As I was looking through my boat plan links I realized that they were scattered here and there. I decided to compile the links all in one page to make it easier to navigate.
Email me if a link is broken. I try to update everything often but the internet is a fast paced place. (and I'm not so quick), I've also included free oar and paddle plans and books with plans in them.
I offer a few plans but most of these boat designs are links. I have not built most of these and cannot endorse them. Some plans are good, others not so much.
Many plans are now available, particularly those that offer hundreds of plans for very cheap, which are reprints from old Popular Mechanics and other magazine. The building methods are somewhat dated and the plans often not very detailed. Of more concern materials such as lead paint are sometimes recommended. Do your homework before building these. Often buying a good set of plans from a recognized designer will save you time and money in the end.
The following plan links may have duplicate because they may fit in different categories. A kayak plan might also be a free stitch and glue plan. Enjoy and go build a boat.
I have a few free actual boat plans, some in pdf format.
These are mostly from old sources. Check before building.
I try to be accurate and check my information, but mistakes happen. ALSO keep in mind that not all free boats are good designs. Some are but others are worth exactly what you pay. Also keep in mind while I'm in a preachy mood, that a good set of plans will save you lots of time and if you've paid for them you can actually often contact the designer and get help.
Sailboats embody the mystery of the sea, of going only where the wind is willing to take you. We offer a variety of sailboat sizes, using several construction techniques. We offer sails, hardware and rigging for many of our sailboat designs. This enables you to focus on building your boat, not searching around for all the bits and pieces needed to complete the project.
- Rowing Boats
- Sailing Boats
Back Issues for Sale
"Popular Science" magazine and "Popular Mechanics" back issues can be viewed online at Google Books.
All these free boat plans can be built by anyone with a common sense modicum and a few basic woodworking skills and tools. However, if you have not got the skills and tools yet, this is a great way to acquire them.
One of the beauties of building yourself is that you do not have to buy everything at once, just get what you need when you can afford it.
While some of the instructions suggest using exterior plywood, I would always recommend using marine grade.
If you need help with lofting out the plans click here for an article here which should help.
Canoe Free Boat Plans
Combining the features of both kayak and canoe, "Blue Bill" is for those out-of-doors-men who hunt or the sportsmen who need an ultra-light-weight portable boat for use upon any waters.
Besides being usable to build a double-end paddling model, a few changes permit the plans to be used for making a canoe that will accommodate outboard motors up to 6 hp. for swift, speedy transportation on any stream or waterway.
Weighing only 75 lbs. complete, "Blue Bill" is easily transported atop an auto anywhere.
Click Here for the Plans
This kayak is the answer for young people who want to build an inexpensive boat for summer fun. A shop full of power tools is not necessary, either. All the work can be done with ordinary hand tools and a few C clamps. This Free Boat Plan will carry one adult but it's handiest when paddled by a youngster. The boat is stable in the water and, even though it can be turned over, it will not sink. It's also light enough to be carried with ease. Building is so simple that the 'Jig' consists of only two blocks and a few bricks.
Hunting Kayak
For many years a favorite of hunters, trappers and traders the kayak now is as popular with Europeans as the outboard boat is with Americans.
Although this boat was designed to carry two people, it will accommodate three in a pinch and gear may be stowed under fore and after decks.
A few strokes with the double paddle will send it gliding across the water with the minimum of effort on your part.
Kayaks are surprisingly seaworthy, too — more stable than a canoe, in fact, because the occupants sit on the bottom of the hull which lowers the center of gravity.
Pintail and 10ft Duck Boat
'Pintail' drawn from plans by Wm D Jackson is another of the Free Boat Plans from the 'Boat Builder Handbook'. This one is being built by Greg Allore .
If you have ever struggled with the oars of a heavy, slow-moving rowboat and then paddled a swift, high maneuverable canoe you can appreciate why many true sportsmen prefer canoes.
But, too often, the multi-ribbed conventional canoe is not only hard to build but too thin-skinned for hard usage.
This Free Boat Plan teams up plywood and fiberglass to produce a tough, scrape-proof canoe you can build in one-tenth the time it would take you to turn out a conventional canoe.
The use of only one frame offsets the extra weight of using plywood, so that this canoe is still light enough for comfortable portage.
Little Chief
Little Chief is a canoe with many virtues, ideally adapted to quick, easy construction.
Canoes are not easy to build, but here is one Free Boat Plan that can be made of ordinary materials for a fraction of the cost of conventional canoes.
It has attractive molded lines and may be built either as a paddling model or, with slight changes, adapted for use with small outboard motors.
In all countries of the world, particularly the United States, the kayak is enjoying newfound popularity.
Here's a nimble, lightweight craft that has its roots in the Arctic as a basic instrument of survival, yet is branching out as a modern outdoor sport on our own rivers and lakes.
To the Eskimo, a kayak is more than a boat.
When he's laced into his whale-bone and walrus-hide craft, he's ready for anything in the way of water or weather.
To most of us, however, a kayak is pure adventure and fun.
It's perfect for poking around uninhabited Islands, exploring the bends of a lazy, winding river, or just breaking the peaceful surface of a placid lake at sunset.
Redwood Canoe
You can build this 74lb, 16 foot canoe using redwood strips, an old boat-building technique.
Two persons can sit side by side in the center with one person at each end and plenty of room for gear.
This canoe is formed around plywood templates using redwood strips glued edge to edge.
You lay up the strips, remove the form, and the canoe is complete, except for fiberglassing and putting in the seats.
The plans can also be used to build a 13-foot version of this strip planked canoe.
or Click Here for the Free Plans
Houseboat Free boat Plans
Budget houseboat (trailerable).
The Budget Houseboat is like a camper that goes on water.
She's 20 ft. long with a 9-ft. beam, containing 300 sq. ft. of usable floor area.
This means that while she can accommodate two in outrageous comfort, she can easily take a family of four on an extended vacation and be entirely self-contained.
There are two full-size permanent bunks in the forward section of the cabin.
The dining table, in the rear section of the cabin, seats four and then drops down to convert into an extra bunk 6 ft. 4 in. long and 38 in. wide.
Cabin headroom is 6 ft. 2 in., and two cots can be stationed to the rear of the cabin area.
Bayou Belle
Bayou Belle is a 25' scow that can be built as a sports utility, a fishing boat, or a houseboat, depending on your requirements for pleasure offshore.
As a sports utility, she can be used for towing water skiers and for cruising, as a fishing boat, she offers a stable platform with plenty of elbow room and stowage space.
As a houseboat, she has roomy interior accommodations for a leisurely life afloat.
Construction of Bayou Belle makes use of prefabricated sections, which means that much of the work can be done indoors in the average garage during the cold winter months, and the boat completed outdoors in time for launching in late spring.
Float-A-Home
A houseboat is a unique water craft in that it combines most of the comforts of home with the mobility of a boat.
Of course, use is limited to sheltered waters, and speeds are slow in comparison to more sea worthy vessels.
Float-A-Home is a 21-footer that provides plenty of living space for three or four persons.
An extremely simple houseboat to build, the free boat plans feature a strong hull with a heavy keel and close-spaced framing.
This, coupled with a relatively low profile, makes it a very stable craft.
