build a boat

The boat is completed and legal. When getting the permit, I was asked if the boat had a name. I responded, “Not yet,” and since it seemed to fit in many ways, that is now it’s name: The Not Yet.
I took it across the lake and back; it’s a bit fussy, and needs a light hand, but it’s a good boat.

The boat has now tasted water. It floated (it should, it’s made of wood). There were some leaks, which are now patched. It is, a boat, and now only needs two oars and a good name.

The boat is now built, and the finishing work is going on. It’s a small (7’4”) punt, but has been an exercise in technique, materials, and skills.

I’m planning to make a small boat first, like a canoe. If that goes well I’d like to continue on to larger sized sail boats.

I want to build a basic sailboat this summer. I would like to have a mainsail and a jib. And I want to do it for as cheap as possible. I have basic carpentry experience and pretty much all the tools I could ever need (lathe, table saw, router, drill, standard power and hand tools). If anyone in Orange County, CA is interested in working with me this summer send me a message please!

I’ve bought most of the materials I need, started marking the wood and made a few cuts. I’ve got the plans and the tools I’ll need and a (smallish) space in which to work. I have a couple of friends who’ll help me with larger, more muscle-oriented tasks and I’ve got a novice’s abilities on the water.

I helped a Kiwi rebuild and sail an antique wooden boat in St. Augustine a couple of years ago and the bug hasn’t let go since. I figure I need to start small, so I’ve gotten plans for a 15-foot cat-rigged boat that’ll weight in at about 100 pounds. Small enough to fit on the truck’s roof, light enough to carry single-handed if I need to, but large enough for two people and constructed to move under oar, motor, or sail.

I built a cedar strip canoe and a mahogany plywood kayak. I am now refiberglassing the canoe and putting the finishing touches on the kayak, but I need a new project after that… maybe a sailboat or a mahogany runabout, like the old Chris-Crafts… something that could actually be worth more than the materials costs, when it’s done! Maybe a start at a retirement career.

Actually, I just bought an inflatable raft for $30. Its much more portable and much better. I just take the raft out whenever the spirit moves me and go exploring the marshlands. Its always a lot of fun and adventure.

I thought this might be a good bonding exercise for the boy and me.

My boat will be wind powered – new designs and new concepts