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Captain Heritage

Skerrieskiff 17ft Custom Built Wooden Boat

Skerrieskiff 17ft Custom Built Wooden Boat

Regular price $21,252.00 USD
Regular price $21,252.00 USD Sale price $21,252.00 USD
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The Skerrieskiff 17′ is a lightweight and versatile open pulling boat inspired by traditional Scandinavian working craft. With a length overall of 17 feet and a generous 4′ 8″ beam, this design offers an ideal balance between speed, stability, and load-carrying capability. Its slender waterline ensures efficient glide under oars, while the moderate beam provides reassuring primary stability for recreational rowing, coastal exploration, and light camp-cruising. Our workshop faithfully recreates this elegant pulling craft using premium marine materials-including Western Red Cedar, Mahogany, Teak, and high-grade marine plywood reinforced with U.S.-made Hexcel fiberglass cloth, sealed with marine epoxy and finished with System Three marine spar varnish. Each hull is handcrafted using traditional stitch-and-glue or glued lapstrake construction (depending on specification), resulting in a lightweight yet structurally strong boat. Typical build time ranges from 3-4 months depending on finish level and interior detailing. Clients may customize seating layout, rowing configuration (single or sliding seat), interior trim, buoyancy compartments, storage options, and wood combinations-allowing each Skerrieskiff 17′ to be tailored for fitness rowing, leisure outings, or expedition-style adventures. General Dimensions: - Length Overall (LOA): 17ft - Beam: 4.8ft - Displacement: Apprx 170 lbs - Materials: Wood - Propulsion: Oars (optional small outboard adaptation upon request) Performance & Use: Designed for lakes, sheltered bays, and coastal waters, the Skerrieskiff 17′ delivers excellent tracking and smooth acceleration with each stroke. Its efficient hull shape allows for sustained cruising speed with minimal effort, while the stable platform inspires confidence for both novice and experienced rowers. Ideal for day rowing, light touring, or traditional wooden boat enthusiasts, the Skerrieskiff combines classic lines with modern lightweight construction. This wooden boat crafted by us is built from woodenboat.com plans, with full credit given to the original designers. For each custom commission, we acquire the appropriate plans and construct the vessel to order-offering both full-size boats and finely detailed scale models. Disclaimer: Skerrieskiff 17ft is a design by Iain Oughtred. Wooden Boat USA is not affiliated with or endorsed by Iain Oughtred in any way. Contact us to explore specifications, finish options, and build schedules for your Skerrieskiff 17′. The Skerrieskiff 17′ was developed as part of the modern revival of traditional Scandinavian pulling boats, drawing inspiration from working skiffs once used along the rocky coasts and sheltered "skerries" of Northern Europe. These historic craft were prized for their efficiency under oars, seaworthiness, and ability to carry light loads across exposed coastal waters. The contemporary Skerrieskiff adapts these classic proportions into a lightweight, trailerable recreational rowing boat. Introduced during the late 20th-early 21st century resurgence of interest in home-built wooden boats, the design embraced stitch-and-glue plywood construction to make traditional forms more accessible to amateur builders. This method allowed for reduced weight, increased structural stiffness, and simplified assembly-helping expand the popularity of fixed-seat and sliding-seat recreational rowing worldwide. Over time, the Skerrieskiff 17′ earned recognition among rowing enthusiasts for its blend of classic aesthetics and modern performance. It bridges heritage and practicality: retaining the long, lean lines of Scandinavian skiffs while delivering contemporary efficiency, durability, and ease of maintenance-making it a favorite for fitness rowing, coastal exploration, and wooden boat craftsmanship
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What makes our wooden boats so unique and special? 

Hundreds of hours go into the construction of our boats, as perfection is the only options.

- ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY: We use only certified top-grade, hand-selected wood such as Canadian red cedar, mahogany, rosewood, teak and more. 

- THE ART OF CRAFTSMANSHIP: Merging centuries-old customs with technological innovation, we bring you boats that excel in every categories. 

