Stitch and Glue Plywood boats!
Discussion
My latest brilliant (stupid?) idea is to build a boat.
Looking at a stitch and glue construction plywood motor boat - probably ~16ft with a small outboard.
e.g.
http://www.tangoskiff.com/
http://www.bateau.com/proddetail.php?prod=GV15#.Uj...
http://www.cmdboats.com/shoestring.htm?cart_id=cac...
Will be used by 2 adults and 2 small kids for pottering about local rivers and bays. May venture outside of the bay on the odd calm day.
Daft idea? Has anyone done anything similar?
No experience of boats (aside from kayaks if they count) and crap wood working skills.
Sensible safety precautions will be made etc if I decide to take this further. It probably won't come to anything but I'm intrigued as to how easy it is? How much will it cost me?
Looking at a stitch and glue construction plywood motor boat - probably ~16ft with a small outboard.
e.g.
http://www.tangoskiff.com/
http://www.bateau.com/proddetail.php?prod=GV15#.Uj...
http://www.cmdboats.com/shoestring.htm?cart_id=cac...
Will be used by 2 adults and 2 small kids for pottering about local rivers and bays. May venture outside of the bay on the odd calm day.
Daft idea? Has anyone done anything similar?
No experience of boats (aside from kayaks if they count) and crap wood working skills.
Sensible safety precautions will be made etc if I decide to take this further. It probably won't come to anything but I'm intrigued as to how easy it is? How much will it cost me?
I was one of a team of 3 who built one of my sailing dinghies. This is all plywood and epoxy construction. With modern epoxies, the finished result is immensely strong. Invariably, the timber will break before the joint. Not sure how crap your crap woodworking skills are, but if the finished result is to be painted you can get away with quite a lot- if joints are not quite perfect, you can simply fill and fair them with the whole thing being hidden by the paint. With my boat, the decks and interior are all varnished, so we spent a lot of time making all the joints as perfect as possible. My boat was built into a female jig to ensure that it came out the right shape- just starting on the shed floor and gluing bits together, you will probably end up with something very wonkly, so you would need to build a jig or mould of some sort first- Total cost to build a 3.8m dinghy in timber and epoxy etc was about £1000 for materials 11 years ago. Total build cost on the water was about £3000 with fittings, rig etc. The jig was an additional cost, but we had 3 boats out of it. At the time a "shop bought" version of the same boat would have been pushing £7000 so a good saving was made.
'stitch and glue' was designed to be a method for none professionals to be able to build boats - Arguably the best known stitch and glue design is the Mirror Dinghy - a joint design between Jack Holt and barry bucknall at the Behest of the Daily Mirror newspaper ... Although the first 'stitch and glue' craft were Canoes designed by Ken Littledyke
the Mirror kits were supplied pre-cut
the 'stitches' were wire which were then removed ( at least in part) once the 'gluing' ( in it;s original form polyester resin and woven glass fibre tape) was complete ...
the Miracle dignhy used a slot and tab development of stitch and glue
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stitch_and_glue
the Mirror kits were supplied pre-cut
the 'stitches' were wire which were then removed ( at least in part) once the 'gluing' ( in it;s original form polyester resin and woven glass fibre tape) was complete ...
the Miracle dignhy used a slot and tab development of stitch and glue
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stitch_and_glue
jon h said:
I was one of a team of 3 who built one of my sailing dinghies. This is all plywood and epoxy construction. With modern epoxies, the finished result is immensely strong. Invariably, the timber will break before the joint. Not sure how crap your crap woodworking skills are, but if the finished result is to be painted you can get away with quite a lot- if joints are not quite perfect, you can simply fill and fair them with the whole thing being hidden by the paint. With my boat, the decks and interior are all varnished, so we spent a lot of time making all the joints as perfect as possible. My boat was built into a female jig to ensure that it came out the right shape- just starting on the shed floor and gluing bits together, you will probably end up with something very wonkly, so you would need to build a jig or mould of some sort first- Total cost to build a 3.8m dinghy in timber and epoxy etc was about £1000 for materials 11 years ago. Total build cost on the water was about £3000 with fittings, rig etc. The jig was an additional cost, but we had 3 boats out of it. At the time a "shop bought" version of the same boat would have been pushing £7000 so a good saving was made.
