I get many questions from people who see my boat for the first time. It is one I designed and built for my own use. Construction started the day the plywood arrived; the boat was in the water and running six months later. A longtime friend, bill Dulin, has also completed a SkiffAmerica 20, and we are often seen on the water together in our boats.

The background leading to this design is the culmination of many interests over the last 50 years. It all started before I was 6 years old, with my dad introducing me to model and full-sized airplanes, gliders and sailing. By the age of 8, I was crewing on his Snipe class sailboat and taking it out alone when we were not racing. We continued to sail together over the next 40 years.

I began reading HeartLand Boating from the first issue and often thought of cruising the inland system from my location near St. Louis and the river. A four-stroke outboard would be natural for my purpose. They are quiet, fuel-efficient, have self-contained electric and cooling systems and are controlled by remote helm, shifter and throttle. Outboards are easy to install, have good handling and easy servicing, tilt for shallow water, allow easy trailering and launching and have propellers that are easy to replace with the boat in the water.

The dream of a four-stroke outboard-powered cruiser led to a flurry of model building, including model outboard motors to power my radio-controlled test models. I decided to use a commercially built 16-foot fiberglass lapstrake dory to adapt for cruising. I built a cuddy cabin and included all of the features I'd been thinking about. My wife, Joyce, was instantly converted to river cruising but said it would be nice to share the experience with relatives and others, which meant going to a slightly larger boat. SkiffAmerica 20 was the answer.

I built a one-quarter scale radio-controlled model, 5 feet in length, for testing performance characteristics and to verify three-dimensional appearance. Particular attention was given to the use of a builder-friendly construction sequence since I was going to be building the boat alone. After completing the tests, I knew I should proceed with a full-sized SkiffAmerica. Bill, who witnessed the performance of the model, was so struck by its performance that he committed to his own project. He successfully built the second boat, even though he had never even owned a power saw before.

SkiffAmerica was designed to fulfill my own particular and strict requirements, and I think I have successfully met those goals, creating the perfect boat for me.

I wanted SkiffAmerica to have classic styling and good looks. The proper proportions and blending of lines, curves, slopes and angles along with finish and color were what looked good to my eye.

The boat had to be easy to build and maintain. Epoxy and high-quality imported mahogany plywood were used to create the boat using the taped seam method. This method, popular for both commercially produced custom boats and backyard boatbuilders, produces a boat of high quality, strength and lightness that will be leakproof and live comfortably on its trailer (without the drying out and opening of seams as happens with the old-style wood construction.) Plywood is a wonderful material and unequaled for building SkiffAmerica. High-quality plywood is not to be confused with ordinary plywood, not even the so-called marine grade domestic plywood. Epoxy, used to create the fillets along with fiberglass tape at the joints and seams, as well as to seal the wood, also creates the best primer for paint and varnish. Most people are surprised to learn that this method of building creates a boat requiring only slightly more maintenance than a fiberglass boat. It only takes a few hours to re-varnish. The tape and filleted seams are actually much stronger than the surrounding material and create a clean smooth interior requiring no frames.

I am most proud of the assembly sequence. After the builder makes all of the basic parts, the hull assembles quickly. The plans show each of the required 14 sheets of plywood with the parts drawn and dimensioned on them at 1/8 scale. The builder will lay out those parts on the plywood sheets and then give each sheet two coats of epoxy. It is easier and more efficient to coat the parts with epoxy when they are horizontal and still uncut. It also means that the parts are protected by the epoxy even before they are cut out and later moved outdoors for assembly.

The assembly sequence is such that we never have to position a panel that is more than 8 feet long. The heaviest of the plywood side panels only weighs 14 pounds. The hull is first assembled right side up using drywall screws with washers. When the basic parts are joined and the proper fit is verified, the drywall screws are loosened, epoxy is applied to the joint and the screws are retightened. After the epoxy sets, but before it gets hard, the drywall screws are removed. The holes are filled with epoxy fillet material.

