New Stitch and Glue Boatbuilding Video

I just uploaded a new video entitled, "How To Build a Stitch And Glue Boat" to Youtube with a link on my main site, the Boatbuilding University page (Free E-Books, Videos and Articles) Be sure to check it out:

New Stitch & Glue Boat Plywood Cutout Guide

After receiving a few questions on how exactly to cut out the plywood for stitch and glue boats, I have developed a new free how-to guild outlining exactly how to lay out the curves for stitch and glue boat plywood panels. You can find it on my site in the Boat Building University section (Free Videos, E-Books and Reports) here: http://spirainternational.com/hp_free.html

New Homebuilt Boat Photo Galleries added to Web Site

By popular demand, I've added boat photo galleries to some of the boat plans on the main web site for your viewing pleasure. I don't have enough photos of some of the boats yet, so if you've built one of my boats please send in pictures. Here are links to the new photo galleries:

http://spirainternational.com/hg_mack.html
http://spirainternational.com/hg_ozar.html
http://spirainternational.com/hg_cana.html
http://spirainternational.com/hg_yuko.html
http://spirainternational.com/hg_june.html
http://spirainternational.com/hg_glou.html
http://spirainternational.com/hg_caro.html
http://spirainternational.com/hg_hatt.html
http://spirainternational.com/hg_miss.html

Spira Boats Now on Facebook

I just set up a new Facebook page for Spira International Easy-to-build boat designs called Spira Boats. Stop by, check it out and sign up as a friend.

Spira Boats

Create Your Badge

I uploaded a whole slew of pictures, too, many of which have never been published before on my site or blog.

New Mission Bay Ultralight Stitch and Glue Boat Launched

The builder did an excellent job on this 11' Mission Bay ultralight stitch and glue boat built exactly to plan. These easy to build boats can be put together in a couple of weekends by anyone with moderate competence using hand and hand-help power tools. This hull weighs only about 70 lbs so can be lifted on the roof of a small car or SUV, and launched in any lake, stream, bay or the ocean. This model will handle three people with ease too. Check out the free downloadable study plans for this and other boat designs on the main site using the link to the right.

Follow Me on Twitter

OK gang, I've now put myself on Twitter so you can follow my musings. Keeping up with the latest technology and trends is a necessary part of running an information business these days. It's working too. If you type How To Build a Boat in Google, my YouTube video of the same name comes up #1 now. It's impressive and has resulted in quite a number of new visitors who I've been able to learn about the joys of modern home boat building.

Anyway my new Twitter address is http://www.twitter.com/SpiraBoats

Jeff

Boat Building Epoxy Source

I often get e-mails from people asking about what kind of epoxy is best to use for building my boats. I've used an online supplier, John Greer, in the past and find his products excellent quality and very well priced. He ships quickly, answers questions promptly and also stocks thickening agents like cab-o-sil and microspheres, and also carries fiberglass cloth and tape, also at excellent prices. Check out his web site: http://www.jgreer.com/. The "Green" product is ideal for both gluing and wetting fiberglass cloth on my boats.

New Fishing Boat Building Article

I wrote this new article and uploaded it to my site recently about building fishing boats. It takes a look at the special needs of fisherman and offers information about which easy to build boats are most suited to the kind of fishing you do. Check it out at: http://spirainternational.com/a_fishingboat.html You can also download a pdf version of the article to print out and read at your leisure.

- Jeff

Marine or Construction Plywood for Boatbuilding?

The question always arises on whether to use marine or construction plywood for building boats. Let's first discuss the different types of ply. There used to be a type of plywood called interior ply that was manufactured using natural glues that would let loose when wet. It is not made anymore. Nearly all ply made now, that I've ever come across uses synthetic, waterproof glues. Plies made of softwoods, usually fir but sometimes pine, have knotholes. If these are left open on the surface laminations, it is called "C" grade. If the knotholes are filled with football shaped plugs, it is considered "B" grade, and if it has no knotholes, it is considered "A" grade. So ABX plywood would have no knotholes on one side, filled knotholes on the other and has been laminated with waterproof glue (X = exterior.) The problem lies in the interior laminations. In most plywood the knotholes are left unfilled leaving a void on the inside. In marine plywood these interior knotholes are also filled leaving the ply void free.

For my boats, I only recommend marine plywood in the event the builder elects not to fiberglass and epoxy coat the boat on the outside. If the builder decides to glass cover the boat ABX plywood is sufficient.

