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Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Philip Halton's Champlain Skiff in Dublin, Ireland

Philip Halton sent me these great pictures of his Champlain Skiff build being used around the waters of Dublin. Here's what he had to say:

Hi Jeff,
I built this from your plans this time last year, have had the best experiences ever taking it Around Dublin’s waters. Thanks for the easy to follow guides! Looking forward to more builds in the future.
Used beech seats & guard rails as a little touch to it as I had some lying around.
Phil

Champlain Skiff Wood Boat Plans

Champlain Skiff Wooden Boat Plans

Champlain Skiff Plywood Boat Plans

More information and FREE study plans may be found here: 12' [3.7 M] Champlain Skiff Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Spira Boats YouTube Channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the "Subscribe" button and bell to get notified when new videos are posted.

Jeff Spira, Naval Architect, marine engineer and boat designer

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Sunday, April 4, 2021

Beau Smith's RailBird Poling Skiff Video

Here's Beau Smiths great construction and launching videos of his stunning RailBird Poling skiff. Nice job!

More information and FREE study plans may be found here: 15' [4.8 M] Rail Bird Poling Skiff Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Spira Boats YouTube Channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the "Subscribe" button and bell to get notified when new videos are posted.

Jeff Spira, Naval Architect, marine engineer and boat designer

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Sunday, April 4, 2021 - HAPPY EASTER!

New 3D drawings of Kona Hawaiian Sampan

Juan Perez, a builder of two of my boats, converted my Kona Hawaiian Sampan 2D drawings to a 3D SketchUp drawing. He's planning to start construction on this model. I saved these views to picture format and put these on the info page. It really looks nice this way. I'm planning to convert more boats that I don't have photos for into this format so you can see what they'll look like before buying.

Kona Hawaiian Sampan Wood Boat Plans

Kona Hawaiian Sampan Wooden Boat Plans

More information and FREE study plans may be found here: 25' [7.6 M] Kona Hawaiian Sampan Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Spira Boats YouTube Channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the "Subscribe" button and bell to get notified when new videos are posted.

Jeff Spira, Naval Architect, marine engineer and boat designer

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Sunday, March 28, 2021

Albert Triolo's Farallon Offshore Pacific Power Dory Project

Al Triolo has been working on his 23' Farallon Offshore style Pacific Power Dory for a while. I posted pics back when he first launched it back in November 2019. Well, he's adding a cabin right now, and using it while he continues to use it. Here's some recent pocs and a note he sent me:

Hi Jeff,
We are 4.5 years into our Farallon build. This is one of those boat while you build projects. Here are some photos from today. The boat is really coming along now.
Al

Farallon Offshore Pacific Power Dory Wood Boat Plans

Farallon Offshore Pacific Power Dory Wooden Boat Plans

Farallon Offshore Pacific Power Dory Plywood Boat Plans

More information and FREE study plans may be found here: 23' [7 M] Farallon Offshore Pacific Power Dory Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Spira Boats YouTube Channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the "Subscribe" button and bell to get notified when new videos are posted.

Jeff Spira, Naval Architect, marine engineer and boat designer

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Saturday, March 27, 2021

Marco Parrino's Kachemak V-Bottom Dory

I featured Marco Parrino's Kachemak back in Febreary when he launched it. He had a few tuning issues to get it to run right, but now is happy with its operation and performance. Here's what he said about it in his Facebook page:

This boat makes me happier every day. I'm currently trying to get adopted by a family with a barn large enough to build a 26'er. Seems 47 year Olds with bad fishing habits aren't in big demand. Thanks again Jeff Spira!

You're so welcome, Marco. And the boat looks fantastic. Have fun!

Kachemak V-Bottom Dory Plywood Boat Plans

Kachemak V-Bottom Dory Wooden Boat Plans

More information and FREE study plans may be found here: 17' [5.2 M] Kachemak V-Bottom Dory Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Spira Boats YouTube Channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the "Subscribe" button and bell to get notified when new videos are posted.

Jeff Spira, Naval Architect, marine engineer and boat designer

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Friday, March 26, 2021

Doug Neal's Caladesi Carolina Dory Now in Florida

Doug Neal just sent me this note and some pics of his Caladesi that I featured 6 years ago. He built and used it in the Alaskan Arctic, but has since moved it to Florida.

Hello Jeff,
I hope that all is well with you today - all is well here! This is an update on the Caladesi that I built here in Kotzebue and that was highlighted on your website on October 14, 2015 titled "Caladesi in the Arctic."