- IN-HOUSE QUALITY CONTROL: Each of our wooden boats goes through a demand quality control process including in water testing before leaving the workshop.

 

About Woodenboat USA™

The story of time-honored traditions of boat building. 

More than just watercraft, our wooden boats, kayaks and canoes represent connections to a legacy of craftsmanship and old world techniques. Woodenboat USA is invested in the type of construction that recalls generations of boat making. Over thirty years in business, our commitment has always been and will continue to be, to excellence, to tradition and to creating products that you can enjoy both for their performance and incredible beauty.

Inspired by history, the names of our watercraft are derived from the northern waterways where natives and settlers have used them for centuries. Merging centuries-old customs with improvements in technology, we bring you boats that excel in every category.

Beginning with pliable, high quality Canadian cedar and hardwood, our craftsmen hand join each individual strip. Hundreds of hours go into the construction of our boats, as perfection is the only option. Once built, the piece is encapsulated in fiberglass epoxy resin adding an extra layer of durability and strength. At last, the water craft is ready for its nautical debut.

FAQ's

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What are your canoes and kayaks made of?

Our canoes and kayaks are made of the highest quality western red cedar and some hardwoods. The larger boats are made of western red cedar, pine, and hardwoods such as oak, mahogany, teak, and some locally available woods. Our wooden watercraft are then coated both inside and out in an incredibly durable American made fiberglass and epoxy resin.

You mentioned that you use fiberglass in your boats, so what is the difference between your boats and fiberglass boats?

We only use 1 or 2 clear thin layers of fiberglass coating on top of the wood for reinforcement and added integrity. You never see any fiberglass, only beautiful, hand-joined cedar and hardwoods.

What is a typical cedar strip canoe or kayak weight?

A 15’ kayak weighs approximately 45lbs, making it very easy for one person to carry. A 16’ canoe weighs about 48lbs.

What type of boats do you build?

Our wooden strip canoes and kayaks are hugely popular for touring and recreational purposes. We also build wooden dinghies, wooden sail boats, classic wooden runabouts, and speedboats. Additionally, we can custom-build any design with which you supply us.

What methods do you use to build the boats?

Focused on integrating traditional technique with modern design, all boats are built by hand, typically taking hundreds of man hours to create.

How do I order?

Please contact our dealers or call (877) 88 Boats for more information.

How long does an order take?

Boats that we have in stock can be shipped to you within a week). New or custom products generally take 2-3 months as everything we sell is 100% hand crafted.

How do you ship it?

We can ship via trucking company very safely. We also insure all freight so in the very rare case that a shipment is damaged during transit, we will take care of the details and immediately replace the item for you. We also have distributors all over the world, so please contact us to find out more information.

How do I become a distributor of your products?

We welcome qualified dealers and distributors all over the world. Please contact us today at (877) 88 Boats or email us at info@woodenboatusa.com for more information.

What kind of warranty can I expect?

For all products we offer a 6 month limited warranty on materials and craftsmanship.

Guidelines for use

CARE:

With a little bit of care and maintenance, your beautiful canoe can last for generations. While our products are certainly durable and solid, they still require the right type of care and handling to ensure that they perform optimally.

  • It is recommended that you rinse your canoe off with fresh clean water after every use.
  • Upon returning from the trip, allow your canoe to air-dry in the shade.

STORAGE:

Besides taking care of your canoe, storage also plays an essential role in maintaining your canoe’s appearance and beauty.

  • Always store your wooden canoe in shade.
  • Turn it upside down on the support thereby keeping it off the ground.
  • Hanging your boat from the rafters in your garage or shop would be ideal storage.

REPAIR:

Minor scratches can be repaired by marine spar vanish or some brand of automobile wax. Smooth the damaged area with sand paper, wipe clean, then apply marine spar vanish.

SAFETY:

Wooden Boat USA strongly recommends that a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is worn whenever paddling.

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