“That boat is so damned beautiful, it’s making the rest of us look bad.” CNC-cut tabs, slots and notches assured a fair and symmetrical hull.
photographs courtesy of the author
Read this article now for Free!
Ready for a second free article? Create a free account by entering your email address and a password below.
— OR —
Subscribe now for $29.99 a year and have immediate access to all of our content, including hundreds of small-boat profiles, gear reviews and techniques, adventure stories, and more! You can also browse our entire archive of back issues starting from September 2014, as well as post unlimited classified ads. This is an extraordinary value!
He is making us look bad. Nice work.
Ron, that’s a fact, that boat is very sweet.
Sure was nice to see the pretty lines come together into a fine-looking finished build of the Mojo. The only thing I’d ask about is the absence of an outside spray railing given the smooth topsides forward. It seems as though a breeze-driven afternoon chop, on the bow, might climb the topsides and wet the helm. A ½” or ¾” strip halfway up the stem would knock down that spray allowing the skiff to run past the wind swept salt water. I like to see the topsides’ sheer complimented by a long rail line, but it may be a personal taste item not widely shared. Nice job on the build, fine-looking design, great kit value for all who want this class of boat. I thought the several bilge flow treatments were particularly well thought out. Thanks again for posting her, Chris, and thanks to Mark for building such a sweet-looking skiff.
A really useful article, thanks for that. Such a sweet-looking build. Congratulations, Mark.
At 78, I’ve just started building wooden boats again, after a gap of 60 years. Although I’m a former shipwright, these days I’m a complete novice—to modern technology—which increases the fun of the challenge. So I pore over articles like these trying to soak up other folks’ experiences. When I launch my 15′ cedar-strip Maine lobster boat over here in West Wales, United Kingdom, I’ll let you know!
John, you are an inspiration! I may have another boat in me, still. I can’t wait to see your Maine lobster boat.
A good friend finished his PT Skiff a couple of years ago, a beautiful job similar to MOJO. His wife and two dogs frequent the Chesapeake Bay, NE, NY State, and south to Florida. And several times my wife and I have been invited on long runs and fun put-ins. It’s crazy how that 25-hp outboard pushes us along, all of us, dogs included, and there’s plenty of room. Wonderful boat!
I’m currently building one myself and I can’t WAIT until I get it in the water! This is an exceptional example of a PT Skiff and it shows beautifully.
Thank you, Jim. The nice thing about this project is that the resulting boat is very satisfying. You’ll have a lot of fun with her!
I am glad to see people building and enjoying “slow” boats. Here around Atlantic City, everyone wants the fastest thing on the water. Today I was watching the fishermen (the ones who fish for a living) going out in their skiffs to check their traps. A boat that can get up onto plane with a 25hp or so engine seems perfect for me. And I agree, Mojo looks absolutely perfect! I would be afraid to use her.
Mojo was built to be a fuel-efficient little runabout to have fun with. She was also built to be used. While not “absolutely perfect,” I did my best to make her very good and she is wearing well. We’ll see how it goes over a full season this year. (I may wish that I had painted some of the brightwork.)
Great work with lots of thought and looking good. It’s what attracted me to this issue and a subscription. Love anything boats as reflected in my web site of 10 years ago!
As a longtime WoodenBoat magazine subscriber, I decided to build a boat, and completed an 18′ Glen-L Tug Along. It has been one if my life’s most rewarding accomplishments. I recommend anyone thinking of building a boat to just go after it. You won’t be sorry.
Mark, did you paint her with Awlgrip?
Jim, it’s not Awlgrip. I decided to use a pro painter do the paint—the only thing that I didn’t do myself. Cody Thompson did the paint and he originally suggested rolled and tipped Awlgrip. Once he saw the hull, he suggested we use a sprayed two-part automotive finish with clear coat. The hull was very fair, so it made sense to him. It is easy to repair and really the only downside is that both the resin and the paint continue to cured, which thins both out. You start to see the weave of the glass in the finish. I had to cut it again and polish it out this season. I’ve nearly completed the process now: wet sanding to 2000 then ‘cutting’ (polishing) with 3 successive grits of polishing compound and a coat of wax. It sounds more difficult than it is. I also had to repair a couple of spots which are done the same way after touch up paint is applied.
If I were going to do the painting myself, I think it would either use Awlgrip or Perfection. I’m not sure, but I am thinking about building another boat. I may have to decide.
This whole “I think I’ll build another boat” is a sick obsession. I’m glad there’s a place we can all gather to feel “normal.”
I’ll probably roll and tip Awlgrip (vs Interlux), primarily for color choice. How do you like the Suzuki motor? What kind of performance are you getting? I’m considering their DF25A.
I am very happy with this engine. I chose the Suzuki based upon the recommendation of two separate dealers. I originally went shopping for a Honda. The big advantage is that it’s electronically fuel injected rather than using carburetors, so it deals with E10 fuel a lot better.
Once I got the prop right, Mojo does better than 20 knots with two aboard, and running at my preferred 10-15 knot cruise, it just sips fuel: 12 knots cruising at roughly 2/3 gal/hr. With 6 gallons in the tank, you can cover a lot of water and still have a good reserve.