Boatbuilding Tips and Tricks
Monday, December 27, 2010
New Glousterman Ultralight Stitch and Glue Dory Launched
Check out this beautiful 15' Glousterman ultralight dory. These are easily built out of two sheets of 1/4 inch plywood and check in at under 50 lbs when complete, yet they can haul over 400 lbs, can handle rough water, and are one of the fastest row boats you can build. As a bonus, you can build them quickly; I built the first hull in about 15 hours over two weekends. Lots of fun!
Here's the plans info page: http://spirainternational.com/hp_glou.html
- Jeff
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Bayou Jubilee Hull #1 Coming Together
Mark Vickers who has built two of my boats, an Oysterman and an Alaskan:
... is now putting together a new boat - an 18' x 5' flats fishing boat called the Bayou Jubilee. Obviously Mark knows what he's doing - he's a carpenter by trade, so is doing an excellent job, really fast too. His slide shows really show some great details on the fastest ways to do many of the tasks, like the fairing operation, especially up by the bow where some people have expressed concern.
Mark is blogging about his project, too. Check it out at: My Jubilee Blog Page
I plan to make the Bayou Jubilee plans available shortly. Just let me know if you're itching to get started on one to be ready for the spring season.
- Jeff
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Free Wooden Boat Plans Video
I just created and uploaded this new video entitled:Free Wooden Boat Plans onto youtube. It describes my free plans offered the site and how they are built. Check it out.
Free Boat Plans Information Page
- Jeff
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Pacific Power Dories Landing on the Beach
I just caught this great video of Pacific Power Dories landing on the beach in Oregon. You can see how handy these specialized craft really are. The ability to launch and retrieve through the surf makes these great boats so useful anywhere in the world, not just in their native Pacific Northwest. If you need a sturdy, sea capable boat that'll handle beaching and launching through the surf these just can't be beat.
I have designs from 14 feet to 32 feet to cover everyting from sliding into a mountain pond for trout fishing to hauling crab pots offshore in Alaska. They handle the roughest seas only draft a few inches, and as a bonus, are easy to build. Here's my lineup:
14' Seneca Pacific Power Dory Wooden Boat Plans Information Page
17' Tillamook Pacific Power Dory Wooden Boat Plans Information Page
19' Albion Pacific Power Dory Wooden Boat Plans Information Page
23' Winchester Pacific Power Dory Wooden Boat Plans Information Page
27' Sitka Pacific Power Dory Wooden Boat Plans Information Page
32' Kodiak Pacific Power Dory Wooden Boat Plans Information Page
- Jeff
Sunday, December 5, 2010
New Marsh Rat Duck Hunting Boat Launched
Just got these pictures of a new Marsh Rat hunting boat. This was this builder's first attempt at building a boat, and in spite of a few "Oh no, what did I do?" emails, the boat came out great!
Marsh Rat Duck Hunting Boat Plans
Information Page
- Jeff
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
New Construction Photo Essay for Mission Bay
This new Construction Photo Essay for the Mission Bay ultralight stitch and glue skiff was recently uploaded. The Mission Bay is a great, stable, very light boat that can cartopped easily and still carry a small family. You can even stand and cast in it. I built the first one in about 20 hours, too.
You can see the photo essay here: Free Downloadable Boatbuilding Information
Here's the Mission Bay information page: http://spirainternational.com/hp_miss.html
- Jeff
Monday, November 22, 2010
New Article Posted - The Truth About Free Boat Plans on the Internet
I just posted a new article about those free boat plans scanned from old magazines on the Internet. Be sure to read this before you invest a lot of time and money on one of these.
You can read it here: http://spirainternational.com/a_freeplans.html
- Jeff
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Recent Homebuilt Canadian Drift Boat Launching
Eric Adaway from Michigan recently completed this 14' Canadian Midwestern style drift boat. It came out great!
Here's a portion of the e-mail Eric sent me...
Jeff,
See attached Canadian Drift boat that I just completed, absolutely fantastic. I can honestly say that in the little
lake we tested it at we go about 3 admirers within an hour time. I am definitely going to be purchasing some more
plans and building more boats.
Sincerely
Eric
You can find out more about the Canadian and order downloadable boat building plans here: 14' Canadian Midwestern Style Drift Boat Plans
Keep those pictures coming. I love to see your projects.
- Jeff
Thursday, November 18, 2010
New Stitch and Glue Boatbuilding Manual
Well, as long as I was updating - I redid the Illustrated Manual of How to Build a Spira International Stitch and Glue Boat as well. Have a look:
You can download it by clicking on the image here: Spira International Free E-Books, Videos, and Articles
- Jeff
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
New Ply On Frame Manual
I just finished redoing the Ply on Frame Illustrated Instruction Manual and added in all of the How-To Guide information. This is the basic instruction manual I give out with all of the plans. It's available now for download on the Free e-books page for anyone. It has lots of new info and will be a great stand alone read as well. Stop by and download it and let me know what you think.
You can download it by clicking on the image here: Spira International Free E-Books, Videos, and Articles
- Jeff
Friday, November 5, 2010
New Riverman Drift Boat In Argentina
I just Received these pictures from Jose Villanueva, a builder in Argentina. Jose did a great job and the boat looks very fishable. Those mountains look fabulous too. This is a new lake just dammed recently and apparently it is stuffed with big trout. Looks like lots of fun to me!
The Riverman is a 14' stitch and glue Western Style McKenzie River Drift Boat. More information and the link to purchase the plans may be found here: http://spirainternational.com/hp_rive.html
Keep those pictures and emails coming. I love seeing everyone's projects!
- Jeff
Monday, November 1, 2010
Ozark Fisherman Construction Photo Essay Uploaded
I just finished this new Construction Photo Essay for the Ozark Fishermen ultralight drift boat. The Ozark Fisherman is really light - around 80 lbs, so it can be cartopped with ease. It is also stable enough for a fly fishermen to stand and cast. In addition, it can be built for under $100 in materials:
Here's the Ozark Fisherman information page: http://spirainternational.com/hp_ozar.html
- Jeff
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Seneca Construction Photo Essay Uploaded
I put up the link and photo before I'd finished the actual construction photo essay pdf. A number of your emailed me to point out the link was broken. I've now uploaded the document so the link now works and you can download the photo essay. The Seneca is a very east to build 15' Pacific Power dory that became quickly popular after I designed it. Two were built immediately and several more shortly after that. It's a great little boat, stable and capable. Here'a a link to download the photo essay of the construction:
Here's the Seneca information page: http://spirainternational.com/hp_sene.html
- Jeff
Friday, October 1, 2010
McKenzie River Drift Boat Completed in South America
Mario Monardes from all the way down in Chile completed this 13' Mackinaw Western Style, McKenzie River driftboat and is now using it to drift the beautiful trout rivers along the Pacific Coast of Chile in South America. I've seen photos and that is some incredible country and full of fish!
Muy buen trabajo, Mario!
Here's the Mackinaw information page: http://spirainternational.com/hp_mack.html
I love seeing pictures of everyone's projects. Thank you for sending them in.
- Jeff
Friday, October 1, 2010
New 14' Pescadero Carolina Dory Launched
Jim Cunningham from California just finished his Pescadero 14' Carolina Dory. It came out beautiful!
Great job there, Jim! Looks like it's time for fun in the sun!
Here's the Pescadero information page: http://spirainternational.com/hp_pesc.html
- Jeff