Boat Forum / Building / January 2004

I'm considering buying a 19' 50's era custom-built wood runabout. I'm
also considering putting fiberglass onto the hull to get it into the
water sooner and to keep the maintenance down.
Any suggestions? The boat has been out of the water for a few years, so

Hi  I am in the process of replacing the teak ply in my sailboat
interior and was wondering if anyone has used any other type of floor
such as engineered or solid wood? What would the downside be to using
this type of material.

I know this has been asked many times.
I would like to build a 1 man 18ft tri out of ply or strip planking.
Is strip planking as strong as ply? Does it cost more (i can easily
get prices for marine ply) and does the strip planking need a coat of

Anyone build one? How does she sail? How was the build process. I've
looked for a scan on the web, but all I can find are these pages for
sale on eBay...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2452927191

You were all such great help when I built my kayak and canoe, I thought
someone might be able to help me on this.  I bought a small 16 foot boat
last month with a 60 4 stroke Yamaha and wanted to install a 12 volt
trolling motor for fishing.  My question is, should I install a ...

Remember me?  I was the potential apprentice in the Tampa Bay area looking
for someone who would take me on and teach me boat building *without* going
the quick way and just working from a synthetic boat hull casting.
Well, I'm building my first trimaran.  (Decided I'd rather build ...

If so, where can they be accessed, please ?
Thank you.

Ok.  I live in a small coastal town in New England where the Dory was
invented (at least that is what I have read).  Ever since we moved here, I
have wanted a boat.  But we really can't afford one.  It is very low on the
financial needs list.  But I have two kids (5 and 7 yr old) ...

Are there any plans for a child's catamaran.  I am thinking of
something simular to the "toy" catamarans the resort beaches have.
Something that could seat 1 adult and 1 child, or 2 kids.  A am
guessing it was 6 to 8 feet long???  Had a fairly small sail so it

Any thoughts on cold molding a canoe?  I am considering taking a strip canoe
plan, and cold molding from 2 layers of 1/8 cedar veneers.  The veneers
would run diagonally from the keel to the gunwale.  These would then be
enclosed in fibreglass cloth and resin, just as would be a ...

I am renovating a 28 foot wooden double ended sailing boat.
The chain plates are screwed to the outside of the hull (stripped planked).
I would like to fasten the plates with bolts though the hull but this would
mean removing tidy looking ceiling and that in turn mean removing the

  Just removed the old engine in Far Cove and started rebuilding the stringers.
There's much more fibreglass than I expected: about 1/4" all round the wood. And
from what I've seen, the wood in in pretty good shape: just some localized rot
around where the lag bolts went it.

I have a 1957 Chriscraft that the bottom has been inspected and
appropriate rot has been taken care of...I was wondering what would be
the most appropriate approach to waterproofing this boat - which BTW
will be drydocked for half the year in an enclosed area.

I am looking for a source or mfg. of this item in bronze. Can anyone
direct me?

  I'm doing some repairs to my Catalina 36, which is made from polyester
resin/glass over wood (like most "fibreglass" boats). Should I stick with poly
resin, or go with epoxy? I know epoxy is "better", but I'm concerned that it
wouldn't stick well to the existing poly, and that ...