Operating a Skiff in Southeast Alaska
Operating or riding in an open 16-foot skiff in Northern Southeast Alaska is unpleasant, uncomfortable, and cold. There are exceptions, but few and far between. Daytime temperatures during the summer average from the low 50’s to the low 60’s and are much colder in the fall, winter, and spring. The air is usually damp and cold and there is always wind in your face while you are in a moving open skiff. (Visualize a convertible without a windshield) The seats are uncomfortable, hard wood against your bottom. Don’t be fooled and think seat cushions work wonders-they don’t. The most comfortable place to sit in a moving skiff is near the stern, less pounding.
On windy, cold, rainy, snowy days your frozen face feels like sharp grains of sand are peppering it. Compared to larger boats, skiffs are lighter and you pay the price with physical abuse, your back and neck get jarred and pounded. It’s not personal it’s just physics, the lighter weight of the skiff means the energy from each wave you hit/pound into transfers through the skiff to the people onboard.
The M/V Little Patch of Heaven is a tiller handle controlled skiff; the tiller handle (steering handle) is connected directly to the motor behind you. Depending on which hand you are steering with, to turn right you push or pull on the tiller handle to the left and to turn left you push or pull to the right, it can be confusing. For safety reasons, the person steering always has to keep a tight grip on the tiller handle, never knowing when they might have to turn sharply to avoid a log or debris.
The noise is extremely unpleasant, waves pounding the hull, wind streaming by and if you are at the tiller handle operating the outboard, the noise is extremely loud, almost impossible to carry on a conversation.
“WHAT?”
“What did you say?!”
So why do people use a skiff? Freedom, affordability and easability, not comfort.
Jayleen has operated the M/V Little Patch of Heaven for thousands of miles in all kinds of weather.
Jay is the author of South Shelter, a book about raising a family on a remote island in Southeast Alaska, it can be purchased at Hearthside Books in Juneau. A kindle version without pictures can be purchased on Amazon.
Jayleen’s Alaska website: jayleensalaska.com