St. Lawrence River Skiff
The skiff is lapstrake construction with Atlantic cedar planking over steam-bent frames, and fastened with copper rivets
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I built this boat on speculation during COVID after all of my classes and workshop were abruptly cancelled due to the pandemic. Upon completion I advertised it for sale and it was eventually purchased by a resident of Burlington, Vermont who rows it most days in the summer on Lake Champlain.
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The boat is a replica of a St. Lawrence River Skiff built around 1900 and now in the collection of Mystic Seaport Museum. Just north of the Adirondacks, fishing guides in the late 1800s developed their own unique style of guide boat for the open waters of the St. Lawrence and Thousand Islands region. They featured double-ended lapstrake construction. The type is famous for its ease of rowing, tracking, and stability. This is a perfect boat for someone who wants to row in more open waters than a pond or small lake. Larger St. Lawrence skiffs featured sailing rigs.
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The skiff measures 14’ 10” long. It is planked in Atlantic white cedar, with steam-bent black locust frames, white oak sheer strakes, rub rails, decks, and coamings. The planking is fastened with copper rivets. She has two rowing stations so the rower can balance rowing alone or with one or even two passengers.
The owner, a very experienced rower, has said this design performs beautifully.
An autumn launching on Lake Champlain with the Adirondacks in the background.
Thwarts, sheer strakes, decks and coaming are white oak.
Sheer, decks, coamings, and thwarts finished with varnish.
First launching, Arnold Bay, Vermont