Sounds interesting - any pics?Results will be painted rather than woodworked perfection. Years back, I did a fair amount of work on cars and engines etc so hopefully what I lack in my wood working skills I'll make up for in aptitude!
Balls. Have just measured my space in the garage where it will be built and my space where it will ultimately be stored and I have problems.
A 15ft won't fit in either - a 12ft will but its not big enough for the four of us. Balls.
Perhaps I should just build the 12ft as a project and then buy the actual boat I want later if I enjoy it. Balls. Or just buy the actual boat and sod the build. Balls again.
A 15ft won't fit in either - a 12ft will but its not big enough for the four of us. Balls.
Perhaps I should just build the 12ft as a project and then buy the actual boat I want later if I enjoy it. Balls. Or just buy the actual boat and sod the build. Balls again.
My father and brother has sold just on 400 of these types of boats albeit all sailing versions. To this date he's sold the most sailing stitch and glue complete kits globally. He's not had one structural failing in over 20 years BUT the boats need more care and attention than fiberglass or 'tinnie' versions.
I've seen a lot of neglected boats because Dad usually buys them back and restores them. Invariably it's the exposed varnished timbers that rot first not the epoxyed ply.
I've seen a lot of neglected boats because Dad usually buys them back and restores them. Invariably it's the exposed varnished timbers that rot first not the epoxyed ply.
breamster said:
Balls. Have just measured my space in the garage where it will be built and my space where it will ultimately be stored and I have problems.
A 15ft won't fit in either - a 12ft will but its not big enough for the four of us. Balls.
Perhaps I should just build the 12ft as a project and then buy the actual boat I want later if I enjoy it. Balls. Or just buy the actual boat and sod the build. Balls again.
Can you extend your garage?A 15ft won't fit in either - a 12ft will but its not big enough for the four of us. Balls.
Perhaps I should just build the 12ft as a project and then buy the actual boat I want later if I enjoy it. Balls. Or just buy the actual boat and sod the build. Balls again.
Or can you design a boat that stores as front and back halves and you bolt them together for use? That could be a winner...
...OK.
I have a plan (ish).
I'm looking to build the Mushulu 12 safe in the knowledge that if I a) finish it and b)actually enjoy boats I will end up buying something bigger better and more wallet emptying at a later date.
What do you lot think?
http://www.bowdidgemarinedesigns.com/Bowdidge_Mari...
I have a plan (ish).
I'm looking to build the Mushulu 12 safe in the knowledge that if I a) finish it and b)actually enjoy boats I will end up buying something bigger better and more wallet emptying at a later date.
What do you lot think?
http://www.bowdidgemarinedesigns.com/Bowdidge_Mari...
breamster said:
I'm looking to build the Mushulu
Optimistic for a first project I'd say... http://www.panoramio.com/photo/37449525Simpo Two said:
Optimistic for a first project I'd say... http://www.panoramio.com/photo/37449525
If I clear the kids bikes into the shed first I think it'll fit!
Gottit - I knew I'd heard it before. It's not a Japanese destroyer in a war film, it's the clipper in the book by Eric Newby: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Grain_Race
maser_spyder said:
When you going to start?
I'm waiting on plans and timber for mine, all systems go in a couple of weeks....
Ooh... What are you building? Are you going to do a build thread? I for one would be interested.I'm waiting on plans and timber for mine, all systems go in a couple of weeks....
Have you found a good supplier of the plywood?
Progress will be slow. I don't have much free time at all (kids!!!). Ordering the plans next week.
