Re: Building a boat from scratch?
Sffilm1, I built my own boat from scratch. I took my time, bought the best materials I could afford and worked on it as much as I could without ruining my life or my family. It took me 4 + years and much more money than I ever expected. At the end of it all, however, I ended up with a nice little gem. It's unique, it's fun and it's mine. I also learned a lot and I know every square inch of her. The only mistake I made was that I built too small. I should have built larger - and by that I mean an 18 footer. My boat is 16' 7".
There are going to be times when you will definitely need a partner. For the first year (during the hull construction) my wife was my partner. As I got nearer the end of the project and there was some heavier work to be done, my brother-in-law was my assistant.
You're going to end up acquiring a lot of different hand tools and power tools. My suggestion is that you go ahead and spend the money to buy the good ones - you'll save money in the long run. (I bought the red ones and some of the dark blue ones.)
Buy yourself some books and READ. It's worth it. Building is pretty easy and a lot of fun. It's the sanding and painting that's the killer. Doesn't matter, though, do it right or don't do it at all. When you're building, keep surface preparation in mind every step of the way. I ended up spraying my boat - and it looks great.
Safety first. Eyes and lungs require protection. I have a 10" radial arm saw, and I'm extra careful
every time I switch that sucker on.
I used mahogany, marine plywood, fiberglass and untold gallons of epoxy. I also used silicon bronze and 316 SST fasteners. If the mahogany gets bashed or gashed, it remains rot resistant. As far as the plywood goes, I highly recommend putting a layer of cloth on any side that will be exposed to atmosphere BEFORE you cut it up and start using it. (For example, the INSIDE of the hull, floor and deck boards, etc.) It goes without saying that any plywood on the outside of the hull should be fiberglassed, but you can do that after the hull is together.
When you build, you should build heck for stout. It doesn't matter if it "looks really strong" in the garage. It only matters if it stays really strong when you're a couple of miles offshore and you've got the bow planted into a wave that's taller than you are.
One last thing. You don't need to be a master woodworker to build a boat. What you need to be is persistent. Really really persistent. Enjoy!
