Kategori: Ezine Articles

By Morten Olesen © 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Pushing off from the shore, you set sail across the water with an enormous sense of pride and anticipation. You’ve done it! You’ve built your own boat and are free to take on any water-bound adventure you can envision. That may be your dream, but for many building a boat seems like an impossible task. Take heart! 

While it may require some patience and a few new power tools (nothing wrong with that!), there are really only 4 basic steps to building a boat. 

Step 1: Choosing a Boat Design

What do you want to be the captain of? A simple canoe? A row boat? How about a skiff or dinghy? From catamarans to tugboats, you can choose whatever type of wooden boat plans you’d like. 

Of course, the bigger the boat, the more complex the plans and the longer it will take to complete. For your first attempt, you might consider a canoe or row boat. But if you’ve been there and done that and have now set your sights on bigger fish (so to speak), you may be ready to tackle a speedboat or a pram. Once you decide, you’ll only have 3 basic steps to complete before sailing off into the sunset. 

Step 2: Lofting

According to Wikipedia.com, “Lofting is a drafting technique whereby curved lines are drawn on wood and the wood then cut for woodworking. The technique can be as simple as bending a flexible object (such as a long cane) so that it passes over three points and drawing the curved line.

“Lofting is particularly useful in boat building, when it is used to draw and cut pieces for hulls and keels, which are usually curved, often in three dimensions.”

If you can draw a curved line on a piece of plywood, you have the basics of lofting wooden boat plans down already. 

Step 3: Assembling

There’s a method to the madness when it comes to organizing and assembling the pieces of wooden boat plans. Once you learn a few tricks of the trade, the process goes pretty quickly. 

Assembling each section in the right order and using the correct materials and techniques makes all the difference in the world. When you get expert help in the form of plans and/or boat building courses; putting together your dream craft is as easy as following the instructions and pictures. 

Step 4: Laminating

Boats made from wooden boat plans are created from individual pieces of wood. Those pieces have to be connected in order to have a finished vessel. If this were anything other than a boat, you might just use nails or screws to hold everything in place. But since our creation will be placed in the water, connecting the pieces has to be both functional and also leak proof.

Although it might sound strange, water can be a boat’s worst nightmare. The seams of your vessel have to be watertight in order for your boat to stay afloat. This is where many a novice boat builder goes astray. There are 4 basic techniques for laminating correctly the first time. Each has its pros and cons. Taking time to learn all 4 and which would be best for the boat you dream of building will be well worth your while.

In essence, that’s it. That’s all it takes to build a boat. If you were wondering whether you could do it or not, the answer is yes provided you have the right plans and instructions. I recommend you start small and work your way up. Get a little experience under your belt then move up in size and complexity until you create the boat you’ve always wanted.

By Morten Olesen © 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Oftentimes, the hardest part of building a boat is choosing the right boat plans. Unless you have a longtime dream of setting sail on a particular craft, you’ll want to take several things into consideration before purchasing boat plans. This way, you can ensure you’ll have a goal you can accomplish without abandoning it halfway through due to lack of time, money or experience. 

Tip #1 – Decide what type of boat you want to build.

If you’ve never built a boat before, it only makes sense that you’d choose boat plans with a simple design. However, if you’ve got a little experience under your belt, you may be ready to step up to something more detailed and complex.

One of the most crucial tips for choosing the right boat plans is deciding on the type of boat. Your experience level, how much you have allotted to spend on materials and the amount of time you can allocate to the project are important considerations. 

You’ll also need to think about where you’ll build your boat. Do you have space in a garage or workshop – or can you create a temporary spot – to devote to boat building for (possibly) an extended period of time?

Tip #2 – Understand what’s required to make it happen.

More simplistic boat plans such as canoes, dinghies and row boats could feasibly be built in just a few weekends. The cost for a canoe, depending on where in the world you are located, would be reasonably low: around $300US on average. For a row boat; about $450US. 

On the opposite end of the scale, it might take around $800 and several months to build a 19-foot pram or $15,000 to construction a 40-foot tug boat. Of course, the amount of time increases considerably with the scope and scale of the project. 

With that information in mind, you should do a few calculations. For instance, let’s say you can only devote time to boat building on the weekends. If you put in 8 hours on Saturday and Sunday, that gives you 16 hours per week. If it takes 45-60 hours (on average) to build a canoe, you can estimate your launch date as X number of weeks away from the start of your project. 

