Wrapping up an afternoon on the water. Students are putting away the lifejackets and boat gear and washing the boats down with fresh water.
The Monk flat-iron skiff in the left foreground was designed by the famed Pacific Northwest designer Edwin Monk. He included the plans for these popular little boats in his 1934 book "Small Boats".
These skiffs are colloquially known as "flat-irons" or just "flatties" since that’s what they look like when viewed directly from above – the flat-iron (sometimes known as a "sad-iron", don’t ask me why) used by our grandparents to press clothes.
We build these types of boats during the first semester of each year-long class, which begins in October. They can be built from 11’6" to 16 feet long on commission; if we are building on speculation, the boats are usually 11’6" or 12′ 6" long. A pair of spruce or larch oars custom fit to the boat are included.
