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.

OldNick wrote:

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 may never finish either, but I will have taken my shot.

Sat down at the table and played the hand, so to speak.


I also think that it's horses for courses.

You gotta be in OZ.

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.

Not really, I just show up everyday. When I leave, something is done
that wasn't done when I got there.

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.

Well I did start building model airplanes when I was about 9-10.


Why not wood? At all? Strip composite?

Trying to maintain a totally wooden boat is like wearing a hair shirt IMHO.

Here in SoCal as well as many other parts of the USA marinas will not
allow wooden boats to stay at their marinas.

Strip composite is another animal.


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

The only answer I ever give is, "5 more years"G.

Lew

Quite a few people with no previous experience build nice boats.
I'd suggest choosing your preferred material and getting some experience
working with it. You can get a lot of experience with materials and
tools doing small non-marine projects around the home. Building a small
boat will introduce you to working with molds, upside down, etc. As you go
you can imagine how you would do it on a much larger boat.


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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.


Choose something small though useful. Like a tender for that future boat.
Maybe one that can also handle a sail and a daggerboard. Or keep it simple
and go for the rowboat/tender.

THEN watch and see if you see the project through to the end.

Pay attention to how much fun you had.

If you see it through to the end and have the desire to do more...do more.


Just my opinion.

--
Saville

Replicas of 15th-19th century nautical navigational instruments:

http://home.comcast.net/~saville/backstaffhome.html

Restoration of my 82 year old Herreshoff S-Boat sailboat:

http://home.comcast.net/~saville/SBOATrestore.htm

Steambending FAQ with photos:

http://home.comcast.net/~saville/Steambend.htm

On Mon, 08 Aug 2005 16:07:44 GMT, Lew Hodgett
wrote:

OldNick wrote:

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 may never finish either, but I will have taken my shot.

Sat down at the table and played the hand, so to speak.


I also think that it's horses for courses.

You gotta be in OZ.

I take it you mean Australia, and not that _other_ land of idle
fantasyG

Not really, I just show up everyday. When I leave, something is done
that wasn't done when I got there.

I think that's fair enough. But I am trying to pout the idea of
starting out with a 55' boat into perpective.

Why not wood? At all? Strip composite?

Trying to maintain a totally wooden boat is like wearing a hair shirt IMHO.

Here in SoCal as well as many other parts of the USA marinas will not
allow wooden boats to stay at their marinas.

Strip composite is another animal.

Ah. OK. I agree if you are talking unshetahed ply or wood. G I sort
of assumed that just hardly happened these days!

The only answer I ever give is, "5 more years"G.

Mine was "Yes"