Boatbuilding Tips and Tricks Blog

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Monday, September 21, 2020

Mike Vigorita Launches His Home Built Glousterman Ultralight Dory

Mike Vigorita just finished and launched his home built 15' Glousterman Ultralight Dory in New Jersey. He sent me this note and these pictures:

Hi Jeff,
Finished up the Glousterman. Great little boat. Like folks have said, rows nicely, certainly tender but secondary stability is good. A lot of fun working on her. Thanks for your help.
Here are some pictures.
Mike Vigorita

Glousterman Ultralight Dory Wood Boat Plans

Glousterman Ultralight Dory Wooden Boat Plans

Glousterman Ultralight Dory Plywood Boat Plans

Glousterman Ultralight Dory Easy Boat Plans

Very nice build!

More information and free study prints may be found at: 15' Glousterman Ultralight 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

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Saturday, September 19, 2020

Mark Menesale Completes his Seneca Pacific Power Dory

Mark Menesale just completed his 14' Seneca Pacific Power Dory, named "Coast Card" in Massachusetts. He sent me these pictures and brief note:

Hi Jeff,
It is complete and floats.
More than enough power with a 25 hp.
Mark

Seneca Pacific Power Dory Wood Boat Plans

Seneca Pacific Power Dory Wooden Boat Plans

Seneca Pacific Power Dory Plywood Boat Plans

I think it came out great. Love the colors.

More information and free study prints may be found at: 14' Seneca 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

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Thursday, September 17, 2020

Matthew Sanders Launches His Veracruz Panga

Matthew Sanders just launched his Veracruz Panga. He sent me this note and pictures:

Hi Jeff,

Earlier in the year I purchased a set of your plans to make the "Veracruz". The Coronavirus lockdown gave me a very good opportunity to build up my first boat. I had a ton of fun building it and am having even more fun taking family out fishing or just trips to the beach. I got a 50hp Yamaha for the power and outfitted it with a tiller kit (opting for the most deck space). I did end up having to put on some trim tabs to keep the boat from porpoising. Full throttle she does 32mph but loves to cruise between 20-25 mph. Most of the boating/fishing I do is in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, where you can usually find me out there, on the weekends. She is a very comfortable boat out on the bay, it soaks up the rough water with ease. If you have any questions for me or want to know more about the boat let me know. I am of course going to send along some pictures for you to look at. Thank you for making this possible.

Cheers!
Matthew Sanders

Veracruz Panga Wood Boat Plans

Veracruz Panga Wooden Boat Plans

Veracruz Panga Plywood Boat Plans

Veracruz Panga Easy Boat Plans

More information and free study prints 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

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Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Sean McSweeny Just Launched his Homebuilt Champlain Skiff

Here's some pictures from Sean McSweeny who just completed his 11' Champlain Skiff in Nevada. He, his son, and dog look like they're having a blast going fishing in a lake in the California foothills.

Champlain Skiff Wood Boat Plans

Champlain Skiff Wooden Boat Plans

Champlain Skiff Plywood Boat Plans

More information and free study prints (dual dimensioned in Imperial and Metric) may be found at: 11' Champlain 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

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Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Dan Jurusz Splashed his Cheyenne Pacific Power Dory in Alaska

I just got this email from Dan Jurusz. He's launched his 12' [3.7M] Cheyenne Pacific Power Dory. He said:

Hi Jeff,

Wanted to send a report and a few photos after launching my Cheyenne Pacific Power Dory over Labor Day weekend. I built this boat in Anchorage, AK, over a period of two months this summer. Having been unable to find any other documented builds of this design online I didn't really know what to expect, but I am very happy with the finished boat. Very "fit for purpose" for a singlehanded lake boat, and I can confirm she will plane with a 5 hp motor and 18 inch tiller extension so the helm seating position can be located around frame #2. I'll enjoy a couple more weekends before things start to freeze up, then looking forward to next summer.

Dan Jurusz
Anchorage, AK

Cheyenne Pacific Power Dory Wood Boat Plans

Cheyenne Pacific Power Dory Wooden Boat Plans

Cheyenne Pacific Power Dory Plywood Boat Plans

More information and free study prints (dual dimensioned in Imperial and Metric) may be found at: 12' Cheyenne 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

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Tuesday, September 8, 2020

How to Build a Glousterman Video Created

I just created this video on how to build a Glousterman Ultralight Rowing Dory

More information and free study prints may be found at: 15' Glousterman Ultralight 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

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Monday, September 7, 2020

Shawn Decaire Just Launched his Carolinian Carolina Dory

Shawn Decaire just sent me this picture of his Carolinian. He said:

Hello Jeff,
This was my project during the Covid shutdown.
Thank you from my family to yours, and stay safe,
Shawn

Carolinian Dory Wood Boat Plans

More information and free study prints may be found at: 18' Carolinian 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

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Saturday, September 5, 2020

Sangam Tari Just Completed his Walden Skiff in Goa, India

Sangam Tari sent me these pictures of his recently completed 13' [4 M] Walden Skiff he built in Goa, India. It looks great. especially along side of those traditional boats in the river. His homemade hand-pull trailer is pretty sharp also! Very nice job!

Walden Skiff Wood Boat Plans

Walden Skiff Wooden Boat Plans

Walden Skiff Plywood Boat Plans

More information and free study prints for the Walden Skiff may be found at: 13' Walden Skiff 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

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Monday, September 1, 2020

Charles Lindsey Launches his Haystack Beach Surf Dory

Charles Lindsey just sent me these pictures and description of his recently launched Haystack Beach Surf Dory.

Hi Jeff,

The Pacific Dory is a excellent boat it glides through the water and rows very well for its size. We have taken her out in the harbour in Thunder Bay Ontario where it can be fairly choppy at the river mouth heading out to the harbour and we don't even notice the waves. It is a nice smooth ride we will never go back to a Aluminum boat again.

The boat is also very easy to trailer and launch and retrieve. Could not be happier. I really enjoy how it feels and responds. A very safe boat for our family.

Thank you for the easy to follow plans.
Charles Lindsey

Haystack Beach Surf Dory Wood Boat Plans

Haystack Beach Surf Dory Plywood Boat Plans

The boat came out really nicely in those traditional colors.

More information and free study prints for the Haystack Beach Surf Dory may be found at: 17' Haystack Beach Surf 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

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Sunday, August 30, 2020

Andy Berry's Frame Layout and Construction

Andy Berry just sent me these photos of his frame layout and cosntruction for the Bay Matagorda rowing skiff he's building. Many builders seem to have questions on the best method to do this. Andy's techniques are just what I suggest. I think I'll make a vodeo about it one of these days.

Bay Matagorda Rowing Skiff Wooden Boat Plans

Bay Matagorda Rowing Skiff Wood Boat Plans

Andy is doing a great job. The frames look really nice.

More information and free study prints for this boat may be found at: 13' Bay Matagorda Rowing 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

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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:

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