A Gloucester man has designed and built an oyster harvesting skiff with a unique design.

Dennis Schreiber said he received a federal patent for his Pod design that allows the engine to sit level in the boat. The custom design makes for a short shaft, which he said saves money over more traditional craft used for oyster harvesting such as the deadrise.

The design provides easy access to the engine, hydraulic pumps and stuffing box, Schreiber said. The boat is 24 feet long and 8’6" wide and is ready to work the water with a crane mounted onboard.

Schreiber said he designed the boat for Bill Cumberland, who resides on the Ware River in Gloucester and is a licensed oyster gardener. Cumberland wanted to retrofit an old deadrise to accommodate a crane to lift the oyster cages. Instead, Schreiber sold Cumberland on the idea of custom designing a new type craft of steel that would be less costly than those made of wood, fiberglass or aluminum.

According to Schreiber, Cumb...