Click Here for the free Plans
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Full plans of the 22ft Centreboard Cutter Design #106A appear in the July/August issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale prints of these drawings are available at the Special Discount Price of US$100.00 until August 31st 2024. For details click Here .
Full plans of the 7.50 Metre Diesel Launch, Design #280 appear in the May/June issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale prints of these drawings are available at the Special Discount Price of US$75.00 until June 30th 2024. For details click Here .
Full plans of the 21ft Cutter, Design #279 appear in the March/April 2024 issue of Water Craft magazine. Scale drawiungs of this design are available at the special discount price of US$95 until April 30th 2024. Click here for more details.
Full Plans for the 19ft Cat Boat design #275 appear in the November/December 2023 issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale drawings of this plan are available at the special discount price of $75.00 until December 31st 2023 by clicking here.
Full Plans for the 16ft Shanty Boat Design #276 appear in the September/October issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale drawings of this plan are available at the special discount price of $75.00 until October 30th 2023 by clicking here .
Full plans of the 20ft seaging Canoe Design #274 appear in the July/August 2023 issue of Water Craft magazine. Scale drawiungs of this design are available at the special discount price of US$75 until June 30th 2023. Click here for more details.
Full plans of the 14ft Sailing Dinghy Design #271 appear in the March/April issue of Water Craft magazine. Scale drawings of this design are available at the special discount price of $75.00 until April 30th 2023. Click here for more details.
Full plans of the 25ft Sailing Scow Design #269 appear in the Jan/Feb 2023 issue os Water Craft Magazine. Scale drawings of this design are available a the special discound price of $85 until February 28th 2023. Click here for more details.
Full plans of the 37ft Motor Sailer, Design #267 appear in the November/December 2022 issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale drawings of this design are available at a special discount price of $100 until December 31st. Click here for more details.
Full plans of the 15ft Light Skiff Design #268 appear in the September/October issue of Water Craft magazine. Scale drawiungs of this design are available at the special discount price of US$85 until Ocotber 31st 2022. Click here for more details.
Full plans of the 6.75 metre CB Sloop design #266 appear in the July/August 2022 issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale drawings of this design are available at a special discount price of $85 until Augsut 31st 2022. Click here for more details.
Full plans of the 4.5 meter Outboard Runabout Desing #265 appear in the May/Junel 2022 issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale drawings of this design are available at a special discount price of $75 until June 30th. Click here for more details.
Full plans of the 30ft V bottom Motor Sailer Design #264 appear in the March/April 2022 issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale drawings of this design are available at a special discount price of $100 until April 30th. Click here for more details.
Full plans of the 20ft Workboat Design #258 appear in the Jan/Feb 2022 issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale drawings of the plans for this boat can be obtained at a special price by clicking here .
NEW LAUNCHING September 2021, 14ft Sailing Dinghy 'Skraeling' Design #260. Click here for plan information
Full Plans of the 19ft double ended CB sloop, Design #257 appear in the November/December issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale drawings of the plans for this boat can be obtained here at a special discounted price through December 31st 2021.
Full plans for the 27ft Cruising Canoe, Design #263 can be found n the September/October 2021 issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale drawings of this design are available here .
Full Plans of the 34ft Motor Cruiser Design #245 appear in the July/August issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale drawings are available here .
Full plans of the 16ft Cruising Dinghy, Design #262 appear in the May/June 2021 issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale drawings are available here .
Full plans of the 5.0 metre launch design #261 appear in the March/April issue of Water Craft magazine, or are available here .
Full plans for the 14ft Double Ended Sailing Skiff 'Skraeling' Design #260 appear in the Jan/Feb issue of Water Craft Magazine, or are available by clicking here.
Full plans for the 16ft Double Ended Rowboat, Design #242 available at a special here .
Full plans for the 13ft Plywood Catboat 'Crisis' appear in the July/August issue of Water Craft Magazine, or are available by clicking here .
Full plans for the 16ft daysailer Design #226A are published in the January/February issue of Water Craft magazine from the U.K. and are available here .
The 22Ft Cutter Lady Jana (Ex Surprise) is for sale. She is seen here circa 2000 in Alaskan waters. Click here for details.
Full Plans for the 4.9 metre Cutter 'PUDEL' are published in the September/October issue of Water Craft Magazine. Scale drawings may be purchased here .
Click here to see details of 32 ft Gaff Cutter Design #223.
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Design #236 45ft Cruising Cutter
Design #235 30ft Double ended Schooner
Design #233 14ft Plywood Rowboat
Design #231 10ft Sailing Dinghy
Design #230 15ft Clamming Skiff Design #229 24ft Light Double Ended Sloop Design #228 6 Metre Cabin Launch Design #227 25ft Tancook Schooner Design #226 17ft BEACH CRUISER
Design #225 18ft CENTREBOARD SLOOP Design #224 12.2 METRE SCHOONER
Free Boat Plans
Water Craft magazine from the United Kingdom now publishes a complete set of Paul Gartside boat plans in every issue. Subscribers can build right from the pages of the magazine. Whether you are a compulsive builder or simply enjoy studying boat drawings, Water Craft is the magazine for you.
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Is it still possible to buy full set of scale prints for the rowing/sailing pram dingly Porgy?
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Absolutely Free Boat Plans
Welcome to Absolutely Free Boat Plans, in this section you will find plans for building boats, accessories and construction techniques. Free plans have a tendency to disappear so it is a good idea to print out any plans you expect to be using in the future. For more information or to comment about a particular free plan please contact the owner of the page you found the plan on. |
• Misc • Canoes • Cruisers • Dinghies • Houseboats • Hydro Planes • Motorboat • Sailboats
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July / August Issue No. 299 Preview Now
Plans & Kits
If you’re in the market for a boat to build, this directory of Boat Plans & Kits is a fine place to start. And if your company sells plans or kits, we invite you to list your offerings here. There is no charge for listing, but the featured boats must be built of wood. To refine your search of this directory, use quotation marks. If you search Nutshell Pram Kit, you’ll receive all the listings that include the words Nutshell, Pram, and Kit. To refine your search, enter “Nutshell Pram Kit”; you’ll then see only the results for Nutshell Pram kits.
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Sailboats - Cruising
Sailboats - Racing
Light displacement boat, that resume classic water lines into a modern conception.
Oar / Paddle
A small and very simple tender to fit inside a station wagon or on a roofrack, this little plywood dink will suit some one wanting a tender for their small yacht or motorboat.
day- weekendsailer for coastal cruising in radial chine plywood construction
The Skoota 28 is a 28 ft plywood demountable coastal cruising power catamaran for a couple. Ideal for the European canals, the PNW or the Great Loop. It will demount for transport on a flat bed lorry/truck or could even be towed by a large car but should not be considered “trailable”.
Half Model Plan NYMPH
Keel/centerboard cutter designed by Edward Burgess in 1888 and first of his “Compromise 40-footers”.The plans produce a model that is 25″ long.You’ll receive 4 pages of plans historical information about the boat and step-by-step instructions for half-hull building,using the lift method.There are
Trailerable cruising catamaran
Oxford Shell
The Oxford Shell™ is a swift, smooth running "recreational" shell suitable for all skill levels. Whether you're just learning how to row a sliding seat shell, or you're a seasoned expert.
Osprey 18 Flats Skiff
The Osprey 18 is a simple, lightweight flats skiff.
