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Home » LIST of WOODEN BOAT PLANS – By Michael Storer » Goat Island Skiff Boat Plan, Beautiful, Fast, LIght

Goat Island Skiff Boat Plan, Beautiful, Fast, LIght

The  Goat Island Skiff is our best selling sailing dinghy plan and is an easy to build wooden boat plan with excellent performance, light weight and capacity.

• Simple to Build – “Boatbuilding course in a Book”
• Modern Performance – Sails rings around most “character boats”
• Light enough to handle on land by yourself
• Easy to follow plans – step by step instructions.  96 page manual.

Length – 15’6″ (4.73m) Beam – 5ft (1.52m) Hull Weight – 128lbs (57kg) – Gaboon (Okoume) Ply Sail Area – Lug 105 sq ft (9.75 sq metres)

Read on to find out the basics but there is more! See all our articles on the Goat Island Skiff

A Sailing Dinghy Champion’s view of the Goat Island Skiff

Sailmaker Michael McNamara (Mike Mac) with over 60 major sailing dinghy championship wins in a wide range of racing dinghy types reviews the Goat Island Skiff.

I had a nice long sail in Richard’s Goat Island Skiff today and had a lovely sail. He has made a great job of the boat and it went like a dream. (boat right) I was very impressed with how simple the controls were and how quickly the boat went. It was also beautifully balanced. As you could expect the boat felt better when it was slightly heeled when beating. Off wind it felt fast but didn’t create a planing sort of wash…it just went faster and faster. When tacking I found that I had to be quite forceful in pushing it into the wind and it was definitely better to “roll” it coming out of the tack. I’m glad that I did have a sail because I found that I need to modify the sail slightly to give more fullness at the head. The yard bent more than I had anticipated. I will now get started on your sail and be in touch soon. Hope that is ok.

Ask questions and see builds on the GIS FB group

Click here for All  Videos

Lug rig setup and tuning information.

We have by far the best collection of articles on how to set up the Lug Rig and Lug Sail to get every bit of performance a modern sailor expects.

Off Centre Harbour’s View of the Goat Island Skiff

Off Centre Harbour is a huge website run by Maynard  Bray and other long term Wooden Boat Plan aficionados. Here is a free taster of their subscribe to view video.

Clint Chase the narrator also provides excellent Goat Island Skiff kits. Kits also available in other countries.

One of the nice things is the lack of wake under oar. The Goat is quite a quick rowing boat as well as a quick sailing dinghy . The high sides that provide a stability reserve  in sailing dinghy mode create more windage than is ideal for rowing. However, in any conditions you actually want to row it covers ground quick. Even to compete in Row/Sail events. The GIS came in third in every  rowing  leg of  the  Caledonia RAID against boats with two or  more set of oars. Joost Engelen, The Netherlands

Sailing the Goat Island Skiff and is it easy to build?

I’m staying with my Friends, Peter and Jo Hyndman, who built the first Goat Island Skiff over 12 years ago.

They also live on the edge of the Mooloola River – which makes it quite easy to take a break and go for a sail.

Peter has been perching up on his balcony with his new Nikon D80 Digital Camera while I put the sailing skiff through its paces.

One of the big problems with photos of quick sailing dinghy designs or quick boats is so little fuss as they travel through the water. They don’t look like they are doing much in photos, and we will rectify that shortly with some video clips so you can see just how much ground the boat is covering.

Definitely a quick boat.  Maybe it doesn’t have the top end of a modern racing boat, and it certainly will not be embarrassed by any non-trapeze type on any point of sail and all wind strengths.

The thing about the GIS is that it is constructed like a modern sailing dinghy out of a minimum number of pieces. Not a multi-piece  wooden boat plan of old:

• 4 x bulkheads to push the sides into shape create the built in buoyancy tanks
• 1 x transom (ditto)
• 3 x seat tops

There is very little else.

The Green Goat is John Goodman’s, here with the designer in the front in the 200 mile Texas200 mile event—speed despite carrying a large load of gear, water and food.

A homebuild wooden boat plan – but simple to build and fast.

The result is that this traditional-looking sailing skiff is lighter than many racing dinghies.  Peter’s Gruff weighs in at a very light 127lbs (58kg). Not bad for a boat a little under 16ft (4.8m). A geographic/historical advantage of Australian and NZ boat design and construction.   And no ultra thin ply or difficult construction is used – it is all robust 1/4″ (6mm) ply.

So in these pics you can see it in fast mode – and also see just how pretty it is.

By the way, the photos of this series show a 16 year old boat that has spent a lot of time living outside under a good cover in the tropics. The cover didn’t quite stop water getting in and the boat did sit with water inside in the tropical sun for months. There is no degrade as you can see.

Proof positive that epoxy coating reduces maintenance dramatically.

OK … back to the story.

A Plywood Sailing Dinghy sails well with four adults but flies with one or two.

If you look at the pics below and on Peter’s own GIS website you will be able to see it carrying a bit of weight too.  I’ve sailed it with 4 adults in the boat (Actually it was Peter and Jo, me and my ex Maz) for a daysail on Moreton Bay. That was with a picnic aboard – about 700lbs (310kg) of crew and gear.

Here is James Armstrongs boat in Florida with a load of bodies.

Nice moderate sailing breeze – we covered a lot of ground that day covering open water and skimming over shallows. Peter’s site has a great deal of general GIS information as well.

Rigging the Goat Island Skiff

Rigging the Goat requires very few manufactured parts compared to all the  expensive parts  on the modern sailing dinghy.

The main rigging guide to the GIS is here.

A simplified rigging guide for balance lugs is on the Oz Goose website for countries without good access to boat parts. Or just to save money but keep the performance.

Ask questions and see builds on the Goat Island Skiff FB group

Epoxy and Low Maintenance of a Modern wooden boat

You wouldn’t think the photo above was a 15-year-old  wooden boat by the pic.  It has not been repainted or revarnished – the sail and ropes have not been renewed as the loads on everything are so light compared to a modern boat.

This and many other photos are a testament to coating a boat with a good quality boatbuilding epoxy system and following it with a quality paint system.  It costs more in the first place. Owners enjoy the freedom from extra boat maintenance that would have been necessary if cheaper materials had been used, for example, if more inexpensive materials are used, avoiding the two or three major sandings back and repaintings are usually required if epoxy is not used.

There is a lot of information about use and advantages of epoxy in my boatbuilding FAQ .  You don’t necessarily need to use epoxy to build this boat, but it does make the structure terrifically strong and low maintenance.

The plans are highly detailed and are continuously revised throughout the GIS’s history. We spent much time working on providing more pics and drawings and a clearer layout.

One expansion is a series of photos giving information about the different systems of boat rigging. and there is more rigging and setup information for the lug rig online . This makes it easier to find the few fittings required independent of your geography.

From Sept 1, 2006 – The Goat Island Skiff is my most popular plan.

The reason … it is really pretty. But can back that up with performance, a forgiving nature and ease of building.

So the GIS catches peoples attention.

And this is the first photo I ever saw of it from Peter Hyndman all those years ago. I was really surprised by the size and volume.