Have cleared a boat shaped space in the garage. That has taken two weeks and two trips to the tip itself. Have already pilfered a few tools etc.
Just building a kids wagon which I need to finish first.
breamster said:
Ooh... What are you building? Are you going to do a build thread? I for one would be interested.
Have you found a good supplier of the plywood?
Progress will be slow. I don't have much free time at all (kids!!!). Ordering the plans next week.
Have cleared a boat shaped space in the garage. That has taken two weeks and two trips to the tip itself. Have already pilfered a few tools etc.
Just building a kids wagon which I need to finish first.
My plans just arrived an hour ago! I've found them to be, well, rudimentary. I was expecting patterns for frames, but I've just got outlines for the outer, nothing inner, nothing for the deck beams, nothing for the transom, it's all made up as you go along. Not sure I'm up to that....Have you found a good supplier of the plywood?
Progress will be slow. I don't have much free time at all (kids!!!). Ordering the plans next week.
Have cleared a boat shaped space in the garage. That has taken two weeks and two trips to the tip itself. Have already pilfered a few tools etc.
Just building a kids wagon which I need to finish first.
I think I'll buy some timber for the frames (it's fairly cheap) and see how it goes. I'm expecting a LOT of head scratching on this one.
Ply, I found a supplier on eBay that does marine ply (linky below), looked fairly cheap and easy. I also sent emails to four marine timber suppliers, and only one of them bothered to get back to me. Business must be good. So, it looks like Sykes Timber (http://www.sykestimber.co.uk) will be getting my business. A chap called Ben got back to me within a couple of hours with some queries on the list I sent, talked me through the problems they might have on the 'phone (long lengths of DF are difficult, so better to have mahogany instead, etc.), and was generally superb in every way.
My ebay find - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321110922759
My thread here;
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Post your pics, and good luck!
maser_spyder said:
My plans just arrived an hour ago! I've found them to be, well, rudimentary. I was expecting patterns for frames, but I've just got outlines for the outer, nothing inner, nothing for the deck beams, nothing for the transom, it's all made up as you go along. Not sure I'm up to that....
I think I'll buy some timber for the frames (it's fairly cheap) and see how it goes. I'm expecting a LOT of head scratching on this one.
Ply, I found a supplier on eBay that does marine ply (linky below), looked fairly cheap and easy. I also sent emails to four marine timber suppliers, and only one of them bothered to get back to me. Business must be good. So, it looks like Sykes Timber (http://www.sykestimber.co.uk) will be getting my business. A chap called Ben got back to me within a couple of hours with some queries on the list I sent, talked me through the problems they might have on the 'phone (long lengths of DF are difficult, so better to have mahogany instead, etc.), and was generally superb in every way.
My ebay find - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321110922759
My thread here;
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Post your pics, and good luck!
How did I miss that thread? Good luck with your build too. Thread subscribed! Looks a cracking challenge and makes my intended build look simple to say the least! I think I'll buy some timber for the frames (it's fairly cheap) and see how it goes. I'm expecting a LOT of head scratching on this one.
Ply, I found a supplier on eBay that does marine ply (linky below), looked fairly cheap and easy. I also sent emails to four marine timber suppliers, and only one of them bothered to get back to me. Business must be good. So, it looks like Sykes Timber (http://www.sykestimber.co.uk) will be getting my business. A chap called Ben got back to me within a couple of hours with some queries on the list I sent, talked me through the problems they might have on the 'phone (long lengths of DF are difficult, so better to have mahogany instead, etc.), and was generally superb in every way.
My ebay find - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321110922759
My thread here;
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Post your pics, and good luck!
breamster said:
How did I miss that thread? Good luck with your build too. Thread subscribed! Looks a cracking challenge and makes my intended build look simple to say the least!
I'm a total idiot. So far out of my depth.But I really wanted something to be incredibly proud of, even if it kills me doing it.
So, at this stage, it looks like I'll be leaving a half-finished, badly built wooden boat to my next of kin.....
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