Last updated December 20. 2017
Why boating in the first place? | |
Looking for Mother Nature's
hidden treasures. Published September 9. 2003 Last updated September 10. 2003 | |
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One Sheet Boats
One Sheet Boat Theory
One and a Half Sheet Boats
Slightly Larger Boats
Extremely small boats
Materials, Methods and Accessories
Wood as Boatbuilding Material
Building Projects
Links
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"One sheet boats" are simple boats made basically of a single sheet of plywood. These boats are typically easy, quick and cheap to build, so they are very suitable for first boatbuilding projects. On the other hand, their use is limited to protected waters only. | |
Simbo, the simple boat | |
As simple as it can get. Free building instructions. Published September 30. 2003 Last updated August 15. 2007 | |
Micro Auray Punt | |
A one sheet version of the much celebrated "Auray Punt". Free boat plans and building instructions. Published January 15. 2004 Last updated June 1. 2008 | |
Micro Auray Gallery | |
One Sheet Sampan | |
Free boat plans and building instructions. Published March 18. 2004 Last updated June 9. 2004 | |
One Sheet Sampan Gallery | |
18' One Sheet Canoe, the Dug | |
Free boat plans and building instructions. Published September 5. 2003 Last updated August 15. 2007 | |
Dug Gallery | |
HV'S Hattory | |
One sheet navy admiral's hattorious hatship. Published October 20. 2003 Last updated October 20. 2003 | |
One Sheet Runabout, Sled | |
Free boat plans. Published November 7. 2003 Last updated November 7. 2003 | |
Sled Gallery | |
How to make the most out of Your one sheet boat. | |
The Ultimate One Sheet Boat, Prism | |
Discussion on maximising the displacement. Free boat plans and building instructions. Published April 9. 2003 Last updated September 5. 2003 | |
Prism Gallery | |
So it's stability You want? | |
Discussion on small boat stability... Inculding a free downloadable righting moment calculator. Published June 16. 2003 Last updated March 3. 2005 | |
...leading to... | |
Ultimater versions of the Prism | |
Free boat plans and building instructions. Published July 28. 2003 Last updated August 6. 2003 | |
"One and a half sheet boats" are dinghies made of one and a half sheets of plywood. Or two dinghies (two similar or two different) out of three sheets. All of these dinghies are easy, quick and cheap to build, so they too are very suitable for first boatbuilding projects. | |
Portuguese Style Dinghy | |
A sharp bowed dinghy. Free boat plans and building instructions. Published January 15. 2004 Last updated August 15. 2007 | |
Portuguese Style Dinghy Gallery | |
Mini Auray Punt | |
A small version of the much celebrated "Auray Punt". Free boat plans. Published January 15. 2004 Last updated June 3. 2008 | |
Mini Auray Gallery | |
Mini Ekstock | |
A dinghy size version of a Chapman punt. Free boat plans. Published January 15. 2004 Last updated June 22. 2005 | |
Mini Ekstock Gallery | |
Dinghy -57 | |
Punt plans from an old book. Free boat plans. Published January 15. 2004 Last updated January 15. 2004 | |
Flat bottomed swamp boats | |
Three boats of ancient design. Free boat plans and building instructions. Published September 12. 2008 Last updated September 24. 2008 | |
3SD - a 17' 8" (5.4 m) dory | |
A big dory out of just three sheets of plywood. Free boat plans and building instructions. Published June 24. 2008 Last updated June 24. 2008 | |
3SD Gallery | |
2SD - a 12' (3.6 m) dory | |
A small dory out of just two sheets of plywood. Free boat plans and building instructions. Published June 25. 2008 Last updated June 25. 2008 | |
A 12 ft Skiff | |
Free boat plans and building instructions. Published May 12. 2008 Last updated May 28. 2008 | |
12 ft Skiff Gallery | |
A 10 1/2 ft Skiff | |
Free boat plans and building instructions. Published August 17. 2004 Last updated August 15. 2007 | |
10 1/2 ft Skiff Gallery | |
A 14' Rowing Punt | |
A rowing punt inspired by old fishing prams in a boat museum. Published December 28. 2005 Last updated June 3. 2008 | |
A 15'8" fishing punt | |
A stable 15'8" work/fishing punt, that can be sculled, but also driven with a small outboard. Published August 17. 2007 Last updated June 3. 2008 | |
Fishing Punt Gallery | |
Two Dories | |
Little Sister and Big Sister. Free boat plans and building instructions. Published September 3. 2003 Last updated August 15. 2007 | |
Little Sister Dory Gallery | |
A Light Sculling Training Boat | |
Free boat plans and building instructions. Published May 5. 2003 Last updated November 4. 2008 | |
Training Boat Gallery | |
Hulls | |
A small collection of free but immature boat designs. Published May 14. 2003 Last updated March 16. 2005 | |
You can't build boats much smaller than this. | |
