The arrangement shows a handy little boat suitable for use on protected waters; no deep sea stuff in this little packet, please. The motor house must be open fore and aft to permit free circulation of air; it will get too hot if closed in.

This latest of MoToR BoatinG's family is a V bottom boat 16 feet in over all length; 15 feet on the water line; 5 feet in breadth; and 11 inches draft. The freeboard at the bow is 2 feet, 2 inches, and at the stern 1 foot, 6 inches. The lines show a model that will be easy to plank with plywood, having sections in the bottom that are fairly uniform in deadrise; it can be seen that a single width sheet can be applied without twisting, and without bulging. The topsides have modest flare with a minimum variation in the flare from bow to stern. The keel has a fair sweep and raises forward to the foot of the stem exactly on the water line. This would be a bad model for a high speed boat. However these little inboard motors develop modest power and the highest speed that can be expected with the AMT model Briggs & Stratton motor for example, fitted with two to one speed reduction unit, is 7 1/2 miles an hour. The model is a handy one for running up on the beach or a river bank, and thanks to the skeg and metal shoe under the rudder no damage will result from this maneuver.

The construction of MoToSkiff is somewhat different from usual practice. There are no frames, or ribs; these are not necessary with the single piece widths of plywood siding and bottom.