Two Foot Skiff

**bitingmidge** · 23rd February 2005, 06:33 PM

For Christopha!!

I fell in love with this thing the first time I saw the line drawings...it was too good to be true!

Here's the real story (with acknowledgments) mine follows in the next post:
Excerpt from:
Australian Wooden Boats
Volume One
Classic Small Boats

Published by
The Wooden Boat Association of New South Wales
PO Box 586 Drummoyne NSW 2047

ISBN 0 646 14012 4

Model Skiff text Reference John Wood and Sources
12 Model by Bill Bollard
Ozone Drawn by David Payne
Reference Index: Models

These model skiffs are typical of those sailed on Sydney Harbour between the 1890’s and 1940’s. There were two main classes of models in Sydney: the 2 footers, raced by adults (of which Ozone is an example), and the 10 inch (Balmain 10) raced by the young boys off the beach. However there were a number of other sizes - one footers and one and a half footers as well as ”pond“ models which were raced on enclosed waterways.

Besides Ozone (which appears overleaf) we have included lines of a six inch model skiff and a one footer drawn by Bill “Bollard from models owned by Brisbane sailmaker Jack Hamilton.

The two foot model skiffs, sailed by amateur clubs formed at Abbotsford, Drummoyne, Balmain, North Sydney and Double Bay, raced with powerful rigs four foot bowsprits to take the oversize jib and spinnaker, booms which overhung the tuck by up to five feet, and masts which were up to 10 feet tall, all balanced by a deep dagger blade fin with a lead bulb weighing up to 11 kg.

During races on Sydney Harbour where there could be up to 30 starters, each boat was accompanied by a rowing dinghy with the rower facing forward. In the bow the skipper kept a keen eye on the performance of his model. The triangular course was usually between three to four miles long. But sometimes things became chaotic when the wind unexpectedly strengthened and the models started to skip away from the escorting dinghies. The skipper then joined his frantic rower to try to recapture his escaping model.

Each model would have up to 10 rigs to suit varying wind conditions, including spinnakers. To change tack or set a spinnaker while racing, the skipper would catch his skiff to make adjustments including moving the keel position along the sliding track. On large rigs, the spinnaker was raised by halyard.

In Tasmania, 50 inch model yachts were raced on the Derwent. They carried up to 22 kg of lead and a nine foot rig. Veteran sailor Jock Muir, in his book Maritime Reflections, tells of an 11 hour race from Battery Point around the Iron Pot and back, “a spinnaker run down and a good beat home”.

12 inch model skiff by Bill Bollard, Ozone drawn by David Payne, Information from John Wood and sources.

**bitingmidge** · 23rd February 2005, 06:45 PM

I bought my plans from the NSW Wooden Boat Association, but David Payne sells direct ($25.00).

They are the measured drawing of the original, and feature traditional construction methods, which were beyond me at the time I started (early '90's) so I used a sort of modified strip plank construction.

As is my usual practice, mostly the bits were scrounged.

Planks are 2mm Western Red Cedar, with Feature bits out of Surian Cedar. The whole hull weighs nearly nothing!

The keel is Stainless Steel (original had brass) and it has a tee piece welded at the top (the only bit I paid for except the cloth for the sails) which slides into a Sturdee Jig Tee Track (although at the time I only knew the section as good old bog-standard Sail track)

Spars are from a bit of clear hoop pine which was once a VJ interior lining board from a demolished house.

The keel bulb is 15 lbs of lead, and the stand (my design) was made out of a piece of old silky oak I found in a rubbish pile.

The rigging is not attached properly, because I have to undo it all to take it to the water, and it's just too much bother to do it up every couple of years when I play with it!

The sails are lightweight cotton, and the spinnaker used to have every second panel stained (with a tea/coffee brew), but thats' faded over the years.

Oh yes...construction time was more or less seven years!!! (for at least five the hull hung suspended over my office desk, and the mast was used as a remote control when we had a push button TV!)

As always, I'd be delighted to answer any questions.

cheers,

P

**Gumby** · 23rd February 2005, 06:53 PM

That is sensational. I love it. Imagine sailing those things..........whooo!!! :eek:

**bitingmidge** · 23rd February 2005, 06:54 PM

Finally get to hijack my own thread!!

This last photo was to be of the boat, but ended up an "accidental" shot of my shed, which is really the connection between the garage and the house past the Ikea bookshelves ( through my studio actually, and before you think I've gone even more arty-farty...it really is..the office is down the hall a bit!) I can see a whole workshop thread starting shortly!

I can go to the shed in the middle of the night, in my jimjams, and not have to worry about standing on cane toads!!

Our house is sort of like a shed, office, sewing room with an eating and sleeping area attached, and I don't think we'd have it any other way!

Cheers,

P

(but am I really happy???

)

**Cliff Rogers** · 23rd February 2005, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

Finally get to hijack my own thread!! ....

Tall and tan and young and lovely, The girl from .......

& your floor is a clean as Major P's... sicko....

**bitingmidge** · 23rd February 2005, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

& your floor is a clean as Major P's... sicko....

Sicko maybe, but ya gotta trust me on this one Cliff.....IT'S NOT!!!!

P

**Daddles** · 23rd February 2005, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

Sicko maybe, but ya gotta trust me on this one Cliff.....IT'S NOT!!!!

P

Ahh, I bet it's as clean as they come and he's got a carpet with lots of shavings glued to it that he rolls out when trying to impress other woodies. That way, he can roll it up again afterwards and go back to his spotless living conditions. :eek:

Doncha love a good conspiracy theory?

Richard

**Christopha** · 24th February 2005, 02:54 PM

Beautitifulll..... gotta build one!

**Bob Willson** · 24th February 2005, 04:18 PM

Stunning work Peter but you have now raised a problem with regard to your philosophy of never completing a project and never making anything useful. I would be interested to hear how you reconcile your stated philosophy with the facts as we now know them.

(Bob is an acknowledged philosopher from another (current) thread)

**bitingmidge** · 24th February 2005, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by Bob Willson

... but you have now raised a problem with regard to your philosophy of never completing a project and never making anything useful. I would be interested to hear how you reconcile your stated philosophy with the facts as we now know them.

As a philosopher I would expect you to understand that a two footer has absolutely no use whatsoever... it was and is a complete waste of space and time, which is EXACTLY in line with my philosophy!!!

There were a thousand lawns not mowed, taps not fixed and dinners eaten off an old packing crate while I was building it!! (My missus was so intrigued she didn't do any of her jobs, just stood there watching!)

Cheers,

P

**Wongo** · 24th February 2005, 04:31 PM

Amazing work. It is absolutely beautiful.

**TassieKiwi** · 24th February 2005, 04:58 PM

Top hole, old boy. Sail Ho!

**Bob Willson** · 24th February 2005, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

As a philosopher I would expect you to understand that a two footer has absolutely no use whatsoever

Oh come on..... somebody disagree with him please!

**Bob Willson** · 24th February 2005, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

it was and is a complete waste of space and time, which is EXACTLY in line with my philosophy!!!

But you FINISHED it. That is very much against your philosophy.

**Iain** · 24th February 2005, 07:14 PM

Next project some 8" sailors?
Actually, I know someone like that

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