Ceilidh69,
I think there's at least one other Cope cut-file boats on here? The Cope lines/designs are surely about the prettiest sheer lines around? Similar to the IronWood lines at the sheer; "leaping" lines that just look great.
KitBoats or MetalBoatKits (not sure of name?) also offer some pre-cut file designs and so does SpecMar
http://www.specmar.com/ . One good thing about pre-cut kits is the designs are rarely untried. They don't require fine tuning- they're usually built before and are "tuned" by any feedback years before so in a sense you're buying a known product in the kit.
Another labor saving feature is not only the layout and cutting files' labor savings but the jigs, fixtures and cradles that come along with the cut hull panels increases the builders' accuracy while saving time. So if you hire a smalls shop to build a kit? They get a fitted cradle to build inside (usually) so they're ready to tack up the hull in less time than if they'd lofted and made their own cradle/fixture/base on which to build.
If I understand your thinking at this point, the 22-23' open CC will allow you more crew to fish? You're looking for the ability to haul that larger crew in the salt with less limits due to all-up displacement of your current skiff and you're ready for more overall capacity- both in load and fishing more open waters?
Also recommended you look at John Simpson's site
http://simpsonmarinedesign.com/ and his designs (some of which are in cut files not sure which?) and Bill Lincoln of Response Marine (Rock Salt)
http://responsemarine.com/ : both of these gentlemen are experienced aluminum designers but I'm not sure how many
or which stock designs are available in NC cut files?
Michael Kasten has done lots of welded boats, but I'm not familiar enough with his catalog to say there are 22' open, CC, designs?
Last, I'll make a plug for a personal friend's cut file boat. His name is Mark Ervice, he lives in Homer, AK, and his email is
meco@xyz.net he can at least discuss his 22'open hull. He's posted several builds of this hull in a few lengths at different online forums. I think he's got a post here but don't have the link. The skiff is very full in the bow, runs well with modest power, and hauls a tremendous load, is well proven in the Kachemak Bay area, and is available in "kit" (meaning cut files sent to your profile cutting vendor) form. I don't know the kit cost- metal or cut files, but I'm sure you can find links to the boats online. Please feel free to tell him you got the recommendation from me, here; and at least he can blame me for taking your call away from his shop time building the next one of these skiffs!
good luck in your design search, always good to read about a new boat, stock or custom, being planned and built.
Cheers,
Kevin Morin
Kenai, AK