I loved the boat so much that when I began splitting my time between Alaska and Florida, I shipped the boat by barge from Kotzebue to Seattle, and then had it transported from Seattle to Inglis, Florida where I have a house on the Withlacoochee River. After three months of hard travel, it took several days of hitting it pretty hard to get it looking good again, but it was well worth it, and as it was a great fit for Alaska, it has also been a great fit for Florida! I added a Bimini top and have attached a few photos! Thanks again for sharing the design with us!

Most Sincerely,
Doug

Caladesi Carolina Dory Wood Boat Plans

Caladesi Carolina Dory Wooden Boat Plans

Caladesi Carolina Dory Plywood Boat Plans

More information and FREE study plans may be found here: 20' [6.1 M] Caladesi Carolina Dory Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Spira Boats YouTube Channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the "Subscribe" button and bell to get notified when new videos are posted.

Jeff Spira, Naval Architect, marine engineer and boat designer

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Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Brian Rossini's Hatteras V-Bottom Dory

Brian Rossini built this Hatteras V-Bottom Dory in 2012. He's been using it in Santa Barbara since going offshore to the Channel Islands 35 miles offshore, and towing it to many destinations for boating fun and exploration. The boat still looks great and you can tell he's maintained it perfectly.

Brian is moving to Germany and has to sell the boat. Let me know if you're interested and I'll send your email to him.

Hatteras V-Bottom Dory Wood Boat Plans

Hatteras V-Bottom Dory Wooden Boat Plans

Hatteras V-Bottom Dory plywood Boat Plans

Hatteras V-Bottom Dory Easy Boat Plans

Hatteras V-Bottom Dory Easy Boat Plans

More information and FREE study plans may be found here: 19' [5.8 M] Hatteras V-Bottom Dory Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Spira Boats YouTube Channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the "Subscribe" button and bell to get notified when new videos are posted.

Jeff Spira, Naval Architect, marine engineer and boat designer

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Sunday, March 21, 2021

Beau Smith Launches His 16' [4.8 M] Rail Bird Poling Skiff

Beau Smith just launched his home built Rail Bird poling skiff. He just sent me these pictures and this note:

Hi Jeff,
I just completed my Rail Bird. It turned out great. I used 1/4 inch sandy ply for the sides and the bottom with 2 layers of 6oz fiberglass cloth. The deck is made of pine and oak that I milled down to 9/16 inch thick to manage the weight. I wanted to really celebrate the wood in this project. The final finish is spar varnish. It is very stable with me and one of my kids onboard. I'm able to stand up and paddle it with a SUP style paddle with little effort. It zips along nice with a trolling motor as well. I'm making a few modifications to the aft section so that I can adjust the trolling motor when I'm onboard. At 250lbs I can stand in the aft section without swamping it. The addition of a battery and trolling motor is just a little too much. Overall, the Rail Bird is exactly what I was hoping for and I'm eager to use it to slay a ton of fish.

Thanks,
Beau Smith

Rail Bird Poling Skiff Wood Boat Plans

Rail Bird Poling Skiff Wooden Boat Plans

Rail Bird Poling Skiff plywood Boat Plans

Rail Bird Poling Skiff Easy Boat Plans

More information and FREE study plans may be found here: 16' [4.8 M] Rail Bird Poling Skiff Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Spira Boats YouTube Channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the "Subscribe" button and bell to get notified when new videos are posted.

Jeff Spira, Naval Architect, marine engineer and boat designer

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Thursday, March 18, 2021

Ethan Gearhardt Launches His 12' [3.7 M] Bahia Panga

Mark Gearhart's son Ethan completed and launched this beautiful 12' [3.7 M] Bahia Mini-Panga. His dad says that Ethan is 14 and is good with school and tools, and his boat sure shows it.

Bahia Mini-Panga Wood Boat Plans

More information and FREE study plans may be found here: 12' [3.7 M] Bahia Mini-Panga Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Spira Boats YouTube Channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the "Subscribe" button and bell to get notified when new videos are posted.

Jeff Spira, Naval Architect, marine engineer and boat designer

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Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - Happy St Patricks Day!

Daniel Mode's 15' [4.6 M] Glousterman Ultralight Dory

Daniel Mode completed his Glousterman Ultralight Dory and uses it for fishing frequently. It is a stitch and Glue design that weighs about 42 lbs complete. He says he powers it facing forward using a double paddle and says it moves along just fine that way.

Glousterman ultralight Dory Wood Boat Plans

More information and FREE study plans may be found here: 15' [4.6 M] Glousterman Ultralight Dory Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Spira Boats YouTube Channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the "Subscribe" button and bell to get notified when new videos are posted.

Jeff Spira, Naval Architect, marine engineer and boat designer

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Complete Boatbuilding Tips and Tricks Blog Index for 2021


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