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Building a Traditional Wooden Boat #1: Introduction

Blog entry by MattD posted 175 days ago 904 reads 3 times favorited 6 comments Add to Favorites Watch
no previous part Part 1 of Building a Traditional Wooden Boat series Part 2: Lofting »

I’ve recently begun to move on with building a traditional wooden yacht tender. Boatbuilding has always been fascinating to me as a type of woodworking and I’d like a new boat for next year. This is mostly a learn as I go project. I’d like to connect with others that are interested with boatbuilding (and could maybe offer me some guidance too)

Selecting a boat

Before choosing a plan, my basic requirements were that it would be built traditional wooden lapstrake construction, a good rower, option to upgrade with a sail, stable for kids, able to mount a small outboard motor, light enough to transport on a car top (maybe), and small enough so I could build it in my shop instead of the cold garage.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of small boat plans available in books and online. Eventually, I decided on the Sunshine Yacht Tender from Duck Trap Woodworking. This seemed to fit all of my requirements and I could order a decent set of plans along with a book on how to build it. There’s a nice history to this boat going back to the early 1900s in Maine. Home builders and professionals still build and sell this model.

Sunshine Yacht Tender

Project Summary:

Expenses so far: $60 for (a very nice) set of plans and plan book
Several books borrowed from library

-- Matt - Syracuse, NY


6 comments so far

View patron's profile

patron

2379 posts in 235 days


posted 175 days ago

i built boats for 10 years in ft. lauderdale , to learn the craft .
it will definitly improve your wood working skills .
as a project , it is a real pleasure . just take your time and you will understand and accomplish allot .
dont try and rush it , as mistakes can be hard to fix .
looks like a nice choice !
enjoy .

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

View cylis007's profile

cylis007

55 posts in 363 days


posted 156 days ago

I am really looking forward to following your progress. Best of luck!

-- A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave. ~Benjamin Franklin

View Karson's profile

Karson

25800 posts in 1295 days


posted 156 days ago

Good luck. At the St. Michaels Maritime Museum in Maryland. the have a weekend group that makes a wooden boat. You pay for the privileged. You might check around and see if anyone has a class similar.

Here is my blog on the program

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View a1Jim's profile

a1Jim

16776 posts in 471 days


posted 156 days ago

Sound like fun bring it on.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

View Splinterman's profile

Splinterman

4826 posts in 255 days


posted 156 days ago

Now this is my territory…....keep me posted on this Matt….good choice of boat….looks like a small Wherry.

-- I will just keep doing it till I get it right.

View Napaman's profile

Napaman

3486 posts in 971 days


posted 125 days ago

sooooo glad i ran across your blog series…SOME day…i want to build a little sail boat I can run up and down the napa river…and when i read your intro and what you called your basic requirements I can almost check all those off as what I am looking for…

SUPER GOOD LUCK…now to catch up with your newer blogs!!!

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

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