The Tashmoo 18 traces its lines to Martha’s Vineyard, where working New England skiffs earned their place through daily use.
Along with the coastal waters of Maine, these boats were also amenable to shallow-water conditions, combining agility and practical access with years of dependable service. The low freeboard made hauling traps over the side a smooth process, while the shallow draft suited lobstering, scalloping, and shrimping. Their character came from purpose rather than ornament.
The original boat design grew from a 15-foot working skiff into the 18-foot form carried forward. This regional lineage gives the Tashmoo 18 itself a point of difference among custom skiff boats today. It belongs to the Northeast waters that informed it, while remaining suited to contemporary ownership anywhere in the world.
A custom skiff is commissioned as a one-of-one vessel rather than configured from a stock hull and a list of preset options. Each Tashmoo follows a one-off build process, laid up in the original 1980s molds and finished to the owner’s intended use and preferred detail. Designed for versatility and built for adventure, the Tashmoo is made to accommodate everything from family outings and fishing trips to exploring and navigating shallow waters.
Some owners choose teak and brightwork. Others prefer a more utilitarian fit...No matter the variety in customization, each approach is equally authentic because the commission begins with the owner rather than a production package.
Commissioning a one-off hull creates a boat with its own purpose and amazing character, without losing the proportions and workboat roots that define the design.
A Tashmoo skiff is built through a hands-on process centered on the original 1980s molds. Hand-laid fiberglass forms the hull, with each layer placed as part of an individual dedicated build rather than a production run.
The craft story belongs to a process centered on one hull, one commission, and one owner’s specification. A skiff boat builder working on a hand-laid skiff stays close to every stage, from lay-up through fit-out. No two finished boats follow an identical path. The same hands-on approach defines how we build to order, from the restored molds through the completed skiff. Every stage follows a build design that focuses on quality and durability, paired with pride.
Owners comparing skiff boat builders can begin with the Tashmoo 18’s fixed dimensions.
These figures establish the hull that every individual commission carries into its chosen fit-out. The 8 in. draft preserves the boat’s shallow-water origins, while the 6' 7" beam retains its established proportions. Our custom build service begins with these fixed dimensions, then tailors each commission into a fit-out ideal for the clients' intended use. The end result is a custom skiff ready to perform on the water it is designed for.
LENGTH
18' 4"
BEAM
6' 7"
DRAFT
8 in.
FUEL CAPACITY
20 gal.
CONSTRUCTION
Hand-laid fiberglass
HULL ORIGIN
The original 1980s molds, restored and back in production
Custom skiff builders are defined by more than the ability to alter a standard model. At Tashmoo Boatworks, each skiff begins with Lake Tashmoo, a working New England tradition, and the original 1980s molds. Each commission carries that lineage forward through a hands-on build centered on one boat and one owner at a time.
For an owner comparing builders, a heritage skiff builder brings a design history and craft process that a configurator cannot reproduce in the market. If this level of craftsmanship and individual attention is what you're searching for, a Tashmoo skiff offers exceptional performance and a distinctly personal approach to ownership.
For the yacht owner, a Tashmoo brings character to the role of a tender. For the center-console owner, it offers a more personal second boat, with lines rooted in Lake Tashmoo and working New England waters. One lineage. One owner’s specification. Built by hand.
Get in touch to commission your skiff.
