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Captain Heritage

Goat Island Skiff Sailing Dinghy 15.5 Ft Custom Built Wooden Boat

Goat Island Skiff Sailing Dinghy 15.5 Ft Custom Built Wooden Boat

Regular price $18,752.00 USD
Regular price $18,752.00 USD Sale price $18,752.00 USD
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The Goat Island Skiff is a fast and remarkably capable 15′ 6″ sailing dinghy known for its lightweight construction, generous beam, and powerful yet easily managed sail plan. With a waterline length of 14′ 9″ and a broad 5′ beam, the design offers impressive form stability and ample cockpit space for crew movement. Its shallow 4″ draft with the centerboard raised allows effortless beach launching and exploration of skinny waters, while the 36″ draft with board down provides strong upwind performance and directional control. A depth of 20″ amidships ensures a secure and comfortable interior freeboard. Our workshop recreates this spirited skiff using premium marine materials-including Western Red Cedar, Mahogany, and high-grade marine plywood reinforced with U.S.-made fiberglass cloth and sealed with marine epoxy. Built primarily using stitch-and-glue construction, the hull achieves an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio while maintaining clean, elegant lines. The balanced lug rig carries 105 sq ft of sail area, delivering lively acceleration and efficient power in light to moderate winds, while the optional 14 sq ft sprit sail enhances downwind balance and versatility. Clients may customize wood combinations, deck layout, buoyancy compartments, hardware specification, rig configuration, and finish level-tailoring the Goat Island Skiff for daysailing, camp-cruising, or spirited club racing. General Dimensions: - Length Overall (LOA): 15.6ft - Length at Waterline (LWL): 14.9ft - Beam: 5ft - Draft (board up/down): 4″ / 36″ - Depth Amidships: 20″ - Sail Area: 105 sq ft (balanced lug) + 14 sq ft (sprit) - Propulsion: Sail Performance & Use: Designed for lakes, bays, and coastal waters, the Goat Island Skiff combines shallow-water accessibility with energetic sailing performance. Its wide beam and efficient hull form provide excellent stability and speed, making it suitable for both solo sailors and small crews. Lightweight, responsive, and easily trailered, it represents a modern interpretation of the classic open sailing skiff-practical, elegant, and engaging to sail. 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. The Goat Island Skiff was designed in the early 2000s by Australian naval architect Michael Storer as a lightweight, fast, and accessible small sailing skiff. Storer aimed to create a boat that combined traditional working-boat aesthetics with modern plywood construction, making it affordable and achievable for home builders without sacrificing performance. Inspired by classic shoal-draft skiffs and beach boats found in Australia and the United States, the design emphasizes simplicity, shallow draft capability, and efficient sail power. Its balanced lug rig was chosen for ease of handling, strong light-wind performance, and minimal hardware requirements. Built primarily using stitch-and-glue plywood construction, the Goat Island Skiff quickly gained popularity among amateur builders due to its straightforward assembly process and impressive sailing characteristics. Over time, the Goat Island Skiff developed an international following, particularly among small-boat cruising enthusiasts and camp-cruisers. It has been used for coastal adventures, micro-cruising expeditions, and even small-boat challenges, proving its seaworthiness beyond its modest size. Today, it is regarded as one of the most successful modern plywood skiff designs-valued for its speed, versatility, and strong connection to traditional small-boat heritage
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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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