Tips, techniques and notes on Wooden Boat Building, Restoration and Maintenance

Easy to find advice and tips to make your Wooden Boat project a success and avoid some of the mistakes that I made.

Spend less time searching for the information you need.

Building, restoring or simply maintaining a wood boat does not necessarily mean that you have to be a carpenter or a skilled tradesperson. 

In fact, boat building is more forgiving than you may think. 

Mignonne

Many enthusiasts, such as myself, have embarked on this journey with little to no experience and have successfully completed their projects, turning dreams into reality.

Over my many years of messing about in wooden boats I have built them, repaired them, and renovated them.

I am near the completion of my latest project, the rebuilding of Mignonne.

I'm just an ordinary guy doing it in my spare time.

So You can do it too.

I'm putting this resource together in the hopes that it will be of help to anyone else who is interested in owning their own wooden boat.


  • As boats age so do the Bolts securing the Ballast Keel how to check and renew them to ensure the ballast doesn’t fall off

    Keel Bolts Cnstruction and Repair for Wooden Boats.

    As boats age so do the Bolts securing the Ballast Keel how to check and renew them to ensure the ballast doesn’t fall off

  • How to cover the Decks of a wooden boat to prevent leaks, strengthen the structure and provide a robust platform for the crew

    Decks and their Coverings for Wooden Boats.

    How to cover the Decks of a wooden boat to prevent leaks, strengthen the structure and provide a robust platform for the crew

  • The PM 38 Club, a celebratio of the owners and builders of the free boat plans which were published in magazines such as Popular Mechanics, Popular Science and the Boat Builder Handbook.

    PM 38 Club

    The PM 38 Club, a celebratio of the owners and builders of the free boat plans which were published in magazines such as Popular Mechanics, Popular Science and the Boat Builder Handbook.

Hopefully it will help you to spend less time searching for the information you need.

Get started on your dream project, a boat that will always get that double-take look and be the envy of all your friends.

There's a unique sense of achievement and satisfaction in being able to stand back and admire a beautiful wooden boat, knowing you've built it, restored it and maintained it with your own hands.

Hop on board with DIY Wood Boat and see where the tide takes you!

Wood, as a raw material, offers a feel that can never be achieved with any other building material.

The smell and feel of the wood underneath your fingers, its strong and resolute response to your touch, is a tactile connection to the handiwork of your creation.


Perhaps you dream of having a Cabin cruiser big enough for your Family holidays, weekends or even to sail the world.

rowing boat

On the other hand perhaps you would prefer a single seated kayak to explore the wilderness.

Or, a row boat for fishing. Whether you want a canoe, a row boat or a cabin cruiser there are hundreds of styles and designs to choose from.

They are all very doable for the home builder.

Also there are many  Wood Boat Kits  available which simplify the building process for the novice.

canoe

However if you are planning that big boat it is always worth starting with a Small Boat project. 

Why not start with a tender for your bigger dream boat.

Make a good job of that and you will feel much more confident about tackling that big job.

Glorious details will develop as you consider and reconsider your dream in the light of good advice. 

Seeing what others have achieved will help keep you focused.

And there are hundreds of people out there just like you creating superb boats from environmentally friendly Wood.

And there are hundreds of people out there just like you creating superb boats from environmentally friendly Wood.

Even without the skills of a master carpenter or an expert tradesperson, you can still enjoy the process of building or restoring and then maintaining your own boat.

You'll find that this hobby is more friendly and accessible than you think, and before you know it, those dreams of owning a wooden boat will become a reality.

Join the community of DIY Wood Boat enthusiasts

Puffin

PS.  Start building that boat and soon folk will be coming to you for advice and to admire Your Beautiful Wood Boat.

PPS. Got some advice you want to pass on? 

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Use the  Contact Page  to share it .

Being an amateur backyard boat builder is a title to wear with pride.

It's a hobby that's productive, creative, and serves as an outlet to produce something tangible and meaningful.

It's about being part of a community that appreciates the art of wooden boats and embraces the joy they bring.

Wooden boat ownership represents an investment in skill, time, and appreciation for fine craftsmanship.

It carries an element of prestige and lends a level of personal satisfaction and status that owning a mass-produced boat simply can't match.

Joining the community of DIY wood boat owners and builders is choosing a lifestyle of freedom, craftsmanship, and pure joy.

Hop on board the DIY Wood Boat revolution and see where the tide takes you!

Embrace the romance of tradition and the allure of craftsmanship with a DIY Wood Boat.

The sheer artistry and timeless elegance of wooden boats have a unique, captivating appeal.

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