The LINNET is a seaworthy rowing boat that has been specifically designed for sea use. Accordingly it does not have outriggers or a sliding seat while a small daggerboard is fitted to help prevent being blown sideways by the wind. A good load carrier, LINNET can be rowed by 1-3 people.
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Lessons of the BOUNTY
The Gift of SEA FEVER
How to Build a Boat
Classic boat plans from a 1937 issue of Popular Mechanics , updated for the 21st century.
It was a long time since anyone in my family had built a boat. The last was my Uncle Paul. He was a shipbuilder who learned his trade beginning at age 14 in Hamburg, Germany. Every morning, the boy rowed from the family's dock out across the shipping lanes of the Elbe River, which flows into the North Sea.
The trip to the shipyard where he was apprenticed took an hour and a half, longer in winter, when there was fog and floating ice on the water. After three years, Paul received a journeyman's certificate and a berth aboard a gigantic four-masted windjammer named Passat—"trade wind" in English. That was in the 1920s, before the fascists confiscated his family's own small shipyard and the Berendsohns left for America.
A few months ago, I decided to try my hand at the ancestral trade. I've built everything from houses to a blacksmith's forge , but there's no more evocative project than a boat, at least to me. Since before Austronesians first gazed across the Pacific, wooden vessels have stood for craftsmanship and the drive to explore. I sifted through PM's archives looking for a classic design and eventually settled on a 10-foot dinghy from our May 1937 issue . It looked elegant, yet simple enough to build on a pair of sawhorses.
It's been many years since my Uncle Paul was around to lend advice, so I ran the drawings past Timo White, a boatbuilder at Tuckerton Seaport, a small maritime museum on the New Jersey coast. It turned out that Timo was in the midst of restoring a surfboard built from plans in the July 1937 issue of PM. (It was a big year for seafaring projects, I guess.)
He confirmed that the dinghy was a good candidate for a first-time builder and agreed to lend a hand if needed.
Shipyard in the Driveway
On a wintry early spring morning I set out for Willard Brothers Woodcutters, a sawmill and lumber dealer in Trenton, N.J. You can spend hours there, roaming stacks of delicious-looking walnut, cherry and oak, some of the boards as wide as your arm is long. I bought red oak for the Sea Scout's frames (that was the name of the craft in the plans, and I chose to keep it) and a 2-inch-thick slab of white oak for the wedge-shaped stem at the bow.
Back home, I started making a racket feeding planks through a table saw. My skills were creaky--I've spent too much time in recent years fixing stuff and not enough building--but over a few days my old confidence returned. The Sea Scout began to take form.
Most boats begin with the frames, the ribs that provide structure to the hull. I roughed them into shape, along with the stem and the gracefully shaped stern wall, or transom, which I cut from ¾-inch plywood. Then I braced it all to a building board--which is nothing more than a 2 x 10 with a chalk line marked down the center.
⚠️ To simplify the project, I omitted the mast and centerboard. Instead, I built the Sea Scout, named after the craft in the original article, to be rowed or powered by an outboard motor. She works well in either configuration. You can find the original plans and materials list here.
The boat's skeleton was in place, but each member still needed to be precisely beveled before I could secure the curved planks of the hull. The next step was to clamp thin strips of wood, called battens, to the frame to stand in for the planks, so I could measure and mark all those angles. Then, I took the parts off the board and finished shaping them.
Often, the weather confined me to the garage, but when the sun emerged I worked in the driveway. If you want to get to know the neighbors, start building a boat. Linda from next door asked whether the craft would be sailed, rowed or powered by an outboard motor. Others wondered where I would go with it, how I'd get it there and what I would name it. A truck driver from Tulnoy Lumber, dropping off some marine plywood, approached respectfully. "This is beautiful," he said, with an old-fashioned New York accent as broad as the hand he ran over the frames.
Anatomy of a Boat
Working the Plank
I don't know how Uncle Paul felt about it, but boatbuilding can be acutely frustrating. The bane of my weekends proved to be a small bronze screw. A No. 6 Frearson flat-head, to be exact. Like most modern DIYers, I'd been spoiled by drywall screws and other aggressive fasteners that practically plow into the lumber. Even using a specialized, tapered drill bit and a waxlike lubricant with the unlikely name of Akempucky, I managed to wreck screws by the dozen. The head on one would strip a moment before the screw was fully seated, while another would shear off on the last eighth of a turn, leaving me with a shiny Frearson-head penny.
Timo had tried to downplay the arcana I'd face--"It's more like house carpentry than fine-furniture building," he had said--but I still found myself floundering on occasion. One challenge was that the 1937 article was more an overview than a detailed set of plans. And, though it pains me to find fault with my forebears at Popular Mechanics, the sketch contained suspicious discrepancies. Timo helped me recalibrate some of the dimensions midway through the project—and I had to trim several pieces after they were assembled.
The biggest hurdle came when it was time to plank the hull. The classic way is to bend strips of solid wood to the frames. I'd chosen marine-grade fir plywood instead to save time, but now I was barely able to force the hull's 14-inch sheets into place. There was no way the half-inch plywood I'd planned for the bottom was going to work.
Timo advised me to switch to a special, wafer-thin marine-grade plywood and plank the bottom in two layers. He came swooping in one Thursday morning to show me the technique. He stepped out of his truck with a broad smile, and a block plane in each hand, and my mood lifted. He politely took a sighting down the chine logs where we'd attach the bottom, and spent a few minutes planing them to the last measure of precision. Then we got to work with staples, glue and screws--and in a couple of hours the project went from a plywood flower bed to a small craft with sensuous compound curves.
It was satisfying, but my mistakes still showed in details like the placement of screws and the shape of the stem. "You know what they say," Timo told me. "Putty and paint makes a boat what it ain't." I got out my paintbrushes.
Maiden Voyage
We launched the boat at Tuckerton Seaport on a cool, overcast day that felt more like September than June. Down at the dock, Timo produced a can of Amstel Light in lieu of champagne. "Go ahead," he said, "pour it over the bow." I popped it open and emptied the beer over the paint. "I christen thee Sea Scout," I said. Then we slid the little craft off the dock and into the water.
You might think a feeling of triumph came over me. Not so. The Sea Scout looked very small, almost helpless, as she sat bobbing at the end of the painter, the little rope that Timo had threaded across the bow. I felt humbled. A phrase from the Book of Psalms flashed in my mind: "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business on great waters."
I wasn't aiming for any great waters myself. I eased off the dock and into the boat. Timo handed me the oars. Awkwardly, I drew the handles back, just above my hips. The craft slid forward gracefully, almost like she was on ice. As Timo watched, I braced the left oar down in the water and swept the surface with the right. The Sea Scout pivoted neatly, unexpectedly elegant and spry.
If the oars were a kick, you can imagine the thrill I felt when I mounted the 2.5-hp Mercury Marine outboard on the transom. It's a clean-running four-stroke engine, compact yet almost zippy on a boat this small. I gave the engine full throttle and cut some nice straight lines and a pleasingly tight curve complete with a crisp little wake.
With the afternoon gone, my first voyage was complete. In the end, I decided to donate the boat and engine to Tuckerton Seaport. Frankly, I needed the space in my garage and driveway: The Sea Scout was a good first foray into wooden boatbuilding, but I knew I could do better—and I'm already sifting through plans.
