Melonseed Skiff boat for planking

The Melonseed is a historical design from the Chesapeake Bay, derived from the famous Jersey Beach Skiff, but suited for rowing on more sheltered waters. The Jersey version, being a heritage workboat from the more exposed Jersey Shore, has a higher freeboard for dryness under sail and greater load carrying capacity. However, a pure rowing boat is hindered by that high freeboard due to increased windage, weight, and steeper oar angle. With this in mind, the Melonseed was developed with an almost identical underbody as the , but she is built with one less plank at the sheer to improve ease of rowing.

As a hobby, I enjoy using Blender, the free 3D modeling software, to recreate hulls of dinghies and various types of boats. My goal is to make these designs accessible to more people, so I’ll be sharing the 3D models as well as CNC cut files for free. By using open-source tools like Blender, I'm hoping to contribute to more accessible boat design for everyone. Stay tuned for updates on models, and feel free to reach out if you’re interested in specific designs or want to collaborate!