Build your dream from these Sailboat Plans

If you’ve stumbled upon this post then you probably have a similar interest to me and that’s to build your own boat. There’s always the option to buy a boat but the cost always seemed to be out of reach, what about if I build one. I research online the possibilities of building my own boat, I was looking for Sailboat Plans, methods and what materials were available. I found that a method used today to build your wooden boat is so simple that any novice carpenter can complete a build.


During my boat build I used a jig saw, circular saw, battery drill and a orbital sander, most of these tools are the throw away variety but they are perfect for the price and worked a treat. There’s numerous suppliers where you can source all the materials you need to complete a build. I went for external hoop pine plywood which is as close to marine ply as you can get but half the price. This ply has A grade water proof glue and contains no voids or imperfections, perfect for the 12ft wooden boat I built.


Early in my build my daughters stood amazed at was what in front of them, there was a boat shape held together by cable ties, they said they weren’t getting in that thing as it will sink and was made of wood. I explained that around 3000BC ship hulls were built with wooden planks. Woven straps were used to lash the planks together and grass was then stuffed into the planks to create the seal. I enlightened them that Captain James Cook discovered Australia in wooden boat, the look on the kids face was priceless.


Technological advances has seen the materials and techniques used today differ greatly from centuries ago. Lightweight materials coupled with glue’s, resins and woven materials that are readily available make for a supper strong and economical boat build, regardless of the size.


One method that can be used is called the stitch and Glue method, it was developed by Ken Littledyke. This woodwork teacher devised a method of joining two pieces of plywood together that delivered a super strong joint that only required a series of holes, some wire (cable ties) and glue. This method is extremely fast and has seen boats as long as 48ft completed using this method.


Method:


Basically a series of holes is drilled in the two pieces of timber, these timbers are then brought together using wire or cable ties and once the timbers are in position a stitch of glue is applied in between the ties.. The glue used is epoxy resin which contains two parts epoxy and one part hardener, 2:1, wood filler is mixed into the epoxy to a consistence similar to peanut butter. A piping bag can be used to dispense the glue, this gives more control and should deliver less sanding. Once the glue has set you can remove the ties and complete the gluing process ready for sanding to a smooth surface.


The next step is to coat the joint with epoxy and while it’s still wet apply a layer of fiberglass tape over the seam and wet out with the epoxy. Once all the joint on the outside of the hull are taped and can then concentrate on the inside. Once again all the timber surfaces are coated in epoxy ready for a fillet of glue to be applied. While glue is still semi wet the fiberglass tape is applied and wetted out with epoxy. Once set you have a chemical bond that from the outside of the joint to the inside, basically you have one solid piece of timber that’s water proof and is now ready for "fairing".


Fairing is a process where a filler compound is added to the epoxy to a consistence of tomato sauce, this mixture is then spread over the surfaces with a squeegee to create a flat and smooth surface. This fairing will hide the tape and any imperfections in the timber, many coats can be applied to give that super smooth finish. The final step is to paint the hull and attach the hardware ready for your first voyage.





The above method is used in every aspect of the boat build, seats, live wells and compartments can all be made using plywood and epoxy resin and are water tight. This type of build has been describe as being stronger than a production fiberglass boat and is considerably lighter, this means a smaller, cheaper motor can deliver the same speed as a fiberglass hull with a bigger motor.


If you are looking for Sailboat Plans, Wooden Boat Plans or any plywood Boat Plan for that matter you must ensure you get accurate plans. You will find that you build a boat far cheaper than buying one so there’s no need to skimp on material costs.


The thrill when the kids sat in the finished boat and wanted to go fishing will always be a memory I will cherish, kids grow up to fast so these moments must be cherished. The fact that I built the boat and included my dad means this vessel will always be looked after as the day when my kids want to borrow for their enjoyment will once again be a moment to cherish.


Build On!


Sailboat Plans