SK14 in Katy, TX

[TexasCoastReds]

Hello all,

Thought I'd share my SK14 build. I've been reading others posts and following along with some builds, and figured it was time to share my progress so far.

This will be my first boat, and I'm involving my two boys where and when I can. My goal is for it to be our father son project, and be able to fish off it together...while all three of us can still fit on it. I'm a hobbyist furniture/chair maker, and plan on using some of those skills in this project. I am a complete fiberglass/boatbuilding novice, and I am keen to learn some new skills along the way.

My build officially started on 16 Oct 2024, with a delivery of Okume ply from my local hardwood dealer. So far I've lofted the plans, stitched glued, and glassed the hull. A work trip took me to Switzerland for a week, and since I got back I've installed the stringers, frames, cleats, and started on the rubrail.

Next steps are to run conduit for my lights/fish finder, foam and install some wiring access hatches and cubbies.

My build plans for the skiff are:

• Rear sole mounted cubbies on either side of the transom supports, with internal conduit stub outs. On the back through the transom, I'm going to use some cable clam bulkhead passthroughs. The idea here is to allow my to have a transducer, and or alternator wire run through the transom
  wall above the water line, into the watertight cubby, and have conduit to the front hatch fuse/switch box.

• Sole hatch mounted between the grab bar mounts, with internal conduit stub out in one of the grab bar feet. This will allow for future fish finder transducer/power runs through the conduit from the front hatch into the grab rail directly. The hatch will allow for ease of cable fishing from the conduit up into the grab rail.

• Front flush mounted LED red/green nav lights up front.

• Rear mounted telescoping anchor light, socket on top of rear cubbies to get the all around light above my head during use.

• LED courtesy light illuminating the sole from the back and the front, installed in the rear cubbies and the front step near the hatch.

• Tessilemare Radial 30 rubber rub rail.

• System 3 yacht/pennant primer

• Quantum 99 top coat

• Marine mat decking

[PapaDave]

Your build looks fantastic. Keep the progress going. Looking forward to seeing a photo of you with the kids on the water.
Dave

[TexasCoastReds]

Thank you, it's a fun build for sure.

This evening a buddy and I had a few beers and I got the conduit in for the electrical and drilled out the grab bar leg for the conduit stub out. We also ran into a decision point regarding the location of the grab rail. I need to decide on the location before I notch out the stringer for my conduit stub out, install the small sole hatch box and install block supports for the grab bar feet.

For those who have built the SK14, did you mount the grab bar front feet or the rear feet over frame C. Based on the plans it appears the rear feet (vertical bar section) are directly over the frame. See photos below for the two configurations.

With the bar rear feet (vertical bar section) mounted directly over the frame, that would place my 210 lb load standing around ~ 54" from the transom. With the bar front feet (angled buttress section) mounted directly over the frame, that would place my 210 lb load standing around ~ 38" from the transom.

I plan on installing a 6hp Yamaha Outboard with a 3 gal fuel tank at the transom with a combined weight of ~80lbs. Upfront I will run a small 45qt cooler and some gear. Occasionally other passengers (≤200lbs) sitting on the cooler in front of the grab bar.

I want to ensure that the stern isn't sitting too low, with the scupper at the water line, and also don't want to have the bow sitting too low either.

I found a couple of posts on the subject and I still can't quite make up my mind:

• https://community.boatbuildercentral.co ... 24#p385124

• https://community.boatbuildercentral.co ... 22#p510622

• https://community.boatbuildercentral.co ... 17#p375217

• https://community.boatbuildercentral.co ... 66#p403466

• https://community.boatbuildercentral.co ... 91#p513591

[PapaDave]

Based on your question, the front feet of the grab bar were over bulkhead C on my build. I have an oval base though, not feet. I am standing between the bulkheads. The video of my build may help you out.

[TexasCoastReds]

Thank you for the reply, I went through your video and the skiff looks to ride well with an extra passenger sitting up front. I also went through your build progress thread and decided to shift my grab rail over Frame C. With me being 200+lbs and the weight of the outboard and tank being ~80lbs, I figured having the grab rail further forward would prevent having the stern sole sitting at the water line.

• Next steps are to block in the supports, install a cubby for the central wiring hatch, and install the hardware for the grab rail feet.

• I plan on over drilling the blocking, epoxy filling with milled glass, then drilling out and installing wood-to-machine threaded inserts.

• I can then install dummy studs with release agent into the threaded inserts for installing the sole and filleting compound, then removing the dummy threaded studs, and installing countersunk machine head screws.

• This is similar to operations I've done for pillar bedding rifle stocks in the past. The advantage is I'll have an epoxied threaded hole in the blocking so I don't have exposed studs and nuts sitting at the grab rail flange to catch on toes and feet when moving around the sole.

• Alternatively......I can just use lag screws into over drilled and epoxied holes, which is probably fine, but why make life simpler

[TexasCoastReds]

Progress update, got the conduit, grab bar footings, and in inside epoxied ready for foam. I've chamfered the ID of the stub out to make it easier to fish cables though. I definitely need to work on my epoxy skills

Question for the more experienced builders; is one coating of epoxy sufficient on the inside before foaming? Or, should I do two coats before foaming?

[Dougster]

Boy I wish I'd done mine that way. Looks just great.

Dougster

[TexasCoastReds]

Thank you Dougster!

This morning I applied a second coat of epoxy to the inside of the hull, frames, and stringers.

Tonight I poured 2 gal. of buoyancy foam, which failed to fill the area under the sole. My shop was at 65% RH and 80F. I'm hoping another 2 gal kit will do it. I don't want to add excess weight, but also like the idea of the stiffness that the foam will provide if the entire volume is full.

I'd also like to fill the top compartments on either side of my storage hatch, however, I'm wondering if this will just add bow weight, and not much function. I extended the stringers in the storage area (between Frame A and B) with 4mm ply walls; I FG'd and epoxied them to create two separate volumes flanking the storage area. Once I add my hatch gutter, these will be completely isolated from the storage area. Is foaming the volumes on either side of the storage area a waste of time, and money?

[Fuzz]

If I understand your question correctly I do not think the added foam is needed. After you finish what you have now that thing is going to be a big surfboard as is. Your build is coming along nicely

[Dougster]

Agree with Fuzz.

Dougster