Advice for Newbie

[Bruce Ebling]

After building a couple of small boats 30 years ago I have decided to tackle another boat. I would like to build a Benford design lapstrake 8 1/2' tender. I have a fairly well equipped woodshop and have done some limited woodworking. I am also reading the "How to build lapstrake Wooden Boats" by John Brooks. My question to the forum is whether this boat is well suited for a beginning boatbuilder and if so what other reading or advice would you have? Any comments are welcome!
Bruce

[ 12-02-2004, 10:16 PM: Message edited by: Bruce Ebling ]

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

One word: Oughtred

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Or if ya need two: Ian Oughtred ;)

[marsbar]

Bruce, I built an "Ellen" by John Brooks a couple of years ago. I had a little experience with a Mill Creek 13 but none with lapstrake boats. It was a joy to build and I am delighted with the outcome. I simply used the three articles on building the Ellen in WB and the set of plans. Can't recommend this boat enough. Now with John's new book, many questions would be answered.
Take a look at the thread for a couple of pics of my boat.

Good luck....Mark

http://media5.hypernet.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=003853

[jwswanboats]

Bruce,
I am glad you are looking at a lapstrake boat. It seems too many people get scared off by how complex a thing it seems, but it is really a linear series of operations, albeit with lots of steps between laying dowing lines to launching, but no one step is really out of reach, and a small boat can keep things in a good scale. i also think it is a great way to really understand the (logical) geometry of wooden boat construction. good luck with it. and yes, ian oughtred is a great designer. additionally, this forum is the right place to be should you happen upon any impasses.
Sincerely,
Josh

[almeyer]

I'm not familar with the design you mentioned, but I'll second the comments above about Ian Oughtred. I bought Oughtred's book, and even though the design I built was done by someone else, the book was a great help on lapstrake plywood construction. It's not that difficult.
Al

[Popeye]

it's Iain, not Ian.

carry on.

[Thad Van Gilder]

Bruce,
I have always found traditional clinker boats easy for the beginner to build.

Loft carefully, spile carefully, and cut your gains carefully and you'll have a good looking boat.

It is also very inexpensive compared to the epoxy glued marine ply boats.

Around here, I can get locust for frames for 50 cents a board foot or less.

Planking cedar, 4/4 flitch sawn, green, goes for a buck of so a board foot.

Good marine ply goes for, say 3 bucks or more a board foot, depending on the grade and thickness, and epoxy is quite expensive.

I can built a cedar on oak pram for less than a 1/4 the cost of a glued ply pram, including labor and materials.

I find most of my boatbuilding students have found the same price difference.

I also think that people are afraid that they can't get tight fits between planks, so they feel that glued ply composite boats are somehow "easier" to build. I just don't see that as being a good arguement.

Thad
S/V IVY

[Venchka]

Originally posted by Thad Van Gilder:

...
Around here, I can get locust for frames for 50 cents a board foot or less.

Planking cedar, 4/4 flitch sawn, green, goes for a buck of so a board foot.

Thad
S/V IVYAdopt me! :D I want to live where boat lumber is that easy and cheap to obtain.

Seriously folks, the Benford boat is nice...

http://www.benford.us/images/scp-85dinghy-stern-large.jpg

http://www.benford.us/images/scp-85dinghy-profile-large.gif

John Leather's Clinker Boatbuilding book would help. Out of print, buy it used. John Gardner has a lot of clinker information in Building Classic Small Craft, the combined Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 version.

Faering Designs in Vermont and The Wooden Boat Foundation in Port Townsend, WA have clinker fastenings and tools.

If you need more inspiration in the 9'-10' range, have a look at Paul Gartside's clinker dinghies...

http://www.gartsideboats.com/pgimages/910tenderscopy.JPG
Gartside Tenders (http://www.gartsideboats.com/catrow.php#127clinkdink)

Good luck. Post a lot of pictures.

Wayne
In the Swamp. :D

[Thad Van Gilder]

I think boat lumber is available anywhere. you just have to find a little old guy with a woodmizer in his back yard...

Thad

[Venchka]

I found him. He is little and old. :D

The good news is that softwood costs $0.75/board foot and hardwood is $1.25/board foot.

The bad news? The softwood is loblolly pine and the hardwoods are red oak, sweet gum and hickory. Fine for furniture or floors. Not too sure about boats.

If I were to get real serious, I'd come visit you and your little old guy with a woodmizer and haul a trailer full of lumber home.

Wayne
In the Swamp. :D

[Rosebud]

Bruce,

We've built the Benford 8 and 1/2 footer. They're great dinghys - wide and stable and wonderful to row. We built ours in cedar on oak with copper rivets with laminated ash stem. You can definitely tackle this as a riveted or glued plywood lapstrake boat. All the details are in Benford's book and there are many other books and articles on lapstrake construction.

You'll be very happy with the finished product!

Jim and Kim

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Originally posted by Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson ):
Or if ya need two: Ian Oughtred ;) I can't resist... and this is beating Norm to the punch for once ;) ...

It is spelled "Iain", Joe...

Sorry... :D

C'mon now, ya gotta grin - right?

(Just a BIT embarrassing - had to edit for a mispelled word! redface.gif redface.gif

[ 12-03-2004, 11:51 PM: Message edited by: Captain Pre-Capsize ]