Bolger 8ft Skimmer.

**TechnoHillbilly** · 16th February 2009, 11:19 PM

I've pretty much concluded that I need to build a new boat (see my other Thread "Mirror to Motor").

I want something small, stable and good under power (2 or 5hp outboard - no sails). I'm not after a pocket rocket just a small one man boat to fish from, catch yabbies out of and to use hunting. The Bolger 8ft Skimmer seems like a winner on all fronts plus its small enough to fit in my 6'x4' trailer with the front and rear gates off (trailer is actually 6' 4"x 4' 2") so no additional trailer required. It also has the added advantage that it wouldn't cost a yearly boat rego fee (ie under 3.1m). So from what I've read it appears to be my perfect small boat. Whats more its build looks simple (this will be my first complete built from scratch boat although I've patched and rebuilt a several boats now). The skimmer seems to tick all the boxes.

Does anyone have any experience with the Skimmer? I'd like first hand accounts of the stability and handling? And will 2 - 5hp be enough I'd be happy with 5 to 10 knots?

**nickpullen** · 14th March 2009, 10:33 PM

Great questions, I have a mate who is after the exact same, so I look forward to hearing some thing...

We are considering building an oz PDRacer and fitting a 4hp outboard to that.. I have an OZ PDR and we will try his 4hp on it tomorrow. Ill take my GPS and get some speed readings...

Other option was the Storer Handy Punt, but that weighs 110lbs and looks to need at least 6hp for decent performance.

Ill look into the Skimmer some more.

Cheers.
Nick.

**Boatmik** · 15th March 2009, 06:18 PM

Howdy,

The Skimmer was the starting point for the Handy Punt. The skimmer is a kicka$$ little boat.

I think you would need a good 5 to 6hp to get it planing though (with an adult on board) and probably 6 to 8 to get it to go with two aboard.

Planing motorboats are not much affected by size ... the power on any flat bottommed boat will make it perform roughly the same for the same power.

So these figures will be about right for the Handy Punt too. Though more length means more power can be handled in rougher water. 10hp is quite nice on the Punt, but might make the Skimmer a bit of a bouncing freak with only one person aboard.

The PDR doesn't have a big speed potential because of the curve aft and there is some chance of breaking the transom with too much power unless it is reinforced. It will bog down slighly over 4 knots and not like going too much faster. Maybe squeeze up to 5.

Funny how it is relatively easy to hit 8 knots under sail!!! Because the sail helps overcome the biggest speed defect - squatting by the stern - by powerfully depressing the bow so minimising the squatting. Not quite getting rid of it.

Best wishes
Michael

**nickpullen** · 15th March 2009, 08:39 PM

Well Well...

We took the PDR and a "Fridge" (pics tomorrow) to the river for some speed tests..

The the motor we used was a 1960's 4hp Evinrude, rough looking old girl, with a dodgy fuel float that was causing the jets to block up with gunk... anyway.

The PDR we got a top speed of 4.6kts! Most of the time it sat just over 4. I was sitting above the centreboard case, and balanced the boat out so the bow was just out of the water. I could feel it was almost on a plane.. I did feel the stem sucking down...

2 up (200kgs): we got a top of 3.9kts, 3.6 average.

The fridge got 4.4kts top speed...

Do I quailfy for this years PDracer motor speed record?

MIK, any ideas how we can go faster with only 4hp (no rego/licence needed)? What sort of boat?

Cheers.

**nickpullen** · 15th March 2009, 08:43 PM

D5 was also an idea: http://www.bateau.com/studyplans/D5_study.htm

**Darce** · 16th March 2009, 01:57 AM

Originally Posted by nickpullen

D5 was also an idea: http://www.bateau.com/studyplans/D5_study.htm

I have one which I use as a tender with a 4hp Evinrude long shaft. Not suitable

**nickpullen** · 16th March 2009, 09:58 AM

Vids and pics:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyUgzyF7o2s"]YouTube - MOV00323[/ame]

**KJL38** · 16th March 2009, 11:08 AM

Nick, to go fast with low horsepower you need a flat hull. Take a look at this site http://www.avondescent.com.au/ and click on "power dinghy racers" on the left. You should see a photo which demonstrates the necessary hull shape.

These boats use either 8 or 10 hp motors for two people and in the past they used 6 or 8 hp, so a similar hull with one person on board should still be fast with a good 4 hp motor. The powerheads are standard and in standard class so is the leg and prop. Sports class use bronze surfacing props and have a hydraulic arrangement to adjust the height of the motor for trimming. I'm told some of these boats have been clocked at over 80km/h.

If you want more info you could try contacting them via their website http://www.dinghyracing.com.au/

hope this helps
Kelvin

**Boatmik** · 17th March 2009, 10:47 AM

Howdy .. skimmer or Bee from bolger would be good choices.

Bee is a crazy little boat that goes like the clappers. It won't carry much .. but it goes well high speed or low.
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/01/.../bee/index.htm

MIK

**Boatmik** · 17th March 2009, 11:51 AM

To be specific .. there needs to be not much vertical curve (rocker) from the deepest part of the boat to the transom.

This makes a very non ideal shape for rowing or sailing or paddling or low speed.

The Bee gets round it by having a narrow planing bottom.

As far as claiming PDR records ... see the www.pdracer.com website and the link RECORDS in the left margin.

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