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Tolman skiffs are dory-style skiffs with semi-vee bottoms made of plywood/epoxy/fiberglass (sometimes called stitch-and-glue or composite construction). There have been over sixty built in Alaska since 1986 for sport and commercial use, and many others have been built in the US, Canada, New Zealand, Europe, and elsewhere. |
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Tolman Skiffs do not have traditional "plank on frame" wooden boat construction. They are built using a modern stitch and glue/composite method where the marine plywood skin of the boat and strategically placed structural members take up the stresses imposed on the hull. Instead of a traditional heavy wooden framework supporting the hull loads and soaking up water, a Tolman Skiff hull, joined and sealed with epoxy and fiberglass cloth, becomes a lightweight one piece structure weighing one half of what a similar sized fiberglass or aluminum boat weighs. All exposed wood parts are coated with epoxy and fiberglass cloth and will keep water and rot from entering the wood. A properly cared for Tolman Skiff will last indefinitely. |
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There are three models available, the "18 and 20", the "21" and the new "22". The "18 and 20" and the "21" are identical in profile, but the "21" has a three-inch "chine flat" between the sides and bottom, like most fiberglass boats (10 million fiberglass boats can't be wrong). The "18 and 20" are the same boat design but with optional lengths. |
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Popular options include a recessed bow deck/locker, a console, a self-bailing deck, a cabin with or without a hardtop, and various seats and storage lockers. |
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The 18 and 20 Models
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The "18" and "20" models are the original Tolman Skiffs. First designed and built in 1985 by Renn Tolman, these semi-vee bottom, dory style skiffs became popular in Southcentral Alaska. These two are essentially, the same boat with a two foot difference in their overall length. You may want an 18 foot skiff if storage, berthing, trailering or maneuvering may be a limitation. Otherwise, the 20 foot skiff is a larger, more robust boat with very little additional weight or cost. Both have a 7 foot beam (5 foot beam at the chine) and a variable deadrise bottom; 8 degrees at the transom, 14 degrees amidships and a deep-V at the bow. They weigh less than 700lbs and can be powered with a 40hp to 50hp outboard motor. Small cabins have been successfully added to these models. |
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The 21 Model
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This design was developed for those requiring a larger skiff driven by larger, more powerful engines. It is actually 21feet 4inches in overall length and is 15% larger by volume than the "20" model. It has a 7 feet 6 inch beam ( 5 feet 6 inches at the chine) and a variable deadrise bottom; 8 degrees at the transom, 14 degrees amidships and a deep-V bow. What sets the bottom design apart, though, is the addition of a 3 inch chine flat, or lifting strake. This boat weighs less than 900lbs and can be powered by a single 70hp outboard or twin 50hp four strokes. Full cabins can be built on the "21" skiff. |
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The 22 Model
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The Tolman 22 is Renns' latest design featuring a new computer designed bottom and slighly heavier construction throughout to accommodate a 100hp four stroke outboard. It is 22 feet in length, 8 feet beam (6 feet beam at the chine), has a 12 degree deadrise at the transom, 14 degrees amidships and a deep-V bow. This hull has five longitudinal stringers replacing the original two stringers and a 4 inch chine flat or lifting strake. This boat should weigh about 1300lbs with a full cabin. The photographs above are of a Tolman 22 built in our Bellingham facility. Below are photographs of the interior of the same boat. |
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