Thread: New Goat Island Skiff in Brooklyn, NY

Excellent news, Al! Looking forward to pics and tales of your adventures.

I decided to build my Goat as a fishing boat and to race with the local club. I had convinced myself I'd need a different boat for camp-cruising. Once the boat was assembled I realized there is a lot more room than I thought - and I've sailed in a Goat! I also had a mental block about where to sleep (the California Delta offers a lot of waterways to explore but not a great deal by way of shore-side camping). Then, in one of life's Ah, HA moments I figured it out... I'm looking forward to camp cruising the California Delta with my Karen Ann this summer. We'll have to swap stories.

Good luck with the rest of your build. You'll have yourself a Goat before long!

Bob

Thanks Bob,

I think I'll be surprised at the size when the hull comes together too, that's why it's the last thing that i'm going to tackle. I had the same thoughts about camp cruising here too because there are few to no places near me that you can legally use for shore camping. That and the floor of the Goat, with it's centercase frame does not seem very comfortable bed. Then again, a few light foam and plywood sleeping boards between the center thwart and the rear tank creates a huge flat platform that can, if built properly be easily stowed for trips. Same with a homemade polytarp boom tent. And for day-trips, just leave it all at home!

That's what threw me: "...huge flat platform..." For some reason I got it stuck in my head that folks were talking about a single sheet of plywood spanning that space between bulkheads 3 and 4. I couldn't figure out where such a beast would be stowed for sailing. Then - and I have no idea what triggered the thought - I figured it out: narrower boards and they are more easily stored. Sometimes it takes me a while to catch on to something...

I just set up a Tumbler Blog to host the images and detail the construction.
Here is the freshly cut stack of ply including the bottom, sides and tank tops.


Next are the bulkheads with frames attached. All initial gluing of the frames is done with waterproof PVA glue and careful clamping. We'll see how it holds up, but I was very careful with fit up and clamping, and I am satisfied that it will be durable in the long run. All post epoxy coating fit-up will be done with thickened epoxy and fillets.


Previously, I had begun work on all of the other parts of the boat. Here a pair of paddles and a set of oars which I am just finishing the glueup on. MIK's free plans are great, and Compass Project (Clint) has also posted some amazing info on the oars that he has made. I am very happy with how these guys came out. I hope the work well.

I cut a little tapered strip of hardwood for the oar tip and laminated it up with the ply for end protection. I am deliberating on whether or not the blades need anything more than bias cut glass tape on the edges. I figure probably not, but am open to other opinions. Here I am planing the end of the loom down to the blade. There are few things in life more satisfying than a sharp plane.

Here are the foils. I've been avoiding the stick stuff as much as possible, especially cause it ts so cold right now in the shop (the resin is gelled until you warm it) so these have been naked for the past 2 months or so. I alternated the grain direction of the staves though, and to my great surprise and pleasure they haven't warped at all. Fingers crossed till i get them glassed.

Good pics, Al.

I'm building a set of oars using Michalak's information, which is based on Culler's work. Not sure how those will turn out so I may build a set to Mik's plans as well.

Originally Posted by BobWes

That's what threw me: "...huge flat platform..." For some reason I got it stuck in my head that folks were talking about a single sheet of plywood spanning that space between bulkheads 3 and 4. I couldn't figure out where such a beast would be stowed for sailing. Then - and I have no idea what triggered the thought - I figured it out: narrower boards and they are more easily stored. Sometimes it takes me a while to catch on to something...

Me too Bob,
I had been trying to figure out that one for a while too, and then a friend of mine told me about the sleeping boards he used on an Outward Bound open sailboat and it all came together. I have to do some tests, but my plan for now is 1 1/2" or so foam skinned on both sides with 1/8" ply, and epoxy sealed. Should be rigid and buoyant. Cant hurt right?

Nice work, Al. Thanks for sharing.

I'm too old and stiff to consider camping out on a Goat but if I had to design sleeping boards I'd probably make them up out of 3/4 inch stock, say 1 1/2 to 2 inch wide, with battens underneath, glued and screwed into manageable sized units. No single board has to take your weight; it has to flex as a unit.

The assembled units would just lay on cleats mounted to BH's 2, 3, and 4, so the top surfaces are flush. There would be small gaps (1/8 to 1/4) between individual boards for ventilation and lighter weight. Four of these assemblies would follow the curves along the sides, the others could be dead straight.

Sweet Al!

You gonna get some girls in it and sail around the East River w/ the ESB in the background again? Epic!

Love the idea with the sleeping platform, I've been trying to design the same thing for some time, MAM, great suggestion with the cleats, I've been toying around with a folding rig (double as floorboards), but the cleat idea is the way to go.

Does your blog actually have an address, or are you just linking pictures? I can't seem to get to it if it actually exists.

Tally Ho! East Coast GIS fleet is growing!

Very cool. I look forward to seeing more fotos, and especially when she's splashed!

Originally Posted by callsign222

Sweet Al!

You gonna get some girls in it and sail around the East River w/ the ESB in the background again? Epic!

Love the idea with the sleeping platform, I've been trying to design the same thing for some time, MAM, great suggestion with the cleats, I've been toying around with a folding rig (double as floorboards), but the cleat idea is the way to go.

Does your blog actually have an address, or are you just linking pictures? I can't seem to get to it if it actually exists.

Tally Ho! East Coast GIS fleet is growing!

We'll see who is willing to go out in the goat once completed, but i'm sure I can find some takers. The Tumblr link should take you through to an actual bolg. If it keeps not working please let me know. the url is Building a Goat Island Skiff Check it out if you get a chance, there are more details that I dont need to bore everyone on the forums with.

As far as the sleeping boards are concerned I have some pretty developed ideas but wont be able to test them out till I have a hull. I'm leaning toward 1/8" ply skinned foam for lightness and buoyancy. The only "mod" to the design that i have planned (sorry MIK) are a pair of cedar cleats for said boards, between the center seat and rear tank below the top edge as Middle Ages Man described. I'm planning the boards just wide enough to sleep on so that i can get to the gear underneath easily.
After seeing Joost's RAID pics, I think that the Goat can be a great camp cruiser and intent to test and document the process of using it in this way.

I'm gonna do more coating of the ply tomorrow. Not too interesting, but i figure that time spent now will save lots of finishing later once the hull is 3D. I'm pumped about tackling the birdsmouth mast soon though.

-Al

Thanks, added to my list!

Looks like a nice clean job. Good on you!

al,

We've used our GIS for boat camping a number of times, but always carried a tent and camped ashore. I've contemplated a sleeping platform also. I've slept on platforms like you describe - in that they were situated high in a small boat - a couple of times in my life. I would not describe the nights as restful, but one was definitely better than the other. I'll be interested to hear what your experience is.

Or maybe Mik will come along and comment on the schemes suitability to this particular boat.