Boatbuilding Tips and Tricks Blog

Here are my latest blog posts:

Friday, July 24, 2020

James Prokos Just Launched his Kachemak V-Bottom Dory

James Prokos uploaded these pictures and information on his Facebook page:

Launched July 3, 2020. Still trying to fine tune my 2nd Spira designed boat. The Hydra foil on the outboard is a MUST on this boat it almost completely stopped it from porpoising over 25mph. Ready to run weight is 1850 lbs (90 hp, 12 gal fuel, battery and gear). Gunwale is decked with 3/8 thick mahogany.

Kachemak V-Bottom Dory Wood Boat Plans

Kachemak V-Bottom Dory Wooden Boat Plans

Kachemak V-Bottom Dory Plywood Boat Plans

More information and free study prints for this boat may be found at: 17' Kachemak V-Bottom Dory Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Easy ToBuildBoats 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

Share this post:


Friday, July 17, 2020

Jim Ritchie's Tillamook Ready for Summer

Jim Ritchie just sent me this picture of his homebuilt Tillamook Pacific Power Dory ready for summer:

Tillamook Pacific Power Dory Wooden Boat Plans

More information and free study prints for this boat may be found at: 17' Tillamook Pacific Power Dory Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Easy ToBuildBoats 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

Share this post:


Thursday, July 16, 2020

Michael Howell Updates His Willamette River Kayak

Michael Howell posted these pictures and comments on the Boatbuilders Facebook page:

I wanted to share a few pics of my rebuild of my Willamette River Kayak. Over last winter I was having health issues and neglected the first build. Some of the ply delaminated and I decided to re skin it in cedar and cypress. I added a pic to show the extra framing that I installed to help keep the planks in the right shape. Yesterday my wife and I got to paddle from the public boat ramp to Springer's Point on Ocracoke Island NC.

The Willamette River is either a one holer or two, and either design can carry up to two people:

Willamette River Kayak Wood Boat Plans

Willamette River Kayak Wooden Boat Plans

Willamette River Kayak Plywood Boat Plans

More information and free study prints for this boat may be found at: 15' or 18' Willamette River Kayak Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Easy ToBuildBoats 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

Share this post:


Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Keith Prager Completing his Home Built Veracruz Panga

Keith Prager is just finishing up his homebuilt Veracruz Panga complete with center console and really nice wood trim. The boat is looking great. Time to go fishing!

Veracruz Panga Wood Boat Plans

Veracruz Panga Wooden Boat Plans

Veracruz Panga Plywood Boat Plans

More information and free study prints for this boat may be found at: 18' Veracruz Panga Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Easy ToBuildBoats 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

Share this post:


Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Greg Pardee's Huntington Harbor Kayak Launched in Michigan from Free Plans

Greg Pardee spent his time on Coronavirus lockdown building this Huntington Harbor Kayak from free plans available in my insider page. He just sent me thise pictures, and comments via email:

Hi Jeff,
I took advantage of your free plans for this kayak and built it over the last 3 months. This was my first boat project and was a good learning experience. I made the maiden voyage on July 5th, 2020 at a local small lake and I was impressed as it tracks nice and is very stable. I added supports to the floor To mount a plywood tractor style canoe seat. I elected to keep it natural color with 3 coats of Lust marine varnish.
Thanks for the fun project!
Greg

Huntington Harbor Kayak Free Wood Boat Plans

Huntington Harbor Kayak Free Wooden Boat Plans

Huntington Harbor Kayak Free Plywood Boat Plans

Huntington Harbor Kayak Free Easy Boat Plans

Huntington Harbor Kayak Free Boat Plans

Free access to these plans are available when you join the insider section at: Spira Insider Web Page Sign-up

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Easy ToBuildBoats 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

Share this post:


Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Kevin Beatley Launched his Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory

Kevin Beatley just christened and launched his Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory. He used a motor in the optional well, and his videos on Facebook shows it moves out very nicely when powered. It appears to be about 10-12 knots using a 3-1/2 hp motor.

Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory Wood Boat Plans

Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory Wooden Boat Plans

More information and free study prints for this boat may be found at: 16' Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Easy ToBuildBoats 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

Share this post:


Sunday, June 28, 2020

Ian Dickson's Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory

Ian Dickson just sent me these great photos of his recently completed and launched Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory. He did a beautiful job!

Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory Wood Boat Plans

Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory Wooden Boat Plans

Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory Plywood Boat Plans

Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory Easy Boat Plans

More information and free study prints for this boat may be found at: 16' Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Easy ToBuildBoats 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

Share this post:


Sunday, June 28, 2020

Build a Wooden Boat - Grand Banks Dories Video

I just completed this video on Build a Wooden Boat - Grand Banks Dories, where I discuss the boat type and describe how these were developed and used, and which of my models are available.

More information and free downloadable study prints for these dories may be found at: Spira International Boat Plans.

All of my videos on Boatbuilding Information and Types of Boats may be found at: Spira International Boatbuilding Videos.

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group.

These are also available on my YouTube Channel: Easy ToBuildBoats Youtube Channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the "Subscribe" button and bell to get notified when new videos are posted.

Tyler's You Tube Channel is: Tyler's Workshop Creations Youtube Channel.

Jeff Spira, Naval Architect, marine engineer and boat designer

Share this post:


Saturday, June 27, 2020

Don Walsh Just Completed This Walden Skiff

Don Walsh just sent me these great pictures of his recently completed 13' Walden Skiff. It came out great!

Carolinan Dory Wood Boat Plans

Carolinan Dory Wooden Boat Plans

More information and free study prints for this boat may be found at: 13' Walden Skiff Boat Plans

Facebook Boatbuilders Group: Boat Building and Builders Facebook Group

Also check out my YouTube Channel: Easy ToBuildBoats 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

Share this post:


Complete Boatbuilding Tips and Tricks Blog Index for 2020


Boatbuilding Pictures

Boat Building Photos

Please don't be embarrassed to send in photos of your projects. I get a lot of emails from people who tell me about their build but never send any pictures. I'd love to see them, as would all of the other people who are either building a boat or thinking about it. They need all the encouragement they can get.

I believe in offering you all the information you need to learn more about how to build a boat. That's why I offer free videos, free ebooks, and free reports. There's even some free plans available to insiders and some seminars I've delivered. To join, just click below:

Download Free Plans for the Huntington Harbor Kayak

Blog Contents

Archives