Peter’s girls are all grown up now.

More pics on this  page

Once it has caught their attention they start to see other advantages.

Light – makes it easy to move around on shore and is one of the secrets behind the modern performance.  It actually weighs 10lbs LESS than a Laser Dinghy at 125lbs (57kg) when built of lighweight Gaboon plywood.

Versatile – it rows quite OK, sails like a rocket and can take a small outboard for non sailing days. Max 2 to 3hp.

Simple build – The Goat Island Skiff (GIS) is one of the easiest boats to build because of the greatly reduced number of parts.

A nice video of Two Goat Island Skiffs overtaking another sailing dinghy

For a very nice video of a Goat in a full race in real time against Lasers and Fireballs look here. Thanks to Enrico Franconi in Italy.

One of the fun things about the GIS is that the lug rig upsets racing dinghy-type sailors. Some rang me up and email me asking if they could put a more modern rig on the boat.  So far I have managed to convince all of them to stay with the four sided lug sail. And all of them have been grateful when they realise just how quick this sailing skiff goes.

The lug sail is highly efficient, quick to rig and unrig.  I know everyone says that “their” lug rig is highly efficient. However we, the designer and users, have done significant research and development into the Lug Rig .  Later that led us into making sails with ReallySimpleSails .  Both the GIS and BETH will give modern boats a run for their money and will sail rings around other character boats. Or if  you want a modern fast  light boat look at our Viola 14 Sailing canoe .

One of the most significant hints I can give them is to specify a low stretch halyard for the mainsail – spectra or dynex. It means the sail shape doesn’t deteriorate through stretch in the rope – well worth the extra $15.

If you are used to sailing modern sailing dinghy types like the Taser, Laser, OK, National 12, and Windmill you will find the Goat has much of the feel of these boats. Lively and responsive.  It can sail in modern company with quick conventional dinghies and not be completely outclassed.

Club Racing wooden boat with trad rig vs other sailing dinghies in the UK

George and Daniel raced their Goat with a regular dinghy race fleet here. It is our first step towards a yardstick handicap number.

Here is a video of a Solo Dinghy trying to get past the Goat Island Skiff in a club event.

However it has a much greater carrying capacity than any of the modern boats.  I have had it out with 4 Adults and it sails very nicely indeed. It  is an advantage of the easily driven hull form.

The other advantage of the lug rig is that it reefs very simply. The sail area is quite big at 105 sq ft (9.75 sq m) so with the hull’s light weight it has quite a big power to weight ratio for good fine weather performance.  When the weather blows up then it can be reefed for good control.  This is also why the GIS is relatively cheap to get on the water. A single big sail is a lot cheaper than having several smaller ones.  Generally adding a jib doubles the cost of rig and sails.

Easy to build Wooden Boat Plan

There are two parts to ease of building

• The quality of the plans
• Whether the designer understands the capabilities of the materials being used.

The plans for the Goat Island Skiff are more like a book than a plan.  Detailed information on each building step, how to join the plywood, how to mark the shapes of the panels, how to use the epoxy – it is all there.  More a course on boatbuilding than a simple plan.

One of the first things you notice looking at the GIS is the lack of timber framing. The interior is very clean and open. Loads are carried by the ply and the timber is just there to hold it together. Wooden boat plan with simplicity.

Photo below shows the clean interior. It is Robert Hoffman’s boat building in Poland.

• Less timber is used in the boat, which saves money.
• Less structure – which saves weight.
• Fewer parts so the boat builds much more quickly.

Building Space – a wooden boat that can be a  flatpack until final assembly.

Building space does not have to be enormous with initial prefabbing of panels and parts taking much less. I suppose the minimum for final assembly would be around 18ft by 6ft – a standard carspace would be more than adequate.

The boat is quite movable while under construction so could be worked on in the open and moved under shelter when not building.  As the major ply components are constructed on the flat, very little space is taken up until over halfway through the project.

Performance – keep the  boat flat and use the responsiveness of the light weight to catch every wave and gust.

This sailing skiff will sail much the same as most boats its size, but there are a few peculiarities that come with the flat bottom.

Sailing Flat – is still true.

A lot has changed about how to keep boats flat – and it also extends the ability to sail in stronger winds

As with almost all boats, the skiff will sail fastest if sailed level (Photo above is just as a gust struck) – with little or no heel. The exception is in very light winds; when you are struggling to get up any speed, the boat can be heeled over to 20°. The wetted surface is reduced by around 25%. As soon as the boat has achieved any sort of consistent speed it should be brought upright.

When the water is very choppy the boat may slam badly if sailed upright. A small amount of heel will smooth its movement considerably. The minimum amount of heel that stops the worst of the slamming should be adopted.

Reaching downwind then Flat Flat Flat. Use the Steer for Balance method.

The forward and aft buoyancy tanks are designed for use as seats when rowing. The boat will perform best sailing with crew weight concentrated around the middle thwart.

The final difference with many other boats is because there is no jib. This means that the mainsail boom should not be pulled in tighter than 10 degrees.

Setting up a Boat Trailer for the Goat Island Skiff.

The GIS can be carried on a lightweight trailer.  It is lighter than a  Laser sailing dinghy enough to be cartopped – but it is bulky so we recommend a trailer.

She fits nicely in a standard 5ft box trailer with an extended towing arm at the front.

Some European “Goatees” roof rack their Goats on compact cars. Enrico in Italy uses this peg board to move the boat up on the top by himself, and it has pegs making it a step-by-step lift. It is good to build to spec to get the standard 130lbs 62kg weight.

Rowing the Skiff – Oar size and placement

Here is Enrico Franconi and family rowing the Goat Island Skiff through Venice.

If rowlocks are to be fitted they need to go 300mm behind the back edge of the centre seat. The oars need to be 9ft long for best efficiency and the plans are free from my website – Click HERE .

There is always a bit of luck involved in designing a boat. Here it was that the 9ft oars store neatly in the bottom of the boat. Or up in the bow.

And in open Row and Sail events the Goat holds its own on the rowing legs. It came third in every rowing leg of Sail Caledonia RAID under the power of Joost and Viola from the Netherlands. Most of the other boats had two rowing places. So the boat does row well.

Motoring the Skiff

Because of its hullshape, the Goat Island Skiff can’t use more than about 3 or 4 hp effectively. Even two hp will push her along at good speed and electric motors, even quality trolling motors are a possibility. Higher horsepowers are not very useful because the sailing dinghy hull is not the right shape to go faster. It will stand up on its stern and start pounding in waves.

The Goat Island Skiff is set up to take small horsepowers (up to 3) already as the transom is braced by the knees in the corners and the top of the rear seat.

For more info on motoring read the article from Dave Graybeal below under “satisfied customers”.  He is currently building the new hollow mast design so his boys can take her sailing.

Questions and Answers

Can the gis carry a load.