The Sea Scout, a Decade Later
Ask anybody who’s ever built a boat, and they’ll tell you one thing about it: you’re not the same after you’ve built one. And that goes for me, too. The little boat, which I built back in 2009, shaped me as much—or perhaps more—than I shaped it.
The Sea Scout project brought a flood of mail from our readers, some of whom had built the boat or knew someone who did. One woman still had the boat that her father built. She sent a picture of it and recalled the many pleasant hours she spent with her dad as her father taught her how to sail in it. She kindly offered to donate the boat to us, thinking that perhaps we could put it in our lobby. I wish I could have taken her up on the offer.
When you build a boat, you take your place in the long line of craftspeople—professional and amateurs alike—who have plied that trade and learned about the unique burden of building a craft upon whom someone’s safety and enjoyment will depend. Building a boat is humbling, you remember every mistake you made building the thing as it bobs up and down, and waves wash over its bow or crash into it from the side.
You feel it shudder, but it doesn’t give way as you look over the side at the murky depths. And afterward, you look at every boat with a more knowing eye, a greater respect...and you wonder if you could build it.
Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. When he’s not working on his own house, he volunteers with Sovereign Grace Church doing home repair for families in rural, suburban and urban locations throughout central and southern New Jersey.
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MorningChores
20 Budget-Friendly DIY Boat Plans for Loads of Water Fun
Do you enjoy spending a day out on the water every now and again? But does your budget allow you to purchase a new boat?
Well, even if you’re working on a meager budget, you could still own a boat. “How?” you might ask.
Rather simply in fact… make your own. I probably wouldn’t have thought of this idea either until a few months ago when my husband developed the itch for a boat.
He traded for a boat with a title, but it didn’t run. We’ve spent quite a few dollars and hours into making it work, and now we have a decent boat to enjoy on the water.
If you aren’t into fixing something up, I’m going to bring you some of the internet’s best ideas for making your own DIY boat. Here they are:
1. The DIY Tiny House Boat
We’re going to jump right in with a doozy to choose from. If you’re in the market for not only a boat but a houseboat, you may be wondering if this could ever fit in your budget.
Well, when you see this wood framed pontoon tiny houseboat , you’ll soon learn it can become a reality for you with a little hard work.
2. Basic Wooden Boat
Whether you need a small fishing boat or a smaller boat to paddle around a pond, these plans are great for either.
The plans for this boat walk you through each step of the process. If you’re a beginner in the world of carpentry, this boat could still be feasible for you.
3. PVC DIY Kayak
I wasn’t aware of how expensive kayaks could be until our oldest recently caught the urge to purchase one. Suddenly, I realized how much money a person could invest in one.
However, this kayak appears to be quite buoyant and should be quite a bit cheaper because it’s constructed from PVC pipes . How neat does it look?
4. Recumbent Pontoon Pedal Boat
Do you enjoy renting a paddle boat and heading out on the water? Then you’ll love this boat. It’s a DIY version of a paddle boat.
However, it has large floats on the side which makes it a smaller version of a pontoon boat . Also, it’s made to recline for a more relaxing ride.
5. Plywood Canoe
Canoes are a fun way to go up and down a river or other smaller bodies of water. If you’d like to have one, consider building it.
You can use these plans which show you how to construct a canoe out of plywood. This should make it more affordable yet functional too.
6. DIY Pontoon Boat
Pontoon boats are amazing boats to own. They’re great for fishing and luxurious enough to be a comforting way to cruise the water on a gorgeous day.
If you’d like to own one but can’t afford to buy, consider using these tips to help you build a pontoon boat all on your own.
7. Flat Bottom Boat Plans
One thing I’ve learned over the past few months of renovating a boat, is you don’t need anything fancy for a fishing boat – unless you want it to be fancy.
However, if you’re in the market for something simple and functional, the plans for this flat-bottomed boat should do it.
8. PVC Johnboat
A Johnboat is a great way to get out on the water and have lots of fun. They’re also functional enough to make a nice fishing boat too.
Either way, if you’re in the market for a fishing boat, consider building your own johnboat with these plans.
9. DIY Simple Wooden Boat
This option doesn’t come with plans which I could find. However, it could still be used as inspiration for building your boat.
Again, these boats would be good options if you’re someone looking for an inexpensive way to go fishing.
10. Homemade PVC Raft
This PVC raft is another option which doesn’t come with plans, but it looks simple enough to build. If you have experience in carpentry, you should be able to figure it out rather quickly.
However, this looks like a fun way to get the whole family out on the water uniquely and cost-effectively.
11. The DIY Pontoon Double Hulled Kayak
This pontoon boat is built in an abnormal but intriguing way. Instead of having typical floaters on the bottom of the boat, they used kayaks.
From there, the rest of the boat was built of foam insulation and PVC pipe. When you get creative, you can build a boat with little expense.
12. The Fishing Punt
This is another cost-effective option for a fishing boat. However, there’s no guesswork on this one. The plans are laid out and easy to read.
Whether you’re an experienced carpenter or someone who has recently begun to build things, this could be a viable option for you.
13. Inflatable Raft Fishing Boat
Are you struggling to come up with enough room in your budget to build a new fishing boat? What if you could use your inflatable raft as a boat?
Well, thanks to this idea, you can. The person who created this put a plywood bottom in a raft and turned it into an amazing little fishing boat for little money.
14. Single Plywood Boat
If you don’t need a larger boat, this could be the answer for you. It’s cost-effective because the whole thing is built from one sheet of plywood.
Even though this boat isn’t the biggest, it would make a great fishing boat for a one-person fishing trip .
15. Zip Tie and Ply Mini Boat
If you’d like to get out on the water for a fun day of fishing or sight-seeing, consider building this unique mini-boat .
It’s made from zip ties and plywood. Though it may sound a little sketchy on the surface, it seems quite buoyant and inexpensive too.
16. The Homemade Pontoon
When I saw this boat , I instantly sent it to my husband and said, “Can you build this? I may need it a little bigger to fit the kids and dog on board.” This should tell you; I love it!
But it actually is a cool idea. It looks comfortable for both cruising and fishing. Plus, it should be possible for most budgets.
17. PVC Pontoon Boat
Some of you may be looking at these ideas and saying, “This is great, but I’d prefer to have a motor attached to my boat.”
Well, you’re in luck. This pontoon boat is easy to build and also shows you how to attach a motor to keep you from having to paddle everywhere you go.
18. The Micro Houseboat
If you’ve ever searched for a houseboat, you know how expensive they can be. But don’t give up on your dream yet.
Instead, look into building this tiny houseboat . It has a gorgeous interior and would make a great full-time home or a small vacation home.
19. DIY River Raft
Who says you have to build something overly complicated to enjoy a day out on the river? Well, you don’t.
Instead, build this simple raft . It’s constructed from PVC pipe and has a few seats add onto it. It looks buoyant and can help you to have many enjoyable days out on the water.
20. Seafoam Kayak
Would you like a light-weight kayak you can build yourself? Consider creating this kayak made from sea foam.
It only weighs 16 pounds and is built to be eight feet long. This could be a great way to enjoy many days out on the water without much fuss.
Now you have 20 different options for a DIY boat. You can choose between kayaks, johnboats, houseboats, tiny homes, pontoons, and much more.
