wood boat building help?

Question

I plan to make a wood boat in wood shop. the problem is i need the boat to be movable without a trailer, something that will fit in a truck bed about 6 feet long a typical chevy 1500. i plan to do a gator boat from the website gatorboats but its a one person boat canoe style and its about 11 feet long. theres a bigger version called the croc that is a 2 person boat the same as the gator just longer about 11 feet 9 inches longer. well what i would like is advise for building these boats shuldn't be too hard for me the only thing that worys me is TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, and most importantly COST.
mainly on the fabrication proccess on how much fiberglass cloth cost and also the epoxy to put it on. How long will these boats last me?
remember the key points is i only have a truck to transport it with and also the cost to build one. the website estimates around $100
also other boat plans that fits 2 people or 1 that is cheap and small. If i can get a 2 seater it be nice to take my dad out or brother

Answer 1

I admit, I don't know a "croc" boat from an alligator. . . But I do know a thing or two about building boats. I've done that for more then 40 years.



I don't know how old, or when the website you are referring to, was updated last. But with today's prices for fiberglass & epoxy (the two main ingredients you will need other then wood) it would be impossible for you to build a boat large enough for even a kid to float in, for only $100. So, forget the $100 part - you can simply put that in the round file (trash can).



However... you can build a really nice boat you (and your Dad) can be proud of, for about $800. (Maybe more, maybe less, it depends on how well you shop around, and how much "stuff" you need that you already have.



I am including two links for you. One is to my favorite site for boat building plans. This site has all kinds of boats that you can build, and many of them are down right inexpensive; but they are all quality. You (even if you don't buy a single thing from them, will learn an awful lot about what building a boat of any size will amount to. If you browse through their website, you will learn everything it takes to build a boat.



The second site is one of my favorite sources (suppliers) for both epoxy & fiberglass. I don't think you will find these products cheaper anywhere else. Regardless of the boat you decide to build, to make it last your lifetime, and your kids lifetime, you will need to laminate it with "boat epoxy" and (while optional) fiberglass your boat's exterior hull. This site has "7 and 1/2 oz E glass" which is the easiest one layer boat fiberglass cloth you can apply. (and it is really easy to do, so don't let the "fiberglass" part scare you away. You can buy this in two widths, for under $6.00 a yard, so you will probably only need 4 yards or $24 worth.



Epoxy however is a bit more expensive. You will need about two gallons (about $130.00) One "thin epoxy" with a medium hardener for laminating your boat inside and out - this is simply "painting" (with a brush and/ or roller) ALL your lumber - after it is cut - that is used in building your boat. This protects your wood against rot, worms, etc. You will then need it again, after you have completed your boat, to "wet out" and apply your fiberglass cloth. The "thick epoxy" is for all your "gluing" and joints - but you will get all those instructions with your boat building plans. So, don't worry about that now.



So... there you have it. You have $154 in epoxy & fiberglass, and you haven't even bought your wood or your paint yet... If you find a boat you like at the site below, you can look up it's BOM (bill of materials) and it will tell you EXACTLY what lumber, amount of epoxy, fiberglass, etc. you will need. So, you can use that, you go price out your lumber. Other then that, if you have access to a power saw, and a good drill/screw gun, then all you will need is some throw away paint brushes & rollers.



Building your own boat can be fun, and it is certainly a great learning experience. It is also much-much easier to do then most everyone thinks. So, check out the links, and good luck.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I just came across a site with over 16,000 downloadable woodworking plans at:

http://tinyurl.com/WoodWorkingTedPlans



Here is an honest review



If you want to start a woodworking project, you need all the necessary information, including schematics, blueprints, materials lists, dimensions etc. That is where TedsWoodworking comes in. The plans are clearly drawn and there're step-by-step explainations of how the plan should be done and put together.



There are several other sites whose collection of plans have the dimensions totally wrong without any indication of parts lists, material lists or the tools needed. If you're one of those people who have bought plans like this in the past, TedsWoodworking will change your perception.



In Ted's Woodworking you will get everything you need:

-Diagrams which are detailed with a full set of dimensions

-Step -by-step instructions how to start your project

-The necessary materials for that particular project

-All the woodworking tools you will need



If you are a beginner or have done some woodworking you will find these plans easy-to-follow as the instructions are very clearly written. The woodworking plans are straightforward so they are not complicated at all. Even if you are a total newcomer to woodworking you will simply be able to master all the techniques that are needed and the woodworking skills very quickly by following the concise and clear instructions.



Another thing which is so great about these woodworking plans is that there have been some videos included and there are some to guide you in how to build benches home furniture dog houses bird feeders sheds and much much more.



There is also a lifetime member acess included in the package and you get these extras for no cost to you as they are free with no additional charges at all! This alone is worth the entire price for TedsWoodworking.