From Leigh Hemmings on Scotland Island

Dear Michael, Hi, from Scotland Island.Today we used our light fast and pretty Goat Island Skiff as a concrete, blue metal and sand barge.  Previous days have seen it used as a timber barge – powered by an electric outboard!. When not in this guise it’s main role is our commuter boat.  But, once our renovation is a little further down the track, our Goat Island Skiff will once more become light fast and pretty sailing craft.  Trust you are well and enjoying life.

That Mast Looks Heavy – is there an alternative?

The standard square hollow wooden mast is in the GIS wooden boat plan. The mast step and partner are altered slightly, and drawings are now available and included with new plan sets.  As usual, the lighter structure is also cheaper because it uses less timber, and the timber thickness is easier to find.

For those wanting a round mast alternative, we have a hollow birdsmouth mast design. Just email me. The  two mast  versions  weigh about  the  same. There  is  a specification for a carbon mast and other  spars too.

Hollow Round Birdsmouth Mast Option

More on motoring.

The boat balances quite OK if there is someone else in the boat to sit on the front seat with the driver on the rear seat.  When by yourself, the boat will balance better if you make up a tiller extension for the outboard so you can sit on the middle seat.

A tiller extension for the outboard can be made of plastic pipe to fit over the outboard tiller.

What sort of Outboard works OK?

Not too big – you won’t go any faster and it might put too much load on the boat.

Perhaps you can use a slightly larger outboard, but generally, outboards don’t take too well to running at low revs all the time. And it is another heavy bit to carry around.

Be aware, too, that outboard weight is a whole field.  Generally, a manufacturer will use the same engine as the basis for 2 or 3 models.  So you may see three different horsepower outboards, all with about the same weight, and several models all use the same block and other internals.

So do some checking before buying.

For purchasers of the plan there is a birdsmouth mast option. E mail me with proof of purchase.

Reviews of the Goat Island Skiff Plans by Builders and Sailors

Reviews from happy builders and sailors

Our Other Plywood Boat Plans

We have sailboats, rowboats, fishing punts and SUPs. Also canoes and sailing canoes which are much more compact than average sailing dinghies.

Click here to see all our plans

Small Boats Annual 2007

The Sailing Skiff 15

A simple, striking, affordable boat

From Issue   Small Boats Annual 2007

A ll youngsters might begin their waterborne adventures in flat-bottomed rowing/sailing skiffs. Easy to build, but difficult to design properly, these honest little boats teach lessons in seamanship and self-reliance. At the other end of life’s voyage, a good skiff will take gentle care of old folks as they sail comfortable miles to nowhere in particular.

Here’s a flat-bottomed 15’4″ sailing skiff from Karl Stambaugh, and it looks just right. The talented young designer drew this boat for his dad to build in retirement. Carlton Stambaugh made a fine job of putting it together with plywood, epoxy, and paint.

On a pleasant, slightly hazy, day in late spring, I drove through the rural Maryland countryside to meet the Stambaugh family at the Bellevue ferry pier on the Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay. Freshly planted corn and beans, big-wheeled tractors scurrying from one field to another along too-narrow blacktop roads…the scenery hasn’t much changed in the past three decades. In this place of easy living, the scourge of “land development” seems to have been slowed.

The Sailing Skiff 15 demonstrates her fine hull shape and shoal (4″ ) draft as builder Carlton Stambaugh pulls the boat to the beach. His son, designer Karl Stambaugh, rests at the helm.

Just south of the pier, the sailing skiff made a fine sight as she paced the ferry along the Tred Avon River toward Oxford on the far shore. Halfway across, the simple little boat turned about and reached back in my direction. The Stambaughs, father and son, relaxed in the bilge and stern sheets. As JOY came close in, Karl spilled the wind from her sail and eased the boat up to the sand beach. I climbed aboard, and we worked off into the gentle onshore breeze.

With the sheet trimmed, JOY accelerated in the brisk fashion that befits a light (170 lbs) skiff. She is propelled by a Chesapeake-style leg-o’-mutton rig…simple, efficient, and relatively inexpensive. The tapered wooden mast requires no standing rigging (wires that support the masts of her more costly cousins). Unlike common booms that run humbly along the foot (bottom edge) of a sail, the sprit boom attaches at a sail’s clew (lower, after corner) and runs across the sail to the mast. There, an adjustable rope snotter secures the boom well above the sail’s tack (lower forward corner).

A rope “snotter” secures the sprit boom to the mast…simpler, less expensive, and more adjustable than the usual bronze or stainless gooseneck fitting.

The press of a breeze tends to twist sails and lift the after ends of their booms…not necessarily a good thing. Common yacht-club rigs use special devices called “vangs” and powerful, carefully placed sheets (lines) to control this twist. Aboard this skiff the triangle formed by the sprit boom, the sail’s foot, and the mast automatically takes care of the problem. As the boom tries to lift, tension in the foot of the sail holds it down. To obtain flatter sail shape desirable for sailing in a fresh breeze, we’ll snug up on the snotter and the halyard (the line that hoists the sail). When the wind eases, we’ll slack off on the snotter and halyard to give more fullness to the sail. This will produce more power in light air. We’ll accomplish the modification with few, if any, blocks (pulleys) and no gooseneck (an often bronze, and always expensive, fitting that connects a conventional boom to its mast). Unless we have a relative in the marine hardware business, there seems little sense to rigging an ordinary boom on a boat of this size.

JOY sails with a light weather helm. The nicely tapered tiller pulls gently in our hands, and if we release it, the skiff rounds up easily into the eye of the wind. This pleasant behavior aids in working to windward and ensures that the skiff won’t sail away without us should we fall overboard. The shallow rudder provides adequate control and allows us to explore marshes and winding creeks, which often prove more interesting and less crowded than deep water. A horizontal plate attached to the lower edge of the rudder increases its effectiveness.

To furl the sail, roll it around its leech (trailing edge)…simple, neat, and tight. Lift the mast out of the step, and the skiff is ready for the trailer. You’ll find no expensive standing rigging (wire stays and shrouds) to fuss with.

The pivoting centerboard gives sufficient lateral resistance, which keeps us from sliding helplessly sideways to leeward. This we will realize the first time that we forget to lower the board. Yes, the case, or trunk, consumes interior space, but it also serves as a comfortable armrest when the crew lounges in the bilge. And that’s where we’ll often find ourselves.

Most of us will prefer sitting on cushions spread in the bilge, while resting our backs against the skiff’s perfectly angled sides. The crew will be happiest sitting on the floorboards, facing aft and leaning against the ’midships thwart. Aboard JOY, the crew’s cushions are replaced by a modified canoe chair, which offers portable and sybaritic accommodation. By cutting away just a little of the ’mid-ship frame, we’ll be able to recline in the bilge for a good night’s sleep. Many folks have camp-cruised aboard less worthy boats, and the designer assures us that the structural modification is acceptable.

The versatile Sailing Skiff 15 seems about perfect for the noble purposes of education and relaxation (and perhaps an occasional fishing trip).

We’ll build this sailing skiff with plywood, lumberyard stock, and epoxy. Stambaugh cleverly specifies solid (not plywood) sheerstrakes. These planks, which form the upper portions of the boat’s sides, will lend stiffness and a traditional appearance to our skiff. JOY combines the light weight and leak-free aspects of a plywood hull with the handsome appearance of a traditionally planked skiff. She is simple to assemble but striking to look at.