Something else to ask yourself is with regard to expenses. Can you pay for all the materials at once or will you need to build your boat in phases? Listing all the necessary materials and the cost associated with them is a good idea regardless of how you’ll finance the project.

If you do need to build in phases, check the boat plans to see which items you’ll need at which points along the way. Then you can design your budget accordingly.

Tip #3 – Look for complete, detailed boat plans with 3-D computer models.

You might think all boat plans are created equally. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are no regulations with regard to boat plans so practically anyone who chose to could draw them up and sell them. You want to be careful to choose boat plans that were created by a professional and that will give you all the help and guidance you need. 

Look for boat plans drafted by master boat builders and, when possible, opt for plans from Naval Architects to ensure quality and ease of use. You also would be wise to select boat plans that come with computer-generated, 3-D models. Imagine how much added help you’ll get from being able to rotate the model, zoom in, pan, view cross sections and more. 

With a few calculations and considerations, you’ll be able to choose just the right boat plans for your experience level, time and money. The results? A vessel you can be proud to sail for years to come.

By Morten Olesen © 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Whether you want to build boats to earn a living or are just expressing yourself through a hobby, you need a dedicated place to work. Thanks to modern technology, it is relatively easy to create and equip your boatbuilding workshop without much hassle. 

While you can get as elaborate as you desire, there are really only 4 things to consider when designing a basic shop. None of the 4 are costly and all can be arranged quickly.

#1 – Space

Keep in mind that you and the finished boat need to fit into whatever space you create. What’s more, you will have to have room to move around the boat as you loft, cut and assemble the pieces. 

One meter [3 feet] around the perimeter of the boat should give you the necessary elbowroom. You could feasibly work with less room, but it would most likely be cramped and uncomfortable. 

#2 – Tools

The tools you equip your workshop with will depend 100% on your preferences and your wallet. You could cut and assemble the parts using nothing more than a handsaw, screwdriver and a manual drill. Needless to say, that will take more time and be a good deal more energy. Power tools would work best. 

An electric jigsaw and a power drill should be all you require. Besides the tools, you will also need a measuring tape, pencil and some things (plastic spoons, for instance) that make working with epoxy and fiberglass easier. 

#3 – Electricity

The use of power tools dictates the need for power. There are 3 common ways to rig your shop for electricity. (1) You can go all out and run dedicated electrical outlets to your shop. (2) You can drag heavy-duty electrical cords from your house/garage to your workshop. (3) You can use a gas-powered generator to provide electricity. Number 2 will be the more simple and affordable option. 

#4 – Temperature

The only part of the boatbuilding process that is temperature sensitive is the epoxy phase. You, on the other hand, will be sensitive to temperatures all year long. For instance, if you choose to construct a temporary building that has no insulation, summer months will be sweltering as the heat builds within your walls. In addition, wintertime will be frigid with no way to keep your hands warm. (Wearing thick outdoor gloves will not be a good idea while working on a boat.) Fans and/or space heaters can be used to regulate temperatures when the climate is extreme.

Keep in mind that the temperature for epoxy use must be higher than 5°C [41°F]. 

If you are unable to keep your workspace comfortable for you and the epoxy, schedule your project around the seasons. You can start building in winter when the temperatures are much cooler. Plan your lofting and cutting of the pieces for spring. Next, assemble the pieces and do your gluing, taping and epoxy application during summer. You should be ready to launch your new boat by fall.

Whether temporary or permanent, creating a boatbuilding workshop is a necessary first step when taking on this type of project. Using these simple steps, you can easily develop a suitable place for constructing your boat and enjoy the fruit of your labor for years to come.

By Morten Olesen © 2011, All Rights Reserved.

The decision to build your own boat is a big one. Even if the craft you’re constructing is small, the project itself can be quite an undertaking. Excited as you may be, when you set out to build a boat, the chances of making mistakes that can ruin your vessel are much greater than with someone who has some experience under their belt.

Learning from others’ mistakes is an excellent way to prepare yourself and ensure that your endeavor goes smoothly. To that end, I’ve compiled a list of common mistakes that have been known to ruin the boatbuilding projects of novices. Read carefully and you might just save yourself a lot of frustration.

Mistake #1 – Buying Lower-Quality Boat Plans

As a pattern is to sewing, so boat plans are to boatbuilding. In essence, they are the boat. If you choose boat plans that were not expertly created or that have less-than-clear instructions, you’re pretty much doomed from the start.

