Skoota questions for Richard

[Jeff]

This email arrived overnight: "I live off the grid up the BC coast (Canada) and we all use runabouts to get us around. There are not so many actual docks and so mooring buoys and anchoring is common - so is 'beaching' but we have 17' tides so the beach is short term un/loading only. I like the Skoota but the cabin in not needed. A center console is better with a longer open deck (all at the same level - self draining). I'd like to see the mid-section extended a bit further forward but doing so adds bow-weight and losing the cabin reduces overall weight thus threatening to push the bow down. Have you considered NOT having a cabin and, instead, redesigning it into a more (to me) useful 'work' boat? Plus, I would really like to go a bit quicker (20+kn).....would 30hp simply make it go faster or should I just accept 15kn. It is not that critical." Jeff

[fallguy1000]

The mid section of these boats are setup in such a way that the forward areas are capable in rougher seas and the forward sections when made stiff versus a trampoline net which is on a higher horizontal plane than the cabin deck would be subject to more pounding.

In a two beamed boat, moving the forward beam more forward is problematic, because of rotational forces. An option would be adding a third beam to the smaller boats. A discussion for Richard for sure.

I had planned to make an elevated front hard deck section, but was advised against doing so by a third party, not Richard, for slamming potential.

The boats could be drawn/designed with the center section higher and a flat deck. The Jazz 30 is close.

I like the idea the emailer presents, however, the Jazz 30 trenches are only stylistic. And so the boat can be made flat decked already.

Raising the Skoota cabin on my boat, for example, may have worked and may have made a boat less likely to slam. But the designer must decide if stability becomes an overriding issue.

It may help to know which boat length he is referring to as well. A 3 beamed Skoota 24 center console may make sense. Not so much the smaller boats.


my thoughts

[Woods Designs]

Good to hear from you and to know you like the Skoota designs. As you probably know, our Skoota 20 was built on Saturna and we cruised it as far as Princess Louisa and Chatterbox Falls. Our Skoota 28 was built in Port Townsend but we spent three summers with it in BC before trucking it south to Texas and then along the coast to Florida and the Bahamas. So I know your home waters well.

Dan is right, what size boat were you thinking of? And would a Jazz suit you? As he says, the Jazz is basically an open boat and you can fit whatever cabin, if any, to suit your own needs

Although you can buy plans from this site it may be best to discuss your exact requirements in private through my email address woodsdesigns@gmail.com

Hope to hear from you soon.

Richard Woods

[OTGJDC]

Thanks, guys, for answering. Appreciated. I had no idea that a Skoota was built on Saturna! I am 100 or so miles north but the waters are similar. And it is because of that, I wanted to deck over a bit more forward and lose the cabin (a little tiny roof over the centre console is enough). We have pretty protected waters and, when they are not 'safe', we simply do not go out. The deck-level change is due to needing a self-draining cockpit. It rains a lot up here and Rule has not made a reliable bilge pump in decades. This concept-boat would be a work/carry/short haul vessel, not just for fun or cruising around. We rarely ever go beyond ten miles. The Skoota that caught my eye was the 18/20. Twenty would be the max - not even 20'6". Why? Because the docks and community docks out here sometimes cannot accommodate anything more than a runabout (in my head that is 15' to 20'). Boaters using 20'+ boats are simply taking too much dockspace.
My ideal scenario is a Skoota 18-20 with a self-draining cockpit and as much deck space as possible PLUS being able to zip along empty at 20 kn with no more than a Yamaha 50 (two people plus some groceries is 'empty' to us). When I carry 5+ guests or lumber the boat returns to a 'displacement' hull speed as do all 'loaded up' boats. Adding to the 'ideal' would be plans that allow for CadCam cutting so that the pieces actually fit when I put it together.

[fallguy1000]

Adding beams to the 20' for more foredeck seems impractical. But I like the boat and could be a fast build.

[Cbuf]

Good to hear from you and to know you like the Skoota designs. As you probably know, our Skoota 20 was built on Saturna and we cruised it as far as Princess Louisa and Chatterbox Falls. Our Skoota 28 was built in Port Townsend but we spent three summers with it in BC before trucking it south to Texas and then along the coast to Florida and the Bahamas. So I know your home waters well.

Dan is right, what size boat were you thinking of? And would a Jazz suit you? As he says, the Jazz is basically an open boat and you can fit whatever cabin, if any, to suit your own needs

Although you can buy plans from this site it may be best to discuss your exact requirements in private through my email address woodsdesigns@gmail.com

Hope to hear from you soon.

Richard Woods

Does anybody have any pictures of a finished Jazz? or maybe a 3d rendering? I like the idea and concept a bunch but the study plans make it hard to visual what it could be.

Thanks
Cbuf.

[fallguy1000]

The hulls are almost the same as the Skoota 32 DM.

You can see our 3d rendering on youtube if you have not.

Of course the helm would be at a center station and perhaps a head onboard if you wanted. Or the same way, drive over a full cabin.

https://youtu.be/JjUqcMzNN5Q

[Jeff]

Cbuf, go to Richard Woods website and you will likely be able to find those pictures!!!

Link: https://www.sailingcatamarans.com/

Jeff