Building a 7' row boat ( Dingy ) UPDATED !

[Manny]

I took on this project a few weeks ago, and have done a lot of research on boat building. The reason for the project is not that I'm boatless, but my boat is to big for some of the smaller lakes and ponds around here.

I have chosen for my build a 7' dingy 3'6" wide. I need something that would fit in the back of my Explorer Sport and small enough for me to muscle around the bank by the pond to launch myself.

Materials and method Plywood construction and Stitch and Glue assembly ( the easiest )

I started out at Home Depot picking out the Plywood I spent roughly about $45.00 in wood. ( 2- 1/4" panels and 1- 1/2" panel )
Marine ply wood be better but in my area you cant get it without having it shipped and the price is like tripeled.

Next I transfer ed all measurements from my plans ( Which I got off the Net for free )
Cut them out with jig saw. Pre drilled all areas that will get stitched to the next panel ( I used bailing wire but zip ties are best because you can use them onehanded).
Next I assembled the boat on a level surface ( I used a box but saw horses will work.) Elevating it gives you the ability to work around the boat to tighten the stitches, bringing everything together.

I also precut all formers and taped them into place.

[Manny]

In the pic above I have also jumpstiched the stiches with a little of 2-part 30 min epoxy to hold square.
And here are the forms and bottom of the seats temp in place.

[Manny]

Next I cut some blue foam ( extra left from my fish carving expierience) for floatation just in case I will be filling under the front seat also.
I have also started to install the rub rail on sides.

[Manny]

About as far as I can go for now. I will have to wait to order Marine Epoxy for the glassing.
Its not cheap almost $100.00 for a gallon and a half, but should be enough for this small project.

[Travis Jones]

Looking nice Manny! Very clean looking joints. Please keep this thread going because I'd love to see it finished. It looks like a fun project. If I needed another boat I may would build one but I have enough already.

What do you do for a living?

Keep it up!

[Manny]

Thanks, Travis

I have been a carpentar for a little over 10 years and had my own remodeling business for the last 3.
But when the economy went south so did my business. I was able to get a government job with all the bells and whistles working at a school doing maintenance painting, carpentry, drywall etc. It took all the headache away of running your own business. But now I work 40 hours a week ehhhh.

But I have done Taxidermy also to pay for all my toys and vacations. This year I have just enough deer heads to pay for a shaving machine I just purchased to make my deer heads a little faster and better. So this build is on a budget.

Its tough to make all the joints good because you cant measure off of anything because everything is curved. So what I use is a angle guage and a skinny flexible stick to measure off of. I have always wanted to build a boat after seing a wooden drift boat in Oregon. The craftsmanship was awesome like art.

This boat will get me places I cant get with my big boat. Some backwaters here you cant get a boat in unless you carry it. The projected weight of this boat shouldnt be more than 65 lbs. But my plan for some electronics and maybe a trolling motor might add a little weight. I have to have a depth/fishfinder.
Whats a boat without it ? along with rod holders, drink holders etc. LOL.

Thinking if I cant keep it light enough to drag in ill build a dolly for it.

[JE]

Very nice, I hope it fits out of the room door ! LOL

[Bucknut]

At least yours looks like it will float. When I was a kid, we built a boat out of 3/4 inch plywood. Flat bottom, Vertical sides and a angled front end. It looked just like a barge. We screwed down some scrap angle corners for support and put some roofing tar on the seams. My Dad hauled it to the lake for its virgin voyage. It floated for about 5 minutes. Good thing I could swim! LOL

Bruce

[Manny]

Received supplies today, Marine epoxy, 9 oz fiberglass and wood flour.

I first started out by taking out everything I had installed temporary. I then mixed up a few ounces of epoxy and pretreated all the seams that were going to get glassed in order that the wood don't wick the epoxy away from the glass. ( Before this step I removed all the bailing wire stitches and taped the outside seams to keep epoxy from getting out )

Next I mixed the epoxy with woodflour ( Real fine sawdust ) till the consistency of peanut butter. Then I put it into a ziplock bag and cut the corner. I went along all seams to make a fillet ( A slight curve from panel to panel  in order for the glass to lay better and make the joint stronger )

I let this set till tacky then layed the 4" wide 9 oz glass on top of it ( The tackiness helps hold the glass in position in order to minimize air bubbles)
Next I mixed up more epoxy and coated the glass with a real thin layer of epoxy, just enough to do the job. ( this stuff is expensive the thicker is not better)

I did most of the application with a chip brush a few different size scrapers. The scrapers work as a squeegee and gets the excess of the glass.

By the way I'm working with slow set epoxy ( sets in about 90 min at 75 degrees) That way everything has a chemical bond. If I were to do this one stage at a time, I would have to sand between steps. Creating a mechanical bond.

[Manny]

pics

[Manny]

pics

[Manny]

pics

[Manny]

And with the excess I started to seal the boats interior. ( Not letting anything go to waist)

Tomorrow I will install the precut formers the same way.

[7-Point]

nice looking boat, can't wait to see it done

[RumRunner]

cool project man