In addition to plans that are drawn by an expert with naval experience, you’ll want to purchase ones that include step-by-step instructions. If you’re a novice, you will particularly want additional boatbuilding information to accompany your instructions. 

Three-dimensional (3-D) computer models are an enormous help because they allow you to rotate, view cut sections, pan, zoom and more. But most importantly is having direct contact with the designer her/himself. If you get stuck, you’ll have a way to receive expert guidance. 

Mistake #2 – Planning Ahead

Many boatbuilding projects are abandoned by beginners who have made mistakes early on and had no idea how to correct them. If they had given due diligence to prior planning, they would have known what to look for to avoid the mishap to begin with.

Don’t neglect the planning phase of your project. Taking a moment to mentally walk through everything you will need to do from beginning to end can save you a great deal of time.

Mistake #3 – Not Adequately Equipping Your Workspace

Once you’ve finished mentally reviewing the project, you’ll want to turn your attention to creating and equipping your workspace. Without enough space, the proper tools, the right materials and the correct climate, you’re likely to struggle to complete your undertaking. 

Mistake #4 – Neglecting to Use Epoxy as Directed

Epoxy can be temperamental to deal with. If it gets too hot or too cold, it simply won’t function as it should. You’ll be left with joints and seams that don’t adhere to one another, resulting in leaks later on. 

Fully read the instruction manual that comes with the epoxy you’ve chosen. Mixing it properly and using it as the manufacturer suggests can be the difference between a boat that floats and one that quickly becomes waterlogged. 

Mistake #5 – Underestimating the Cost

As you’re shopping for boat plans, collecting information and planning, don’t forget to calculate the cost involved in building your own boat. The final price will depend on several factors, but, on average, a canoe will likely run about $300 US. A rowboat, perhaps $450 US. A 19-foot pram could cost around $800 US, while a tugboat might run $15,000 US.

Understanding what causes others to fail will give you a head start on success. Rather than jumping straight into boatbuilding, take your time. If you learn from the 5 mistakes listed above, your project will be an enjoyable one that results in a craft you’ll be proud to sail.

By Morten Olesen © 2012, All Rights Reserved.

Loose lips aren’t the only things that will sink ships. Poorly fitted joints that aren’t properly sealed will do the job as well. That’s why one of the most vital tasks with any boatbuilding project is gluing. It also happens to be one of the most complex.

Epoxy is a very unforgiving substance used to secure joints that hardens quickly. Once it moves past the phase where it is pliable and workable, it is all but impossible to remove. The only “do overs” with epoxy are in the form of scraping the joint and starting again from scratch. 

Because of this fact, you’ll want to follow these tips for getting every joint done right the first time.

Safety First

If you’ve ever seen dried epoxy, you can just imagine how difficult it would be to try and remove it from a piece of wood. Now imagine attempting to get if off the skin on your hand or arm. Likewise, the sanding dust that comes from some epoxies can be dangerous if inhaled. 

In order to work safely, be sure you have the following on hand or nearby at all times when working with epoxy.

• Rubber gloves to wear during the process
• Cleaning solvent made for the type/brand of epoxy you’re working with
• Warm, soapy water
• Mask to help you avoid inhaling epoxy dust

Work Fast

Depending on the type/brand of epoxy you use, it could completely cure within five to 60 minutes. Read the label of your product for more exact times. Some specialty epoxies are made that cure more slowly in hot climates. If this applies to you, be sure to ask the representative if s/he sells tropical epoxy. 

Practice Makes Perfect

Using a few scraps of wood, do a test run or two. This way you can actually get the feel for the epoxy you’re using before you make a permanent commitment. Cure times vary with the mixing formula, temperature and many other variables. All of these cause the behavior of the epoxy to be particular to your work environment. Conducting a trial will allow you to experiment before applying the glue to your boat.

Prep and Fit

Once you’re ready to move forward, take time to do the necessary prep work. The surfaces of your boat that you plan to bond should be free of grease, oil, wax, mold and dust. Clean the surfaces thoroughly before you apply epoxy.

In order for the epoxy to adhere, the surface must be completely dry. If you’ve used liquid solvents to clean your boat, you can allow them to air dry or use a blow dryer or hot air gun to speed the process.

Lastly, sand the surfaces as smooth as possible. There should be no flaking, cracking, blistering, old paint or stain, etc. on the wood. Be sure and remove all dust after sanding.