Karl Stambaugh, who has drawn many skiffs, describes this one as “fine for rowing and sailing.” If you plan to row more than sail, consider putting together his slender Bay Skiff 15. If you would rather sail most of the time, the designer’s heftier Windward 15 might be the answer. A small outboard motor can be rigged on any of these skiffs…if you choose to endure the stench, noise, and expense.

Just as drawn, the versatile Sailing Skiff 15 seems about perfect for the noble purposes of education and relaxation (and perhaps an occasional fishing trip). If you can build only one boat, this might be the one boat to build.

Karl Stambaugh’s drawings show the skiff’s simple plywood construction. Solid wooden sheerstrakes add to the boat’s strength and traditional character. You’ll appreciate the simplicity and versatility of this traditional Chesapeake sailing rig.

Plans for the Sailing Skiff 15 are available from Chesapeake Marine Design.

Is there a boat you’d like to know more about? Have you built one that you think other  Small Boats Magazine  readers would enjoy? Please  email  us!

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Comments (2)

This boat is very similar to one built by the Cohasset Shipyard (? proper name could be Hagerty Boatyard) in Cohasset, Massachusetts, in the 1950s. Flat bottom, cross planked, with a small deck forward of the mast, a centerboard and outboard rudder. I think she was Marconi rig. As a 10-year-old living down the street, I would hang out all day and watch them build and the smell of cedar is with me today. Does anyone else recall them?

The Stambaughs definitely know how to achieve that nifty je-ne-sais-quoi Mid-Atlantic aesthetic in their boats. I love the look of the sheer against the raked mast. Jim Luton in Brooklyn built a Windward 15 and stretched it to 16 and called it CRICKET. It’s worth a few minutes to search for it online, there’s a nice build page. That boat is certainly a looker as she exudes timeless romanticism.

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One Sheet Skiff Free Plans

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Description

Free plans. To download the file, click   HERE

This is a design of my own planning. It came about after I had built a couple of the One Man Dinghies which although a great design they were slow to build and I have come to dislike working with fiberglass tape and epoxy. This was first conceived as a father son project. My son at the time was very much into computer games and it was difficult to pry him away from the machine. Also with computers he was used to having projects move very quickly. Boat building of a traditional boat was just too slow to interest him. I have assembled this design in 4 hours and have built the complete boat in 8 hours. I am posting the plans for this project for free.

Thanks - Herb McLeod

Addendum - My son who I found difficult to pry away from the computer now has a PhD in physics and is working in Grenoble France. He is also an avid white water kayaker.

Instructions:

Building the One Sheet Skiff

1) One sheet 4x8 1/4" plywood

2) 2"x4" -16" scrap for stem (make the stem long and trim it to size after you have attached the sides and gunwales)

3) 1"x2" - eight 8' for frame, transom, chines and gunwales and full-length skeg

4) 2"x2" - two 6" these are mounted on the outside of the gunwale and with an appropriate sized hole through them hold the oar horns. (see the picture of the gray OSS)

5) Glue; tube of polyurethane construction adhesive (PL premium), plastic resin glue (Weldwood) or epoxy

6) Screws and/or nails plus washers and screws (where needed to attach chines and gunwales)

7) Scrap 1'x4' 1/4 ply for seat

8) 1'x 4'x 1 1/2 " bead board (closed cell plastic foam insulation board) for under seat for flotation

9) Latex primer and paint

10) Oarlocks

1) Cut 9" strip off each side of he sheet of plywood for sides

2) Make stem cut bevels at 33 degrees

3) Attach sides to stem:

4) Build transom and frame: (you will round off the top of the transom after you have attached the sides and gunwales)

5) Attach sides to frame and transom:

Test fitting first is a good plan:

6) Cut 1x2 as shown on drawings and install chine logs. (If you have splitting problems thin them down an eighth of an inch.) Use washers on your screws on the ends and at the main frame to stop splitting as this is about as much of a bend as you can make in a stick of wood without steaming it.

7) Attach bottom and trim.

8) Shape and attach gunwales. Use washers on your screws on the ends and at the main frame to stop splitting. Now you and round off the top of the gunwales. Now glue and screw the 6" 2x2 blocks to the gunwales for later attachment of your oarlocks. These blocks should be attached so that the centre of the oar pin will be 20 to 22 inches forward of the transom.

9) Attach a 1x2 lengthwise to outside of the bottom to make as a shallow skeg or attach a deeper fin type skeg as drawn on the plans. Both types of skegs seem to work equally well but the 1x2 full-length skeg allows one to place screws through the plywood and bead board seat to hold it to the bottom.

9) Cut bead board and paint two coats of latex primer on all sides let dry. This will stop it from melting if it comes in contact with oil or gasoline. Next glue the bead board to bottom on inside of your hull. Then cover the bead board with the 1/4-inch plywood seat and screw through the seat and bead board into the bottom and the skeg to attach.

10) Make oars as drawn.

11) Paint everything (bright colours are great).

12) Fasten hardware (oarlocks) and go boating:

A little boat my brother and I built , this one was actually based on a plan, from Herb McLeod, the OSS (one sheet skiff). This boat is made from only one sheet of 1/4 plywood and about 5 eight foot long 1x2's. The materials total about $20. It is surprisingly stable with only one person, I built one for myself after this and mounted oars and used it for fishing, and I've built a couple more since then but they're sold now.

