How to tow a dinghy behind a yacht – Goat Island Skiff case study.
What is the best way to tow a tender behind a larger yacht or motorboat? And how does the Goat Island Skiff go as a towed tender?
Boat Plans
All our Boat Plan Articles are below
Stories, Experiences and rAticles about our Storer Boat Plans start with simple assembly and clear plans leading to Adventures in lightweight wooden and plywood boats with good handling and excellent performance.
Scroll down to see all the articles.
If you just want Specific Plan Info – click one of the images in this gallery
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Articles on sailing dinghies, river boats, kayaks, canoes, paddles, fishing boats and sailing canoes
Cartop Spar Carriers for sail boats and Viola 14 Sailing Canoe.
These cartop spar carriers for a sailing dinghy or sailing canoe carry mast, yard or gaff and boom using the existing straps that tie the dinghy or sailing canoe to the roof.
Joost made them for his Viola 14 Sailing Canoe.
Inexpensive Centrecase Padding Reduces Rudder Centreboard Maintenance
Centrecase Padding reduces centreboard maintenance by protecting the sliding surfaces of rudderbox or Leeboard case on sailing dinghies. We look at low cost ways for padding the centrecase to reduce foil wear and tear.
2 Years with Viola 14 Sailing Canoe Family and RAID events – Part 1
The Viola 14 is not a normal Sailing Canoe but a sailing dinghy/canoe hybrid from a Boat Plan. Stability of the sailing dinghy with the storage of a canoe and simplified construction. Article by guest writer and Viola 14 prototype builder Joost Engelen.
Video of Balance Lug Rig Performance vs Lasers and Fireballs
A video comparing Lug Rig Performance with conventional rigs in a real race. A Goat Island Skiff takes part in a regular club race against Fireballs and Lasers. Where will it end up? Does it actually have a “bad tack” where it can’t compete? The answer might challenge your assumptions about sailing rig performance
Viola 14 Performance Sailing Canoe Sailing Dinghy Hybrid – Video
The Viola 14 Sailing Canoe has performance of a light Sailing Dinghy, but the portability and easy transportation of a Canoe.4 sheets of 4mm plywood make economical and keep the weight down to 75lbs. There is a balance lug version which can reef easily and two sizes of a modern Bermudan laminate sail.
Andrew enjoys strong winds in his BETH sailing canoe
Discussion of handling light sailboats such as sailing canoes and how some hull design features promote good sailing manners at higher speeds. Taking pressure away from the sailor by making the boats light and predictable despite rough conditions.
Cool Nylon String Seats in Eureka Canoe Launch – Peter McKenzie
Eureka Canoe Launching. And a nice seat method with monofilament. Family canoe by Peter McKenzie and family in Queensland Australia
Building a Light Performance Sailing Canoe isn’t Difficult
Assembly of the beautiful BETH Sailing Canoe. Photos of all the major stages.
What is the the Goat Island Skiff’s carry capacity? VIDEOS
How much weight can a light homebuilt boat carry? It turns out … quite a bit if designed the right way. And without becoming a slug to sail
Oz Goose National Titles Philippines 2017 – Video
17 boats and over 40 sailors attended the Championships for the Oz Goose class was held at Taal Lake Yacht Club south of Manila late November 2017. Series sponsor was Hyde Sails International, sailors from all main regions of the Philippines attended.
Calendar Cover Photo Retrospective Goat Island Skiff
Some of the best Calendar Covers for the yearly Goat Island Skiff Calendar. Put together by the builders and sailors.
Goat Island Skiff Calendar 2018 is out for Christmas.
The goat island Skiff calendar 2018 is out now for christmas
Vote for the year’s best Goat Island Skiff photos on FB
Help us vote for the best photos of the year! The Goat Island Skiff group on Facebook puts out a calendar and we have 160 brilliant photos. Your votes will select the shortlist for the 12 or 14 we will put in the Calendar.
BETH Sailing Canoe for sale – Narrabeen Lakes, Australia
Dennis, in Sydney, has been blitzing around in his beautifully built Beth sailing canoe for well over a decade. He now has to reluctantly let go of this lovely looking boat. It really is for experienced dinghy sailors, but is rewarding to sail and easier on the bod than a Laser!
Kanangra Photos – BETH Sailing Canoe in South Australia
A particularly beautiful BETH sailing Canoe Kanangra Launched in South Australia. Also some lug sail setup information
20 ways to boost Lug rig and lug sail performance! Rigging and Tuning.
All our lug rig information on one page. We have seen the change from the balance lug being almost forgotten to becoming the predominant rig for small self built wooden boat. This was the situation a hundred years ago. We can still use the cheapness and effectiveness of this rig to create boats with very quick and pleasant sailing characteristic.
Honey, I shrank the boat and it don’t work no more.
I’ve written about the stupid statements that get put on the net elsewhere. Here someone took the wrong advice “that you can stretch or shrink a boat a percentage” and applied it to one of my Goat Island Skiff plans. It wasn’t OK … the boat was useless after.
Netherlands Epic Canal and Lake Race BRIO 2017 – Goat Island Skiff
The BRIO Sailing Marathon is a very competitive sail and paddle event in the Netherlands. Joost and Viola in their Goat Island Skiff went in the 2017 event. Against the specialised boats that enter the event they ended coming in 57th of 139.
Dutch Goat Island Skiff Third in Caledonia RAID 2009 – Story
The GIS excels at a competive row and sail event. The Caledonia RAID is one of the oldest events of its type. A competitive multi day event that crosses Scotland from West to East including a crossing of Loch Lomond. It tends to attract long and efficient rowing sailing hulls. And here was one of the shortest, simplest and lightest hulls in the fleet punching well above its weight