Boat building

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Willum

New member
Hello, fellow fishermen. I'm new on the forum and was wondering if there was any low-tech boatbuilding going on amongst forum member in the Pretoria area. I want to build something fairly simple out of plywood. I was thinking flat-bottomed, but I'm wondering if there were any experienced builders on the forum who could advise me or direct me to some simple plans and hull shapes etc. Thanks! :)
 
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Willum

New member
Thanks, Leon. Yes, I've looked at this project, but I'm a beginner and wouldn't want to take on anything this time-consuming or expensive. I just want to get something in the water that will float and not leak and be easy to get around in. Once when I was looking at Sealine before I became a member, I read something that a couple gents had written about the dismal state of boatbuilding in South Africa, and I thought about contacting one of them for advice but was never able to find it again. But thanks for trying to help. I'll probably go with one of the designs I've seen on YouTube and elsewhere. Thanks!
 
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billmatt

New member
This is a boat that I built and you may want to take on.

You need moderate woodworking skills and lots of clamps. Have a look at their website for tons of other designs available. Send me a PM if you are interested to chat further

http://www.glen-l.com/picboards/picboard18/pic1118a.html
 
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Willum

New member
Tackle Whore: I looked at the link you sent me and it's the one I've liked best so far. Thanks. Are you a boat builder?
 
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Limpopoking

Sealiner
The Mirror sailing boat was designed as a stitch and glue. My dad and I built one when I was about 12. Was damn good fun. It's a great technique for a simple and quick boat. If you go about it, make sure you use quality marine ply. I have had Marine Ply with lots of voids in the inner plys. Not ideal!
 
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Willum

New member
Thanks, Louis. I'm wondering if I could make a flat-bottom version of this boat, but still be able to make the bow a little rounder-looking rather than the flat nose that most dingys and jon boats have. This would mean I would need to do a fair amount of bending to the front of the bottom, and I don't even know if that's possible. I've done a lot of research but never looked at any real plans, so I'm kind of guessing on how to do these things. I've gotten a lot of good comments from people who know a lot more about boats than I do. I can't seem to find any marine plywood anywhere, so I might have to settle for the cheaper stuff and give it a lot of epoxy and fiberglass and hope for the best.
 
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Limpopoking

Sealiner
I've been in wood for my entire career bud, and I have yet to come across anything that can seal timber effectively. The only way to stop, or effectively slow down the decay... (we cannot stop it) is through the use of preservatives or by using timber that is naturally resistant to decay.

I'd strongly recommend the use of marine ply over normal U/F or interior ply. I can put you onto folk that supply if you get round to the project. It's pricey but I'd go so far as to say it's essential.
 
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Willum

New member
Thanks, Louis. I'm going to Silverton today (I live in Pretoria East) to see what they have at PG Bison. If I can't find it there I might ask for your help.
 
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Willum

New member
The place you mention has a lot of nice wood, but not plywood. I just came back from Wood Centre in Silverton. They want a little over R700 for a sheet of 12mm marine ply. That's more than I wanted to pay--I need three sheets--but it's probably worth it if what you and others have told me is true. Will have to discuss it with my partner. Thanks again for your help. Regards--Bill
 
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DriesLaas

Member
Go to Schallies in silverton for your marine ply, by far the best prices

Buy your epoxy from AMT in Joburg, Ampreg 21 or SP106
The sp is a quicker system and the same price, nice system

Go to the boatdesign.net forum, there is plenty of inspiration and advice.

You will find Manie Botha there, knowledgable and helpful

We are currently doing an eighteen foot sportfisherman from marine ply and epoxy down in Richards Bay

Naysayers say not to build a boat from wood.
While they scare each other, I happily go past them to sea on a wooden boat built in 1996....
 
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Limpopoking

Sealiner
DriesLaas wrote:
Go to Schallies in silverton for your marine ply, by far the best prices

Buy your epoxy from AMT in Joburg, Ampreg 21 or SP106
The sp is a quicker system and the same price, nice system

Go to the boatdesign.net forum, there is plenty of inspiration and advice.

You will find Manie Botha there, knowledgable and helpful

We are currently doing an eighteen foot sportfisherman from marine ply and epoxy down in Richards Bay

Naysayers say not to build a boat from wood.
While they scare each other, I happily go past them to sea on a wooden boat built in 1996....
Click to expand...

Hey Dries, don't you want to post a few pics of the 18 footer... maybe start a thread on her build. I'd be really interested to see it.

I'm getting quite close to the point of ordering plans for "Marissa"... http://www.bandbyachtdesigns.com/ec018.htm

Edit: Is your build on boatdesign.net? If so, could you post the link?
 
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Shannon

New member
Hey guys, sorry I haven't been on this site for a while.

That boat Marissa is a nice looking boat but looks pretty complex in comparison to what is out there.

The two best sites for Boat plans are www.bateau.com my Phantom 16 plans come from this site, they also have an extensive free boat plan section, but they have many flat bottom boat plans that are proven designs.

The second is http://bowdidgemarinedesigns.com
I already have plans for a Sea Strike 16 which I intend on starting in the New Year.
The guy that owns the business is Mark Bowdidge who has just been employed by Westlawn (Basically the Harvard university of boat design) as a lecturer because he is so good.
He has designs from nice basic little tinny style boats all the way up to serious offshore battle cruisers, where his designs are nice is that coming from OZ and living on the Ocean for years his designs are very seaworthy which work in our favour as we have pretty nasty seas at times.
 
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