Here's a fine outboard skiff that will prove inexpensive, easy to build, and fast on the water.Early on the finest Saturday morning in July, I found my way to a perfect small lake in central Maine. Hidden away in the green foothills, not twenty minutes from the blacktop parking lots and shopping mall bustle of Augusta, this secluded water offers a good home for Henry and Sam Whittemore’s Diablo skiff.Sitting quietly at her mooring, BONITO, as the Whittemores call their boat, is striking. Designer Phil Bolger drew sweeping longitudinal curves into this skiff. These contrast with the hull’s sharp and angular transverse sections to make a strong visual statement. Either you will really like her looks (for the record, I do), or you won’t. She leaves little room for neutrality. The matter of her performance seems more certain: it is superb.
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What is the length, what is the beam? weight? speed? fuel economy?Lots of salty words in this article, but no details. I’d say most subscribers to this magazine are after a bit more detail.
The original article, published in Small Boats 2009, included some details along with the drawings, but those details didn’t making it into this reprint. I’ve added the “particulars” above the drawings. The weight had been listed as “Weight (with motor) 150 lbs” but that seems to be an error as a 25-hp outboard alone could weigh close to that amount. I couldn’t find a weight listed with any source for the plans, but a WoodenBoat Forum discussion in which Diablo builders participated suggested that 150 lbs may be an underestimate and 175 lbs more likely.
—Ed.
The Diablo is one of my very favourite boats. Fast with a huge carrying capacity. Stable enough and the ride is good. Handling at speed is impeccable.
With some that we built we extended the central transom knee forward with a piece of 2×2 to the next bulkhead to stiffen the bottom up at the back but wouldn’t dream of altering anything else.
MIK