Skeg Help Needed

[BlueRidgeBoater]

I'm building the power skiff. The plans call for an 8' skeg that starts 18" forward of the transom. The boat is 13.5' long. A skeg that is 8' long and positioned where the plans state will go well onto the stem, which doesn't seem right. I am thinking of making the skeg only 5' or 6' long. If I do so, is that likely to make any difference with regard to performance?

[jcallends]

I would stick with the plans. I don't see a problem with the skeg below the stem. This set-up is usually bolted together.

[BlueRidgeBoater]

8' would put the front of the skeg 1/2 inch off the stem, and I didn't want to try to bend a 1" piece of mahogany that much. I cut it down to just over 7', and suspect it will result in much the same performance (or, at least I hope it will).

[Mojo]

The good thing about building your own boat is that you can experiment. The worse that can happen is that it will slide through the turns more. I reckon it will be fine.

Cheers
Mojo