Boat Building

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Anyone know anything about making a boat ?? Help

I'm just wondering. Someone I was talking to made me want to build one. Wont be for a while if I even think about it later on but if it came down to me getting a boat or not I rather build then buy. Very Happy

I know nothing about boating and I cant swim but I do know about building things.

I'd make it out of metal not fiberglass if that means anything. I know how to do things with metal and I dont got a clue about fiberglass Smile

Dimitri

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Lots of plans on the net for building a good plywood drift boat. Outdoor Life even runs an article every other year with instructions on building one. I would avoid building an aluminum one unless you have access to alot of quality aluminum and a TIG welder... even then welding that much wouldnt be fun.

Dont build a steel one :). Fiberglass isnt hard to work with but the amount you need to make a boat out of you need an industrial sprayer with the endless matting feed... far beyond the realm of a casual builder (and even most new boats are being build out of plastic).

-DallanC

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

DallanC,

My uncle used to build fiberglass boats as he owned a boat building company. So I've seen it done that why I scratched it out.

Wood is out because I'm so-so with wood working. But metal working and the like interests me and is fun. If I spent 1,000 hours welding it together it would be fun for me Smile

Put on some country music and as I'm welding the time will go by faster then sleeping Razz

TIG welding is fun. So is Oxy Actaline. I dont care much for MIG or Stick though. And I've been looking for a excuse to get myself a TIG welder. Cool

Can I ask you something ?? Why no steel ?? Confused

Dimitri

GroovyJack · Member Joined: May 21, 2005 Posts: 621 Location: Bama

We finished a 17 foot canoe about a year ago , spent about a year doing it in spare time .. Cedar stripping with fiberglass ..
Jack

popgun · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:39 pm Post subject: Re: Boat Building

Why no steel ??

Weight, how do you plan to trailer and launch. Better plan on aluminum.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Oh ok,

Well I'm going to be in a "design" stage for quite abit seeing as till I'm out of college I couldnt hope to make enough to make the boat Razz

Dimitri

popgun · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:35 pm Post subject: Re: Boat Building

Actually it's much easier to buy an aluminum boat and make the modifications you want. You could buy an older boat and restore it much cheaper than starting from scratch and make design changes during the restoration.

Another benefit is that you usually get a trailor that is made for the boat and that is a big part of the expense of having a boat. The boat has to be transportable to be usefull and for trips to the motor shop etc.

You will be a rich dude after you graduate from college anyhow and you will probably be driving a cigarette boat with jet engines and have a full time maintanence crew. Smile

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Quote::

You will be a rich dude after you graduate from college anyhow and you will probably be driving a cigarette boat with jet engines and have a full time maintanence crew.

After college I'm gonna be over 8,000$ in debt I dont think that makes me rich lol. Very Happy

Unless after college when I get into the Canadian Navy I somehow become a Captian from the start I'm gonna be the part of the Maintanence crew. Laughing

Dimitri

Vince · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Boat Building

Gidday Dimitri. I'm with Popgun on this one. Unless you have a lot of knowledge on hull shape and construction it is very easy to "build in" a problem.
Had a plywood boat some years ago that would just come up on the plane then do a nose dive. Turns out the hull was out of shape and unrepairable.

Its much easier to buy an older tinny (aluminium boat) then do it up to suit your needs, and getting a trailer with it is a major bonus. Its a damn lot of fun fixing it up as well. You can also get that TIG you want too. Will allow you to do real professional looking work. Next problem is a motor. Shed loads of outboards on eBay, and usually at the right price too.

Good luck with the project. Sounds like a lot of fun. Nothing better than do the work yourself....very satisfying. I tan hides and give them away to family/friends simply because I enjoy the effort and work that goes into it, and the end result.

Cheers, Vince

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Thanks for the reply Vince Very Happy

Dimitri