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DO IT NOW!                                            David Beede GAFF KETCH CHAMELEON For ages 5 to 95... Dream Catcher  Pond Skiffs ...  I'm no longer building these pond boats,but I'm leaving the page up to inspire home builders. A Celebration  of Traditional Sail... 3 Models and many rigs -  I have a book in the works with full sized plans!   BLUE HERON SHARPIE Projects... Summer Breeze Wins Design Contest! Click the duck! This is an 11'8" skiff from two sheets of plywood inspired by Phil Bolger's Teal. I was gratified to win best overall, and best use of materials Duckworks 2001 contest.  All drawing and most current build notes here .     Prototype build diary     Maiden voyage All the entries were very  impressive so I won by a slim margin. Please check them out.   Summer Breeze sea trials at the Cedar Key mess about 2002!    Steve Bates , of Australia, did a bang-up job on his mini-sharpie - then turned her into a double ender and had a ship wreck! Check it out! Mini Sharpie   Here's a one sheet high bowed sharpie skiff of my own design. A Family builds her. She gets a sail rig! Daydream... var options = {}; options.mediaPath = "http://www.simplicityboats.com/Day%20Dream.mp3"; var params = {}; params.allowScriptAccess = "always"; swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.simplicityboats.com/OriginalMusicPlayer.swf", "player-holder", "250", "90", "9.0.0",false, options, {}, {}); A.K.A. Least Cuts Boat  This is a 15' Sharpie Skiff made with all straight saw cuts! Rob Smith and 2 nephews build her in 22 hrs in South Africa!   Brian Schmittling's Daydream !   A couple of One Sheet boats  with capacity for 2 Adults! (click the pic) Wackless Lassie - A double paddle canoe.   Cygnet - A One Sheet Skiff designed by Herb McLeod. Featherwind -  actually Dave Carnel's $200 sailboat     Alternative Methods and Materials for boat building!  Yuloh info... - a collection of resources on the oriental sculling oar.  $10 Yuloh!!   Shantydock! - This is an 8' x 16' swim platform with an arched canopy roof.  Dream Catcher  Pond Skiffs ... are here! " Coolwater " a shoe string shanty boat! Also.... Shantyboat Dreams - sketches and resources...   Model making - this one is a one sheet skiff of my own design superceded by my Mini Sharpie. Local Builders See what the local (North Florida) boys are up to.  Old Boat Plans from the 40s, 50s & 60s       This is a cheap and quick boat shelter that can be easily broken down and moved. PVC and poly tarp to the rescue again! Alternative Methods and Materials for boat building! Miscellaneous ... Resources - informational and inspirational stuff like  Gavin Atkin's Free Design Page   - Gav, in addition to starting the Boat Design group on Yahoo,  won the Duckworks design contest in 2000 and originated the "Mouse" line of boats, which are being built all over the globe!     (Good starting point... less overwhelming than the links page.)   Links  from my bookmarks for the last year, loosely categorized.   A Rant   Ravings about boat building, music, and life as spectator sport. [the above email link is NOT clickable - thanks to the spam web bots - please type it in]

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tion. Boat design addiction may lead to a new 12 step program.  

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Beavertail Skiffs

We have a saying, that “Beavertail Skiffs Life is Good” and to us and our owners those words mean many things. First, becoming a Beavertail owner is to join a family of dedicated anglers who demand the very best of their skiffs and the folks who build them. Second, being a part of the Beavertail family means being treated as one of our own – before, during and after the sale. Each and every one of our skiffs is custom crafted to the exact specifications of its owner and are engineered and built with no compromises in order to deliver the very best in performance, quality and durability.

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       I’m Arch Davis – I learned boatbuilding and design in New Zealand in the 1970s. I have been helping people to build beautiful wooden boats since 1988. You can see a few of them by clicking on Picture Gallery . My approach to design is to put into your hands the means to use modern materials – marine plywood and epoxy resin – to build a truly lovely boat with classic lines.

      I believe that a boat should be beautiful, not just by virtue of her lines, but also in her construction. No material makes this possible like wood. My aim is to take advantage of wood’s unique strengths, in a structure that captivates the eye. I want you to feel that you are always doing good work in building one of these boats.

       You’ll see that I have a small collection of designs. That is because I understand your need for clear, comprehensible, detailed plans and instructions. I put a lot of time into my drawings, building manuals and DVDs. I also spend a lot of time helping people through their projects, on the phone or by e-mail. I really am here to help!

      If you see something that you like in my collection, please feel free to contact me with any questions. I am available on the phone at 207-930-9873, or email me at [email protected] .

Wooden Boat Plans and Boat Kits by Arch Davis

Grace's Tender - More than just a tender, this little dinghy is a fine vessel in her own right. She is a pleasure to row, and sprightly under her simple sailing rig - a great boat for youngsters to mess about in. Bay Pilot 18 - an 18 ft pilothouse cruiser for outboard power. Laughing Gull - 16 ft self-bailing sailing/rowing skiff. Ace 14 - 14 ft performance daysailer Penobscot 13 - 13 ft little sister to Penobscot 14. Penobscot 14 - 14 ft glued lapstrake sailing/rowing skiff. Penobscot 17 - big sister to the Penobscot 14 Sand Dollar - 11 ft sailing/rowing skiff. Jack Tar - 26 ft plywood lobster boat design Jiffy 9-7 - suitable for rowing or a small outboard motor Jiffy 22 - outboard powered cabin skiff Jiffv V-22 - vee-bottom sister of the Jiffy 22

About My Boat Kits

       I also have epoxy kits and plywood packages for all my designs, plus sails, rigging, and numerous other items. Here's my daughter, Grace, setting up the frames for a Grace's Tender kit.

Please call or write to me at: Arch Davis Design 37 Doak Road Belfast, Maine 04915 Tel:207-930-9873  

If you would like to receive a newsletter from Arch Davis Design, send me an e-mail at [email protected]

850-545-8578

Spear Skiffs are proudly made in Florida's Forgotten Coast. Every skiff is hand-laid-up and built by Harry Spear.  

Learn more here..

The Evergladez skiff built by Spear boatworks is truly the only no compromise skiff I’ve ever been in. I’ve been in them all and even tried to build my own. Harry has a lifetime of experience fishing, running skiffs, and a supernatural feel for what works. Nothing even comes close to its ability to get canoe shallow, ride comfortably in a chop and stay dry. It’s fast and efficient weather running or being poled. It’s strong, sound , and lighter than anything else you can buy without all the smoke and mirrors of fancy materials and huge price tags. I am a full time fishing guide and I excel in every way due to this skiff and never feel beat up at the end of the day.

Captain Brian Esposito

When I got my captain’s license in 1995, there were only a few great poling skiffs on the market.  Over the years, I’ve been able to own and guide out of five amazing poling skiffs made by five different boat manufacturers.  As hull design and construction materials changed, each skiff excelled in some aspect, but there were some things I didn’t like.  Two years ago, I searched again for the perfect poling skiff for my home waters.  I needed ultra shallow draft, quiet and effortless poling, stability, the ability to fish two clients, have a soft/safe ride and have top speed over 35 mph.  That’s sounds like an impossible list, but I can honestly say that the Evergladez model custom made for me by Harry Spear does all those things extremely well-- in one package.  The man knows how to build an amazing fishing skiff!   It doesn’t have a bunch of fancy hatches, but it is the BEST poling and fishing skiff I have ever owned.  I’ve had three other seasoned fly fishing guides pole and fish out of my Evergladez and they all were amazed with the effortless poling, crazy shallow draft and fishability.  Check one out and you decide.

   Captain Warren Hinrichs, Jr.

If I had to sum up my experience with the skiff you built for me in one word, the word is grateful. Why grateful? Because there really isn’t anywhere to go to have a fishing tool as powerful as this built. The production companies do build some great boats, but over the years they have added more and more bulk to their builds, getting away from their roots. In spite of all the claims of space age, lightweight materials, the result is heavy boats that won’t get as shallow or pole as easily and effortlessly. My Spear is a mind blower. It does all of those things so much better, all while running fast and keeping me and my anglers dry and comfortable. That’s why I’m having you build me a second skiff! The word is grateful. Thank you, Harry, for the unique opportunity to own a skiff that has opened up so many new experiences for me and my clients.

Captain Ryan McFarland

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US Army boats leave Virginia on mission to build floating pier off Gaza's shore for food deliveries

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four U.S. Army boats, loaded with tons of equipment and steel pier segments, left Virginia on Tuesday, heading to Gaza as part of the U.S. effort to expand the delivery of food and other supplies to starving Palestinians as Israel's war against Hamas drags on.

