Boatbuilding Tips and Tricks

McKenzie River Drift Boat Video

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:05:00 +0000

One of my customers sent me a link to this great youtube video all about wooden drift boats. It's great. Thanks Scott.

New Homebuilt Boat Photo Galleries added to Web Site

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:29:00 +0000

Construction begun on 34' St. Pierre Dory

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:34:00 +0000

I'm nearly finished with the plans for two new Grand Banks style (St. Pierre) dories. One is a 32' x 10' and the other, it's bigger brother at 34'x12' The person I originally did the plans for was eager to get started on the larger of the two, the 34 footer, so I've been sending him drawings as they are completed. One week and he has many of the ribs finished, so he's not wasting any time at all. He's also blogging about the construction. Here's a link with pictures: http://www.shugarbear.blogspot.com/ Check it out!

Spira Boats Now on Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:36:00 +0000

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 Oysterman Carolina Dory Launched

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:13:00 +0000

Jeff Frankel from up the the San Francisco Bay era of California just launched his Spira International Oysterman Carolina dory. He did a great job on it too. Here's an excerpt from the email he just sent me:

It’s done! I put an old 25HP merc outboard on it and that way enough power. It’s hot flat and glassy on San Francisco Bay this week. I’m going to try water skiing behind it if I can find a ski tomorrow. Thanks for all of your help along the way.

I'm sure Jeff's in for hours of fun in his new boat. Nice paint scheme too!

New Mission Bay Ultralight Stitch and Glue Boat Launched

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:32:00 +0000

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.

New Home Built Boat - Hatteras V-Bottom Dory Launched

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:24:00 +0000

I just got these photos of a newly launched Hatteras v-bottom dory built from my plans:

It was built by Tom Bashaw. Great Job, Tom!

Here's Tom's e-mail that accompanied his photos:

Hey, Jeff.
Thought I'd send you some pic's of the vee bottom Hatteras. I get more compliments on this boat than any boat I've owned. People love it and most think it's an old restoration, too funny. I launched it on 8/9/09. I was impressed how well it handles. I put 115 hp Evinrude on it. I picked it up for nothing and rebuilt it so I couldn't beat the cost.... hp wise it's a bit much, but weight is just a over 300lbs so it's fine. Hope all is well and thanks for designing such beautiful boats.

Tom

New Article: Home Built Boat Seaworthiness

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:22:00 +0000

I just finished and uploaded a new article about homebuilt boat seaworthiness. I seem to get a lot of questions about whether this or that boat is seaworthy enough to handle the conditions at this or that locale, so I thought I'd address the real issues that people should consider before building a boat. It can be found here: http://spirainternational.com/a_seaworthy.html.

19' Alaskan Grand Banks Dory Now Available in Metric

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:48:00 +0000

I've added an optional 5.8 Meter Metric dimensioned plans for my very popular 19' Alaskan Grand Banks style dory. These new plans aren't only converted to metric dimensions, but have also been redesigned to use standard metric sized lumber (timber for those of you down under.)

Here's one almost complete in the Gulf Coast of the US:

Follow Me on Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:48:00 +0000

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

New Carolinian Carolina Dory Launched

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:21:00 +0000

This beautiful Carolinian Carolina Dory was recently launched in Alaska. The builder did an excellent job and his workmanship shows. He elected to build it with a well mounted outboard instead of the usual transom mount.

New Free Boat Plans Page

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:26:00 +0000

I recently updated my Easy To Build Boat Plans site with a new page featuring two boat plans you can download immediately for free. The first is my 12' Huntington Harbor Kayak, Dozens of these have been built to date and are being used in lakes rivers and the ocean. I also now offer Free downloadable plans for the all new Booth Bay 9 foot mini Grand Banks dory. I just completed the design and already there are several under construction. I'll reward anyone who sends in the first photo of a completed hull with a special prize. http://spirainternational.com/hp_frpl.html

New Canadian Drift Boat Launched

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:33:00 +0000

This newly built Canadian drift boat was launched recently and is shown here on a river in Michigan. The builder did an excellent job and is ready for many more fun fishing trips this summer. See how a few hours in your garage each week, only a few hundred dollars in materials costs, can turn a woodworking project into an inexpensive summer of boating fun. Check out more easy-to-build boat plans on my main page.

- Jeff

Framed Boat Plywood Cutout Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:06:00 +0000

I've just added a new guide to my web site entitled: Framed Boat Plywood Cutout Guide. You should check it out of you've ever wondered why boat designers never seen to tell you what size and shape you're supposed to cut out the plywood planking. You will be surprised, I promise!

Framed Boat Plywood Cutout Guide.

