Plywood small yacht
- Thread starter Wansworth
- Start date
William_H
Well-Known Member
What is this all about? Small yacht implies to me something bigger than dinghy with a cabin. Mr Hartley a New Zealander published designs for small yachts from 14ft to 21 ft in plywood. All very good in their time and here in Oz still to be found s/h. However a small yacht is likely to spend time on a trailer and gathers rain water inside which is a killer of plywood with rot. So with the market full of GRP small yachts which though old are almost bullet proof from neglect, (only the wood parts deteriorate) why would you consider a small wooden yacht? (unless you are enamored of wooden boats in which case you probably want a planked boat not plywood) ol'will
Grith
Well-Known Member
Because there are some designs virtually unavailable in fibreglass that are excellent at their designed task. Take Ross Turner’s ( now sadly deceased) Jarcat 6 and 5 giving you a small light cruising catamaran with planing under a modest outboard ability and super light towing weight for its size and capabilities.
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
Building a small plywood yacht is a totally different animal to building a grp boat,as you know.Iimagine great satisfaction canbe had building something that can be completed by one person with basic woodworking skills
geem
Well-Known Member
I will be building a new 12ft tender next year as ours is 30 years old. The new one will be the updated design of the old one. Slightly more transom width and 50mm more freeboard. Otherwise the same. It will be foam core construction built over temporary frames. Stiff and light. Not just wood working skills. Basic grp skills as well.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Very popular amongst home builders in UK, France and USA, mainly for small "traditional" craft and one off high performance boats. Modern materials such as epoxy and carbon fibre have transformed ply as a structural core and reduced the problems of deterioration.
geem
Well-Known Member
I think these days ply is used less as a structural core on small boats. Using temporary frames to lay foam core over then laying glass over is so easy. Turn the hull over and knock the temporary frames out before glassing the inside. You have a super stiff and light hull. It's how performance boats are made but quite feasible for ammeter builders as well. To get the same stiffness as as foam cored with ply would be way heavier. There is always the risk of water penetration over the life of the hull with ply as well. Closed cell modern foams don't have this issue. I will be building my new dinghy with 3/4" core and epoxy resin. Carbon in the high stress areas.
Last edited:
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
But plywood boatbuilding a time tested process doesn’t involve the builder in providing a heated shed or getting togged up to apply epoxy resin to cloth,it’s a nice simple business that can be carried out without fuss.I worked for Kelsall building foam sandwich boats,lots of nasty dust and chemicals,home building a small boat will be relaxing and not governed by any controls over cureing times etc,back to the old days ofthe pace set by the woodworker
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Suggest you look at Watercraft magazine to see what is happening in the small home built boat scene. Rarely seen a mention of foam . CNC cut ply panels and bulkheads, multi chine planking, clinker ply stitch and glue, epoxy fillet joints, epoxy glass sheathing and for the brave strip planking are the sorts of techniques used. Wood is central to the ethos because it is relatively easy to work and aesthetically pleasing.
These techniques are labour intensive and most builders do it for the build and to get a boat that is not commercially available. Many designers offer designs for home building and suppliers of precut kits exist in UK, France, Australia and US. Very active scene.
geem
Well-Known Member
That's the UK. There is a whole world out there. In the USA building with foam core is very common. UK lags behind. My pal sells plans for home build skiffs. Almost all are built in foam core. None in ply. You can build in strip cedar but foam is the most popular due to reduced weight and hull stiffness.
Building in basalt cloth in USA becoming popular. You can't even buy it in the UK
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
It’s always good to check that your information is current, I guess
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
My nesting dinghy is pretty much perfect other than having a dagger board in the fore half/thwart .
In the back of my mind is to “somehow” add a lifting keel instead and then you can tack up muddy rivers and touch n tack instead of stopping !
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
I very much like the idea of building my own boat in wood, and especially fascinated by the magic involved in producing something curved in 3 dimensions out of straight/flat materials. I have in the past spent many happy hours considering different design and construction methods. I was much taken, in particular, by Iain Oughtred's elegant designs and favoured 'clinker ply' technique. Though his strip-planked, or even traditional wood construction, canoe designs also appeal. Not to mention my own cunning innovative construction/structure concept for a 'folding' canoe or kayak!