As an alternate to marine plywood, hardwood plywood may be used. Mahogany and Birch are the most common. They have no knotholes, so don't have any voids. The only downside to using hardwood plys is that they don't bend easily so sometimes you need to laminate two thinner layers of plywood in an area where there is a lot of bends.

- Jeff

New Boat Building Video on Youtube

Hi All:
I just posted a new video on youtube that I'm sure you'll enjoy. It goes through all of the different types of boats I design. I describe them and show some new pictures I haven't published elsewhere yet. Check it out:




Let me know what you think!

- Jeff

Free Study Plans

I've been looking over other designer's websites and have found that many charge for study plans. I can understand this because they take time and money to print out and mail. On the Spira International, Easy-To-Build Boat Plans web site, study plans are always FREE. You can download them immediately and print them out on your own home computer printer. It makes things a lot easier and you get to see the study plans RIGHT NOW! Isn't that a refreshing change.

- Jeff Spira

New Boats added to Website

I've updated the site with some new boats I've worked on for specific customers. They include a new 20' ultralight stitch and glue rowing dory called the Puget Challenge for long distance rowing, two new vee bottom Carolina dories, the 15' x 7' Alamitos, and the 5.2 M Metric Kachemak. The very popular Mission Bay is also now available in metric dimensions as well. Also the 25' Kona Hawaiian Sampan and 32' Kodiak Pacific Power dory plans are complete and you can now buy them online. Several of these hulls are under construction now and I hope to have pictures soon. I also put up a 14' Jon boat that I've had done for some time called the Crawdad. (Mmmm Cajun mud bugs - makes my mouth water just thinking about them.)

I'm working on a series of sailing sharpies as well. Study plans for the first one are up so you can look it over. It's called the Inagua, named after the island in the Bahamas. It's a 14 footer. I have future plans for a 19 footer and a 24 footer also.

Be sure to stop by and tell me what you think.

- Jeff Spira

New Huntington Harbor Launched - Free Boat Plans

I just got these pictures from Nathan Jones who lives up in the Canadian Arctic. Nathan did a great job on his Huntington Harbor even though he had a few challenges. Here's some excerpts from his e-mail to me:

"THANKS for the free plans. I built your Huntington Harbor kayak, and it was quite a fun experience for me. I live in a community in the Canadian Arctic so material costs are outrageous, and I had to improvise (wood from the dump, NO kidding) As you can tell from the pix it floats fine, it's VERY stable feeling, and handles great! I look forward to using it to go after some of the monster lake trout and char we have up here!! Thanks again for the plans."

New Glousterman Rowing Dory Launched

Jim Aiker of Boise Idaho just completed and launched this very well made 15' Glousterman rowing dory. This ultra light stitch and glue dory can be built of only two sheets of 1/4" plywood. Jim's e-mail to me said:

"Hey Jeff. Here's pictures of my recently completed Glusterman. The more I take her out, the more I like it. BTW weight is 48lbs.

-Jim in landlocked Boise."

Can You Really Use Construction Grade Lumber?

I get this question a lot so let me answer it very clearly YES! You can just go to Home Depot and buy the straightest, most knot free construction lumber you can find and build one of my boats. The use of epoxy as an adhesive and sealer makes modern boat building much less fussy than the old timers with their carefully hewn oaken logs had to put up with. There's no need to buy expensive, "marine" grade lumber to build your boat - especially not a stitch and glue boat. Using 7 ply Meranti 1/2" ply for a stitch and glue boat is WAY overkill. First of all, it's way too expensive and second, it's incredibly difficult to bend. Good old cheapo 3 ply 10mm Philippine (Lauan) mahogany is a far better choice, and it's about 1/8th of the cost. The epoxy will saturate into the wood sealing it off from moisture incursion, and will strengthen the wood to a steel-like strength. Remember some people use urethane foam and even balsa wood for boat building. Either of these saturated with epoxy is strong enough, what makes you think good old fir ply wouldn't be?

New Boatbuilding Tips and Tricks Blog Started

Hi all. I thought I'd start a blog to document tips tricks for building wooden boats and dories. I get questions from some people who are building my boats or are just curious about building my boats and I figure if one person has asked the question, there must be many more who have those question and just don't want to ask them.

Here I intend to discuss home built boat designs, boat construction techniques, boat building materials, tools required for boat building, boat fiberglassing techniques, stitch and glue boat building methods, fasteners for boat building, boat repair and painting, and just about any other topic of relevance about building boats, skiffs, dories, fishing boats sail boats, and more.

If you have any requests or comments, feel free to either post them or ask.