As most who enjoy wooden boats will attest, the feel and smell of a wooden boat gets the zeal for adventure going. Building one of these dreams is an aggressive project that will take time, but following a good plan and taking the required time will yield many a relaxing day on the water.
Required Materials
- marine-grade stock
- cut nails
- screws
- epoxy
- templates
- sand paper
- rigging materials
- breathing mask
Required Tools
- jig saw
- circular saw
- coping saw
- orbit sander
- hammer
- drill with full bit set
- tape measure
- pencil/paper
Instructions
- Layout – Deciding which type of wooden boat you would like to build is the most difficult part of the project. There are hundreds of wooden boat designs available. However, there are common principles to follow regardless of the design you choose.
- Bottom Board – The bottom board can be as fancy or as plain as you like. This piece is what will hit the bottom first and aid in supporting the ribs. Two pieces of a hardwood, cut and joined with epoxy at an angle of several degrees, will begin the shape of your boat. When you have assembled this, sand it completely with an orbit sander before proceeding.
- Ribs – The ribs give the shape of the boat. In most instances, boat plans will come with a convertible dimension for the ribs. Do the math and draw the ribs onto the paper. Mark the ribs on your chosen wood and then cut them out with your jigsaw. You will need to use two pieces to form the jig-screw, and you will need dowel at the bottom board location. Sand everything.
- Stern Board – If your design has a stern board, now is the time to mark it out and cut it to size. Sand everything.
- Planking – Once the ribs are attached, you can begin planking the boat. Plank, drill, glue, and screw the specified boards to the ribs. If your plans call for an exterior skin of fiberglass, lay out the fiberglass and install it now. Sand everything. If you are using straight wood, overlay the stock of your choice and glue everything with marine glue or epoxy, leaving no gaps. Screw everything into place.
- Marine Glue – If you are not using the correct glue, leaks are sure to occur at some point. Most importantly, do not use organic glues – use marine glue only. If organic glues are used, their larger molecule size will cause leaks.
- Stain or Paint – Staining or painting the boat is an important stage in finishing the project. All sorts of elements will be assaulting the boat, so a protective coating is needed. Oil-based paint is the most sturdy coat, but stain does set off a wooden boat nicely.
For more information Read
How to Build a Wooden Boat
How to Build a Wooden Boat
How to Build a Wooden Boat
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