Mississippi River Skiff: rowing like Lincoln

We had a trip out to Elsah Bar, a tiny island on the Mississippi. (It is the island above the "B" in the blog title photo.)
Patrick M. joined us.  He is a well known Abe Lincoln performer.   He said that one of the earliest stories we know of Lincoln was as a young boy, Abe was asked by two fellows for a row out to a stern wheeler.  Lincoln obliged and as they boarded the big boat, they turned around and tossed in two silver half dollars in to Abe's row boat.
Lincoln later said of the incident  "for a poor boy to earn a dollar in a day made him feel like there was maybe a future for him"!
The boat he rowed was most likely similar to the river skiff we got to row around today.

For all the posts on this skiff, use the search window on the right for "Mississippi River Skiff".

Here are photos of Eifel and Patrick rowing around the island...

Mississippi River Skiff: Christening

We christened the skiff this weekend and had great fun trying it out with the Johnson 25.
The 1970 Johnson is a little more than is needed to drive the hull (an 8hp would be plenty).
But it is sporty!

We did get a little rowing in and tried rowing one oar per station.  It worked well.  We used the sculling hole with a paddle as a rudder.

Here are some photos and a video:

Mississippi River Skiff update: Epoxy Primekote

This week we applied Interlux Epoxy Primekote to the hull.  I like this primer.

It does stink to high heaven but provides a very hard sandable surface with just the right amount of body.

We will give it two days and sand and spray a second coat.

After getting some hand's on experience spraying polyester gel-coat, I am now leaning toward Interlux Perfection Hatteras White for the top coat.

The gel-coat is awesome, hard and buffable to a high gloss, but this is a big boat.

We are using gel-coat on our new paddles and are learning the tricks.

The paddle blades we are working on are plugs.  We will fabricated the finished blades out of carbon, glass, and vinyl-ester.

It is a new wonderful world but it stinks, even with a great respirator.

This weekend the skiff gets it official christening.

We will be launching it in Elsah, under the River Road overpass.

Pictures of the day will be posted.