Over about a six month period I built a boat. The hardest decision was to design my own or build from a set of plans that were already available. I chose the latter because there were already many, many plans available.
The plans I built from are included in the book instant boatbuilding with dynamite payson, the boat is known as the bolger cartopper. A chronological build is available on my blog.
The plans I built from are included in the book instant boatbuilding with dynamite payson, the boat is known as the bolger cartopper. A chronological build is available on my blog.
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Signing UpStep 1: Materials Selection
Boats can be built from a variety of materials. Typically fiberglass, wood, steel, or aluminum. This boat was built from a combination of wood and fiberglass.
Boats built from wood usually employ exotic "marine" ply or to save on cost "exterior grade" ply wood. Since I just wanted a boat that floats and knew I would be fiber-glassing it anyway I chose a high quality 5 ply 1/4" exterior plywood available at my local lumberyard. My total cost was just under $80 for the four sheets that the bolger cartopper requires. This represents the largest materials expense in building the boat.
The rest of the boat required a small amount of douglass fir lumber, about 200 ring shank nails, 8 yards of 6oz bidirectional fiberglass cloth, 1.5 gallons of polyester resin(If i did it again I would use epoxy resin), and some electrical fence wire(for stitching panels together).
My total cost not including engine was $300
Boats built from wood usually employ exotic "marine" ply or to save on cost "exterior grade" ply wood. Since I just wanted a boat that floats and knew I would be fiber-glassing it anyway I chose a high quality 5 ply 1/4" exterior plywood available at my local lumberyard. My total cost was just under $80 for the four sheets that the bolger cartopper requires. This represents the largest materials expense in building the boat.
The rest of the boat required a small amount of douglass fir lumber, about 200 ring shank nails, 8 yards of 6oz bidirectional fiberglass cloth, 1.5 gallons of polyester resin(If i did it again I would use epoxy resin), and some electrical fence wire(for stitching panels together).
My total cost not including engine was $300
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Excellent suggestion about using epoxy instead of polyester resin, it is much more durable, but does cost a lot more.
I like the modifications you made to the seats.
Can this one be modified to use a sailing rig?, I know the Gypsy was orginally designed for the sailing rig.
any thought about doing a canoe next?