Ok. I live in a small coastal town in New England where the Dory was
invented (at least that is what I have read). Ever since we moved here, I
have wanted a boat. But we really can't afford one. It is very low on the
financial needs list. But I have two kids (5 and 7 yr old) and I think it
would be great to have them grow up sailing with me and maybe even on their
own. But enough with the hopes and dreams....

A little background on potentially pertinent skills...I did some sailing as
a teen in a tiny sailboat called a Laser (??) and I loved it but only had
the chance a few times. My woodworking/building experiences consist of shop
class in 8th grade and 3 years of drafting class in high school. These days
I do not own any power saws. Once in a blue moon I might pick up my hand
saw and cut a 2x4 for some reason. As for other experiences, I majored in
and taught high school physics. Eventually, I found myself in a computer
tech job.

I have been trawling the internet for plans, advice, building materials
costs, building journals, etc. I actually started this little obsession 2
years ago but then it went away for a while. My wife is not sold in this
idea at all. Anyway, this is what information I've got so far:

-The boat has got to have an LOA of 17' or less. I want to build it in my
garage and keep it there for storage (haven't considered the length of a
trailer though). It is a two car garage and is 17'10" in length. One of
the doors is 5'10" in height, and 7'8" in width.
-I want the boat to hold two adults and 2 kids.
-I want a sailboat not a powerboat.
-I think I should build a small boat first.
-I also think it should be a plywood boat. I would prefer the first boat use
less than 6 sheets of 8'x4' plywood. It looks like the initial big cost
will be in buying plywood sheets and around here that looks like $50 a sheet
for marine ply. So if I could do this with 4 sheets to start the first
boat, then if my wife saw me build a cool boat with 4 sheets, then I could
go bigger in the years to come. (At least it sounds like a good plan...)
-I realize the sail will also cost. So, adding oars to the first small boat
might be the way to go and experimenting with plastic tarp material for
cheap.
-Plans I have considered for the first little boat:
*Some of stevenprojects.com plans
(http://www.stevproj.com/SailDingh.html) as well as the 11' skipjack
Stevenson published an a book in the 70's Sailboats You Can Build.
*Optimist Dinghy (http://www.optiworld.org/ioda-intro.html)
*Canoe (but I do not think I want to do this one since I couldn't
sail it) - http://www.bateau2.com/free/cheapcanoe.htm

-Plans I have considered for the bigger boat:
*Weekender http://www.stevproj.com/PocketYachts.html
*Bolger's Micro - This one seemed better then the Weekender
http://www.boatdesign.com/micro/
*Sztrandek (probably not a good one since the plans are free and
there will be no support)
http://www.zeglarstwo.3miasto.pl/sztraeng/sztrengl.html

Please comment and advise. I am looking for boat plan recommendations,
similar experiences, tips, tricks, help with making it cheap,

--Jim B.

"Jim B." wrote:
snip the background


-The boat has got to have an LOA of 17' or less. I want to build it in my
garage and keep it there for storage (haven't considered the length of a
trailer though). It is a two car garage and is 17'10" in length. One of
the doors is 5'10" in height, and 7'8" in width.
-I want the boat to hold two adults and 2 kids.
-I want a sailboat not a powerboat.
-I think I should build a small boat first.
-I also think it should be a plywood boat. I would prefer the first boat use
less than 6 sheets of 8'x4' plywood. It looks like the initial big cost
will be in buying plywood sheets and around here that looks like $50 a sheet
for marine ply. So if I could do this with 4 sheets to start the first
boat, then if my wife saw me build a cool boat with 4 sheets, then I could
go bigger in the years to come. (At least it sounds like a good plan...)
-I realize the sail will also cost. So, adding oars to the first small boat
might be the way to go and experimenting with plastic tarp material for
cheap.


Why not build a dory first? My father in law (very limited skills) builds
classic double ended Dorys all the time. He even has a sail kit for them.

I have one of these w/o sails that I use to get out to my mooring here on Cape
Crud. I row out with 2 adults and 2 small children (5 & 2). I keep it on the
beach w/o oars.

You can email me in private for more info if you want.

tailgunner at nbrigham.com


--
Tailgunner
http://boat.nbrigham.com

Well, for starters...

http://agott.hypermart.net/101main.html

some basics on wooden boat construction.

http://hometown.aol.com/polysail/HTML/oldboats.htm

A source of various older designs for smaller wooden boats.
Varied from about 10 to 20 feet. You might find something
you like there.

Good luck, and Happy Holidays!

Chris

"Jim B." writes:
Ok. I live in a small coastal town in New England where the Dory was
invented (at least that is what I have read). Ever since we moved here, I
have wanted a boat. But we really can't afford one. It is very low on
the
financial needs list. But I have two kids (5 and 7 yr old) and I think it
would be great to have them grow up sailing with me and maybe even on
their
own. But enough with the hopes and dreams....

The above says it all.

If you want those kids to go sailing before they are adults, BUY a boat and
find a 2nd job to help pay for it.

Just the observation of someone who is building a boat.