4 ft - Halfpea dinghy | |
The world's shortest dinghy that looks like a dinghy, not like a box. Published September 24. 2006 Updated June 3. 2008 | |
Halfpea Gallery | |
4 1/2 ft - plywood lath coracle | |
A basket boat built according to principles thousands of years old. Published October 1. 2006 Updated October 1. 2006 | |
Coracle Gallery | |
5 ft - Micro Portuguese Style Dinghy | |
An easy to build beach toy. Published September 9. 2009 Updated September 9. 2009 | |
Optimum sculling oar length? | |
Discussion on optimum oar length, and what it depends on. Published September 24. 2008 Last updated September 24. 2008 | |
Woodbending in the bedroom | |
Published March 18. 2004 Last updated March 18. 2004 | |
Tortured Plywood? - No such thing! | |
Don't believe everything they tell You. Published February 13. 2004 Last updated Published February 13. 2004 | |
Construction glue for boatbuilding? | |
Published November 7. 2003 Last updated February 7. 2005 | |
Cartopping slightly bigger boats? | |
First build Yourself a decent roofracking system. Free building instructions. Published July 30. 2003 Last updated July 30. 2003 | |
But what was that boat on the roofrack? | |
Plus a short introduction to worlds biggest rowing/sculling event, the "Sulkava race". Published July 28. 2003 Last updated March 3. 2005 | |
Spiral Staircase Handrail | |
How to make arbitrarily curved handrails quickly and with low budget. Published October 20. 2005 Last updated October 20. 2005 | |
Before You start building a single real wooden boat let's make the very basics clear. | |
Preface | |
What is this all about? Published October 18. 2005 Last updated October 18. 2005 | |
What is a "wooden boat"? | |
The "scientific" classification of wooden boats :-) Published October 18. 2005 Last updated October 18. 2005 | |
Structure of wood | |
Wood basics. Published October 18. 2005 Last updated October 18. 2005 | |
Moisture behaviour of wood | |
What happens, when wood
gets wet and dry. Published October 18. 2005 Last updated October 18. 2005 | |
Why does a wooden boat leak? | |
Because it has a hole in it. But why does it have a hole? Published October 18. 2005 Last updated October 18. 2005 | |
Surface treatment of a wooden boat | |
Why should one paint a wooden boat? Published October 18. 2005 Last updated October 18. 2005 | |
The "correct" construction of a wooden boat | |
Food for thought ;-) Published October 18. 2005 Last updated October 18. 2005 | |
The White Fishing Boat | |
A homage to good paint. Published June 10. 2003 Last updated June 10. 2003 | |
Sennen Cove | |
The new life of an old fishing style lapstrake boat. Published May 5. 2003 Last updated May 12. 2003 | |
Bolger Light Dory | |
The popular boat "once more". Published May 12. 2003 Last updated August 15. 2003 | |
The End | |
Published June 10. 2003 Last updated June 10. 2003 | |
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Copyright 2002-2009 Hannu Vartiala
Commercial use of any content on this site is prohibited.
Please do understand, that if You build or use any of the boats described on these pages, You, and You alone, are responsible for any direct or indirect damage or harm that may follow. I have no responsibility whatsoever.
You must also understand, that boatbuilding can be dangerous:
-You may get a wood splinter in the finger.
-Several tools are sharp.
-Epoxy may be allergenic and definitely is very messy.
-All possible chemicals may be harmful in one way or another.
-Fibers of glass itch Your fingers and throat.
-Anything else may be dangerous as well.
So don't build a boat, unless You know how to use tools and chemicals,
and unless You use all protective equipment necessary.
And if You build indoors, do cover the floor and furniture. You will
get the usual shout anyway, but cleaning up will be easier.
And even more You must understand, that using a boat may be dangerous:
-The boat may fall over.
-You may fall out of the boat.
-The boat may hit a rock.
-Your shoes may get wet.
-The boat may get filled with water.
-The boat may sink.
-Another boat may hit Your boat.
-The boat may drift a long distance away.
-You may get lost with the boat.
-When rowing, You may get blisters in Your hands and butt.
-If You get into water, You may drown or get hypothermia.
-Killer sharks may attack You.
-Anything else may happen
So DO NOT use a boat, unless You know and obey the rules of the waterways, unless You know how to use the boat, unless You can take the weather conditions into consideration, unless You can swim, unless You use a life vest, unless You know the waters, unless You are under continuous observation, unless You use proper clothing, unless You are sober, unless You understand what You are doing and unless You have taken everything possible and impossible into consideration.
You are responsible!