Whether you're building a boat out of necessity, as a hobby or as a "one day" dream escape, you know the job is more than a simple weekend project. Part of the pride of building your own boat is the dedication and time you put into it. While anyone can easily follow boat plans, the ones who build the best boats are those who learn from the experience of others.
When asked what my 5 best tips for boat builders are, I almost always say the same things. The simplest steps can save lots of time. Likewise, the simplest errors can cause major headaches. Using these tricks and techniques will help you stay on track.
1. Always Measure Twice
How does the old saying go? "Measure twice: Cut once." It's true! You would be wise to check the lofting and other work that involves measuring. Few things are as annoying as wasting wood because of measuring mistakes.
2. Step Back and Look At Your Work
Working at such a close proximity to your boat is just the nature of the job. However, it's always a good idea to step back and look at your work from a distance once in awhile. This is especially important when lofting and assembling. Inaccuracies and errors that are not noticeable at close range can become obvious when you look at the big picture. Taking time periodically to view your boat from several feet back will help you identify - and correct - mistakes before you get too far along in the process.
3. Make Fillets the Easy Way
When it's time to bond the inside corners of your boat, a fillet is generally the way to go. This can require the use of a special tool and a lot of patience. Or you can make them the easy way using ordinary, disposable plastic spoons. To create the curved shape, just use the back of the spoons. The spoons are sturdy enough to handle the thick epoxy. They are also durable enough to hold up without dissolving in the resin. Using disposable spoons makes cleanup easier, too!
4. Clean Up Epoxy Stains Before They Cure
Have you ever tried cleaning epoxy stains off a surface? It's not a pleasant task. Stains from epoxy on a boat are a pain to remove after the epoxy is cured. While it can be done, smart boat builders take the time to stop and clean the stains when they occur. It's ten times easier to do it before the epoxy cures.
5. Bend Curved Panels Slowly During Assembly
There's a bit of an art to bending panels for a boat. To get the best results, you need to have a little patience. Oftentimes boat builders are not aware that bending wood/plywood is much easier and requires much less effort if done slowly, just a bit at a time. Using this method, the natural fibers have a chance to stretch. Also much less force is needed to bend wood panels slowly than forcing them with one quick stroke.
Above all, take your time and enjoy the process of building your boat. You, like millions of others, can find this to be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life!
