All about the PT Skiff Kit
and how to get one
PT Watercraft’s PT Skiff kit; fuel efficient, functional, modern, & attractive.
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© PT Watercraft 2013
PT Watercraft offers kits for new and unique boat designs that are efficient, functional, modern & attractive.
Our focus is on creating boats that answer the needs of serious cruisers, weekend camp cruisers and environmentally conscious boaters, sail and motor. Featuring: the fuel efficient 18.5ft center console , PT Skiff, Russell Brown’s modern performance nesting dinghy series, carbon marine hardware, water tight hatch kits, hatch toggles or ‘turn dogs’, adjustable wind shields, dinghy rigs, sails, dinghy foil kits, original PTW stainless steel connective hardware, stitch & glue and epoxy instructional books, etc...
R&D by Russell J. Brown with various design collaborations with Paul Bieker and Eric Jolley of Bieker Boats, Jim Franken of Franken Design, Brandon Davis of Turn Point Design, Paul Zeusche of Townsend Bay Marine, Sean Rankins of NW Sails. Special thanks to our honorary consultants, John Marples, Dick Newick, Jim Brown, Brian Clark, Tom George, Sandy Goodall, John Harris, Alex Spear, Tim Nolan, Meade Gougeon, Ted Pike, Chris Grace. Wood for our kits comes from Edensaw in Port Townsend, WA. Our preferred epoxy is WEST SYTEM from Gougeon Brothers. Publicity thanks to Wooden Boat, Professional Boat Builder, Small Craft Advisor, Epoxy Works, and our customers!..+
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The PT Skiff base kit is $4,035.-
plus options listed below. “cash based” payments receive a 2% discount.
The packed PT SKIFF Base Kit consists of 2 crates: Pictured right>
New packaging:
Plywood crate: 35”x66”x8” @145LBS
Plywood crate: 96”x18”x7” @175LBS
Total weight: 320LBS
Shipping class 70
Shipping from area code 98368
PT Skiff OPTIONS:
Please note that any price changes will show on the order form first. List prices include consideration for credit card fees and will receive a 2% discount for cash based payments.
Glass cloth kit: $475.00
There are three different weights of cloth used on this boat. We offer the appropriate amounts (128 feet total) of 4, 6, and 8.8 oz cloth, chosen for compatibility with epoxy. (with the F81 finish)
The 8.8oz cloth, (50ft in this kit) Hexell #7725, was developed for composite aircraft construction and has excellent properties. Additionally, 3 yards of peel ply also included in this kit.
Fillet Mix: Gallon tub (-1.147 LBS) for $60.00
Our blend of West System fillers and 1 tub is enough for all the primary fillets. We do not use wood dust in this mix. The mix details are included in the manual for those who wish to mix their own.
Watertight Hatch kit: $78.00 Includes 12 machined turn-dogs & washers, fasteners, and gaskets, for 2 hatches (lids and coamings are already included in the PT Skiff kit)
The measurements are shown left.
This photo shows the lumber parts kit (49 wood pcs + other listed items) which is included with the Base Kit.
Most of the 123+ plywood parts are shown in this photo. Starboard hull panels shown ‘assembled’. Port hull panels stacked upper left.
We generally schedule cutting times according to demand. Lead time varies depending on when you order and can be as short as a week -10 days. Contact us for more detail.
FREE Download the PT Skiff photo overview here: a 2.7mb PDF includes 24 pages of photos of the skiff, kit and build process.
RE: cockpit grates: A paper pattern is included with the base kit for this portion of the boat. Since the PT Skiff was first introduced, we have learned that solid floors here are easier to build and work better than grates. Due to the size however, it is also easier for the builder to buy the plywood and use the pattern, than it is for us to ship them.
The PT Skiff builder’s manual contains some instruction on making your own grates.
Windshield design: Welded Stainless Steel frame and adjustable plexiglass windshield.
We now include the drawings for this shield and rail, and believe that builders will get a better deal by having it custom made locally.
>>Photo shows windshield at half height. >
There are 2 types of WEST SYSTEM EPOXY KITS you can get for the PT Skiff.
The one kit has both fast and slow hardeners (205&206).
The second has the fast hardener and the 207 Special hardener instead of the 206.
