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The market for small motorboats regularly sees the return of models inspired by traditional workboats. In the United States, Tashmoo Boatworks is reviving a name familiar to boaters in the Northeast with the launch of the Tashmoo 18. This 5.59-meter skiff features the hull design created by Dan West several decades ago, while incorporating modern construction techniques.
A project that is revitalizing an iconic brand on the U.S. East Coast
Based in Florida, Tashmoo Boatworks was founded by David Reiter with the goal of reviving the Tashmoo brand, originally created by Dan West in the 1980s. These skiffs, inspired by New England workboats, have become popular around Martha?s Vineyard thanks to their sturdiness and their ability to navigate the region?s often choppy coastal waters.
After several changes in ownership in the late 1980s and then in the 1990s, production gradually came to a halt. Today, Tashmoo Boatworks is reviving the original molds to preserve the characteristics of the historic design while modernizing the construction process. The shipyard thus preserves the Tashmoo DNA, with simple, seaworthy hulls suited for coastal use, while offering custom-built boats that allow each vessel to be tailored to its owner?s sailing plans.
Beyond its traditional market in the northeastern United States, the company now plans to introduce these skiffs to a wider customer base across the entire country.
A design inspired by the skiffs of Martha's Vineyard
The first Tashmoo boats were developed by Dan West, inspired by a wooden lobster boat used around Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. The goal was to translate the seaworthiness of these working vessels into a more accessible polyester design.
Built during the 1980s and 1990s, these boats gained popularity in the northeastern United States thanks to their simple design and ruggedness. The new Tashmoo 18 uses the original molds to preserve the characteristics of the original design. The silhouette remains that of a traditional New England skiff with a pronounced bow, a relatively high freeboard, and simple lines designed for coastal use.
A modernized building featuring a sandwich-core structure
While the hull shapes remain the same, the construction method has evolved. The project is being developed in collaboration with Dragonfly Boatworks, a shipyard based in Vero Beach, Florida, that has specialized in building skiffs since 1979.
The Tashmoo 18 is constructed of polyester with a structure that incorporates sandwich foam materials. This technique reduces weight while maintaining the hull?s rigidity. According to the shipyard, this design also improves fuel efficiency and performance compared to previous models.
David Reiter, founder of Tashmoo Boatworks, sums up this approach: " Many modern fishing boats have become highly technical and high-performance, but they can also seem a bit impersonal. We believe that the Tashmoo models strike a balance between performance and a more distinctive character. "
A customizable platform for various uses
The Tashmoo 18 is available exclusively on a build-to-order basis. Owners can choose the materials, colors, deck layouts, seating arrangements, engine options, and electronic equipment. This customization allows the boat to be tailored to a variety of uses. The shipyard envisions it serving as a tender for a yacht, a family coastal cruiser, or a fishing boat.
Thanks to its shallow draft of just 20 cm, the model can navigate shallow bays, lagoons, and certain inland fishing areas. Its sharp bow is also designed to improve maneuverability through the choppy waters commonly found in coastal areas.
A revival accompanied by new projects
With this first model, Tashmoo Boatworks aims above all to revive a historic design in a version adapted to today?s manufacturing standards. Other models are already in development to expand the lineup.
The Tashmoo 18 has an overall length of 18 feet 4 inches (5.59 m), a beam of 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m), and a fuel capacity of 20 gallons, or approximately 76 liters.
