Description
The Goat Island Skiff (GIS) is a lightweight, high-performance plywood sailing dinghy designed by Australian naval architect Michael Storer in the early 2000s, inspired by traditional skiff shapes but optimized for modern speed and simplicity using just six sheets of 6mm plywood, epoxy, and fiberglass, resulting in over 1,000 amateur-built examples across 27 countries as a cult favorite for DIY enthusiasts. At 15 feet 6 inches LOA with a 5-foot beam, 130-pound hull weight, and a shallow 4-inch draft (board up) rising to 3 feet (down), it excels as a versatile day sailor or camp-cruiser for 1–4 adults, powered by a 105-square-foot balanced lug sail on flexible spars for planning thrills in moderate winds—often outpacing heavier fiberglass dinghies like the Finn—while rowing efficiently with 9-foot oars stored aboard and accepting up to 4 horsepower outboards for auxiliary propulsion. Its flat-bottomed, rockered hull with daggerboard and buoyant tanks ensures stable, forgiving handling for beginners yet responsive joy for racers in events like the Texas 200 or Small Reach Regattas, complemented by an open cockpit, midship thwart, and ample freeboard for safety; detailed plans evolve into a comprehensive build manual with active online communities, making it an accessible, trailerable (or cartop) gateway to wooden boat ownership that prioritizes fun over fuss.