Let me know what you think.

- Jeff

Boat Building Epoxy Source

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:45:00 +0000

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.

Blogging Building a 19' Alaskan Grand Banks Dory

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:00:00 +0000

My customer who is building the 19' Alaskan Grand Banks Dory below is blogging about his experience. He's collected a great series of posts about the actual experience of building a boat. It's worth a read. Remember that blogs are organized backwards, that it the latest posts are first. The best way to read them is from the oldest forward, so it makes sense. Stop by and take a look. It really captures the day by day experiences of what building a boat is all about. Here's his blog: http://build-a-dory.blogspot.com/.

Alaskan 19' Grand Banks Dory Coming Together

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:12:00 +0000

This is the second of my designs, this customer has built. His other was an Oysterman Carolina Dory. He's doing a great job on it and it's been skinned already. It won't be long until he'll be out having a blast in his new home built boat. The Alaskan is a very capable, rugged dory suitable for river, lake, near coastal and even offshore use. I'll keep you posted on the progress and post pictures once it's complete.

- Jeff

Innovative Clamping Technique for Boat Building

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:07:00 +0000

I'm sure you've seen photos of huge arrays of wood clamps when people are building boats and though, "Wow, I couldn't afford all of those clamps if I ever wanted to build a boat!" Well, don't worry. there are ways around this. This Huntington Harbor kayak builder scrounged all of the materials to build his kayak, mostly from the dump, and were he lives (the Canadian Arctic) there are no inexpensive tool stores or swap meets to pick up a bunch of inexpensive clamps, so he made due with scrounged materials. Here you can see he used simple polypropylene rope tied around the chine log, then with short sticks, he twisted the rope pulling the frame elements into place. This is commonly called a "Spanish Windlass." So, see you don't have to have lots of fancy tools to do a great job on easy to build boat plans like those available at Spira International. Inc. Here's how his boat came out:

New Fishing Boat Building Article

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:07:00 +0000

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

Wooden Boat Building - The Perfect Winter Project

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:19:00 +0000

What have you been doing this winter. Watching TV and working on building up that spare tire around your middle. Not this guy. One of my customers in the Midwest has been spending some spare time in his garage building this beautiful easy to build 18 Carolinian Carolina Dory. He almost there now and when spring arrives, guess what he's going to be doing come spring? You guessed it, fishing in one of the most economical, light, safe and fun boats you could ever own. You can build it for a couple hundred dollars in 100 hours or so. What are YOU waiting for?

Boatbuilding Web Site Update and New Stock Boat Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:24:00 +0000

I've just updated the Spira International Easy To Build Boat Plans web site and added some new stock plans. You can now buy the Sitka 27' Pacific power dory plans, the Alamitos 15' vee-bottom dory plans, and the 13' Marsh Rat Duck hunting boat plans.

I also added a page about Custom Boat and Marine Equipment Design where I discuss my capabilities to design your semi-custom boat ideas, custom work boat, pleasure boat and yacht designs, marine facilities and equipment design, heavy load lifting and moving equipment and marine hydraulics systems and equipment. Stop by and take a look: Spira International Custom Boat and Marine Equipment Design.

I also added articles in the free articles section including: "Bearings for Seawater Immersion Use," "Portable Piers - How to Unload Ships Without Port Facilities," and "How to Move Massive Structures Using Hydraulics." You can check them out at: Boatbuilding Article Directory.

- Jeff

Ultra Light Duck Boat Plans Now Available

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:01:00 +0000

Announcing the Marsh Rat, an ultralight duck hunting boat that you can build at home. The Marsh Rat is easily built in the typical home workshop using materials available at any home improvement warehouse of lumber yard.

This convenient size boat can handle two hunters and a dog, and will handle the rough autumn and winter water conditions normally encountered during duck hunting season, yet is lightweight enough to be car-topped and carried by one person through the weeds to get those really good remote duck hunting spots. Ducks are smart enough to not land near boat launch ramps, so how come duck boats aren't designed to be launched in unimproved places. Well, this one is. Be sure to check out the Marsh Rat Duck Hunting boat page: Marsh Rat Ultralight Duck Hunting Boat Plans Page.

Marine or Construction Plywood for Boatbuilding?

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:36:00 +0000

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 Mackinaw Drift Boat Launched

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:52:00 +0000

One of my customers just sent me some new pictures of a gorgeous Mackinaw McKenzie River style drift boat he built from a set of my plans. He was building it for a special fishing trip drifting a river in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Sure looks like he had a great time. It just doesn't get any better than this.

- Jeff

New Boat Building Video on Youtube

noreply@blogger.com (Spira International) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:56:00 +0000

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