How would you start a boat building hobby?
 

I have posted before regarding building/restoring an antique boat. Just a
curious question to the experienced builders... How would you start your
hobby if you were really interested in learning how to build a nice boat? I
have the $$, space, and woodworking skill. Just curious of your
recommendations. Would you start small, like a rowboat, or just bite the
bullet and build something cool like a runabout? BTW, I am doing this to
challenge my skills. Thanks again for your time.

I would advise starting with a small project that would use all the normal
boatbuilding skills. Possible a small sailing dingy. Glass the hull and
make the pars from wood. This will give you an idea of what it takes to
build boats and seal your interest.

good luck


"Jack" wrote in message news:awpJe.383$Yf7.364@trndny06...
I have posted before regarding building/restoring an antique boat. Just a
curious question to the experienced builders... How would you start your
hobby if you were really interested in learning how to build a nice boat?
I have the $$, space, and woodworking skill. Just curious of your
recommendations. Would you start small, like a rowboat, or just bite the
bullet and build something cool like a runabout? BTW, I am doing this to
challenge my skills. Thanks again for your time.

I really need to spell check this stuff....


"Craig" wrote in message
news:lGqJe.13076$Tr6.11275@lakeread02...
I would advise starting with a small project that would use all the
normal boatbuilding skills. Possible a small sailing dingy. Glass the
hull and make the pars from wood. This will give you an idea of what it
takes to build boats and seal your interest.

good luck


"Jack" wrote in message news:awpJe.383$Yf7.364@trndny06...
I have posted before regarding building/restoring an antique boat. Just a
curious question to the experienced builders... How would you start your
hobby if you were really interested in learning how to build a nice boat?
I have the $$, space, and woodworking skill. Just curious of your
recommendations. Would you start small, like a rowboat, or just bite the
bullet and build something cool like a runabout? BTW, I am doing this to
challenge my skills. Thanks again for your time.

"Jack" wrote:

I have posted before regarding building/restoring an antique boat. Just a
curious question to the experienced builders... How would you start your
hobby if you were really interested in learning how to build a nice boat?
I have the $$, space, and woodworking skill. Just curious of your
recommendations. Would you start small, like a rowboat, or just bite the
bullet and build something cool like a runabout? BTW, I am doing this to
challenge my skills. Thanks again for your time.

I would not build in wood.

My first project is a 55 ft Roberts.

I'm not sorry I started it.

Lew

On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 15:11:02 +0000, Jack wrote:

I have posted before regarding building/restoring an antique boat. Just a
curious question to the experienced builders... How would you start your
hobby if you were really interested in learning how to build a nice boat? I
have the $$, space, and woodworking skill. Just curious of your
recommendations. Would you start small, like a rowboat, or just bite the
bullet and build something cool like a runabout? BTW, I am doing this to
challenge my skills. Thanks again for your time.

..... having just done this and launched it (and it didn't sink), start off
with something easy in a style that takes your fancy. I built a Michalak
Piragua (14' canoe) but there are many equally easy boats ; have a look at
David Beede's Simplicity Boats (1 + 2 sheet multipurpose boats), or Herb
McLeod's One Sheet Skiff.

Paul Robson wrote:
On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 15:11:02 +0000, Jack wrote:

I have posted before regarding building/restoring an antique boat. Just a
curious question to the experienced builders... How would you start your
hobby if you were really interested in learning how to build a nice boat? I
have the $$, space, and woodworking skill. Just curious of your
recommendations. Would you start small, like a rowboat, or just bite the
bullet and build something cool like a runabout? BTW, I am doing this to
challenge my skills. Thanks again for your time.

.... having just done this and launched it (and it didn't sink), start off
with something easy in a style that takes your fancy. I built a Michalak
Piragua (14' canoe) but there are many equally easy boats ; have a look at
David Beede's Simplicity Boats (1 + 2 sheet multipurpose boats), or Herb
McLeod's One Sheet Skiff.


I would get plans for the boat that you really , really want to build.

Then I would either build a canoe or rowboat using the same techniqes
and materials used for the bigger boat, or I would spend some money and
build a small section of the boat to get an idea of the problems that a
full size project will have.

Hi,

In my opinion, I think you might want to build something simple and cheap to
see if you really enjoy it before you commit to a large and expensive
project. www.bateau.com used to have free plans for a pram they called a
D4, but I just looked at their site and no longer see it there. You might
contact them and see if you can get a copy of those plans. Using 1/4"
underlayment and 3/4 plywood you can build that boat for under $100. It is
fun and easy to build. Then if you enjoy that project there are lots of
sources for boat plans on the web such as Glenn-L and others.

Don Dando
"Jack" wrote in message news:awpJe.383$Yf7.364@trndny06...
I have posted before regarding building/restoring an antique boat. Just a
curious question to the experienced builders... How would you start your
hobby if you were really interested in learning how to build a nice boat?
I
have the $$, space, and woodworking skill. Just curious of your
recommendations. Would you start small, like a rowboat, or just bite the
bullet and build something cool like a runabout? BTW, I am doing this to
challenge my skills. Thanks again for your time.

Jack wrote:
I have posted before regarding building/restoring an antique boat. Just a
curious question to the experienced builders... How would you start your
hobby if you were really interested in learning how to build a nice boat? I
have the $$, space, and woodworking skill. Just curious of your
recommendations. Would you start small, like a rowboat, or just bite the
bullet and build something cool like a runabout? BTW, I am doing this to
challenge my skills. Thanks again for your time.

Definately start small. You time the time and money you invest into a
small project just from the experience you'll gain.

Matt - JEM Watercraft
http://www.jemwatercraft.com

On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 17:33:17 GMT, Lew Hodgett
wrote:

"Jack" wrote:

I have posted before regarding building/restoring an antique boat. Just a
curious question to the experienced builders... How would you start your
hobby if you were really interested in learning how to build a nice boat?
I have the $$, space, and woodworking skill. Just curious of your
recommendations. Would you start small, like a rowboat, or just bite the
bullet and build something cool like a runabout? BTW, I am doing this to
challenge my skills. Thanks again for your time.

I would not build in wood.

My first project is a 55 ft Roberts.

I'm not sorry I started it.


But is it _g(F)loating_ yet? G

Seni-serious question. I know a lot of guys who are still happy
building their boats 5 years on. But they often never get a boat.

I know you from rec.woodoworking. I respect your opinion on
trade/craft. It's been a while, but I am pretty sure that your
_political_ opinions are not _too_ apparent from the ww ng, whether I
agree with them or not! G

I also think that it's horses for courses. I feel that you are an
achiever, with a power history of doing stuff. This is not toadying,
but simply an assessment of your ability as I have seen it portrayed.

I think that anyone who takes on a 55' boat as their "first project"
is either mad, or a hero, or has done some serious stuff before. The
OP needs to be more specific about which of these they fit......

Why not wood? At all? Strip composite?

How far are you down the track on your 55'er?

On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 15:11:02 GMT, "Jack" wrote:


If you folow up on the replies you have had, I wil give you my
considered opinion....

It's based on success and failure.

It's free and you get what you pay for.

It will be a serious opinion about boats.

I am not a hero. See para 2

I have posted before regarding building/restoring an antique boat. Just a
curious question to the experienced builders... How would you start your
hobby if you were really interested in learning how to build a nice boat? I
have the $$, space, and woodworking skill. Just curious of your
recommendations. Would you start small, like a rowboat, or just bite the
bullet and build something cool like a runabout? BTW, I am doing this to
challenge my skills. Thanks again for your time.