We hope you’ll find something on this list to inspire you and be able to create something you can enjoy all summer long.
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intheboatshed.net
Gavin Atkin's weblog for the sort of people who like looking inside boat sheds. It's about old boats, traditional boats, boat building, restoration, the sea and the North Kent Coast
Free boat plans
SCROLL DOWN THIS PAGE FOR MANY MORE PLANS
This a page of links to some favourite free boat plans at intheboatshed.net . They’ve been chosen because they are derived from traditional boats, or in some cases simply for their usefulness. There are quite a few here, but you’ll find still more in the intheboatshed.net weblog using the search gadget. If you find anything you feel I should add, please let me know at [email protected] .
PLEASE ALWAYS USE THE LATEST VERSION WHICH WILL CONTAIN ANY CORRECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DESIGNERS ATTENTION.
Brian King’s Barton skiff during construction:
See a short video of Brian’s boat in action using a 3.5hp outboard at 6knots or so. Note the near complete lack of wake, which should indicate that the boat’s working efficiently.
– The 14ft Sunny skiff – get the plans for this easy to build lightweight rowing boat here .
Sunny skiff lightweight plywood rowing dinghy
– The 12ft Ella skiff – get the plans for this easy to build lightweight rowing boat here .
– The sailing version of the Ella skiff – get the plans here (now in version 1.2).
The sailing version of the 12ft Ella skiff
- Ben Crawshaw sails the Ella skiff
– The intheboatshed.net Julie 15ft 7in flat bottomed rowing skiff
- Additional measurements for building a strongback – if that’s the approach you prefer
- Complete free plans package for the intheboatshed.net flat-bottomed 15ft 6in skiff
- intheboatshed.net skiff – drawings and coordinates for stitch and glue
- intheboatshed.net skiff – photos of our model, and maybe yours too?
- intheboatshed.net skiff – now we can make a model
- intheboatshed.net skiff progress
- Early drawings for a 15ft 5in lightweight flat-bottomed American-style skiff
The Mk 2 Light Trow – click on the photo for a larger image
See a clip of the Light Trow sailing:
Download the Mk 2 Light Trow plans , and the model-making plans (making a model to be an important preparation for making this kind of boat). Alain Yvorra sent over photographs of a model he has made:
Alain wrote: ‘The design and plan made things very easy to follow, and the building of the model was a breath of fresh air, bringing, as I saw it coming together, quite a wonderful satisfaction.’
Also, see Ben Crawshaw’s excellent weblog about building and then cruising the Light Trow on the Spanish coast; also, read about the original trows : The Fleet Trow
– The Cinderella canoe
Al Burke’s Cinderella
Al’s comments following his first test were interesting: ‘A successful design that is an absolute delight to paddle and which brought comments like “beautiful lines” and “do you want to sell it?” from people on the beach watching the test.’
I think this is a nice small open paddler, but bouyancy tanks or bags would be a essential if you’re going to do more than paddle in narrow rivers or small shallow lakes.
See: A Cinderella canoe adapted for rowing Plans for building the Cinderella: Cinderella download
– The Light Dinghy
Light Dinghy – click on the drawing for a larger image
For more on this boat, see:
- From dinghies to the Architectura Navalis and back
- Tempting plans for the boat-dreaming season, part III
– Doris the Dory
Plans for building Doris the Dory: Doris the Dory download
– The Forest & Stream skiff
Forest & Stream skiff in built in Sweden – click on the photo for a larger image – see the post: A little classic to build this spring
– The small Bluestone schooner : My Bluestone schooner design in the spotlight and the download including the chine version
Free designs from other designers
– A 12ft ply-built Fleet trow
Photos by Jenny Steer and Derek Thompson
Offsets kindly provided by the Boat Building Academy folks at the bottom of this post
– A sailing Duck Punt, as raced on the English East Coast
Plans for John Milgate’s Duck Punt
– The South Haven Dory
Build the South Haven Dory
– International 12 dinghy George Cockshott’s sweet 12-foot dinghy
– Chuck Merrell’s Apple Pie
Temptations part V: a dinghy so small, your family will hardly notice…
– Canvas canoe How to build a canvas canoe – Hannu Vartiala’s coracle Hannu Vartiala’s website changes address
-The Brockway skiff
Build the Brockway skiff
– Wolfgang Brink’s Greenland Kayak
How to build a Greenland kayak
– An alternative folding boat
An alternative folding boat – Boat plans from Practical Boatbuilding for Amateurs , including the 10ft double-ended skiff, various punts etc Practical Boat Building for Amateurs
– Thames skiff and racing punt At last – free online designs for a skiff and a racing punt
– Howard Irving Chappelle’s traditional 14ft skiff Chappelle’s 14ft skiff – another candidate for the 2008 boatbuilding season?
– Mark Wallace’s Black Skiff
Boatbuilding plans for the Black Skiff have been designed and made available for free by Mark Wallace – he says all he asks for is to be given the credit for designing the boat.
I think it’s an elegant design. The plans are not likely to be the easiest for first-time boatbuilders to follow, but it would be well worth picking the required skills up by reading one of the classic books on this kind of boatbuilding. See the Intheboatshed.net Amazon bookshop for something suitable.
Mark ways she’s a strong light-weight boat loosely with strong links to Scandinavian types. She proven to be an excellent rower, has a capacity of four adults and has a flat bottom for easy beaching.
Go to Mark’s website for more information and plans in pdf format: http://www.markwallaceshipwright.com/plans.html
By the way, don’t miss Mark’s impressive collection of testimonials .
Share this:
75 thoughts on “free boat plans”.
As my mind turns to building MY first boat during the winter months, I browsed and found many sites and such. Yours has been a great place to see and feed that desire. Thank you for your site. I live on a river that empties into the Matagorda bay, here in Texas, and the wind blows regular like crazy. But, I think that I found my first boat in the information given here on your site. Wish me luck!!! The water might be shallow here on the river but the mud is VERY deep. I'll be sure to send you photos and let you know how it all turns out. Again, thank you.
Glad to be of help Charli – which boat are you planning to build for your first boatbuilding project?
Hey, I am hoping to build the julie skiff for my first boat.
I made the model last night but i am unsure on how it scales up, i downloaded the zip file and i am unsure on how to use your co-ordinates, please help!
It's late and I have a date with a pillow, but I'd delighted you're interested in building this boat.
The coordinates work like this. The letters label the many 'significant' points on the drawings, often they are points where two different lines join. The coordinates are pairs of numbers, as you'll have noticed, and each pair defines a particular single point on the ply.
It's like plotting a graph at school, but if that doesn't come easily think of it this way:
Consider two coordinates 3 1/8, 6 1/2
3 1/8 defines a line parallel to the left-hand edge that is 3 1/8in in from the edge, while 6 1/2 defines a line parallel to the bottom that is 6 1/2 up from the bottom. The point being defined is where the two cross! There are a lot of points to plot, and when they have been plotted, you have to join the dots to make a complete drawing, as it were.
Does that help? If not, if you know someone with some background in maths should be able to sort it out for you using pencil and paper.
Hey, I am 14 years old and plan on constructing a skiff for fishing.
My grandpa has a Bachelors in Drafting and is very good with wood and we have all the tools, so I was wondering, do you think you could work with me on designing a boat if you have the time? I have a few ideas in mind and I'm starting to put them down on paper.