The ships pulled out of docks at Joint Base Langley-Eustis and headed down the James River toward the Atlantic Ocean for what could be a month-long voyage to the Mediterranean Sea. There, at a yet-to-be-announced location along the Gaza shore, they will build and begin to operate a floating dock to receive the aid.

Since Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, Israel’s military has battered the territory, killing more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and creating a humanitarian catastrophe . The U.N. says virtually all of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are struggling to find food. But getting humanitarian aid to the area has been difficult, due to the ongoing hostilities and struggles to coordinate with the Israeli military, which has blocked routes and slowed deliveries due to inspections.

The latest Pentagon plan calls for the U.S. military to build what is called a modular causeway system. Off shore, the Army will build a large floating platform where ships can unload large containers of aid. Then the aid will be transferred by the Army to a motorized string of steel causeway sections that have been pushed to the shore.

That pier is expected to be as much as 1,800 feet (550 meters) long, with two lanes, and the Pentagon has said it could accommodate the delivery of more than 2 million meals a day for Gaza residents. Officials have not said who will be unloading the containers and taking the aid ashore. President Joe Biden has said there will be no U.S. troops on the ground in Gaza.

On Tuesday, as family members and senior Army commanders watched, about 70 soldiers with the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) pulled away from the docks in four U.S. Army vessels: the USAV Wilson Wharf, USAV Matamoros and USAV Monterrey, all Army landing crafts, and the larger USAV SP4 James A. Loux, a logistics support watercraft.

The brigade’s commander, Army Col. Sam Miller, said about 500 of his soldiers will participate in the mission. All together, Pentagon officials have said about 1,000 U.S. troops will be involved.

Calling it a complicated mission, Miller said the transit will take about a month, but it will depend on weather and any possible high seas. The actual construction, he said, will take about a week, but that also could be hampered by weather. Then it will take additional time to get the delivery process coordinated with those providing the aid and the system up and running. Defense officials have said it will take about two months to get the deliveries started.

The Army's vessels and maritime capabilities are unique and not as well known as the Navy's. The last time the 7th Transportation Brigade did a similar mission to construct a large pier was in Haiti in 2010. But it has participated in a number of major military exercises.

“The soldiers here are energized, they’re motivated, they’re excited,” Miller said, adding that the new humanitarian mission “gives them purpose and meaning” and highlights the Army's watercraft. He noted that just 36 hours after Biden ordered the operation, the first Army vessel — the USAV General Frank S. Besson logistics ship — left Joint Base Langley-Eustis on Saturday.

Miller said a larger Maritime Sealift Command ship will also be leaving Virginia in the coming days, and will be carrying some of the bigger equipment and more of the steel pier segments.

Depend on CBS 6 News and WTVR.com for in-depth coverage of this important local story. Anyone with more information can  email [email protected] to send a tip .

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Flats River Skiff 15

$ 160.00 – $ 2,500.00

The Flats River Skiff 15 is the perfect 2 person shallow water fishing skiff.  This boat is ideal for a first time boat builder with basic carpentry experience.  With its simple stitch and glue construction you will be out on the boat in no time!

Looking for more photos? Want to connect with others who have built this boat?  Check out the Salt Boatworks boat builders group, HERE!

Boat Plans include full size templates to trace and cut all parts and prints detailing assembly of the boat.

Plywood Kit includes prints detailing assembly of the boat, all plywood parts CNC cut, USCG flotation foam, a USCG capacity placard and HIN assignment.

Plywood Kits are shipped by motor freight or can be picked up from Morehead City, NC.   Shipping will vary by destination and you should contact us for a quote BEFORE placing an order if you plan to have the kit shipped.  Some ball park costs from past shipments are ~$500 for South Carolina and ~$700 for southern Florida and Texas.

Orders placed here can only ship within the USA at this time.  If you are outside of the USA, please send us a message on our contact page for a shipping quote.

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The Flats River Skiff 15 is the perfect two person shallow water fishing skiff.  Its shallow dead rise aft and sharp entry forward provide a smooth ride in light chop and stability on plane and at rest.  Its flat deck forward will accommodate a trolling motor, and as a result provides ample fishing space with anchor, battery, and gear storage below.  Rear seating is configurable as a split bench or full bench with storage on each side.  This flats skiff is designed as a tiller, but a compact side console can be added.

• Ideal for a first time boat builder with basic carpentry experience
• Simple layout is easily customized
• Plans included full size patterns for tracing (easily cut with a jig saw)
• Plywood Kit includes all plywood pre-cut by CNC (first 3 items on materials list & foam)
• Check out our FAQ for build time and cost estimates.

Flats River Skiff -15 Specs:

• 15′ LOA
• 5’4″ beam
• 6.5″ draft fully loaded
• 700lb Capacity (2 people and gear)
•  30hp max, 25hp recommended (20″ shaft)
•  30hp runs ~33mph, 25hp runs ~28mph and 20hp runs ~23 mph

Flats River Skiff -15 Materials List:

• 8 sheets – 4′ x 8′ x 1/4″ Okume or Meranti marine grade plywood (included in Plywood Kit)
• 2 sheets – 4′ x 8′ x 3/8″ Okume or Meranti marine grade plywood (included in Plywood Kit)
• 1 sheet – 4′ x 8′ x 1/2″ standard plywood for cradle (included in Plywood Kit)
• 120 linear feet – 1″ x 1″ stock Cypress, Juniper, or Fir
• 68 linear feet – 3/4″ x 1-1/2″ stock Cypress, Juniper or Fir
• 12′ linear feet – 1″ x 1-1/2″ stock Fir or Sapele
• 6 gallons – Marine Epoxy (add 1 lb of fumed silica for fillets)
• 14 cu/ft – 2 lb density expanding pour foam, closed cell (included in Plywood Kit)
• 25 yards – 10 oz cloth 50″ wide
• 10 yards – 1208 biaxial cloth 50″ wide
• Marine primer & paint (Quantity will vary by manufacturer, application method and number of coats.)
• Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction (free PDF download)

What are stitch and glue boat plans?

Stitch and glue boat plans are great for amateur boat builders!

Stitch and glue boat building uses marine grade plywood that is stitched together with zipties and glued with epoxy resin.  The first step is to trace the full size patterns onto marine grade plywood and cut them out.  Then you will hold everything in place with zipties so you can install the simple frame.   After that, apply thickened epoxy to glue everything together.  All wood is sealed with epoxy resin and some areas are covered with fiberglass for additional strength.  Finally, roll on some paint and enjoy the ride!

Watch this video about stitch and glue boat building for more details and explanation.

Questions?   Check out our FAQ

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US Army boats depart for Gaza on mission to build floating pier for food deliveries

The mission is part of an initiative to deliver aid to palestinians affected by the israel-hamas war.

Biden drawing ‘red line’ over Rafah offensive ‘worries Israelis’: Benjamin Hall

Fox News’ Benjamin Hall reports on U.S. support for Israel in the ongoing war with Hamas and promotes the paperback edition of his best-selling book ‘Saved.’

