Home made boats?

G

G.Moll

Joined
Mar 20, 2012
Messages
547
First off i want to say i have no idea where this thread should go. My buddy and I are always looking for something new to build, and we want to try and make some form of a boat. We thought a jon boat design would be easiest to do because it didnt require bending any wood. Do you guys have any good examples of home made jon boats or any other type of boat? If you have any plans or pictures of your boat youd like to post it would be much appreciated! And we would be paddling around in small lakes in our area and down a local river if that helps any!
 
If you do a google search you learn that not only can you download free plans, there are entire forums dedicated to this subject. Between the duck hunters building duck boat and the woodsmiths building yachts, you can find darn near anything you want.
 
For something like this, it may be easier to find something on Youtube. I am sure you will find at least a hundred videos of different builds there.
 
I've done a couple stripper canoes. The modern plywoods and epoxys are your friends.
 
eisman said:
I've done a couple stripper canoes. The modern plywoods and epoxys are your friends.
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Totally agree. No need for flat surfaces, which are innefficient in the water. Stitch & glue is quick & strong & light.
Take a look here http://www.duckworksbbs.com/

There are thousands of sites offerring free advice.

My advice: get some proper plans (which can often be had free or very cheaply.) A bad boat costs as much in materials as a good boat.
 
Cedar strip canoes are easier to build than you think, and much more usable in my opinion. If you've built a bird house, you're over qualified. I've built many and have taught many. One of the more popular books is by Ted Moores, but there are easier ways of building as has been stated above in the form of stich-n-glue.
 
Old Popular Mechanic's magazines usually had articles on homemade boats. I have also seen some articles/plans in Backwoodsman as well.
 
Thanks for the responses! I guess I didnt make my self too clear. I wanted to see some forum members' boats in addition if they have any. But thanks for the advice.
 
G.Moll said:
Thanks for the responses! I guess I didnt make my self too clear. I wanted to see some forum members' boats in addition if they have any. But thanks for the advice.
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Ok, I'll play!

pw6w.jpg


Maybe not the kind of boat You are planning to build, but this is what I have.
I built this rowing & sailing skiff in 1977.
The pic is from 1996, when the kids were small.
I still have the boat and it's in good condition, but my hair isn't....:D


Regards
Mikael
 
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Mikael W said:
Ok, I'll play!

Maybe not the kind of boat You are planning to build, but this is what I have.
I built this rowing & sailing skiff in 1977.
The pic is from 1996, when the kids were small.
I still have the boat and it's in good condition, but my hair isn't....:D

Regards
Mikael
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Very nice. You almost had ten Codger points for this post until you alluded to hair loss. Final score after deductions: 8.735. Still not bad.

Back in the nineteen-hundred and eighties, I read a book which inspired me, E. Tappen Adney's "Bark and Skin Boats Of North America. I duely gathered materials and lashed up a hickory withe and willow frame, covered it with stitched deer hides and coated it with tallow for water tightness. I had a pleasent few trips on a local river before the hides soaked through. It rests now somewhere on the bottom of the Great Gray-green Greasey Saline River in Arkansas, awaiting a future discovery by excited archeologists. Who will in short order be disappointed with their prematurely announced, ballyhoo'd in the press discovery when the sinew proves to be waxed dacron twine. My contribution to history.
 
Codger_64 said:
Very nice. You almost had ten Codger points for this post until you alluded to hair loss. Final score after deductions: 8.735. Still not bad.

Back in the nineteen-hundred and eighties, I read a book which inspired me, E. Tappen Adney's "Bark and Skin Boats Of North America. I duely gathered materials and lashed up a hickory withe and willow frame, covered it with stitched deer hides and coated it with tallow for water tightness. I had a pleasent few trips on a local river before the hides soaked through. It rests now somewhere on the bottom of the Great Gray-green Greasey Saline River in Arkansas, awaiting a future discovery by excited archeologists. Who will in short order be disappointed with their prematurely announced, ballyhoo'd in the press discovery when the sinew proves to be waxed dacron twine. My contribution to history.
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No, not bad at all nowadays, but sorry for my silly jokes.

Sounds like You had a lot of fun with that canoe project! :thumbup:


Regards
Mikael
 
Mikael W said:
No, not bad at all nowadays, but sorry for my silly jokes.

Sounds like You had a lot of fun with that canoe project! :thumbup:


Regards
Mikael
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Don't apoligize. My repost was likewise intended to be jocular.

I've always enjoyed what I call "experimental archeology". Results aren't always perfect but usually enough to satisfy my curiosity. I made pottery with the materails and style of local finds and stone dart points and scrapers, knives too. And made a variety of shelters though I never went to the trouble to duplicate one of "wattle & daub" like I found at an ancient camp along that river. What I mostly learned is that with inginuity and some knowledge, I could make practically anything I needed with the crudest fashioned tools. I do recommend that aforementioned book to anyone with interest.
 
Codger_64 said:
What I mostly learned is that with inginuity and some knowledge, I could make practically anything I needed with the crudest fashioned tools. I do recommend that aforementioned book to anyone with interest.
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Good advice!

I like making my own tools, if I can't find an already made one.
Often I manage with just a Multitool at hand.
Sometimes when fishing from old and worn-out boats, the Multitool has saved the day if something comes loose from a rotten piece of wood.


Regards
Mikael
 
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