Specifications:

LOA: LWL: Beam: Draft (Keel): Displacement: Fuel Capacity: Deadrise: Freeboard (Fwd): Freeboard (Aft): Power: Construction: Capacity:

17'-7 3/4" 15'-10" 66" 6" 1,300 Lbs. 12 Gals. 6 Degrees 18 1/2" 13 1/2" 40hp Outboard Wood/Epoxy Composite 4 Persons or 645 lbs.

The Osprey 18 Flats Skiff was commisioned by a client to fish the marshes and bayous in Louisiana. He requested a simple skiff that would run well with a Honda 40 hp outboard motor. As most people can't afford or aren't willing to pay the full cost of designing a boat like this, I cut my usual fee substantially to make it happen. It was agreed from the outset that the boat would then become a stock plan in the hope that at some point in my lifetime I'd actually sell enough plans to break even!
In order to run well with such a modest engine, the boat had to be very light with an efficient hull shape. Although quiet poling performance isn't as critical in the bayou, it is very important to anyone who wants to fish the boat in Florida or the Bahamas. For that reason, neither the chine flats or strakes transition through the waterline while the boat is at rest. In fact, if someone wanted to simplify things even more, the strakes and chine flats can be left off completely. My client didn't want a slab sided plywood hull, so I designed the boat with quite a bit of flare up forward that transitions to outward curvature toward the stern. While this looks pretty, it makes the hull quite a bit harder to build. If kept light, I expect the top speed to be near 32 knots.

The deck arrangement is very simple, basically fore and aft casting platforms with a long narrow cockpit amidships. The cockpit measure 93" long x 39" wide. The side decks are about 14" wide to allow walking from bow to stern without having to step down. There is plenty of room on the casting platforms for both an aft poling platform and a bow platform for sighting tailing and feeding fish. Under the forward and aft platforms there is storage accessed from the cockpit area. The client didn't want any hatches in the deck, but you could easily add some to make accessing the storage areas more convenient. Since completing the design, I have added a side console option for those who'd like to build her without the tiller steering. See the PDF files below for the drawing.
As would be expected on a boat like this, the machinery layout is exceedingly simple. There is a 12 gallon fuel tank under the forward casting platform. There is also space to store up to two batteries for a bow mounted trolling motor. Back aft a single battery can be mounted for starting the outboard. As this is a very small boat, any changes to the location of weights makes a large impact on not only the trim of the boat, but also on its performance. Anyone who builds this boat should be sure to check with me prior to moving any weights around!


Due to the curving shape of the Osprey 18 Flats Skiff, it can't be planked with sheets of plywood. Her planking will consist of two layers of Meranti marine plywood that will be cut into strips (as large as possible) and epoxied on the diagonal to the stringers and frames. Up forward these strips will likely be pretty narrow. Back aft and on much of the bottom, much larger sheets may be able to be used. The bottom stringers will be 3/4" x 1 1/2" Douglas Fir or Honduras Mahogany on 6 3/4" centers. Her frames are 24" apart and vary in size depending on location. The transom will be 2 layers of 18mm Meranti marine plywood, epoxied together. The entire hull and deck will be covered in a 7oz. layer of fiberglass cloth set in epoxy and then painted.

While her construction is pretty straightforward, it is somewhat complex and will require some skill to do properly. I don't think this would be a good first project unless you are a very experienced woodworker. The plan package includes the following drawings:

    Profile & Arrangement
    Hull Lines and Offsets
    Construction Plan
    Keel/Stem Details
    Fuel Tank
    Machinery Arrangement
    Harpin Detail
    Strake and Chine Details
    Flotation Foam Drawing
    Side Console Drawing
    Hull Frame, Stem and Side Console Patterns (by email in PDF format)

The patterns will be sent to you by email in PDF format. You can burn them to a CD (or even save them to a floppy if you are an old fart) and take them to a blueprint shop for printing. Some shops will even let you email the drawings and pick up the prints when they are finished. 

Although more "features" could be added to make it more like the production boats that are available, I'd keep it as simple as possible. It will perform better and be much less expensive to build and maintain. The Osprey 18 Flats Skiff should make a fine little boat for the serious flats fisherman.


UPDATE (8/1/10) CNC Cut Frame Kit Now Available! To simplify construction of the Osprey 18, I have redesigned the structure to allow the frames to be built from 18mm Meranti Marine Plywood. The frames, transom and a specially designed strongback to locate them are included in the Frame Kit. The cost for the Frame Kit will be $1150.00 US + shipping (and sales tax if you live in Florida). This price also includes the Standard Plan Set. As the shipping costs will need to be quoted for each customer, there is no way for me to arrange online shopping for the Frame Kit.  If you are interested in buying the Osprey 18 plans and the Frame Kit, please contact me and I'll get you a quote for shipping.

As printing and mailing study plans is not very profitable for me, I have decided to make study plans available as downloadable PDF files. These can be opened with any PDF reader and most people already have the free Adobe Reader installed. Please remember that these plans are the property of Smith Marine Design and should not be used for any purpose without my written consent.

Profile Drawing
Profile Drawing W/Side Console
Machinery Arrangement

If you would like to pay by Check or Money Order, please contact me to make arrangements.

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Osprey 18 Stock Plans

Plans w/US Shipping $85.00 Plans w/INTL Shipping $95.00