Local student builds skiff from scratch

In a couple of months, Petersburg High School senior Kole Sperl has turned a pile of aluminum sheets into a skiff. He has plenty of work left to do before it's seaworthy but Sperl said in its current state, it would float.

"There might be a couple leaks that I'd have to patch, but it'll definitely float," said Sperl. "All the main welding is done down by the water line."

Sperl spends anywhere from one and a half hours to three hours a week working on his skiff as part of his marine fabrication and independent study class. He grew up around skiffs, and Sperl said he wanted to build his own to g...