HTH


--
Lew

S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett for Pictures

Gotta agree - find yourself an old, usable fiberglass sailboat. There are
plenty of O'Days and other daysailers in peoples' backyards, begging for
use. A year ago I found a 21' New Haven cat-ketch sharpie, ready to go
except for trailer tires & bearings, for $750. Plenty of 20-24'
"weekenders" are out there for less than $2K.

You might find somebody willing to "lend" you a boat for a season or two (or
more) if you clean it up, paint the bottom, make minor repairs, and agree
they can use it a couple times. If you were in my neighborhood (mid-coast
Maine), I'd make that offer right now. In fact, send me a note off-group
(remove the send-no-spam- from my address); maybe we can make a deal.

No way you can build a boat for less money than a serviceable used
production hull. Even with a blue tarp sail.

Once you've got some experience, and have confirmed that no production boat
will meet your specific requirements, desires, or burning desire to build,
THEN think about building. And then, start with Bolger's Teal.

Curtis


"Jim B." writes:
Ok. I live in a small coastal town in New England where the Dory was
invented (at least that is what I have read). Ever since we moved here,
I
have wanted a boat. But we really can't afford one. It is very low on
the
financial needs list. But I have two kids (5 and 7 yr old) and I think
it
would be great to have them grow up sailing with me and maybe even on
their
own. But enough with the hopes and dreams....

The above says it all.

If you want those kids to go sailing before they are adults, BUY a boat
and
find a 2nd job to help pay for it.

Just the observation of someone who is building a boat.

There is nothing radical, extreme, strange or far-fetched about this
post.
In fact it appears to offer a bunch of horse-sense - with a neat slosh
of Christmas kindness thrown in for flavor. I'd go with it.

Brian W

On Thu, 25 Dec 2003 14:31:34 -0500, "Sal's Dad"
wrote:

Gotta agree - find yourself an old, usable fiberglass sailboat. There are
plenty of O'Days and other daysailers in peoples' backyards, begging for
use. A year ago I found a 21' New Haven cat-ketch sharpie, ready to go
except for trailer tires & bearings, for $750. Plenty of 20-24'
"weekenders" are out there for less than $2K.

You might find somebody willing to "lend" you a boat for a season or two (or
more) if you clean it up, paint the bottom, make minor repairs, and agree
they can use it a couple times. If you were in my neighborhood (mid-coast
Maine), I'd make that offer right now. In fact, send me a note off-group
(remove the send-no-spam- from my address); maybe we can make a deal.

No way you can build a boat for less money than a serviceable used
production hull. Even with a blue tarp sail.

Once you've got some experience, and have confirmed that no production boat
will meet your specific requirements, desires, or burning desire to build,
THEN think about building. And then, start with Bolger's Teal.

Curtis


"Jim B." writes:
Ok. I live in a small coastal town in New England where the Dory was
invented (at least that is what I have read). Ever since we moved here,
I
have wanted a boat. But we really can't afford one. It is very low on
the
financial needs list. But I have two kids (5 and 7 yr old) and I think
it
would be great to have them grow up sailing with me and maybe even on
their
own. But enough with the hopes and dreams....

The above says it all.

If you want those kids to go sailing before they are adults, BUY a boat
and
find a 2nd job to help pay for it.

Just the observation of someone who is building a boat.

On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 17:04:36 +0000, Lew Hodgett wrote:


"Jim B." writes:
Ok. I live in a small coastal town in New England where the Dory was invented
(at least that is what I have read). Ever since we moved here, I have wanted
a boat. But we really can't afford one. It is very low on
the
financial needs list. But I have two kids (5 and 7 yr old) and I think it
would be great to have them grow up sailing with me and maybe even on
their
own. But enough with the hopes and dreams....

The above says it all.

If you want those kids to go sailing before they are adults, BUY a boat and find
a 2nd job to help pay for it.

Just the observation of someone who is building a boat.

HTH

I donno...when I was about 8 my dad built a boat for my sister and I to ply the
waters of the slough on the farm. It wasn't much: just an 8ft punt made with a
sheet of plywood and some 1x12s. Leaked like a sieve. But it was the most
impressive memory I have of my Dad, and I remember it fondly to this day.

Build an inexpensive, flat-bottomed skiff with your kids' help. It may not sail
as well as a production boat, but the memories will be worth it.

Lloyd Sumpter

Another option. If you go up and down the coast, you might be able to find
an abandoned boat to refurbish. Not sure about up there, but in various
coastal areas you might find a boat with a hole below waterline, or similar
defect that could return the boat to operating condition with minor work.

Once saw a perfectly good jetski sitting here on our beach, only needed
minor engine repairs.

You'd be surprised what some people throw away.

There is no such thing as a perfectly good jetski

Chris wrote:

Another option. If you go up and down the coast, you might be able to find
an abandoned boat to refurbish. Not sure about up there, but in various
coastal areas you might find a boat with a hole below waterline, or similar
defect that could return the boat to operating condition with minor work.

Once saw a perfectly good jetski sitting here on our beach, only needed
minor engine repairs.

You'd be surprised what some people throw away.

"Scott Vaughn" wrote in message
...
There is no such thing as a perfectly good jetski

Perhaps, but that's beside the point. Disposable society does have it's
advantages if you look hard enough.

;-)