planning to build my own boat

[acdc96]

I was recently inspired to build my own boat, from a recent article in the 2014 October, Boating Magazine (Great magazine) which features a article on boat building. For awhile now ive been looking for a cheap boat to restore and use next summer. But i have not found a desirable boat suitable for restoration. So, when i saw this article and saw the photos of the completed boats and such low cost i was instantly hooked on building one. i have not purchaced any plans or kits yet becuase i am still researching good boats and costs. Some key features i wanted in a boat were: fishing boat setup [not bass boat] Outboard powered, center concole, 16 -20ft range, low draft, stable, and fast. Alot to want in a boat and find a suitable boat for this. one of the article in the magazine had a boat plan and kit available at bateau.com. so i went on their website and found a variety of different sized and types of boats kits and plans available. I've narrowed my list down to four boat plans availble on their site: Outboard Skiff 17 , Phantom 18 , Outboard Skiff 18 , and Outboard Dory 18 opinions on these designs?

 

[redneck joe]

you have any links we can look at?

 

[roffey]

Glen L has boat plans, might want to take a look. I think they can do just plans to shipping you the precut wood, screws and all the hardware.

 

[acdc96]

http://www.bateau.com/products.php?cat=17 Here's the link for the boat designs. Boat designs I'm looking at: Outboard Skiff 17 , Phantom 18 , Outboard Skiff 18 , and Outboard Dory 18

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

They look like nice boats. Plywood and epoxy kits run about $6500.00. Doesn't include paint, motor, controls, deck hardware, electrical, etc. So the sky is the limit here.

I bought my 17' project boat for about $1500 (over priced in my opinion but I was a newbie) and put $2500 in restoration costs, including the glass, resin, paint, hardware, seats, etc. Not to mention it came with a good motor and trailer. Budget wise it's a no brainer to me to restore one vs building from scratch.. But if you want to do it just for the fun of building one from scratch then have at it.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Outboard Skiff 17 , Phantom 18 , Outboard Skiff 18 , and Outboard Dory 18 opinions on these designs?

I've looked at some of those plans in the past and they all look good. It just comes down to a matter of what you're going to be in love with once you've gone to all the work of building a boat.

From what I've seen Bateau and Glen L have the biggest followings for homebuilt boats, and both their plans etc. look top notch. If I ever run out of project boats to bring back from the dead I'll likely build one from plans someday.

 

[minuteman62-64]

IMO there are two reasons for building your own boat. (1) you need a boat that is not otherwise available; and, (2) you want to build a boat. I'm in #2 and plan to build one just because I want to, economics aside.

 

[Bob_VT]

Have you looked into the completed projects section here on iboats?

 

[JimS123]

I saw the article as well, and boy did that bring back memories....

I built my first boat when I was 19, financed by a part time job at MickyDees flipin burgers. It was a precut kit for $165 - a 16' OB Runabout. They also sold a kit trailer and that was another $100. A brand new 40 HP Evinrude Lark bought separately set me back another $600. I not only built the boat and trailer, but I installed and rigged the motor too. The whole package with paint, varnish, hardware, windshield and full canvas was about $1200. That was 1968. It was a bargain at the time. You do the math to figure inflation to see what that would cost today.

GlenL has a fine design and makes a fine kit. I'd go with a kit, only because it would save a lot of time.

At the time, it was significantly cheaper than a glass or aluminum runabout of the same size with the same amenities. Naturally, as a poor college kid money was the deciding factor. But looking back it was the single most enjoyable endeavor of my whole life. It was a family affair with friends helping as well. I had my first date with my wife in that boat. We celebrated our 40th anniversary this year. Boy, to have that old boat back again.....

 

[Woodonglass]

My plan when I retire is to find an old 18ft fiberglass V-hull that's totally wasted!!! No motor, no interior No Nuttin. Hopefully they'll pay ME to haul it off. I'll gut the hull and then have a clean slate to build it back the way I want. The Kicker will be, she'll have a wood Top. Thus my avatar WoodOnGlass! This way, I can build my own boat but I won't have to build the hull. Best of both worlds as far as I'm concerned. You might want to consider this as well.

 

[bekosh]

No Title

If you've never built a plywood/fiberglass boat, I would recommend building or at least downloading one of the free plans (http://www.bateau.com/freeplans.php).
The 14' canoe makes a good basic starter build before you get into more complex and expensive projects.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I built a canoe in college with a friend. we first did a foam form. then made a mold, then made the canoe. it was a bit heavy, and for what we spent, could have bought two slightly used canoes out of the Milwaukee Journal.

However if you are building a boat, I admire that. please post pics.