By helping I mean could you tell me what I would need for the design I have? Thank you for such a great website!
I'm sorry Ryan – I'd like to help but I'm desperately short of time due to work and family responsibilities. You max find some of my free plans will give you some ideas however. Gavin
It's ok Gavin,
Like I said, only if you have time and are interested.
When I come up with a design I'll send you them and send you pictures of the outcome that you can put up 🙂
There's a great little book entitled How to design a boat by John Teale – if you can find it, I think it will be very useful.
Thanks Gavin
I have actually managed to maneuver my way over to Duckworks Magazine through your site, and they have been very helpful over there!
Excellent news – I'm sorry I'm in no position to help myself at the moment.
it's quite alright Gavin, you have been of help though. Your hard work in putting this site together has payed off for me and many others!
Hi Gavin, Many thanks for all that you've done for potential DIY Boat Builders, like myself! Look forward to the new adventure.
Hi there, a little advice please.
my brother and I have a 3 year plan. My kids will both be teenagers in 3 years time.
My brother is the sailor in the family (the brains) I am the canoeist and rower (used to be the brawn now a little slack around the middle).
We want to build a boat that we can sail both on lakes and lochs and when the kids are teenagers we can take up the west coast of Scotland for extended touring holidays – ideally both camping and sleeping on the boat.
At the moment the kids sail mirror dingy and are very keen to help in the build.
My brother and i really like the looks of norse double enders and are taken with the caledonian yawl. Problem our woodworking skills are basic DIY – we've built sheds and summerhouses but would like some info on what we should expect from a project like this and what your thoughts are about choice of boat for our requirements.
Hope you can help.
That's a nice dream!
Everyone you talk to will give you a different answer. If you're tendency is to craftsmanship, I'm sure you can build a Caledonian Yawl, but might benefit from building something simpler first. If it isn't, I'd suggest you don't even go there!
I'd also say that by the time they're teenagers, your kids are unlikely to want to sail with Dad, and probably not for days at a time – your kids may be different but my experience is that what they enjoy most is being skipper of their own ship in the company of others in similar boats. That way, they don't have to follow orders or watch Dad do the interesting stuff, and they can race each other, chase each other, play at capsizing, flirt and all the rest of the stuff kids that age do. If you want them to be interested in boating and particularly sailing long term, I think the best advice is to find a sailing club that does this sort of thing well.
I should add that home built boats are for individualists, which counts out most teenage kids.
So if you would like to dabble in the noble art of boatbuilding, I'd suggest making something simple that you'll never regret owning and which will add a fun dimension to picnics on the river or to the seaside. I'm thinking of a lightweight little rowing boat like the Ella by the way!
Hope that helps a little and doesn't seem too partial!
Not sure if anyone can help but I'm looking to build a model of bawley cockler. Does anyone know where I can get plans to achieve this.
Thank you all in appreciation.
Great website and info. Are you selling plans for a large (or small) scale model of the Iain Oughtred designed St. Ayles Skiff? This was the one that Alec Jordan built for the Scottish Coastal Rowing Project (as seen in Water Craft magazine Jan/Feb 2010). I'm located in the United States.
God bless and many thanks,
I'm sorry Jimmy – I don't sell plans, at least not currently. Check my posts for a link to the Jordan site and ask him. He might be persuaded that the St Ayles skiff is now such a celebrity that he could successfully model kits.
Actually, my guess is that some good models would make great trophies…
Hi, I've been trying to download the free plans for the flying mouse without success.Can anyone please sent me a copy that I can just print off.Thanks most appreciated.
Happy to do it.
I'm delighted you're building one of these boats. Please keep in touch – I'll be pleased to help in any way I can.
If the added weight is no problem to you, then it won't trouble the designer!
The only thing I'd say is that I've never needed laminated such a large area and if I did so I'd want to know (i) how to eliminate bubbles and (ii) how to make sure those that do creep in are there are well sealed.
The second part may be easy – perhaps all you have to do is to make sure you coat both sides of the joint well, I suppose, but the first part is something that would make me turn to the forums for advice from someone who has done it a few times.
i found by accident some plans for a 16` launch, from a book about the ww2, is it possible to look at these some where on the site? hope you can help. regards julian
I'd like to help Julian – but can you tell me anything more about the boat you're looking for? What was it that interested you? Was there a link to some plans? Did it have accommodation?
hello gavin hope you ok ,i am still trying to find out about this motor launch, the plans are in a book you mentioned,is it possible to get a copy or any chance of a copy, regards julian
All the information about this boat that appears in the book is in the post. If you found the particular edition of the Motor Boat Manual concerned (I can't remember which it is), you would not have any more information.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am project secretary to Students Health HOme the largest student CBO/NGO in India. We are contemplating to start a mobile waterway health service in the Sunderbans for students. It would be highly convenient if you can help with some low cost boat plans for the purpose
thanking you
Dr. Amit Shankar Jana
I have written to you directly.
I need a flat bottom dolly boat design could you please make one?
yours sincerly David Doyle
I'm sorry but I don't understand the request. What's a dolly boat? Or do you mean boat dolly?
Thanks, Gavin
Hello Gavin, I have started to build a Barton Skiff and would love to put sails to this boat, please could you suggest a simple rig that I could use as I think it would set my boat off. Maybe also could you suggest the position of the mast.
Kind Regards,
I'm delighted to hear that you're building this boat, and would very much like to follow your progress and provide whatever help seems to be required. Where are you?
However, the Barton skiff is really not intended to be a sailer – it's got the wrong kind of hull, particularly for upwind sailing.
Also, I'd strongly suggest joining the gmaboatbuilders yahoogroup and reading through the experiences of Brian and Charles, who have both built the Barton skiff, and the correspondence will include some useful bits of advice.
Of course, you could always have a small mast with cross trees if it tickles your fancy. Add nav lights and it would have real purpose…
Gavin, I am on the North coast of Northern Ireland, from a small town called Coleraine about 5 minutes from the sea. I like the sound of the mast about 9 ft as my lathe has a 3 ft bed and I would turn it in three sections and have two cross members one at 3 ft and the bottom one at 5 ft with a cool red sail. I am a carpenter by trade so the woodwork side should be sorted. I am finishing all gunwales and finishing work with Mahogany and varnish with a green hull so it should be the best looking boat sitting in our bay. This all sounds good anyway.
Kind Regards
Sorry to bother you again as I have just realised that sailing this boat will not work ( you can tell I am a novice ). Your idea about a small mast, nav lights sounds real good so I think I will run with that. Work is progressing well.
Many Thanks,
Gavin, where would you position the small mast and what size, diameter etc do you think would look good. Hope to get some photos soon, the delay has been because daughter took my camera of to University and left us without one.
Oh my gosh… Attached to the forward bulkhead, three times as high as the sheer, maybe 4 (side to side) by 5in (fore and aft) tapering to 4 by 4 or 3.5 by 3.5 from the front or back to taste, with a small cross tree about two thirds of the way from the sheeline to the top. That's my first guess, based on (an easy place to site it) and the rule of threes that works for most things!
I've just remembered that you want to hang a sail from this mast – so forget the cross tree, make the dimensions an inch thicker each way, and make the mast about 10-12ft high. What sort of sail are you thinking of? I'd suggest a spritsail, or maybe a squaresail. You will of course need a rudder too!