Lastly, double-check your joints. Check that they are smooth and fit snuggly without large gaps. If you find any cracking, flaking or splintering, sand the surfaces again before applying the epoxy.

The majority of time spent with applying epoxy is done up front. Be patient, read the instructions that come with the product you’ll be using and work methodically. When you do, you’ll produce a boat you can confidently and proudly sail for years to come.

By Morten Olesen © 2012, All Rights Reserved.

Anticipation is the enemy of many boat builders. From novices to experienced pros, the excitement of finally sailing the vessel they’ve been building for weeks or months can get the best of them. This can lead to making mistakes that might impede their success. 

But there are ways to cut some time from your construction schedule without hampering the end results. As a matter of fact, I have 5 shortcuts that will let you finish your project earlier than you thought, without causing any heartache. 

Shortcut #1 – Minimal Space for Maximum Efficiency 

Bigger is not always better. This holds true when it comes to boatbuilding workshops. While the tendency is to create a workplace that is large and sprawling, just the opposite can be what you actually need. 

Unless you plan on building boats on a regular basis, you can follow in the footsteps of those who’ve gone before you and create a small workshop. A garage or shed, a tent, some PVC pipe with tarps draped over it… all are standards when it comes to boat work areas. All you really need is enough space for the finished boat, plus a few feet around the perimeter for walking, working and moving about. 

Shortcut #2 – Plastic Makes the Best Fillets

Sure, there is a special tool for making fillets, but it requires some getting used to. In addition, you’ll need some patience while you’re mastering the art of fillet making. One of my favorite shortcuts involves using plain old plastic spoons to make fillets.

Use the back of the spoon to make the curved shape of your fillet. Plastic spoons are sturdy enough to handle the thick epoxy, durable enough to stand up to the resin without dissolving and make cleanup easier than you could imagine. 

Shortcut #3 – Disposable Lofting Is Smart

Once you start transferring the dimensions from your boat plans to the plywood, you’ll want to make sure you stay neat, clean and organized. Getting measurements mixed up or forgetting whether you’ve already transferred some measurements can lead to disaster.

Buying downloadable boat plans is the way to go. Once one set gets cluttered with notes and markings, simply throw it away and print a clean set. Nothing could be easier. 

Shortcut #4 – Know What Could Go Wrong, So You Can Do It Right

When building a boat, you should always be looking ahead. Read instructions (such as those for the epoxy you’ll use), go through processes (like fillet making) mentally or actually try it on scrap wood. These save you time in the long run because they allow you to encounter the hazards that might happen before you actually begin attempting the steps on your boat. 

Shortcut #5 – Check Your Temperature

Many problems with epoxy are due to having an incorrect temperature in your workspace. You’ll want your workshop to maintain a constant temperature between 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) and 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). This way, most epoxy products will work as they should. 

If need be, plan the phases of your boatbuilding project so your use of epoxy will fall during seasons that have temperature ranges compatible with the product you’re using. 

By implementing these 5 shortcuts, you’ll find you can shave a bit of time off of the total project. That means you can set sail sooner with full confidence that you’ve built a top-quality vessel.

By Morten Olesen © 2012, All Rights Reserved.

Part of the anticipation (and anxiety) of boatbuilding is not being able to see the finished product. Sure, design plans give you the dimensions and other specifications of the craft you’re constructing, but they don’t offer that all-important 3-dimensional view. 

Given a choice, what most boat builders (especially novices) prefer is the chance to actually see the finished boat before they begin the construction process. But how often does that happen? More often than you think!

When you work with 3D boat plans, you have several advantages that help you speed up the building process and more. That’s because you get something extra in addition to traditional, paper boat plans. 

See the Fully Completed Boat – Inside and Out

Three-dimensional boat plans come with paper plans or digital plans you can print yourself, plus a 3D computer model. This allows you to quickly glance over your entire virtual vessel, inside and out, before you ever make the first cut. This gives you an exact replica to follow, which can help walk you step-by-step through the entire process.

Every detail is viewable including seams, fillets, joints and more. Decks, superstructures, masts, keels and rudders are available, too. It’s the next best thing to inspecting a physical boat.

Fully Functional 3D Plans Give More Options

But looking isn’t all you can do. With 3D boat plans, you can also zoom in for closer inspection, pan cross sections to gain a clearer understanding and measure any part of the boat in both U.S. and metric units. 

Want to crawl underneath? You can, because 3D boat plans let you rotate your vessel in every direction, so nothing is out of your reach.

