Boat building

[dodge_nyc]

I've made a few flies, rods, and just can't resist the next step (notwithstanding the lack of $ or a garage)...I want to build a wooden drift boat.

Most of the posts on this site have had a bunch of useful info so I thought I would *float* this idea. Anyone build a wooden drift boat from scratch? by that I mean having a plan but not buying a kit.

There are a number of sites such as www.montanaboatbuilders.com

More difficult than it appears? Stupid to even try?

[jrkane]

www.gatorboats.com take a look. not sure if they have a drift boat. I am also looking into building a multi-purpose row boat. not really sure yet. My luck i'll prob pick a kayak for easy $$ in my travels...

[lowwall]

I have been researching building a boat for years and have many books on the subject. What should be the first line on the first page of each book should be.

1)You ned to have a place to build the boat with at least 5ft clearence around it.
2)Living in NH temperature control is important as well, becuase of all the glues/ epoxies used.

You will not be able to get the job done in a timely fasion without these two things. I have looked into those portable garages, can get one for around $500. I have also seen strutures built with Straping and tarps used for boat building.

I am saving up to build a barn, then I will build a boat. Been lookinging at the Indian River Skiff. But the type of boat changes with me every 6 months. If I had a Barn my Yard would look like a Boat yard for sure :P


In the mean time I recomend reading
Boatbuilding In Plywood By Glen L Witt. Some real good stuff in there! You can do allot of stuff with the stich and glue method. We are lucky living here , there is a marine plywood suplier in Somerville Ma. You can get up to 20' long sheets of marine Ply wood.
Also wooden boat magizine is full of great info. There wooden boat show is comming up AUG25-27 in Newport RI. I am going to that.


Good Luck and Keep Us Posted
Mike

[Birddogtwo]

I had planned on building my own drift boat. I like traditional... bamboo rods, side by side shotguns etc. I decided to start small, so I bought a set of plans from Gator Boats and built a small wooden jon boat for still water fishing. What I found was the cost was easily 4 times that listed and the build time was probably the same 4x.

As I looked at drift boats I found that by the time all was said and done I could buy a boat for little more than it would cost. I didn't cry the first time I "dinged my chines" the boat is modular so I can change the seating configuration, is no maintenance, has built in rod holders and other conveniences, and best of all is garanteed against hull penetrations for life.

So while my boaty is not as pretty sitting in the river as a wooden boat for me it was much more practical. Good luck and keep us posted with pictures.

Dave

If you do actually get going on this get a hold of Pat Berry on Uplandjournal.com He gave me a lot of helpfull advice. Go to the flyfishing forum and search drift boats also. Again best wishes on your project.