Sadly, I know I will never do it - I lack the skills, temperament, premises and funds to do it. Any one of those would, or certainly should, rule it out. The combination of them all puts it unquestionably beyond any possibility, but somehow one's dreams are not quelled by such rationality!
The USA, meanwhile, is a whole different world. Judging by YouTube videos, half the American population seems to have their own vast DIY workshop, better lit, heated and equipped with a comprehensive array of machine and hand tools than the average UK commercial boatbuilder of a few years back.
Sadly, I know I will never do it - I lack the skills, temperament, premises and funds to do it. Any one of those would, or certainly should, rule it out. The combination of them all puts it unquestionably beyond any possibility, but somehow one's dreams are not quelled by such rationality!
The USA, meanwhile, is a whole different world. Judging by YouTube videos, half the American population seems to have their own vast DIY workshop, better lit, heated and equipped with a comprehensive array of machine and hand tools than the average UK commercial boatbuilder of a few years back.
Last edited:
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Wandy, if you feel brave, I have the plans for Devlin's Winter Wren. Slightly bigger at 18'8", but otherwise very similar. I cut out the panels, then decided to move. Changed course and built one of Oughtred's double enders. Now, just finishing a Bolger mini cruiser.
Ply has a lot going for it and only deteriorates (Ol'Will) if left unloved. My Oughtred boat is 15 yrs old and, apart from needing some paint, as good as when launched. As for time to build, Started in October, launched in April. Spare time, as I had a majour house restoration to do. Work included making all the fittings, spars, sails and trailer.
Current one has taken a bit longer...
If you would like his book on boat building, send me an address by PM.
Ply has a lot going for it and only deteriorates (Ol'Will) if left unloved. My Oughtred boat is 15 yrs old and, apart from needing some paint, as good as when launched. As for time to build, Started in October, launched in April. Spare time, as I had a majour house restoration to do. Work included making all the fittings, spars, sails and trailer.
Current one has taken a bit longer...
If you would like his book on boat building, send me an address by PM.
Last edited:
Bouba
Well-Known Member
......the thoughts of chairman Bouba have been deleted
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
Although I say so myself one of my best efforts was a self designed dinghy bases on an 8x4 sheetof ply,built round a midship frame,Living in Spain I think there are problems registering a home built boat A friend had to write a thesis on wielding as part of his submission to the powers that be that he could build a steel yacht,The simplest way to get afloat is an old grp yacht……and prices are falling
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
Plenty of old plywood yachts about too. But practically speaking you’ll be better off with a GRP one. Though I could see you with a WharramAlthough I say so myself one of my best efforts was a self designed dinghy bases on an 8x4 sheetof ply,built round a midship frame,Living in Spain I think there are problems registering a home built boat A friend had to write a thesis on wielding as part of his submission to the powers that be that he could build a steel yacht,The simplest way to get afloat is an old grp yacht……and prices are falling
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
Yes have looked at onePlenty of old plywood yachts about too. But practically speaking you’ll be better off with a GRP one. Though I could see you with a Wharram
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Plywood .....
Many here posting are talking small boats ... but don't forget that many larger boats were plywood ...
Water Witch ..
Even that famous Race Boat .. Barracuda 45 prototype and which was used in the TV series Howards Way was Plywood ... only the production boat was GRP.
Find memories of Debutante's ... Silhouettes .... in fact there were many plywood boats in that era from tiny tenders up to quite large yachts .......... that crossed oceans
Todays yachting seems to have evolved into leaving behind so much that was common place. Not only in size of boat - but in the design.
Many here posting are talking small boats ... but don't forget that many larger boats were plywood ...
Water Witch ..
Even that famous Race Boat .. Barracuda 45 prototype and which was used in the TV series Howards Way was Plywood ... only the production boat was GRP.
Find memories of Debutante's ... Silhouettes .... in fact there were many plywood boats in that era from tiny tenders up to quite large yachts .......... that crossed oceans
Todays yachting seems to have evolved into leaving behind so much that was common place. Not only in size of boat - but in the design.
