12/25. I am primarily a solo sailor considering a skerry build. Is there a comfortable place to sit while keeping the boat’s fore and aft balance? I’ve seen several photos of water jugs being used as forward ballast and looking closely (at photos), I’m concerned that the ability to adjust the helm position is restricted, Thanks in advance, John
You might consider putting in “side seats.” They are rather common in the NE Dory where people are interested in sailing as a major use of the boat (as in mine). I use shaped, screwed in place (nicely finished and never removed, although removeable) planks, with foam floatation underneath. Other designs include built-in tank seats for the added floatation. Others us athwartships-sliding side seats (or otherwise freely moving seats) that can be pushed together along the centerline, thus providing a sleeping platform. Lots of discussion of these seats on the forum. Both for sailing seating position flexibility and the added floatation (in just the right place to help the boat roll back up with less water aboard - only needed once by me 
) I am VERY happy with the mod to the NE Dory and wouldn’t consider doing without it. I don’t know how “dry” the Skerry comes up after a capsize - I think a little drier than the NE Dory, but still probably “iffy” for a self rescue after capsize. A NE Dory is nearly irrecoverable after a capsize if it only has the per-plan under seat floatation - only in calm water - and that isn’t typically the conditions that lead to a capsize.
I didn’t see nearly so much discussion for side seats in the Skerry on the forum (only one posting), but having seen several per-plan Skerry’s in person, and with a quick re-review of layout on the web pictures, it looks like the boat is a good candidate for side seats. You could always complete the build without the seats, then add them later if you though it a good idea. Maybe first try sailing with the water jugs (or any extra weight). Both the Skerry and the NE Dory sailing characteristics benefit from having a little more weight aboard.
As for me, I’m too big and too old to be comfortable as a “bottom sitter.” I sailed an Optimist once as an adult. Never again. I felt like I was in a square “torture bathtub” with now way to find a comfortable position. The Skerry and NE Dory provide much better comfort configuration for bottom sitting, but again, that’s not for me.
Jeff, Many thanks for your most informative reply. I appreciate your assistance. I’m still in the early thought process and have the Skerry manual on the way. I hope that informs my decision making. All the best during the Holidays. Kind Regards, John
John,
You might want to check with CLC about the advisability of adding side seats to the Skerry. From the times I’ve sailed it, it doesn’t seem that it’d be a useful idea. While sailing, unless you’re hiking out in a good breeze, you shouldn’t be sitting off the floor except on the thwart. Behind the thwart, the hull narrows so there’s less buoyancy under your weight. Raising yourself up on a side seat increases your moment arm making the boat want to list.
You can get away with this on an NE Dory because it’s 2 feet longer with a transom stern so the hull narrows more slowly than for a Skerry, leaving more buoyancy under the side seats. The Skerry is a different story, though.
Sitting centered on the thwart in the Skerry (the way John is in the NE Dory), gives you a comfortable place to sit off the floor at the optimum balance point with maximum stability for the higher weight. It also gives you a daggerboard in your crack and a chance of being whacked by the boom, unfortunately. You could try moving off to the weather side to avoid the daggerboard, but that boom is still trying to get you.
Personally, I find the position that John is using in the Skerry the best for most small boats without side seats, even though I’m not the youngest or lightest sailor around. A combination of forward ballast (anchor, water bottles, etc.) , cushions and flexibility exercises (which help in many things besides boating) helps me stay sailing and may work for other folks, too.
Laszlo
Lascio, Happy Holidays and thank you for your thoughts. I’m still early in the thought process, so no telling how I’m going to proceed at this point. At age 75, my back knows that it would like to have something to lean into for comfort and for building purposes (in my limited space), 15 feet looks about right. I love the look of double-enders. Kind Regards, John