Rail Skiff Build

Jeff Reardon said:
Is the shooter getting a perch, or are you going to make him stand?
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The shooter will have a seat. The plan is a stool on a solid base for stability. I'm trying to reduce the weight from what I originally had in mind. If I don't get it done before September, a folding counter height directors chair will get the nod.
 
SJ Fairbank said:
Out of the shed, into the sun for bottom paint. Done with the interior other than touchup and possibly oarlock holders. Needs paint on the poling platform cross members, should have been done before screwing down the planks. Poor planning by the builder.

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One sweet looking boat. If you ever need to put a small outboard on to cover distance before you start pushing it seems like that would be easily accomplished
 
SJ Fairbank said:
Thank you. Once I start a boat, I need to keep it moving. I admit to not fussing over a perfect finish, where a builder can burn a lot of time.
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Yeah I’m running loose and fast on this dory. Wanted to be rowing in the morning already but vacations and life got in way . Again looking great. And although I’ve never seen a rail the romantic idea of pushing grass and shooting some birds is appealing to me!

Tony
 
As a youngster I had only seen a rail or two as a teenager in the marsh of the Lynnhaven River in Virginia Beach back in the early 70's. I had never thought about hunting for them. One day I was in a cut cornfield and planned on shooting any errant dove that came past or maybe slip into the woods along the river and bag a squirrel. I always had those woods to myself, but that day I saw a guy get out of a vehicle with a young bird dog at the opposite edge of the large field. It appeared he was training his dog. After a while I could hear him blowing on his whistle and hollering. I could tell the dog had taken off for parts unknown. As I hunted the woods along the river's edge, I could listen to the other hunter continue to blow his whistle and call for his dog from about a 1/4 mile away. I could tell from the tone of his voice the owner was getting pretty mad and could visualize his face getting redder and redder as he was trying to get his dog to come back. Then I happened to glance out in the salt marsh. It was low tide and about 100 feet out in the marsh I saw his dog in the prettiest point you could ever see. This dog was still a pup, but it was locked up on a bird like a champ. I had never seen a dog on point in a salt marsh, and I figured I had the opportunity to shoot my first rail bird. Now it may not have been proper to shoot this bird over the man's dog, but I was just a teenager, and the man was a long way away. I also figured the poor dog had probably been on point for a half-hour and needed some relief. I ventured out into the marsh. I got to the dog, and it was trembling all over. I then walked forward to kick up the bird as I prepared to shoot my first rail. I almost had a heart attack as a covey of about 20 quail exploded from the salt grass. I was so astonished that quail were in a place they shouldn't be that by the time I shouldered my gun I missed what should have been at least a double. I marked the singles as they dropped into a honeysuckle field and the dog and I went over and looked for them. I flushed one and dropped it. The dog made a nice recovery and then swallowed the quail. Exasperated, I drug the puppy back to its owner and to this day I have still not shot a rail. But I am still willing to give it a try if I ever get a chance.
 
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Grest sto
Jim Croft said:
As a youngster I had only seen a rail or two as a teenager in the marsh of the Lynnhaven River in Virginia Beach back in the early 70's. I had never thought about hunting for them. One day I was in a cut cornfield and planned on shooting any errant dove that came past or maybe slip into the woods along the river and bag a squirrel. I always had those woods to myself, but that day I saw a guy get out of a vehicle with a young bird dog at the opposite edge of the large field. It appeared he was training his dog. After a while I could hear him blowing on his whistle and hollering. I could tell the dog had taken off for parts unknown. As I hunted the woods along the river's edge, I could listen to the other hunter continue to blow his whistle and call for his dog from about a 1/4 mile away. I could tell from the tone of his voice the owner was getting pretty mad and could visualize his face getting redder and redder as he was trying to get his dog to come back. Then I happened to glance out in the salt marsh. It was low tide and about 100 feet out in the marsh I saw his dog in the prettiest point you could ever see. This dog was still a pup, but it was locked up on a bird like a champ. I had never seen a dog on point in a salt marsh, and I figured I had the opportunity to shoot my first rail bird. Now it may not have been proper to shoot this bird over the man's dog, but I was just a teenager, and the man was a long way away. I also figured the poor dog had probably been on point for a half-hour and needed some relief. I ventured out into the marsh. I got to the dog, and it was trembling all over. I then walked forward to kick up the bird as I prepared to shoot my first rail. I almost had a hear attack as a covey of about 20 quail exploded from the salt grass. I was so astonished that quail were in a place they shouldn't be that by the time I shouldered my gun I missed what should have been at least a double. I marked the singles as they dropped into a honeysuckle field and the dog and I went over and looked for them. I flushed one and dropped it. The dog made a nice recovery and then swallowed the quail. Exasperated, I drug the puppy back to its owner and to this day I have still not shot a rail. But I am still willing to give it a try if I ever get a chance.
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Great story!!!
 
This has been great to follow along with, I love how you left the brand unpainted! You got a closer pic of that?

Thanks for sharing
Chuck
 
Chuck J said:
This has been great to follow along with, I love how you left the brand unpainted! You got a closer pic of that?

Thanks for sharing
Chuck
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Thanks, I'll take a pic when I get back to work on it. I'm preoccupied working on a contaminated fuel issue on another boat for the next couple days.
 
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