Must build a boat - looking for guidance
 

"Brian D" wrote in message
news:h5qGb.640037$HS4.4639233@attbi_s01...
Thanks! Haha ...no really, I'll be using this boat in SE Alaska (or so I
intend). ALL of SE Alaska is the Tongass National Forest and where the
Tongass natives come from. Hence the name. I must admit though, that I
sometimes wonder if I shouldn't use a different name ...I'm sure I'll hear
the same remark again (although you win the prize for being the first to
say
it out loud...)

Brian

Thankyou, thankyou!

Takes a bow

Must build a boat - looking for guidance
 

I like shell boats. Nice boats and made for beginners.
http://www.shellboats.com/

Donald

Must build a boat - looking for guidance
 

The list of requirement you have so far is a good start.
It looks like you need to set yourself a budget next.
Then look at the cost of materials at local suppliers.
Glues and fastners can cost more than the plywood.

I'd repeat my advice to use some geometry or a compute program to estimate
teh size of boat you'll need. I desinged my own first boat, a simple flat
bottom skiff, and it turned out to be just what I needed.

Of the ready made plans I'd recommend taking a look at the Dobbler 16 at
www.jonesboats.com. I've read both of Jones' boatbuilding books where he
describes a plywood and a fibreglass version he has built.

--
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Must build a boat - looking for guidance
 

There is no such thing as a perfectly good jetski

Chris wrote:

Another option. If you go up and down the coast, you might be able to find
an abandoned boat to refurbish. Not sure about up there, but in various
coastal areas you might find a boat with a hole below waterline, or similar
defect that could return the boat to operating condition with minor work.

Once saw a perfectly good jetski sitting here on our beach, only needed
minor engine repairs.

You'd be surprised what some people throw away.

Must build a boat - looking for guidance
 

"Scott Vaughn" wrote in message
...
There is no such thing as a perfectly good jetski

Perhaps, but that's beside the point. Disposable society does have it's
advantages if you look hard enough.

;-)

Must build a boat - looking for guidance
 

Gotta agree - find yourself an old, usable fiberglass sailboat. There are
plenty of O'Days and other daysailers in peoples' backyards, begging for
use. A year ago I found a 21' New Haven cat-ketch sharpie, ready to go
except for trailer tires & bearings, for $750. Plenty of 20-24'
"weekenders" are out there for less than $2K.

You might find somebody willing to "lend" you a boat for a season or two (or
more) if you clean it up, paint the bottom, make minor repairs, and agree
they can use it a couple times. If you were in my neighborhood (mid-coast
Maine), I'd make that offer right now. In fact, send me a note off-group
(remove the send-no-spam- from my address); maybe we can make a deal.

No way you can build a boat for less money than a serviceable used
production hull. Even with a blue tarp sail.

Once you've got some experience, and have confirmed that no production boat
will meet your specific requirements, desires, or burning desire to build,
THEN think about building. And then, start with Bolger's Teal.

Curtis


"Jim B." writes:
Ok. I live in a small coastal town in New England where the Dory was
invented (at least that is what I have read). Ever since we moved here,
I
have wanted a boat. But we really can't afford one. It is very low on
the
financial needs list. But I have two kids (5 and 7 yr old) and I think
it
would be great to have them grow up sailing with me and maybe even on
their
own. But enough with the hopes and dreams....

The above says it all.

If you want those kids to go sailing before they are adults, BUY a boat
and
find a 2nd job to help pay for it.

Just the observation of someone who is building a boat.

Must build a boat - looking for guidance
 

There is nothing radical, extreme, strange or far-fetched about this
post.
In fact it appears to offer a bunch of horse-sense - with a neat slosh
of Christmas kindness thrown in for flavor. I'd go with it.

Brian W

On Thu, 25 Dec 2003 14:31:34 -0500, "Sal's Dad"
wrote:

Gotta agree - find yourself an old, usable fiberglass sailboat. There are
plenty of O'Days and other daysailers in peoples' backyards, begging for
use. A year ago I found a 21' New Haven cat-ketch sharpie, ready to go
except for trailer tires & bearings, for $750. Plenty of 20-24'
"weekenders" are out there for less than $2K.

You might find somebody willing to "lend" you a boat for a season or two (or
more) if you clean it up, paint the bottom, make minor repairs, and agree
they can use it a couple times. If you were in my neighborhood (mid-coast
Maine), I'd make that offer right now. In fact, send me a note off-group
(remove the send-no-spam- from my address); maybe we can make a deal.

No way you can build a boat for less money than a serviceable used
production hull. Even with a blue tarp sail.

Once you've got some experience, and have confirmed that no production boat
will meet your specific requirements, desires, or burning desire to build,
THEN think about building. And then, start with Bolger's Teal.

Curtis


"Jim B." writes:
Ok. I live in a small coastal town in New England where the Dory was
invented (at least that is what I have read). Ever since we moved here,
I
have wanted a boat. But we really can't afford one. It is very low on
the
financial needs list. But I have two kids (5 and 7 yr old) and I think
it
would be great to have them grow up sailing with me and maybe even on
their
own. But enough with the hopes and dreams....

The above says it all.

If you want those kids to go sailing before they are adults, BUY a boat
and
find a 2nd job to help pay for it.

Just the observation of someone who is building a boat.

