Customer Reviews

A Skiff for All Seasons: How to Build the Alaskan Skiff

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a re-publish of his earlier book on building a stitch and glue workboat. The author is entertaining as well as thorough in his approach. The book is filled with photos at every stage of the process and he gives you reasons for the choices made in materials and methods. I have built two boats using his book and highly recommend it. Other builders give you plans, but Renn gives you a step-by-step recipe.

I looked around for a year trying to find plans for a fishing boat suitable for catching Salmon, rock fish and even Albacore Tuna. Here in the SF Bay area this will mean going off shore 25-50 miles in sea conditions that change rapidly. I needed a boat that is very sea worthy in nasty conditions and it needed to be a boat I could build. I looked and looked, bought a bunch of books and hands down the one boat that made the most sense was the Tolman Skiff.

In Renn Tolman's book you'll find not only the plans for building your skiff, you'll also find a mountain of information for the first time boat builder. You'll know what tools you need, what supplies, plywood, epoxy etc to purchase for you project. I think at last count Renn has personally hand built over 100 of these fine boats and the design evolution is evidence of this man's quest for the perfect offshore fishing skiff.

Run don't walk to the book store for this book. And while you're at it, write Renn a note and order his Widebody and Jumbo model addendums. You'll find it's worth every penny.

I'm currently in the middle of building my own Tolman Jumbo Skiff. It's 22' long with an 8' beam and it's rugged and is aesthetically pleasing. Nope, it's beautiful...

I looked around for a year trying to find plans for a fishing boat suitable for catching Salmon, rock fish and even Albacore Tuna. Here in the SF Bay area this will mean going off shore 25-50 miles in sea conditions that change rapidly. I needed a boat that is very sea worthy in nasty conditions and it needed to be a boat I could build. I looked and looked, bought a bunch of books and hands down the one boat that made the most sense was the Tolman Skiff.

In Renn Tolman's book you'll find not only the plans for building your skiff, you'll also find a mountain of information for the first time boat builder. You'll know what tools you need, what supplies, plywood, epoxy etc to purchase for you project. I think at last count Renn has personally hand built over 100 of these fine boats and the design evolution is evidence of this man's quest for the perfect offshore fishing skiff.

Run don't walk to the book store for this book. And while you're at it, write Renn a note and order his Widebody and Jumbo model addendums. You'll find it's worth every penny.

I'm currently in the middle of building my own Tolman Jumbo Skiff. It's 22' long with an 8' beam and it's rugged and is aesthetically pleasing. Nope, it's beautiful....

Renn does an excellent job of detailing the entire building process. Excellent for first time builders who want to end up with a boat big enough to do any job. The book is full of pictures and drawings leaving nothing to wonder if you're fully understanding what you're supposed to do. I've built, both this boat and his wide body version.

Renn does a great job outlining the various steps for building this boat. He is also readily available if you don't understand something. Renn has design changes in his pamphlet. I am almost to the roll over point and my only regret is not starting sooner. I love this book and the boat. If you never build a boat, the book is still very good reading...

Dave

I have been working on my Tolman since January. The book and the pics are great. Add to that the fact that the author is readily available. He has always responded to me and even pulled patterns off his shop wall for a measurement one time. With email, he gives great directions or clarifies things. I have worn my book out. I made a lot of mistakes, but Renn can tell you how to fix almost anything. Buy the book and build a great boat. (Hint: Start before Jan if you want to fish in May...)

I have been working on my Tolman since January. The book and the pics are great. Add to that the fact that the author is readily available. He has always responded to me and even pulled patterns off his shop wall for a measurement one time. With email, he gives great directions or clarifies things. I have worn my book out. I made a lot of mistakes, but Renn can tell you how to fix almost anything. Buy the book and build a great boat. (Hint: Start before Jan if you want to fish in May...)

http:/www.alaska.net/~cuttter/skiff.ht

The book was good but the building details were poo