Complete Your Project Faster and with Greater Confidence

Once you’ve gained access to your virtual finished boat, you’ll find the building process is greatly sped up. The visual aids you get from the 3D boat plans act as a roadmap that allows you greater freedom than when building from paper boat plans alone. 

And, because you can actually see the boat as you build, you’ll have greater confidence that you’re on the right track. 

TIP: Be sure to buy 3D boat plans that are compatible with both PC and Mac operating systems. Many will not function in a Mac environment. 

Do Over!

Boat plans that come with 3D capabilities also give you a chance to see your possible mistakes before you make them. It’s like getting a second chance or a “do over” without having the delays, frustration or added cost associated with trial-by-fire boatbuilding. 

If you’d rather have a step up from ordinary boat plans, look for 3D boat plans for your next project. The added flexibility and assurance they offer will speed up your completion time, reduce expenses and help you build a better-quality boat.

By Morten Olesen © 2012, All Rights Reserved.

Building your own boat could be the culmination of a lifelong dream, or an impulsive project if you’re the avid woodworker. In either case, the amount of learning that goes into following a boat design and crafting the panels can look daunting. 

Lofting, in particular, is a drafting technique that takes a keen eye for shape, a good head for mathematics, and confidence in your woodworking talent. Don’t fret… becoming a lofter is easier than you think once you master the 3 most common elements. Plus, learning this new skill will open up a world of design options for your building projects. 

Getting Started

Assembling your lofting tools in advance will help you go through the steps with more ease. Most of the materials are common household tools, like a pencil (ink from a pen may soak into the wood grain), measuring tape and carpenter squares. You’ll also want to buy some lumber filler to construct your curves and arcs.

Reading the Boat Plans

Each of your boat plans is based on a set of drawing files. You’ll see top-down and profile perspectives, dimension of the elements like offsets, diagonals and buttock lines; assembly details and more. If you purchased 3D boat plans, you’ll also have the added advantage of being able to slice, dice and rotate the plans via computer to see every possible angle. 

Curve Lofting

Curves in panels can be challenging if you’re a new lofter, but like all elements of the boat plans, are based in scale numbers. Take a close look at the panel plates; on some boat plans the dimensions are depicted in both U.S. standard and metric units. Be careful not to mix the dimensions as you make your cuts!

Curve panel lofting begins with a grid, drawn with vertical lines using a carpenter’s square. Once you’ve finished marking your grid on the plywood, it will resemble a football field. Set out the dimensions of the panels, marking with a pencil along the long edge of the plywood. 

With that done, make the curvature of the panel. One of the most recommended ways is to hammer in small nails at the cross-points, then fit the lumber fillets to the nails. Hold the fillet in place with some extra nails or weights. Repeat the procedure on the other side of the panel, then use your circular or saber saw to cut the curve out of the panel.

Symmetrical Lofting

You may find lofting symmetrical elements, such as the nesting, easier than the curved panels. A file based on symmetrical pieces will show each piece as part of the overall boat plans. Some symmetrical elements have dimensions set from the centerline, which makes the centerline part of the symmetry line. 

A carpenter’s square will be your tool to set the centerline on the plywood. You’ll mark the dimensions on the wood from the horizontal distances. Afterward, you can draw the out-line of the element by connecting the points you marked with straight lines. Finally, you’ll draw the inside of the element, starting with the vertical sideline

Perpendicular Lofting

Your boat plans will include perpendicular elements that are relatively easy to configure. Create a straight line (12 inches long, for example). Then, with your measuring tape, make a mark approximately perpendicular to your line, in this case about 16 inches from the first line. 

From the other end of your first line, mark 20 inches in the direction of the mark you made from the first end of the first line. Mark the distance where it crosses the first mark, and you will have a triangular-looking figure. Where the points cross, the lines are perpendicular.

While you hear a lot of talk about the challenges lofting presents, once you’ve learned the right way to do it, you’ll more quickly and confidently.

By Morten Olesen © 2012, All Rights Reserved.

When you begin building your own boat, the questions seem to come at every turn. If this is your first attempt at boatbuilding, you probably have a longer list than most. It’s always helpful to have the ear of a professional to guide your steps and keep you on track. 

Take a minute to look through this Q&A session with Master Boat Builder Morten Olesen. It’s sure to shed a little light on some of those questionable areas. 

“How do I stitch and glue plywood?”