Ted Mcgrath is a very dedicated and experienced woodworker who knows what he is talking about when it comes to woodworking and DIY projects s he has been a woodworker for many many years.



Cons

There is only one drawback that we could find and that being with 16,000 woodworking plans you are bound to get some which look a little disorganized but that is understandable as it is very difficult to place all these plans into their proper categories. Secondly, it might take you a little longer to do the downloads on because of the size of them. But the members area include an option to upgrade to the DVD so you can save time on downloading.



Bottom line:

Truth is, I've been a carpenter for almost 36 years, and I haven't found anything like this for less than 10's of thousands of dollars.Here's the bottom line: If you are planning to start on your woodworking project, this isn't something you SHOULD use, it's something that you would be insane not to.



Check the site: http://tinyurl.com/WoodWorkingTedPlans

Answer 4

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Answer 5

All boat plans are not created equal. Sure, there are a lot of boat plans floating around out there on the Internet, but not all of them will be worth your while to use. You see, in order for a boat plan to be able help you make the right boat for you, it must fit certain criteria. This is especially important if you are a beginner! Even if you are full of passion and enthusiasm for trying your hand at building your own boat, complicated instructions can thwart you.





A very good online site you should visit is http://boatplans.toptips.org







It's a collection of 518 boat plans, 45 videos on boat building and hundreds of pages of illustrated guides on boat building. It provides a comprehensive package that contains all the plans and directions that will help you build any type of boat you would like to build.

Have a nice day

Answer 6

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Answer 7

most of the answers to your questions will be found on the "gator" web site. they even have a builders forum where you can learn about building the gator designed boats and ask questions about building them.



http://www.gatorboats.com/



the designs look well suited for first time builders, and i suggest that you consider a two man (or larger design. as far as moving the boat with out a trailer, that's not a problem. you can buy or build a wheeled dolly or cart to move the boat around. to move our 14' wooden skiff, we use a dolly that clamps on the transom. here are examples of some.



http://www.garelick.com/product.php?pnumber=71050



http://www.discount-trailers.com/boat-dolly.htm



home made boat dolly



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0xsXvenB4k



as far as carrying the boat on a short bed pickup, my suggestion is to put a single roof rack on the top of the cab and use a trailer hitch boat mount on the hitch.



http://www.backcountryracks.com/thule-goal-post-hitch-boat-rack-997.html



here is info on building your boat from the web site



"How do I finish it?



We recommend an epoxy finish, just because it will double the life of the boat and make maintenance much easier. The interior can just be painted with a couple of coats. On the exterior, it's a good idea to use a 6 oz. 3-6" fiberglass cloth tape reinforcement on the seams, and a 4-6oz. cloth on the exterior bottom if you think you'll benefit from extra abrasion resistance. Epoxy always goes directly on bare wood as the first coat, it must saturate the wood to provide it's benefit. It will not only prevent any water from entering the wood, it will also sink into the fibers, bonding them together and making the wood into a single solid mass. A wooden boat properly finished with epoxy will have the same lifespan as a solid fiberglass model.



When you're ready to paint you must wash the cured epoxy to remove the waxy "blush", sand it with a 220 grit until there are no shiny areas then paint. The best finish is a polyurethane marine paint, it's a bit more expensive than standard exterior oil, but it's really worth it, it has more solids and will resist abrasion and hold it's shine longer. A standard exterior oil deck enamel has been a favorite for decades and is still a good lower priced option. Unlike latex paints, oils are usually priced by their % of solids, so when you buy a cheap oil paint, you're getting more solvents and less solids, so part with the greenbacks on this option and you'll have to do less refinishing and the boat will last longer.



If you don't use epoxy, be sure to thin down the first coat of oil paint to ensure a good saturation into the wood, then apply 2-3 more topcoats".



as far as cost, suggest that you add an extra $200 to their estimate. so if they estimate $100 for materials, then the real cost will be more like $300 to $350. depending on what wood you use and where you purchase your epoxy and fiberglass. if you take the time to seal all wood surfaces with epoxy, finish the boat with marine paint and keep it protected from the elements then your boat can last many years. we have a small plywood skiff that we built in 1994 that still looks great.



suggest that you take a look at clear penetrating epoxy sealer to seal all surfaces and edges of the wood that you use in you boat, then you can use laminating epoxy for the next coat and with the fiberglass cloth tape filler. here is more info on the cpes



http://www.rotdoctor.com/products/cpes.html



more info



http://www.rotdoctor.com/products/product.html



hope this helps

Answer 8

Gator Boat Plans

Answer 9

A boat trailer made of wood would be a maintenance nightmare. Treated lumber will eventually rot unless you coat it every year. The forces exerted on a boat trailer with a boat loaded onto it is much, much greater than the forces applied to a boat on the open water. Bouncing a boat trailer along the road will cause the joints to become loose.

Answer 10

Complete Boat Building Guide : http://BoatPlans.NaturallyGo.com/?RaI