Getting Started
I have started a new project for the winter. I am building a 19 foot Offshore Power Dory Boat. I am 65 years old and have spent my life building things for everyone else. I have always wanted to build a boat, so with my wife's blessing that is just what I am doing this winter.
I have spent hundreds of hours studying boat plans, reading about building boats on boat building forums and researching about every thing I would need to know to build a boat. I picked a plan. A 19ft Offshore Power Dory from Spira International Inc.
The design is simple, 2×4 lumber for the frame. Marine plywood for the skin, epoxy and fiberglass to keep it dry. Sounds simple right.
I chose to use Douglas Fir for the frames, and I plan to use Douglas Fir Marine Plywood for the hull and the cabin skin. I have got started and I will update the blog as I go. I have about 40 hours in the build so far.
Here is what I plan to build, This is the hull plan.
I hope this is the way it will look when I finish.
To build the boat you need something to build it on, something to keep everything straight. They call it a strong back, here is mine.
It is made from 2×8 lumber, I added the casters so I could move it back and forth in my shop to make room to work on it. It's awful big for my space.
Then you have to build the transom and the frames. To do this you use a piece of plywood, a full sheet, and layout the frame dimensions. on the plywood.
Then you lay the lumber onto the layout on the plywood, mark your cuts, then assemble the frames on the layout.
You also need to layout and cut the opening for the "keelson" while the frame is on the layout.
Then you need to drill out the corners, drilling reduces the chances of the lumber splitting as well has supplying Limber holes for the bilge water to pass from frame to frame.
Once the limber holes are cut you need to cut out the notch.
Then as you build the frames you lay them out on the strong back.
Until all of the frames are built and all of the joints are screwed with Stainless Steel #10×3 " deck screws and glued with epoxy glue.
Next you need to install the keelson, this is the structural piece that holds all of the frames together.
Here is the slots that the keelson will be installed.
For the keelson I had to use a piece of southern yellow pine, I could not find any Douglas Fir that size, needed 2×8 x 20 ft.
The keelson is now installed and glued with epoxy and screwed with Stainless Steel #10×3 " deck screws.
As I progress I will add new blog entries with lots of pictures. I have about 40 hours so far in the build. And I have enjoyed all of it.
Thanks for looking!!
I have started a new project for the winter. I am building a 19 foot Offshore Power Dory Boat. I am 65 years old and have spent my life building things for everyone else. I have always wanted to build a boat, so with my wife's blessing that is just what I am doing this winter.
I have spent hundreds of hours studying boat plans, reading about building boats on boat building forums and researching about every thing I would need to know to build a boat. I picked a plan. A 19ft Offshore Power Dory from Spira International Inc.
The design is simple, 2×4 lumber for the frame. Marine plywood for the skin, epoxy and fiberglass to keep it dry. Sounds simple right.
I chose to use Douglas Fir for the frames, and I plan to use Douglas Fir Marine Plywood for the hull and the cabin skin. I have got started and I will update the blog as I go. I have about 40 hours in the build so far.
Here is what I plan to build, This is the hull plan.
I hope this is the way it will look when I finish.
To build the boat you need something to build it on, something to keep everything straight. They call it a strong back, here is mine.
It is made from 2×8 lumber, I added the casters so I could move it back and forth in my shop to make room to work on it. It's awful big for my space.
Then you have to build the transom and the frames. To do this you use a piece of plywood, a full sheet, and layout the frame dimensions. on the plywood.
Then you lay the lumber onto the layout on the plywood, mark your cuts, then assemble the frames on the layout.
You also need to layout and cut the opening for the "keelson" while the frame is on the layout.
Then you need to drill out the corners, drilling reduces the chances of the lumber splitting as well has supplying Limber holes for the bilge water to pass from frame to frame.
Once the limber holes are cut you need to cut out the notch.
Then as you build the frames you lay them out on the strong back.
Until all of the frames are built and all of the joints are screwed with Stainless Steel #10×3 " deck screws and glued with epoxy glue.
Next you need to install the keelson, this is the structural piece that holds all of the frames together.
Here is the slots that the keelson will be installed.
For the keelson I had to use a piece of southern yellow pine, I could not find any Douglas Fir that size, needed 2×8 x 20 ft.
The keelson is now installed and glued with epoxy and screwed with Stainless Steel #10×3 " deck screws.
As I progress I will add new blog entries with lots of pictures. I have about 40 hours so far in the build. And I have enjoyed all of it.
Thanks for looking!!