Rescuing A Rail Skiff *Updated with text and pics*

Great work and writeup. Only one mistake I saw...the tide was a touch low to pole for railbirds. ;-)
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Haha, that was on purpose ! Having never used the boat I was not sure of its stability. The water was only about 2 feet deep. That way if I went ass over teakettle I wouldn't die!
 
Jode, I have never worked with Sassafras, is the wood aromatic like the foliage and bark?
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Yes Tod it is. Pleasantly spicy more like the leaves than the roots. Imagine what the shop smelled like with the Sassafras and cedar being worked simultaneously !
 
Good morning, Jode~

What a great surprise to find your fine photos and story. (I'm glad you're not like a certain Eastern NY fellow on this site who drags his restorations out painfully - step-by-step- over several months.....) Knowing your carving work, none of us should have been surprised at your expert boat skills. I envy you your access to lumbers like White Cedar and Sassafras.

And, I am glad that no Opossums were harmed during the restoration process!

All the best,

SJS
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Thanks Steve, the project time frame was largely the result of when I got tired of walking around the hull trying to work! Lol! I think some kind of possum art is going to be painted inboard on the front coaming, just above the toe hole.
 
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Nice work Jode. It always interests me to see how similar boats are used for different purposes in varying regions. We use a boat that is lightweight and drafts very little water and is poled through heavy vegetation much like you do but our target is frogs. I always work the pole and leave the spotting and grabbing to the younger generation who have better eyesight for spotting and faster reflexes for grabbing. I get a great deal of satisfaction navigating the boat into position after being told we would never be able to get there because of the thick vegetation. I'm sure the original owner will be pleased with the work you have done to get her back on the meadows.
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Rich your right on. Form follows function. A lot of my southern friends keep telling me it a pirogue ! Very similar, but slightly different!
 
Fantastic restoration and great description of the process. My only question is why did you chose to paint it? Why not just leave it as as fiberglass coating so your incredible decking job could be seen by all?
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Thanks. Great question!

Epoxy is a wonderful thing. However it's one downfall is UV Light. That will degrade it quickly. I could of used a UV resistant varnish, but they tend to yellow over time and need constant upkeep. Also the traditional hunters green is the proper color for this boats history and usage. It will see rough service and a paint finish will be easier to maintain.
 
When you get working on a boat that has given you the bug it usually goes fast! Decoys can wait. Never used industrial sand, what is that? Sassafrass is an under appreciated boat wood. Well done. How about a stool for the gunner?
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Bob, before next rail season I am going to construct a proper push pole, gun cradle ( for solo hunting) and a removeable seat that lips over the cockpit coaming. Mr. Dick Henderson ( Ricks father) came up with a stellar design for this and I am going to follow his lead in that regard .
 
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Jode, I have never worked with Sassafras, is the wood aromatic like the foliage and bark?

I have never seen sassafras sufficiently large enough to saw...
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In jersey we get some decent sized trees not sawn much elsewhere. 12"-18" holly are not uncommon as well as 18"+Sassafrass. While not big by mill standards, there's plenty of meat for and experienced sawyer to work with. I'm lucky to have a couple mills nearby.
 
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Jode, I have never worked with Sassafras, is the wood aromatic like the foliage and bark?
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Yes Tod it is. Pleasantly spicy more like the leaves than the roots. Imagine what the shop smelled like with the Sassafras and cedar being worked simultaneously !
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That was what I was thinking as far as the smell. I've grown caterpillars feeding them Sassafras foliage and it sure does make their poop smell great too!
 
15: The entire hull was meticulously sanded and given a final coat of epoxy. So pretty. Its almost ashame to paint her!




19: She floats! Simple graceful lines are the hallmark of the New Jersey Rail Skiff.

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Dang Jode, absolutely spectacular! I've got a thing for boats that are pointy at both ends, kind of an obsession really, I think I'm up around 8 or 9 now. Wood, fiberglass, aluminium, I like them all! As far as yours, as great as it is to see the bare naked wood showing through, it it super to see it on the water, ready to work.

Best
Chuck
 
Jode - Fine workmanship on a a classic skiff. Any chance it will ply the waters of the Cohansey, as they did back in Thomas Eakins day? I imagine your looking forward to Rail season, and enjoying it in style. Two thumbs way up!
 
Any idea of what finished product weights? Once again beautiful work and it would be awful hard for me to cover up that beautiful woodwork with some drab duckboat paint! You really think the rails will care?LOL.
 
Jode.... Great job! Makes me homesick looking at those pictures...
If you want to give the Cohansey a shot - try the sunken meadow across from the golf course - south to the Fairton Gut.
I shot many a rail bird in that piece - no rice, but alot of tri-stem.... they seemed to like it.
 
Jode - Fine workmanship on a a classic skiff. Any chance it will ply the waters of the Cohansey, as they did back in Thomas Eakins day? I imagine your looking forward to Rail season, and enjoying it in style. Two thumbs way up!
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Thanks Vince! Yes this skiff will most likely ply the Maurice and Cohansey Rivers as well as other birdy tributaries like Racoon and Mantua creeks
 
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What's a "bird marker buoy"....?
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A bouy is thrown to mark a downed bird. In the thick vegetation losing birds is not uncommon. The gunner after downing a bird tosses a bouy immediately in the vicinity it went down. Usually the are wood or cork, or orange softballs. Anything you can throw accurately and find easily. I have plans to make some ones up before the season
 
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