There's a fair amount of geometry involved in placing a sailing rig, so I guess this will be a largely downwind sail.
Hi Gavin, just to let you know I have started to sheet the hull and things are getting exiting to see the shape come together.
regards Andrew
Bloody marvellous. Please stay in close touch!
Gavin, Have finished sheeting bottom of hull and today before weather turned real bad I laminated Mahogany and Ash strips to the transom on the outside and it looks real good. Hope to sand down tomorrow and coat with epoxy to seal then finish the hull with ply before Xmas. Have set my launch date for Easter in Portrush so will be busy after Xmas. Bought an outboard last week and an engineering friend is stripping and rebuilding it for me and also restoring the paintwork to make as new. It is a small vintage 4 stroke as I do love working with old motors.
Andrew McNeill ( barton skiff builder)
I Have Just purchased a 1947 king Cruiserall original hardware , it needs tlc , i am looking for some basic plans to guid me on this restoration adventure , can you help , or direct me to somewhare i might find info .thanks robert
I came to this site to answer the trunnell boat query, but noticed this page. With another hat on I run the Eventide Owners Group website.
We have a host of practical seaworthy craft drawings available, designed by Gibbs, Buchanan and Griffiths, plus others, many have sailed far and wide.
We pass on to anyone in our group, the drawings of all our boats , and membership is free, you just have to enrol. Each is on a CD and we do this at cost, £5.00 inc P&P UK and a little more for overseas.
Visit the site to see more, we just want to keep these designs alive!
Regards, John Williams website coordinator, Eventide Owners Group.
Hello Gavin, my Barton skiff is now finished and is being launched this weekend. Iam so proud of her and I think she looks wonderful. I went with small mast and I added my own thoughts of what I wanted to make her look like. I will send photos and hopefully speak soon. Many thanks, Andrew
Hi Gavin, well here I go again. I am thinking of building the Bluestone Schooner this winter as I am getting a berth in Portrush harbour and I think she will be the boat for me. Do I just download the plans again or can you send me a copy? Many thanks Andrew McNeill
what a marvellous site. intend retiring to goa next year or so,i am a retired joiner so i fancy building a boat for fishing in goa, any advice and plans would be gratefully recieved. reg jeff
Great Site. I am considering building a canoe or small boat. Preference is for a paddler, but I might also attach a sail on occasion. Usage would be on lakes, and such. I doubt we would ever carry more than an ice chest. Most common use would be fishing and wildlife watching. Would the Cinderella be too small for tandem use at only 12 feet.
The Cinderella is a great, fun little boat, but is definitely a one person canoe, unless those involved are about 11 years old!
Hi Gavin! I am looking to build a waterwag! I have a really old mold but am looking for plans so I can make this one lighter. I will have it professionally made so I dont think the complexity of the plans should be an issue. Do you know where I could get these plans?
Many Thanks Congratulations on a fantastic website.
I’d start by contacting the Water Wags class people – they have a web presence here: http://www.rsgyc.ie/sailing/class/category/water_wags
I think I also remember that there are lines drawings in Dixon Kemp, but I don’t recall how much detail is included.
Hi, i´m studying to become a boat builder, and as part of my first exam i want to make a stitch and glue project. I have three weeks of around 35 hours. I was wondering if you could advice me if building the sailing skiff in that time, could be possible. I have somewhat novice skills working with wood, but I am adept at powertools in general and have worked a lot with glasfiber and epoxy shaping, sanding, finishing etc. Hope to hear from you. Anders, Denmark.
I don’t think so – the rig alone would take up that much time! You could possibly build a little paddler or rower in that time, but I think it would have to be rough and ready.
Hi Gav, I grew up in a boatshed, as a professional fisherman and surfing on the east coast of Australia. Now I know this question is relative can be related to experience and how much discomfort you are prepared to tolerate, and in that if you have no choice but die or punch 40 footers, you could probably sail a grand banks dory leeched and yawled up if you had to and were lucky, but as a 55 yo guy whose trade was made redundant by computers and then left stitched up by a divorce that cleaned me out soon after, what would the smallest sailing vessel boat you would advise for solo crossing oceans and global circumnavigations. Of course I’d love an Old maid of kent or 59 foot schooner but it aint gonna happen. Well not instantly and I’m not getting any younger. I’ve made fine violins I got good brass for and am exceptional with timber/lumber, and worked in a loft, slip and sail makers years ago in my teens, so with the right project, in drip fed expenditure, a good book to revise, I could possibly fulfill a dream, and without going into too much detail could use the morale boost of an adventure and perhaps something beautiful to pack up and live on as well. So what sailing craft would fulfill these criteria given restrictions as to where shes lofted up in your opinion please?. I did read of a Dutchman sailing a kayak from Holland to Australia by coast hugging and Island vaults but was hoping to up the ante just a touch with something extremely seaworthy and comfortable to live on alone or two up (spooning:), but the smaller it is the more likely I can accommodate it successfully. You got a magic wand to go with that slide rule handy ? 🙂 Thanks for your input.
Gavin; I have your book ulUltra simple boat building. I would love to build a Mini mouse. Are more detailed plans available or must I make do with what is in the book? By the way I loved the book. Larry
Any plans for a simple version of a gondola or sandalo? It doesn’t have to be asymetrical, but it has to look like a gondola or a sandalo, and be capable of being rowed venetian style–facing forward with a single oar in a forcola oarlock.
I don’t know of any I’m sorry to say. It would be fun to find some though!
Good morning, I am interested in building a small clinker launch aproximately 5 mtrs in length I have searched for plans as of yet to no avail. Can you recommend any plans or where I can obtain them. Thankyou
This may be the best I can offer you at present: https://intheboatshed.net/2008/11/04/drawings-for-a-16ft-motor-launch/
You might consider lengthening it by 10 per cent or so. Would that give you the size you need?
G’day.Just saw Greig Traynor’s request & suggest he look at the very successful designs on Sydney Australia’s David Payne on his website at:www.payneyachts.com.I have seen a number of finished boats of all sizes from David’s drawing board & they look & work great.
There are plenty of photos on the web including a slightly stretched version of the sort of design Greig is looking for,with a small cuddly cab fitted,on Ross Lillistone’s website at baysidewoodenboats.com.au.
They can be built traditionally or as glued lapstrake.
Al Burke ( Cinderella)
btw,the bloke who bought cinders contacted me a while ago to say he has just repainted her same colour & still fishes out of her.He owns a restaurant on the Central Coast of NSW just north of Sydney.
That’s all great stuff. Thanks Allan!
Gavin, I’m looking at building a boat for the first time. I have minimal wood working experience, a dog house, simple stage sets, a few catapults 🙂 . I have built lots of r/c airplanes over the years so I should be able to work from plans. It doesn’t need to be “one boat to rule them all” or anything, just a small row boat, preferably car top able to get me started. Also needs to easally accommodate 250-300 pounds and handle some lake chop. I’m just guessing, but I’d say 12-18 inches peak to trough, maybe not even that much. Later I plan on building a yawl or wherry for rowing, and an outboard skiff ( maybe v bottom ) in the 15-20 foot range for taking the family out. Seriously considering the Ella or Field and Stream skiffs. If you have other recommendations I’d be glad to hear them.
