17 Foot Flat Bottom Inboard Diesel Skiff

This year I will be building a flat bottom skiff inspired by the Atkin Sprite. I have redrawn the boat to 17' 4" and changed some other aspects including a full skeg with shaft log for the installation of a small inboard 9.8hp air cooled diesel engine. She will be built with cedar planking on oak framing. All hardware and fasteners will be bronze.

The engine that I have is a DEK clone of a Yanmar 100 air cooled industrial diesel engine. This is a single cylinder engine and will fit perfectly into a flat bottom traditional boat as they have for about the last century. You can read more about inboard engines in flat bottom skiffs in this 1946 edition of Popular Science.

The engine is linked to a Baysan Marine 2:1 reduction and reverse gear. This transmission will allow a smooth, easy transition between forward, neutral, and reverse via engine controls accessable to the helmsman. The engine/transmission setup can be seen at the left of this page.

The stock muffler and fuel tank will be removed. A custom stainless steel through transom exhaust will be built and run under thwarts. A custom aluminum fuel tank will be installed under the forward thwart and will hold between 5 and 6 gallons of diesel or Bio-diesel.

A traditional transom mounted rudder and tiller will provide excellent control for the helmsman and allow steering from multiple standing and sitting positions.

My air cooled diesel engine with 2:1 reduction reverse gear attached. I have removed the stock fuel tank and muffler. The boat will have custom new ones built and installed. White oak lumber in the background.

Another view of the air cooled diesel with marine transmission bolted on. The whole rig weighs about 150 lbs. and stands about 20 inches tall.

Patrick Hopkins
VILLAGE BOAT SHOP
385L 1st Street, Lawrence, PA 15055
412-518-7196
patrick@villageboatshop.com