Morten: The stitch-and-glue building method is quite popular with hobbyists and amateurs. The reason is that the method is easy to use and it makes the construction process fast. 

When you build a plywood boat, the hull side and bottom meet at the chine. At this chine seam small holes are drilled and the side and bottom are stitched together with either metal wire or cable ties. 

After the stitching, the chine seam is glued with epoxy thickened with wood floor or another suitable filler. After the gluing, it’s normal to apply some fiberglass tape over the seam to reinforce the joint between the side and bottom. 

“What is strip plank?”

Morten: Strip plank is a building method normally used for canoes and kayaks. When building with strip planks you glue together long slender wooden strips over a skeletal frame or template that has the desired hull shape. 

Once all the strips are assembled the hull is faired and covered outside and inside with fiberglass fabric and epoxy resin. 

“What kind of plywood do I need to build my boat from?”

There are 3 kinds of plywood: interior, exterior and marine. There are also many grades of plywood which can be found at your local lumberyard. I normally recommend – as a minimum – using exterior plywood. However marine plywood is normally much nicer and is preferred when you want to construct a boat that will be varnished. 

Never use interior plywood on a boat. The difference between exterior and marine plywood is the quality and soundness. Both are made using waterproof glues. The primary concern is the inclusion of interior and surface voids. These can make your plywood more fragile and prone to breakage. 

In the bow, the bottom and any places where the stitch-and-glue method (described above) is used, you’ll want to work with marine plywood. Most other areas of the boat could be built from exterior-grades.

“Lumber is really expensive. What type do you recommend for the frame of my boat?”

One good choice is fir. You’ll want it dense enough to hold a screw tight. Look for fir that has a clear grain and as few splints or knotholes as possible. If fir is too expensive for your budget, look to treated pine.

The same lumber used for decking material would be suitable for framing a boat. Just as with the fir, look for pieces with as few knotholes as possible. Pine isn’t pretty, but if it’s for the frame (which won’t be seen) or is going to be painted, appearance won’t matter nearly as much as structural integrity.

Have more questions? Click over to https://BoatPlans.dk and ask!

By Morten Olesen © 2012, All Rights Reserved.

As a Master Boat Builder who has practiced this trade for decades, I can tell you there are certain questions that get asked frequently, especially by novices. I’ve compiled 4 questions below; the answers to which offer vital information every boat builder needs to know.

1. What are the 3 most common boatbuilding mistakes newbies make?

The first is lofting errors. A mistake occurs when you set out the wrong dimensions or misread them. Just like with any construction project, you must constantly double-check yourself. It’s far too easy to get off track right from the start if you don’t pay careful attention when lofting.

The second mistake is cutting errors. After adjusting the lines you’ve drawn, you sometimes end up having more than one. Only one is the right line to cut, however, so if you choose the wrong line, you could easily make a mistake that would cause you to start over again. Always make sure you mark the right line clearly so you won’t use the wrong one. Draw an arrow to the correct line, mark it with a star or with something else that lets you know which is the line you should cut.

The third mistake comes with assembly errors. Sometimes, especially with first projects, you get the frames mixed up or the side and bottom panels turned upside down. Check everything twice and also step back to visually examine your work. 

2. What if my new stitch-and-glue boat leaks?

That’s not likely to happen since all seams are glued with fiberglass tape. The tape will act like the hull of a normal fiberglass boat and prevent water from leaking through. But if for some reason your new boat does leak, pull it out of the water and locate the leak. Dry everything off very well then add an extra layer of fiberglass tape over the leak. It should be as good as new!

3. Should I paint or varnish my new boat?

Let’s face it: For beginners the best thing to do is paint your new boat. This is simply because painting is a much more foolproof method of sealing the wood. In addition, you will be able to hide small mistakes that occurred during the building process by simply filling them in and sanding them smooth before you paint. 

However, if you have some woodworking skills and can’t imagine your new boat without stain/varnish, don’t hold yourself back. Go for it!

4. What’s the most important tool I need to build my boat?

A good handsaw is the number one tool that makes boatbuilding much easier. When used correctly you can do a lot of accurate and beautiful work with it. I have experienced a lot of time as a boat builder where my favorite handsaw was practically the only tool in my toolbox. 

I strongly recommend a handsaw that is between 20” (500 mm) and 22” (560 mm) long and has 6-8 points per inch. 

Now that you have a bit more knowledge under your belt, go build yourself a fabulous boat!