That’s ngreat to hear and good luck with your project. I’d say the Ella would be simplest and most worked out.
Thank you! Hope to get started soon. Rowing the broken down loaner John boats at my local lake is not all that much fun. At least gets me out on the water for now.
You’ll find that even the the little Ella will take you to a completely different place. the Sunny and Julie even more so.
Hi Gavin, I really like your Ella sailing skiff design, but I was looking for a way to use less plywood. Would it work to use oak wood frames and only have plywood for the sections that need buoyancy frame 5 and 2, and leaving out the forward and aft side buoyancy tanks? Would this work or would this not provide enough buoyancy add to much weight?
Weight wise it would be fine. I /think/ the built in buoyancy is about right – include less and you may find she’s a lot harder to bail. Why is economising on plywood important to you?
There’s a few reasons, for one, I have never built a boat, haven’t sailed, but have been on boats before, motor and row, so I don’t know what is a necessity, and what is a luxury.
Another reason is I’m trying to find the most amount of boat for the least amount of money that can take a couple people and gear along the gulf of Mexico on nice days. I want to use it to search around the keys, and on the rivers and lakes, but mostly as a boat I can car top or trail, take to the beach and learn to sail with near the beach. The waters on the gulf are choppy, but mostly calm, the waves are a foot or less most days, but can get to 3 or 4 on occasion.
Also, marine ply is tougher to find and solid woods are found in any hardware store.
I’ve looked at the Julie and light trow mk2, would any these work for what I want to do?
I’m delighted by your interest in the Ella, the Julie and the Light Trow.
These are great questions. What you’re proposing is sea sailing in a small boat. With that in mind I’d advocate starting by going sailing of the kind you’d like to do with someone experienced – there may be someone locally who does that stuff. Certainly there are things to learn in order to do it safely. Around the Gulf of Mexico, you’re not /that/ far from Chuck Leinweber, originator of Duckworks, and he might know someone. There may also be clubs and associations…
Designers design-in the details of their plans for a reason and changing them is best done by the experienced. For example, the small bouyancy boxes in the sides of the Ella are there to make sure that the dinghy floats high enough to come up without too much water inside when righted after a capsize. You might prefer not to have them – but I’d want to right the little boat from a few capsizes before I decided they were unnecessary. Some people might feel that way – they may even feel that those spaces would be better used as handy pockets for bits of line etc, but I think you’d want to know for sure before making the change.
I think most folks who design boats will make the same kind of point.
Good luck with sailing and boat building!
PS – they may even know where to get good ply! Actually, you might think about joining the Duckworks Facebook group and asking whether there’s anyone local who would be happy to give you some on the water time…
Gavin, I am hoping to construct a simple boat like the Light Dinghy shown above. can you send me a better copy of the drawing so that I can use it as a line plan.
Gavin, was looking for plans to the Lilypad punt. Any blogs or posts of users and where they use them? I’m in American Midwest.
It’s in the book only, I’m afraid.
Hi all, This is a scale modeller’s cry for help, please bear with me. Does anyone by chance happen to have plans and/or schematics for Uffa Fox’s AIrborne Lifeboat Mk.II? Haven’t been able to find something detailed yet. Any help highly appreciated! Thank you!
Gavin – do you know where I can obtain plans for a full-size bateau boat? One that was used to transport goods down river. The only plans that I can find are for smaller versions. Thanks, Jim
The largest I’ve seen is the one published in one of Pete Culler’s books. From memory I think that was in the 18-20ft range.
Hello from Nova Scotia Canada , looking for Aurette plans if anyone knows please give a shout . Thanks from Bob [email protected]
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Gill 12 Tugboat Free Plans
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Free plans. To download the file, click HERE
Please note Mike Gill is an amateur small boat designer and like many of us, has no formal naval engineering background. But he has designed a cute little boat and has generously agreed to offer the plans for free here.
Included in the zipped folder are:
- the building sequence (below)
- 13 construction photos
- 9 drawings or dimensioned photos
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Because this boat plan is also sturdy enough to handle a small motor, it includes important points for protecting the wooden hull from spark plug damage. Be careful to follow these guidelines to build the safest boat possible if you imagine installing a motor down the line. The Jollyroger. 7. The Cork.
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Learn how to build a 15 foot knockabout sailboat with these easy plywood plans. See the specific steps and diagrams for cutting, assembling and joining the frames, planks and keel batten.
Download free plans Essential statistics Length overall - 16' Beam at trailer bed - 7' 6" Beam at rubrails - 8' Weight - about 2500 lbs Draft - 5" Headroom - 6' 5" at center Power - 5-10 hp outboard Speed - 5 kts downhill Features "Lisa B...
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Clearly a boat for sheltered waters. This is one of the 8 detailed drawings included with the free plans. See the full arrangement drawing. The cabin is small but adequate, 9' X 7-6". There's room to set up a fullsized standard double bed, 4'-6" X 6'-6". The galley is compact. The fridge should be an icebox set out on the aft deck.
2) Make stem cut bevels at 33 degrees. 3) Attach sides to stem: 4) Build transom and frame: (you will round off the top of the transom after you have attached the sides and gunwales) 5) Attach sides to frame and transom: Test fitting first is a good plan: 6) Cut 1x2 as shown on drawings and install chine logs.
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BOAT PLANS & FULL SIZE PATTERNS - Package Includes latest sail boat plans, SAILBOAT building plan updates & revisions, PLUS direct contact with the designer. With over 600 completed at last count, the Spray 33 along with her larger sister the Spray 36 is one of our all time most popular designs.
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Welcome to Absolutely Free Boat Plans, in this section you will find plans for building boats, accessories and construction techniques. Free plans have a tendency to disappear so it is a good idea to print out any plans you expect to be using in the future. For more information or to comment about a particular free plan please contact the owner ...
Plans & Kits. If you're in the market for a boat to build, this directory of Boat Plans & Kits is a fine place to start. And if your company sells plans or kits, we invite you to list your offerings here. There is no charge for listing, but the featured boats must be built of wood. To refine your search of this directory, use quotation marks.
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15. Zip Tie and Ply Mini Boat. If you'd like to get out on the water for a fun day of fishing or sight-seeing, consider building this unique mini-boat. It's made from zip ties and plywood. Though it may sound a little sketchy on the surface, it seems quite buoyant and inexpensive too.
Free plans. To download the file, ... The files in this zip package include a small cartoon in gif form, a gif of the drawings, a dxf of the drawings, and a copy of the .hul file of the hull form, which was created using Gregg Carlson's Chine Hull Developer software. ... An Aluminum Motor/Sail Dinghy Plans for this dinghy consist of two A0 (44 ...
Boats designed by Gavin Atkin - The Barton skiff, a low powered outboard skiff - get the plans here. The Barton skiff - click on the thumbnail for a larger drawing. Brian King's Barton skiff during construction: See a short video of Brian's boat in action using a 3.5hp outboard at 6knots or so. Note the near complete lack of wake, which should indicate that the boat's working ...
Please note Mike Gill is an amateur small boat designer and like many of us, has no formal naval engineering background. But he has designed a cute little boat and has generously agreed to offer the plans for free here. Included in the zipped folder are: the building sequence (below) 13 construction photos. 9 drawings or dimensioned photos.