There Is No Mystery To Boatbuilding

All the curves and shapes of a boat tend to intimidate the novice, but once you take a little time to study a well-drawn and complete set of wood boat plans you begin to see the logic of the assembly and as you get involved in the actual set-up and construction of a wooden boat you soon learn that the seemingly complicated shapes are readily accomplished using very basic tools and the natural bending qualities of wood. The first boat I built was a sailing skiff similar in design to Footloose. I had few tools and no woodworking experience but I had grown up on a saltwater estuary in Oregon and was determined to create a vessel that would allow me to explore that wonderful playground. The result was a respectable little boat that rowed and sailed well, but more importantly the project gave me the knowledge and confidence to try my hand at more challenging designs.

I learned that a few hand tools can do a lot of work. I also learned that this kind of woodworking is more art than science and much of it is accomplished by cut-and-fit, a little at a time, till things match up. And I got a wonderful feeling of accomplishment from creating from a pile of lumber, some nails and glue, a useful and attractive boat that provided many years of pleasure.