• U.S. Army boats departed from Virginia loaded with equipment and steel pier segments bound for Gaza, as part of a U.S. initiative to deliver aid to Palestinians.
• The ships are expected to travel through the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
• The aid delivery involves constructing a floating dock off the Gaza shore, where aid containers will be unloaded.

Four U.S. Army boats, loaded with tons of equipment and steel pier segments, left Virginia on Tuesday, heading to Gaza as part of the U.S. effort to expand the delivery of food and other supplies to starving Palestinians as Israel's war against Hamas drags on.

The ships pulled out of docks at Joint Base Langley-Eustis and headed down the James River toward the Atlantic Ocean for what could be a month-long voyage to the Mediterranean Sea. There, at a yet-to-be-announced location along the Gaza shore, they will build and begin to operate a floating dock to receive the aid.

Since Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, Israel’s military has battered the territory, killing more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and creating a humanitarian catastrophe. The U.N. says virtually all of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are struggling to find food. But getting humanitarian aid to the area has been difficult, due to the ongoing hostilities and struggles to coordinate with the Israeli military, which has blocked routes and slowed deliveries due to inspections.

ISRAEL 'OUTRIGHT REJECTS' FOREIGN EFFORTS TO CREATE PALESTINIAN STATE AFTER HAMAS WAR, NETANYAHU DECLARES

The latest Pentagon plan calls for the U.S. military to build what is called a modular causeway system. Off shore, the Army will build a large floating platform where ships can unload large containers of aid. Then the aid will be transferred by the Army to a motorized string of steel causeway sections that have been pushed to the shore.

Soldiers of LLV Monterrey from 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) prepare to deploy to the Gaza Strip on March 12, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

That pier is expected to be as much as 1,800 feet long, with two lanes, and the Pentagon has said it could accommodate the delivery of more than 2 million meals a day for Gaza residents. Officials have not said who will be unloading the containers and taking the aid ashore. President Joe Biden has said there will be no U.S. troops on the ground in Gaza.

On Tuesday, as family members and senior Army commanders watched, about 70 soldiers with the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) pulled away from the docks in four U.S. Army vessels: the USAV Wilson Wharf, USAV Matamoros and USAV Monterrey, all Army landing crafts, and the larger USAV SP4 James A. Loux, a logistics support watercraft.

The brigade’s commander, Army Col. Sam Miller, said about 500 of his soldiers will participate in the mission. All together, Pentagon officials have said about 1,000 U.S. troops will be involved.

Calling it a complicated mission, Miller said the transit will take about a month, but it will depend on weather and any possible high seas. The actual construction, he said, will take about a week, but that also could be hampered by weather. Then it will take additional time to get the delivery process coordinated with those providing the aid and the system up and running. Defense officials have said it will take about two months to get the deliveries started.

ISRAEL TO CONTINUE FULL-SCALE OPERATIONS IN GAZA FOR AT LEAST A MONTH BEFORE SCALING BACK WAR

The Army's vessels and maritime capabilities are unique and not as well known as the Navy's. The last time the 7th Transportation Brigade did a similar mission to construct a large pier was in Haiti in 2010. But it has participated in a number of major military exercises .

"The soldiers here are energized, they’re motivated, they’re excited," Miller said, adding that the new humanitarian mission "gives them purpose and meaning" and highlights the Army's watercraft. He noted that just 36 hours after Biden ordered the operation, the first Army vessel — the USAV General Frank S. Besson logistics ship — left Joint Base Langley-Eustis on Saturday.

Miller said a larger Maritime Sealift Command ship will also be leaving Virginia in the coming days, and will be carrying some of the bigger equipment and more of the steel pier segments.

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US Army boats head out on a mission to build a floating pier off Gaza’s shore for food deliveries

Soldiers of LLV Monterrey from 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) prepare to deploy to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

A group of soldiers from 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) wave to the crew of LLV Monterey as it pulls out from port on a humanitarian mission to Gaza, on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Soldiers from 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, make final preparations on LSV SP/4 James A. Loux before deploying to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va. The Loux will be supporting the construction of a floating pier off the coast of Gaza for delivery of humanitarian aid. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

BG John “Brad” Hinson, commander of 3rd Expedition Sustainment Command and Assistant Commanding General (Supply) of XVIII Airborne Corps, speaks during a press conference pertaining to four army watercraft deploying to Gaza for delivery of humanitarian aid on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

CW3 Jason West, left, skipper for LSV SP/4 James A. Loux, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), stands with his family before deploying on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

LSV SP/4 James A. Loux heads down the James River for a deployment to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va. The watercraft will build and operate a floating pier in support of a humanitarian mission to Gaza. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Soldiers from 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, enter the mess galley on Large Land Craft Monterey on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va. The Monterey was one of four army watercraft deploying to Gaza for a humanitarian aid mission. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Col. Sam Miller, commander of 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), speaks to media before units from his brigade deploy to Gaza in support of a humanitarian mission on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Soldiers give the crew of the LLV Monterey a box of snack bars before the Monterey leaves for deployment to the Gaza Strip for a humanitarian mission on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Four U.S. Army boats, loaded with tons of equipment and steel pier segments, left Virginia on Tuesday, heading to Gaza as part of the U.S. effort to expand the delivery of food and other supplies to starving Palestinians as Israel’s war against Hamas drags on.

The ships pulled out of docks at Joint Base Langley-Eustis and headed down the James River toward the Atlantic Ocean for what could be a month-long voyage to the Mediterranean Sea. There, at a yet-to-be-announced location along the Gaza shore, they will build and begin to operate a floating dock to receive the aid.

Since Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, Israel’s military has battered the territory, killing more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and creating a humanitarian catastrophe . The U.N. says virtually all of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are struggling to find food. But getting humanitarian aid to the area has been difficult, due to the ongoing hostilities and struggles to coordinate with the Israeli military, which has blocked routes and slowed deliveries due to inspections.

The latest Pentagon plan calls for the U.S. military to build what is called a modular causeway system. Off shore, the Army will build a large floating platform where ships can unload large containers of aid. Then the aid will be transferred by the Army to a motorized string of steel causeway sections that have been pushed to the shore.

That pier is expected to be as much as 1,800 feet (550 meters) long, with two lanes, and the Pentagon has said it could accommodate the delivery of more than 2 million meals a day for Gaza residents. Officials have not said who will be unloading the containers and taking the aid ashore. President Joe Biden has said there will be no U.S. troops on the ground in Gaza.

On Tuesday, as family members and senior Army commanders watched, about 70 soldiers with the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) pulled away from the docks in four U.S. Army vessels: the USAV Wilson Wharf, USAV Matamoros and USAV Monterrey, all Army landing crafts, and the larger USAV SP4 James A. Loux, a logistics support watercraft.

The brigade’s commander, Army Col. Sam Miller, said about 500 of his soldiers will participate in the mission. All together, Pentagon officials have said about 1,000 U.S. troops will be involved.