Must build a boat - looking for guidance
 

I'm a fan of the Stevensons' designs myself having built their MiniCup.
There's a strong builder support community for them at http://www.byyb.org -
which include several Skipjack builders. Bolger builders have also built
themselves a strong community as well.

Based on your criteria, you need to decide what compromises you are willing
to make. Obviously you can pick up a used boat as many would suggest
although I personally believe that it is possible to build a boat for less
than you can buy and refurbish a used one for - if you are building a small
boat and if you don't worry about the level of finish. You also need to
honestly think about how you are going to use the boat - is your entire
family actually likely to want to participate and making a boat that will
safely hold four people makes it quite a bit bigger boat than one that will
hold just yourself or you and one child. It also depends on how large said
people are.

One simple design to consider is David Beede's "Summer Breeze" -
http://www.simplicityboats.com/summerbreezetemp.html You could also
consider building yourself something like that, or even one of Gavin Atkin's
"Mouse Boats" - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mouseboats/ just to get
something to get you on the water.

Additionally, you need to consider sea conditions - you say you are on the
coast - if the sea is rough at all, you will need a much more stable boat
than many of the easily built plans can accommodate - most of them,
including the ones I mentioned - are intended for calm inland waters.

No matter what your decision - good luck.

--
Andrew Butchart

http://www.floatingbear.ca



"Jim B." wrote in message
news:m8iGb.445165$Dw6.1352034@attbi_s02...
Ok. I live in a small coastal town in New England where the Dory was
snip

Please comment and advise. I am looking for boat plan recommendations,
similar experiences, tips, tricks, help with making it cheap,

--Jim B.

Must build a boat - looking for guidance
 

First of all, thank you all. Wow! I will be posting to this group again;
hopefully with information for others from what I will be learning. I have
a lot to think about. By the way, I mentioned that my wife was not sold on
this idea; however, for Christmas she bought me a wood model sailboat kit.
I went a little "overboard" on the $2 kit with a photo journal of the
building and finishing process. Now in response to those involved in this
thread:

Tailgunner: I like the Dory idea too since I live in the town where one of
the designs were invented. I will be emailing you.

Chris: Thanks for the links. I have bookmarked the Intro to Wooden
Boatbuilding. I found that link to old boats before. Regarding your second
post ... I just don't think I will find an abandoned broken boat laying
around on the beach BUT...I'll keep my eyes peeled, stranger things have
happened.

Lew: I just can't slap down the money to buy a whole boat now. Even first
jobs are hard to come by in the tech industry these days and a 2nd job would
mean even less time with the kids. And I would rather not charge one
either. I am thinking that by building it, I get the joy of building as
part of the hobby. Plus I will be buying the boat a piece at a time and I
could even stop and restart as finances permit.

Curtis: I know you agree with Lew; however, your idea/potential offer is a
great in-between comprimise (buy/rent vs build vs barter). I will
definetely be emailing you. This could give me some experience before the
real building project is lauched.

Brian W: I agree.

Habbi: Clark Crafts looks to have a wide selection plus I can price compare
boat plan costs. Thanks.

Brian D.: I am seriously considering the Caravelle boat. Thanks for this
link.

Eric: I will check the rest of the Chesapeake Light Craft site. The pram
you mentioned does not look like it will hold 2 adults and two kids.

Donald: The shellboats.com site looks like it is catering to people like
me. I will continue to investigate there as well. Thanks.

William R Watt: I know I need to fix the budget. My wife is a very
pragmatic women and this is what she wants to see (after I repair a few
things around the house). I found the jonesboats.com site although I did
not take a good look at that Dobbler 16 until you posted. Also, looks like
you sell boat designs according to your website. I hope to see replies from
you again in my future posts here.

Andrew Butchart: I agree with you. I know that I will most likely be
taking me and my two kids on the boat often (as I alluded to in my first
post, "The best-laid plans o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley." -Robert Burns)
I can relate to your website. I know that I will need a few sailing
lessons. In terms of the sailing environment, I will probably stick to the
nearby harbor rather than sailing the high seas until I feel (and am deemed
by some authority) that I am a competent sailor. By the way, I am seriously
considering the Summer Breeze as well.

--Jim B.

Must build a boat - looking for guidance
 

On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 17:04:36 +0000, Lew Hodgett wrote:


"Jim B." writes:
Ok. I live in a small coastal town in New England where the Dory was invented
(at least that is what I have read). Ever since we moved here, I have wanted
a boat. But we really can't afford one. It is very low on
the
financial needs list. But I have two kids (5 and 7 yr old) and I think it
would be great to have them grow up sailing with me and maybe even on
their
own. But enough with the hopes and dreams....

The above says it all.

If you want those kids to go sailing before they are adults, BUY a boat and find
a 2nd job to help pay for it.

Just the observation of someone who is building a boat.

HTH

I donno...when I was about 8 my dad built a boat for my sister and I to ply the
waters of the slough on the farm. It wasn't much: just an 8ft punt made with a
sheet of plywood and some 1x12s. Leaked like a sieve. But it was the most
impressive memory I have of my Dad, and I remember it fondly to this day.

Build an inexpensive, flat-bottomed skiff with your kids' help. It may not sail
as well as a production boat, but the memories will be worth it.

Lloyd Sumpter