My plywood boat is almost done - Will it float or sink ? Pics

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - My plywood boat is almost done - Will it float or sink ? Pics (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:26:39 PM EDT

I am just about done with my little plywood boat/skiff project. Just needs a seat and some paint now. It is about 7.5 feet long. Mainly building it for my 8 year old son but it technically should be able to hold my 175 lbs as well if my calculations are correct

I have had a bunch of fun building it, thats for sure. If anybody wants the plans they are at this link:

One Sheet Skiff

It calls for 1/4 inch plywood but that seemed flimsy so I used 11/32. MAde it more sturdy but added some weight. We'll see if it floats soon

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:28:04 PM EDT

[#1]

Uhhh...you better get some paint on it, or its gonna soak up water like a sponge

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:29:25 PM EDT

[#2]

That's damned cool.

Post some pics of it in the water.

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:30:22 PM EDT

[#3]

That's cool as shit. I had plans like that back in like 1979 but my Dad and I never got around to building it.

Good luck!

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:30:48 PM EDT

[#4]

Remember the Titanic?

Looks cool though. I hope it holds. Looks like it might.

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:31:25 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
Uhhh...you better get some paint on it, or its gonna soak up water like a sponge

I'd paint it with BIN.

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:31:54 PM EDT

[#6]

BOAT O' TRUTH!!!!

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:31:59 PM EDT

[#7]

You going with the 175 or 200 Mercury outboard?

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:32:20 PM EDT

[#8]

why does "a 3 hour tour" come to mind when i see this.

we WANT pics when she sails/sinks

actually that looks like a really good job. should be a blast to get in the water with.

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:34:01 PM EDT

[#9]

That's pretty cool. There's some kind of epoxy varnish I read about recently that seems like it would be the perfect finish for that.

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:35:01 PM EDT

[#10]

Where's the mount for the .50.........?

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:35:10 PM EDT

[#11]

Remember: two by two...

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:37:18 PM EDT

[#12]

What prey tell, will be her name ?

"Arfcom" ?

"AR-15.com" ?

"M4gry" ?

"Car15" ?

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:39:30 PM EDT

[#13]

I'd get some resin and glassing material and put 2 layers on it, just to seal out the water.. Then paint it with an epoxy-paint.
No more than 9hp on that dingy.
Pay up your life insurance and wear PFD's.

Looks quite heavy for its displacement, especially if two of you will be aboard.
Fun project though...

ETA - My cousin and I built a similar boat when we were in our teens... Ours was 16' long and had a more gentle taper to the bow... Got 2 years use out of it, and ended up using it as a mold when the wood started to go.... Wrapped it in saran wrap and put 5 layers of glass on, then flipped it, popped the wood out, painted the glass and had a fairly light skiff that FLEW with 15HP on it.

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:55:26 PM EDT

[#14]

It will be fine. When I was growing up in south Louisiana most of us had wooden boats and they worked great. I had a 14 foot wide bottom with a 60 Mercury that would scat. As mentioned above, paint it. I use lead based paint on my pirogues.

Posted: 9/21/2005 3:59:14 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
What prey tell, will be her name ?

"Arfcom" ?

"AR-15.com" ?

"M4gry" ?

"Car15" ?

Katrina

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:00:33 PM EDT

[#16]

West system epoxy is your friend. Live it. Use it profusely.

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:02:11 PM EDT

[#17]

I lost'em all in a Boating accident I tell ya.....gone all gone

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:04:10 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
I am just about done with my little plywood boat/skiff project. Just needs a seat and some paint now. It is about 7.5 feet long. Mainly building it for my 8 year old son but it technically should be able to hold my 175 lbs as well if my calculations are correct I have had a bunch of fun building it, thats for sure. If anybody wants the plans they are at this link:

One Sheet Skiff

It calls for 1/4 inch plywood but that seemed flimsy so I used 11/32. MAde it more sturdy but added some weight. We'll see if it floats soon

photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/Attachments/DownloadAttach.asp?iImageUnq=41739

photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/Attachments/DownloadAttach.asp?iImageUnq=41741

photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/Attachments/DownloadAttach.asp?iImageUnq=41740

Looks solid. Congrats.

Now paint it up all nice and purdy and give it an ARFcom related name

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:04:11 PM EDT

[#19]

I have been undecided over what to coat it with, I want to go as cheap as possible. I doubt I will mess with resin and glass and make it that much heavier. This thing will be manpowered, gotta build or buy some oars and some locks as well. Haven't decided on a name yet but I am open to suggestions. I could name it after my brother's flats boat "Chum Stain II"

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:04:16 PM EDT

[#20]

Looks seaworthy. Put a motor on that bad boy and take it out there in the middle of hurricane Rita and see how it holds up.

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:06:35 PM EDT

[#21]

It will work fine. I have built a couple of those when my sons were littler and they held my 200lb ass just fine. I also have a couple of duck skiffs that I built from 1/4" plywood using the stitch and glue method and they are holding up fine.

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:11:14 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
It will work fine. I have built a couple of those when my sons were littler and they held my 200lb ass just fine. I also have a couple of duck skiffs that I built from 1/4" plywood using the stitch and glue method and they are holding up fine.

All the seams and joints are fastened with screws and exterior Liquid Nails. It probably would float now with minimal or no leakage as is.

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:11:32 PM EDT

[#23]

Hope you can swim

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:19:10 PM EDT

[#24]

Lanceman, Might I suggest a big can of Kilz waterproofer to paint it with. The oil based dries grey, but can be painted over quite easily. Don't know how it'll qwork on a boat, but damn if my basement has been dry for over a year with it.

