Tolman Alaskan Skiff

In 2020 we were all dealing with COVID-19. We were stuck inside with not much to do. In order to go outside or be in public you had to wear a mask. Where we used to visit friends, family and travel on the weekends, we now were told to “Stay The Blazes Home”! I thought I should have a hobby to keep myself occupied on the weekends. So, I decided to build a boat, in our driveway. I bought a book, materials and built the boat you see today.

www.johniefinn.ca

A book with plans from a boat designer is a must. Material list and tools required should be included with the instructions. Construction was epoxy over plywood. All wood for the hull and cabin was 1/2" plywood.

The first thing I needed was a place in which to build the boat, so I bought and set up a tent.

The boat was designed to be 22'-6" long. Since plywood does not come in that length, the pieces needed to be joined or scarfed together. Cut the short edge of a 4'x'8 piece of plywood at 15 degrees. Using your plans, loft the lines (transfer) from the plans to the plywood. Join the pieces together on their short edges with epoxy. Cut the plywood to shape and set aside.

Join the 2 pieces on their long edges and use wires to hold them together. Fiberglass tape and epoxy placed over the wires in a 6" wide strip for the entire length will hold the pieces together. After the epoxy has cured, remove the wires. Cover the entire assembly with fiberglass cloth and epoxy.

A jig had to be assembled to hold the pieces during assembly. Place the bottom on top of the jig. Place the stern assembly on the stern (rear of the boat).

You build the sides the same way as the bottom pieces. You hang the sides on the jig and attach them with wires and cover with epoxy and fiberglass the same way the bottom was constructed. And the same tape and epoxy is used to cover the edges where the sides meet the bottom. Cover the entire assembly with fiberglass cloth and epoxy. The black is graphite mixed with epoxy to provide a wear surface.

I built some steps so I cold easily get in and out of the boat. In the bow (front) a watertight compartment was constructed. It was filled with sealed, empty water jugs for buoyancy.

Using the plans, shape plywood to form the bulkheads. A a roof was constructed over to form the cuddy.

Using the plans, shape plywood to form the bulkheads. A a roof was constructed over to form the cabin. Pool noodles were placed under the floor boards of the cabin.

Cabin and Cuddy constructed, boat is now ready to be painted. Boat sides were painted with two-part polyurethane by Interlux.

Interior seating and storage surfaces were constructed from diagrams from the plans. Interior floor was painted grey and all other surfaces painted with a marine paint. Windows were fabricated from the plans and installed.

Everything not turquoise or black got painted white with a marine grade paint. Safety lights were installed.

22'6 Widebody

Start 12 June 2020

Flipped 04 October 2020

Floated 02 May 2021

9 months build time (I know the dates don't match, but it was away getting an engine installed and I was not able to work on it)

400 hrs.

www.johniefinn.ca/book