This is the better kit for those who wish to clear finish but it is just a little more expensive. Both kits include just under 9 gal resin, the 2 hardeners, some fillers, syringes, pumps, spreaders,...See order form for details.
RE: Mahogany Rub rails seen in photos:
We will provide a short length of the rub rail so you can mill your own. It is not a rectangular section.
Approximate shipping to most locations in the continental United States should be around $400 or less. Residential delivery being higher than commercial. International Sea Freight with app 35 day delivery port to port has been running in the $300 range. This does not include port and clearance fees.
A few more questions?
PLANS for the PT Skiff?
No. We do not have plans for the PT Skiff.
Why not?
It would certainly be to our great advantage to have plans. Unfortunately, our boats don't lend themselves easily to being built from plans.
Our kits are designed in CAD from the ground up as KIT BOATS. We have really taken advantage of the kit technology using tongues and slots, scribe marks and alignment notches.
The PT Skiff is put together using a basic cradle in place of a jig. If the panels are not super accurate, then the bulkheads would not fit and the slightest inaccuracy over length would also lead to a wonky hull shape.
Our goal from the beginning has been to make this tightly engineered boat as easy as possible for anyone to build. To that end, we have written a very detailed, instructional manual that includes hundreds of photos. The daunting task of writing a manual specific to, and adequate for, building from plans is one we cannot consider right now.
How long does it take to build one?
As of early 2013, we do not have real numbers. Everyone seems to be having too much fun to keep track.. ;) . One builder with a full time job and family events included, took 22 weeks from kit purchase to launch. That generally meant doing a step in the mornings and again in the evenings. Best guess, 400-500 hours.
Do you Ship Overseas?
Ocean freight is actually not bad. It is the port and clearance fees (+fumigation in AU) that are the bummer. Shipments of 2 or more kits can make up the minimum LCL of 1 cubic meter and really spreads out the port and clearance costs. So think group orders addressed to a commercial entity if you can. Find out what the import costs are in your country, sighting the cost of the kit and schedule B code 8903.99.9000 plywood boat parts, for import rates. The more questions you ask locally, the fewer surprises.
Recently, AIR FREIGHT has become a viable option as I continue to work with shipping agents.
Canada: 12% - 13% HST. If you are in the USA for 48 hours, there an exemption on $800 value per person though our local sales tax of 9% is applicable on kits picked up in Port Townsend. Contact me for more information. Perhaps you would like to tour the Olympic Peninsula!
At some point we will establish distributors in Europe and Australia but right now it is not a priority.
Besides the kit, what else should I have for my project?
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PT SKIFF primary links: Description Kit info Technical info Prices Ordering Builder Center
PT SKIFF primary links: Description - Kit info - Technical info - Prices - Builder Center
See
See
Materials Used in our kits
EPOXY
We recommend West System Epoxy as being the best choice for this light-weight wood epoxy construction. We offer epoxy kits from WEST SYSTEM.
Epoxy Basics e-book
by Russell Brown Now available HERE.
PLYWOOD
We cut kits exclusively from Lloyds approved BS1088
Okoume Marine Plywood. Okoume marine plywood has
become a favorite for this type of boat building.
It is comparatively lightweight, strong, and attractive.
LUMBER
The lumber for our kits is hand picked, Douglas Fir, Mahogany,
Sitka Spruce or Cedar, depending on the parts.
FIBERGLASS
We sell the recommended fiberglass weights and finishes best suited for Epoxy bonding.
There are three different weights of cloth used on the PT Skiff. We offer the appropriate amounts;
✓128 feet total of 4, 6, and 8.9 oz cloth, chosen for compatibility with epoxy for the PT Skiff as a separately sold kit.
The 8.9oz cloth, (50ft for the PT Skiff ) Hexell #7725, was developed for composite aircraft construction and has excellent properties.
The 4oz cloth is especially finished (F81)for use with epoxy as opposed to polyester resin.This is something you have to ask for as many stores will not know what finish is on their stock fiberglass.
Peel ply also included in our packages. (3 yds for the PT Skiff)
CNC
Precision CNC cutting by Turn Point Design in Port Townsend.
Our NW plywood supplier is Edensaw Woods.
A PT Skiff in progress, with solid cockpit floors.
Read a blog post about this boat and the options that the builder went with.