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:19:50 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
That's pretty cool. There's some kind of epoxy varnish I read about recently that seems like it would be the perfect finish for that.

Fiberglass and West Systems epoxy. That is what is used to coat the fancy wood kayaks you can make at home.

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:20:13 PM EDT

[#26]

And this, gentlemen, is why people lose guns in boating accidents.

Now that the cheap shot is out of the way, well done! The boat is looking good, and I'm sure it will be enjoyed greatly.

-Ben

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:20:19 PM EDT

[#27]

I paint the exteriors of mine with fiberglass resin, and I also glass all seams.

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:26:53 PM EDT

[#28]

Alright, so who in Ohio can help me with something like this. I really need a dinghy for my boat and the prices they want nowadays are insane. I can do the epoxy part and painting, I'm not good with wood though.

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:31:30 PM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:
Alright, so who in Ohio can help me with something like this. I really need a dinghy for my boat and the prices they want nowadays are insane. I can do the epoxy part and painting, I'm not good with wood though.

I've got well less than $100 in this so far (already had the tools). Very economical. If you went with the 1/4" plywood it would be fairly light as well.

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:36:44 PM EDT

[#30]

Looks like a coffin.

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:38:39 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
What prey tell, will be her name ?

"Arfcom" ?

"AR-15.com" ?

"M4gry" ?

"Car15" ?

How about SINKY?

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:46:44 PM EDT

[#32]

is this a SHTF boat?

LMAO.

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:50:49 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
is this a SHTF boat?

LMAO.

Hurricane season ain't over yet

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:52:24 PM EDT

[#34]

This thread is worthless without a poll.

Tagged for its maiden voyage.

Don't forget to christen it.

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:54:39 PM EDT

[#35]

You can use fiberglass and an aluminum frame to build a serious oceangoing dinghy. Here on LI they have tons o' stores for that. Maybe consider a sailboat?

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:57:58 PM EDT

[#36]

I would like to have one of these to test out the toughness of your boat

Posted: 9/21/2005 4:59:01 PM EDT

[#37]

Looks like a fine job.
Go with a good grade of house paint . Glass just covers up problems untill they become terminal.With a paint finish any problem areas will bubble or peel and you can get at them and fix it up. Hopefully you have a nice shed or garage to keep it in between use. If you leave it out behind the garage covered with wet leaves it will be a pile of junk in no time with either paint or glass . Within reason extra weight usually makes a boat behave better. It might be a bitch to wrassel around out of the water but a heavy boat will cut thru chop when a super light one will stop dead between every oar stroke. Try to borrow different oars before buying or building as size will be critical on such a small craft.
I believe that the suggestion of a 9hp is about twice too large. Too much power and too much weight. A nice lightweight 4hp is about the most you really will want and a electric trolling motor might be fine .
This boat isn't going to keep up with a 13' boston whaler,if you try and overpower it you will just beat it to death and could hurt yourself or your kid as well .

Posted: 9/21/2005 5:07:12 PM EDT

[#38]

Wait.... Don't paint it...
In fact, put a hole for a drain plug...

This weekenf go to Texas and sell it to Sean Penn. He's going to need a boat to save those looters from drowning.

Posted: 9/21/2005 5:09:21 PM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:
Looks like a fine job.
Go with a good grade of house paint . Glass just covers up problems untill they become terminal.With a paint finish any problem areas will bubble or peel and you can get at them and fix it up. Hopefully you have a nice shed or garage to keep it in between use. If you leave it out behind the garage covered with wet leaves it will be a pile of junk in no time with either paint or glass . Within reason extra weight usually makes a boat behave better. It might be a bitch to wrassel around out of the water but a heavy boat will cut thru chop when a super light one will stop dead between every oar stroke. Try to borrow different oars before buying or building as size will be critical on such a small craft.
I believe that the suggestion of a 9hp is about twice too large. Too much power and too much weight. A nice lightweight 4hp is about the most you really will want and a electric trolling motor might be fine .
This boat isn't going to keep up with a 13' boston whaler,if you try and overpower it you will just beat it to death and could hurt yourself or your kid as well .

It is and will be stored inside. That is what I am probably going with this weekend, a primer and then multiple coats of exterior house paint. I don't see a motor in it's future, just going to be used in the lake by the house. I may add some rod holders though gonna try to catch a bass out of it

The website with the guys who have built this have some plans for oars that they say work well, I may just take their word for it and build some to their specs.

Posted: 9/21/2005 5:12:12 PM EDT

[#40]

Posted: 9/21/2005 5:16:35 PM EDT

[#41]

Well it's not a higgins,but looks as if it could be made sea(lake or pond)ready!!!

About ten scale it and you would have a nice craft!!! I like it !!!

Bob

Posted: 9/21/2005 5:20:18 PM EDT

[#42]

My brothers homemade boats... He's damn good at what he does. He carved the oars too.

Stitch and Glue. Canvas over wooden frame.

Redwood and Epoxy.

I would at least glass the boat and add some oar locks. Small boats are cool!

TC

Posted: 9/21/2005 5:33:33 PM EDT

[#43]

I would say that if you weigh in the nieghborhood of 200lbs may take on some water. I think the sidewalls are too low. I have buddy that built something that size with half that much thought about 8 years ago. It looked like a short landing craft for 12" action figures. He weighed about 170lbs. It floated, but she was a runnin low in the water me harty. IIRC his sidewalls were a little higher. Your overall displacement looks to be a little better thought out.