Newfoundland Trap Skiff:
LOA 19' 3" Beam 62" depth 21" 650 lbs  Plus Extras required

The lines for these plans came from a 100-year-old builders' model. This is a clipper version of a working Trap Skiff with lapstrake planking and steamed frames, making her ideally suited to recreational use without compromising her seakeeping abilities.

The largest of the wherries, with her balanced ketch rig she is a superb sailer (plan for the alternate sloop rig is included). She can be built simply and left open, or fancy with teak deck and oval cockpit. She is one of the loveliest small craft ever designed.


Hilmark Boats is pleased to offer the Newfoundland Trap Skiff in three pricing ranges:

 Row boat only ( three months building time )
One piece old growth western red cedar planks on steamed ribs copper fastened, of either yellow cedar or oak. African Sapele mahogany (9/4 hard wood plank keel 17 feet long) bow stem, and stern post.) Mahogany full covering shoe. Rub rails, risers, gunnels, inwhales, thwarts and floor boards, are all Sapele. Three hard wood mooring cleats, Two sets of 9'6" leather trimmed, spruce oars, with brass security clamps. One piece boat cover with stays, bronze tow ring, and painted to what ever color scheme you wish.

 Ketch or sloop rigged, ( four months building time)
Completed the same as above plus mast, sails, centre board case, center board, centre board lead, rudder and laminated sapele tiller, blocks, and rigging included.

 Include all the above plus a complete cockpit and deck, ( six months building time )
Constructed of yellow cedar old growth deck beams, on 8 inch centers, Jobert marine plywood sub floor, finished with a herring bone teak deck. A sapele 6 inch combing set at 15 degrees angle to provide comfortable back rest, and raised 1 1/4 inches above out side joint where combing and deck meet. This is trimmed with 1/4 round Sapele to provide strength and match the combing. Please note, we are able to get old growth wood in sufficient lengths to completely avoid any scarfed joints. All our boats are built with one piece western red cedar planks.

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Sunshine Tender:
LOA10' 6" Beam 49" depth 19" 120 lbs  Plus Sailing Kit



 Sunshine seems to be everyone's all-time favorite. The original boat was built about 1915, and there is no way to improve on her. She is what yacht tenders are supposed to be-you can dump nearly any load into her and she'll still row easily and will track at the end of the painter without yawing or running down on the towing vessel in a following sea.


 More than a tender, she's a great little solo boat, easy and fun to sail.This is Lapwing on launching day. She's 10'-6" overall, and as you can see, sprit rigged. Her primary function is as a tender for a Dark Harbor 21 and she frequents the waters of Penobscot Bay (Maine). Those that use them as tenders find that they receive as much use as the boats they accompany,

 Because after the primary boat is anchored for the night the owners use them to go off gunkholing.
Their size makes them appealing, their lines insure their versatility, and the lapstrake construction makes them practical.

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Ducktrap Wherry:
LOA 16' Beam 50" Depth 16" 100 lbs  Plus Sailing Kit

A beautiful boat, to be sure. But look at this letter we received:

Sir,

You will be edified to learn that HMCS Lindy, today passed her sea trials with flying colours, booming cannons, and blaring trumpets. She is dry as a bone. Under oars, she performs beautifully. Tracks like a freight train and--good news for old geezers like me-- calls for a sweep of the oars only once about every ten seconds, as she carries so exceedingly well.

 Under sail she is magnificent! Had her geeing and hawing and pirouetting all over Westwood Lake for three solid hours in winds ranging from 3 to 12 knots with a few gusts around 15. Hard on the wind she points up beautifully. On a beamreach she leaps ahead like a thoroughbred filly. Damn near leaves a rooster tail! On a run she's steady and smooth, showing none of the tendancy to roll and yaw that John Leather attributes to loose-footed sails. No boom will be required.

 Based on her performance today, she can definitely carry more than 74 square feet of sail. I'm going to start saving my sheckles for about a 90 square-footer in Egyptian sailcloth, tanbark.

 Only one complaint: It takes forever to get her launched and retrieved because of all the dag-nabbed civilians wanting to drool all over her and touch her and take her picture and ask questions like, "Is that REALLY wood?" and "Is that a dory? and "Is that a whitehall?" "Where is the motor?" My favorite is "Why would you want an all wood boat? Isn't fibreglas more practical?" I love that question, because I get to answer, "Well, would you want a real woman as opposed to a plastic blow-up doll?" But one comment from the ladies really brings out the curmudgeon in me, to the extent that I've had the following sign made up: "WARNING: Anyone overheard referring to this vessel as "cute" will be pummled about the head and shoulders with an "adorable" belaying pin!"

 Thanks to you Hilford for building me such a perfect little ship. And thanks, too, to your good wife for putting up with you throughout the process. You build good boats!

Parnell

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Harbor Skiff:
LOA 12'.3" Beam 63" Depth 18"



T
his Harbor Skiff is made from marine plywood. Various wood trim packages are available. A very stable addition to any family's summer cottage and a very useful volume for campers. Flyfishers will find this a comfortable platform for casting. An all round stable craft for parents, children, and grand children, it will add many memories to any family.

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