Calling it a complicated mission, Miller said the transit will take about a month, but it will depend on weather and any possible high seas. The actual construction, he said, will take about a week, but that also could be hampered by weather. Then it will take additional time to get the delivery process coordinated with those providing the aid and the system up and running. Defense officials have said it will take about two months to get the deliveries started.

The Army’s vessels and maritime capabilities are unique and not as well known as the Navy’s. The last time the 7th Transportation Brigade did a similar mission to construct a large pier was in Haiti in 2010. But it has participated in a number of major military exercises.

“The soldiers here are energized, they’re motivated, they’re excited,” Miller said, adding that the new humanitarian mission “gives them purpose and meaning” and highlights the Army’s watercraft. He noted that just 36 hours after Biden ordered the operation, the first Army vessel — the USAV General Frank S. Besson logistics ship — left Joint Base Langley-Eustis on Saturday.

Miller said a larger Maritime Sealift Command ship will also be leaving Virginia in the coming days, and will be carrying some of the bigger equipment and more of the steel pier segments.

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US Army boats head out on a mission to build a floating pier off Gaza’s shore for food deliveries

By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four U.S. Army boats, loaded with tons of equipment and steel pier segments, left Virginia on Tuesday, heading to Gaza as part of the U.S. effort to expand the delivery of food and other supplies to starving Palestinians as Israel’s war against Hamas drags on.

The ships pulled out of docks at Joint Base Langley-Eustis and headed down the James River toward the Atlantic Ocean for what could be a month-long voyage to the Mediterranean Sea. There, at a yet-to-be-announced location along the Gaza shore, they will build and begin to operate a floating dock to receive the aid.

Since Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, Israel’s military has battered the territory, killing more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and creating a humanitarian catastrophe . The U.N. says virtually all of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are struggling to find food. But getting humanitarian aid to the area has been difficult, due to the ongoing hostilities and struggles to coordinate with the Israeli military, which has blocked routes and slowed deliveries due to inspections.

The latest Pentagon plan calls for the U.S. military to build what is called a modular causeway system. Off shore, the Army will build a large floating platform where ships can unload large containers of aid. Then the aid will be transferred by the Army to a motorized string of steel causeway sections that have been pushed to the shore.

That pier is expected to be as much as 1,800 feet (550 meters) long, with two lanes, and the Pentagon has said it could accommodate the delivery of more than 2 million meals a day for Gaza residents. Officials have not said who will be unloading the containers and taking the aid ashore. President Joe Biden has said there will be no U.S. troops on the ground in Gaza.

On Tuesday, as family members and senior Army commanders watched, about 70 soldiers with the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) pulled away from the docks in four U.S. Army vessels: the USAV Wilson Wharf, USAV Matamoros and USAV Monterrey, all Army landing crafts, and the larger USAV SP4 James A. Loux, a logistics support watercraft.

The brigade’s commander, Army Col. Sam Miller, said about 500 of his soldiers will participate in the mission. All together, Pentagon officials have said about 1,000 U.S. troops will be involved.

Calling it a complicated mission, Miller said the transit will take about a month, but it will depend on weather and any possible high seas. The actual construction, he said, will take about a week, but that also could be hampered by weather. Then it will take additional time to get the delivery process coordinated with those providing the aid and the system up and running. Defense officials have said it will take about two months to get the deliveries started.

The Army’s vessels and maritime capabilities are unique and not as well known as the Navy’s. The last time the 7th Transportation Brigade did a similar mission to construct a large pier was in Haiti in 2010. But it has participated in a number of major military exercises.

“The soldiers here are energized, they’re motivated, they’re excited,” Miller said, adding that the new humanitarian mission “gives them purpose and meaning” and highlights the Army’s watercraft. He noted that just 36 hours after Biden ordered the operation, the first Army vessel — the USAV General Frank S. Besson logistics ship — left Joint Base Langley-Eustis on Saturday.

Miller said a larger Maritime Sealift Command ship will also be leaving Virginia in the coming days, and will be carrying some of the bigger equipment and more of the steel pier segments.

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US Army boats head out on a mission to build a floating pier off Gaza's shore for food deliveries

Four U.S. Army boats, loaded with tons of equipment and steel pier segments, have left Virginia and are heading to Gaza

WASHINGTON -- Four U.S. Army boats, loaded with tons of equipment and steel pier segments, left Virginia on Tuesday, heading to Gaza as part of the U.S. effort to expand the delivery of food and other supplies to starving Palestinians as Israel's war against Hamas drags on.

The ships pulled out of docks at Joint Base Langley-Eustis and headed down the James River toward the Atlantic Ocean for what could be a month-long voyage to the Mediterranean Sea. There, at a yet-to-be-announced location along the Gaza shore, they will build and begin to operate a floating dock to receive the aid.

Since Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, Israel’s military has battered the territory, killing more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and creating a humanitarian catastrophe. The U.N. says virtually all of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are struggling to find food. But getting humanitarian aid to the area has been difficult, due to the ongoing hostilities and struggles to coordinate with the Israeli military, which has blocked routes and slowed deliveries due to inspections.

The latest Pentagon plan calls for the U.S. military to build what is called a modular causeway system. Off shore, the Army will build a large floating platform where ships can unload large containers of aid. Then the aid will be transferred by the Army to a motorized string of steel causeway sections that have been pushed to the shore.

That pier is expected to be as much as 1,800 feet (550 meters) long, with two lanes, and the Pentagon has said it could accommodate the delivery of more than 2 million meals a day for Gaza residents. Officials have not said who will be unloading the containers and taking the aid ashore. President Joe Biden has said there will be no U.S. troops on the ground in Gaza.

On Tuesday, as family members and senior Army commanders watched, about 70 soldiers with the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) pulled away from the docks in four U.S. Army vessels: the USAV Wilson Wharf, USAV Matamoros and USAV Monterrey, all Army landing crafts, and the larger USAV SP4 James A. Loux, a logistics support watercraft.

The brigade’s commander, Army Col. Sam Miller, said about 500 of his soldiers will participate in the mission. All together, Pentagon officials have said about 1,000 U.S. troops will be involved.

Calling it a complicated mission, Miller said the transit will take about a month, but it will depend on weather and any possible high seas. The actual construction, he said, will take about a week, but that also could be hampered by weather. Then it will take additional time to get the delivery process coordinated with those providing the aid and the system up and running. Defense officials have said it will take about two months to get the deliveries started.

The Army's vessels and maritime capabilities are unique and not as well known as the Navy's. The last time the 7th Transportation Brigade did a similar mission to construct a large pier was in Haiti in 2010. But it has participated in a number of major military exercises.

“The soldiers here are energized, they’re motivated, they’re excited,” Miller said, adding that the new humanitarian mission “gives them purpose and meaning” and highlights the Army's watercraft. He noted that just 36 hours after Biden ordered the operation, the first Army vessel — the USAV General Frank S. Besson logistics ship — left Joint Base Langley-Eustis on Saturday.

Miller said a larger Maritime Sealift Command ship will also be leaving Virginia in the coming days, and will be carrying some of the bigger equipment and more of the steel pier segments.

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