Butson Built Skiffs
The History of the Skiff
Most of the early rowing skiffs of Muskoka were cedar
lapstrake, virtually all were double-enders. They were quick
and seaworthy for the lakes. In the 20's and 30's a few
were built as smooth skins; all had ribs. With the advent
of fibreglass and epoxy after World War II, a few builders
used the cedar strip technique for making skiffs. These tended
to be narrow of beam and resembled a canoe's dimensions more
than the traditional Muskoka skiff which was more than three
and a half feet at the gunwales and 16 to 17 feet in length.
When the current MUSKOKA LAKES SKIFF was being designed, an
effort was made to keep within the "envelope" of the old lapstrake
smooth skin skiffs. What has evolved is a very strong and fast
skiff, blending the lines from the old masters with the use
of modern materials and the craftsmanship of the traditional
Muskoka boat builder.
Butson Boats Ltd. builds two types of rowing skiffs in three lengths:
- 17' cedar strip and fibreglass rowing skiffs
- 15' cedar lapstrake St. Lawrence rowing skiffs (Ladies)
- 18' cedar lapstrake St. Lawrence rowing skiffs
The 17' cedar strip and fibreglass rowing skiff won several awards:
- Oarmaster Trials in Mystic Harbor, Connecticut
- Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival in St. Michaels, Maryland
- Muskoka Lakes Regatta in Port Carling, Ontario
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The 15' and 18' St. Lawrence rowing skiffs were winners of several awards for craftsmanship:
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- Antique and Classic Boat Society of United States and Canada
- Antique and Classic Boat Society, Toronto, Ontario Chapter holding annual shows in Gravenhurst, Ontario
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Specifications
Cedar strip and fibreglass rowing skiff:
- Length: 17'
- Beam: 46"
- Weight: 95 lbs.
- Oars: Recommended 8' spoon or 7½' wide blade spoon
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Construction:
Molded cedar strip hull covered in fibreglass
cloth and epoxy resin inside and out. Gull wing seats provide
lower center of gravity plus provide foot rests for rowers.
Gunwales are of mahogany and white oak. Decks are made of
solid mahogany and the skiff is finished natural with UV
filter varnish. Optional is a painted hull outside.
St. Lawrence rowing skiff:
- Length: 15' & 18'
- Beam: 39.5"
- Weight: N/A
- Oars: 8' wide blade spoon
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Construction:
Cedar planked lapstrake on white oak ribs. Flat laminated
seats with special braces. Gunwales are made of oak and
mahogany. Decks are made of solid mahogany or cedar with
oak inside coamings. The skiff is finished
natural with UV filter varnish.
Copyright © 1998 Butson Boats Ltd.
Last update April 23, 1998.
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