I used readily available paints: acrylic latex house paint for the outer hull, porch and floor enamel for inside the hull and the bottom below the water line. The bottom was covered with xynole polyester fabric as a substitute for fiberglass cloth.

I decided to do the assembly as a true backyard boatbuilder, in the back yard. The epoxy coating would keep the wood dry. I hung a clothesline wire above the boat and draped a heavy-duty aluminized polytarp across it, forming a giant pup tent to cover the project during inclement weather. Since the boat was to be homebuilt, it had to be economical of both time and money.

SkiffAmerica and all of my previous boats have been easily trailerable to take advantage of different cruising grounds. This also is important for home storage where cost of ownership is lower and I can keep my eye on things. Its light weight makes it more maneuverable on and off a single-axel trailer. As the builder will find, the building experience makes him or her an expert on how to maintain the boat. Also, boat maintenance is much more enjoyable if it comes in small doses.

The light weight and shallow draft allow easy launching from the trailer into thin waters. Shallow draft allows exploring waters others cannot even think about and lets us get into some secluded anchorages for the night and easy beaching on river sandbars. Small boats with their responsiveness and closeness to the water have their own unique feel and add to the sense of adventure for our travels.

Size is also important for attaining the efficiency I desired. The hull is flat-bottomed. The double chine allows the bottom to be narrow for great tracking, smooth ride and planning. performance on low horsepower. It also allows for a narrow entry at the bow for smooth crossing of big powerboat wakes.

SkiffAmerica has a top speed of 25 mph using the 25-hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard. We usually cruise at 15 mph getting 12 to 13 miles per gallon of regular gasoline.

Seaworthiness, comfort and storage space push the size toward 20 feet. The ability to get out of the sun is important and the boat is large enough to be equipped with a large bimini with standing headroom underneath.

Both boats were taken on a Mississippi River trip from St. Louis to Hannibal, Mo. We traveled more than 200 miles and found that locking through and general travel on the river was much easier than anticipated. Admittedly, our trip was mid-week when river travel is less crowded. The boat is comfortable and relaxing. We can stop and anchor or pull up on a sandbar for a swim and lunch or maybe a nap.

The ladder/swim platform was designed as a result of not being able to find a ladder that fit my requirements. For safety and convenience, I wanted a ladder that could be easily deployed in the water by anyone regardless of age or size. If left down accidentally, it just planes on the wake and leaves a small amount of spray to remind you that it is down.

The hull sides and cabin sides are actually the same piece of plywood. This modified raised-deck configuration greatly simplifies construction, allows a lighter structure and provides a spacious cabin and, I believe, a pretty shape. The walk-through cabin top, with snap-on cover, is a hand configuration for launching, docking, anchoring, beaching and fishing.

The V-berth is 7.5 feet long with 4-inch-thick cushions for great comfort. Generous storage is found under the bunk lids, which can accommodate such items as paddles, boat hooks or fishing rods.

The 18-amp alternator of our outboard lets us have an electrical system for our 5-inch TV, 12-volt oscillating fan, VHF marine radio and tape/CD/radio player. We cook in the cockpit with a small butane stove.

Our boats have a total of 222 hours of running time and have proven themselves in a variety of conditions, including some rough water.

River travel is like no other. My wife and I like the constantly changing view – always anxious, but not too anxious, to get to the next bend to see "what is around the corner." The 15-mph cruise speed seems about right most of the time. I also must admit that in all of my years of sailing, I did not see as much scenery as I have in just one summer of river cruising. And trailering to cruising destinations is at highway speeds.

Building and completing a nice boat has great rewards and the feeling of accomplishment is something you will treasure forever. Pride in your boat definitely adds to the joy of using it, and I still enjoy watching Bill's SkiffAmerica cruising alongside mine.

If you see us on the river, be sure to wave. Wave with both hands and we'll stop and show the boat. We do that a lot.

For information visit www.stlmusic.com/skiffamerica or write to 9223 Lemona Drive, St. Louis, Mo 63123.