Blog Construction and Design Tips Index
Below are links to blog posts relating to design, construction, and general boatbuilding tips.
Sunday July 11, 2021
Ply-on-Frame Boat Maintenance Video Released
This video talks about how to maintain your boat so it will last for generations.
Products Mentioned
Drain Plugs, Stainless: https://amzn.to/2UIi2wA
Drain Plugs, Bronze: https://amzn.to/3r0pyPE
Drain Plugs, Nylon: https://amzn.to/3wyOOxq
Boat Cover Medium: https://amzn.to/3wt1C8B
Boat Cover Small: https://amzn.to/2U2d4ea
Bilge Pump - Electric Automatic: https://amzn.to/3e6pBnE
Bilge Pump - Manual: https://amzn.to/3AQNERC
Marine Spar Varnish: https://amzn.to/2UJ0zEE
Marine Spar Urethane: https://amzn.to/3yFCXzc
Enamel Paint: https://amzn.to/3k7MsTF
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.
Boatbuilding Tips and Tricks Construction and Design Tips Index
- Sunday July 11, 2021: Ply-on-Frame Boat Maintenance Video Released
- Thursday May 20, 2021: Yes, You Can Build a Boat - Adding Strakes Keels and Runner Strips Video
- Sunday, May 2, 2021: Building Ply-on-Frame Frames Video
- Sunday, April 25, 2021: Chubasco Plans Now in Metric
- Sunday, April 4, 2021: New 3D drawings of Kona Hawaiian Sampan
- Monday, February 15, 2021: Yes, You Can Build a Boat #18 - Installing the Chine Log
- Monday January 11, 2021: Boatbuilding Adhesives Video
- Saturday January 9, 2021: Ply-on-Frame or Stitch-and-Glue? Video
- Wednesday January 6, 2021: Fiberglassing Home Built Boats Video
- Saturday January 2, 2021: Yes, You Can Build a Boat - All About Flotation Video
- Sunday, November 1, 2020: Ian Dickson's Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory Build Video
- Saturday, October 30, 2020: Eric Rush's Tillamook Pacific Power Dory Construction
- Monday, October 26, 2020: Boat Building Podcast Launched
- Tuesday, September 8, 2020: How to Build a Glousterman Video Created
- Sunday, August 30, 2020: Andy_Berry's Frame Layout and Construction
- Sunday, June 28, 2020: Build a Wooden Boat - Grand Banks Dories Video
- Monday, June 1, 2020: Finishing the Inside of Ply-on-Frame Boats
- Sunday, February 16, 2020: Yes, You Can Build a Boat! - Boat Building Tools Video
- Sunday, January 12, 2020: Yes, You Can Build a Boat - V-Bottom Boat Video
- Thursday, January 9, 2020: Yes, You Can Build a Boat - Flat Bottom Boat Video
- Sunday January 5, 2020: Yes, You Can Build a Boat! Do you have the skills? Video Series
- Friday, Novermber 8, 2019: John Rocco Maccari's Caladesi Carolina Dory
- Sunday, October 27, 2019: Caleb Keebler's 18' Carolinian Test with 25 hp.
- Sunday, April 21, 2019: Free E-Book Yacht Design
- Sunday, April 14, 2019: Free Center Console Plans
- Saturday, April 13, 2019: Free Cabin Plans
- Sunday, July 29, 2018: Plans to build the 14' Ensenada Mini Panga Added to Website
- Monday, June 25, 2018: 16' Endurance Flats Fly Fishing Boat Design Addded to Site
- Tuesday, June 12, 2018: Transom Construction for Motor Size
- Sunday, April 15, 2018: Free Wrecks & Reefs Book - April Special
- Saturday, January 27, 2018: Photo Essay for Nova Scotian Grand Banks Dory Construction
- Sunday, January 21, 2018: Alfred Johnson and the Centennial Dory
- Saturday, January 5, 2018: 30' Key West Carolina Dory Plans Available
- Friday, November 24, 2017: Give the Gift of Boat Plans this Christmas
- Sunday, November 19, 2017: St. Croix Canoe Construction Photo Essay Added to Site
- Sunday, October 8, 2017: Karl Beers' Pescadero Ride
- Saturday, September 9, 2017: Construction Photo Essay for Tillamook Pacific Power Dory
- Monday, September 4, 2017: Construction Photo Essay for KaJoe Bayou Boat
- Sunday, August 20, 2017: What does your "Calc Max Power" note mean?
- Sunday, August 13, 2017: Back Bay Pram Construction Photo Essay Added
- Sunday, August 6, 2017: Landing Craft Door Options Added to Three Garvey/Dories
- Sunday, June 25, 2017: Fixing Air Holes in Fiberglass
- Saturday, May 6, 2017: New Planked Foredeck of Pescadero Carolina Dory - Australia
- Sunday, March 26, 2017: How to Build a Mackinaw McKenzie River Style Drift Boat Video
- Sunday, February 19, 2017: How to Build a Seneca Pacific Power Dory
- Tuesday, February 14, 2017: How to Build a Caladesi Carolina Power Dory
- Monday, February 13, 2017: How to Build an Anacapa Offshore Power Dory
- Saturday, January 28, 2017: Boat Construction Seminar Video Added to Insider Page
- Friday, December 23, 2016: Albion Framing Completed from Lumberyard Materials
- Friday, November 25, 2016: Give the Gift of Boat Plans this Christmas
- Saturday, September 3, 2016: How to Build a 19' Galveston Garvey Dory
- Friday, July 29, 2016: How to Build a Tillamook Pacific Power Dory
- Saturday, July 9, 2016: How to Build a Carolinian, Carolina Sytle Dory
- Saturday, July 2, 2016: Huntington Harbor Kayak Construction Videos
- Sunday, April 24, 2016: Kachemak V-Bottom Dory Construction Photo Essay
- Wednesday, April 20, 2016: Boweyes for Spira International Boats
- Friday, February 12, 2016: Method for Fairing Ply Boat Framing
- Saturday, January 2, 2016: Carolinian Frame Construction
- Monday, June 8, 2015: Complete Construction Videos of an Albion Pacific Power Dory
- Friday, March 6, 2015: Albion Construction Photo Essay Added
- Thursday, January 22, 2015: What Comes With Your Plans and What's the Difference Between E-Plans and Printed Plans?
- Monday, January 19, 2015: Anacapa Offshore Pacific Dory Framing Video
- Saturday June 14, 2014: Huntington Harbor Lessons Learned
- Wednesday, February 12, 2014: Splash Wells for Spira Boats
- Tuesday, November 19, 2013: Coast Guard Navigation Rules Online
- Saturday, June 29, 2013: One Builders Technique for Lofting Boat Frames
- Thursday May 16, 2013: Three Useful Tools for Fairing
- Saturday, April 6, 2013: Limber Holes
- Saturday, March 30, 2013: Free EBook: A Thousand Miles in the Rob Roy Canoe
- Friday, March 29, 2013: Free EBook: Practical Boat Sailing
- Sunday, March 17, 2013: "How Much Does It Cost to Build Your Model ____"
- Monday, February 4, 2013: Zuider Zee Boat Plans Now Available in Imperial Dimensions
- Sunday, February 3, 2013: Skeeter Bass Boat Now on Web Site
- Sunday, December 23, 2012: Foam Flotation for Framed Boats
- Friday, October 5, 2012: Boatbuilding Tip: Simple Tool Shelf
- Sunday, September 2, 2012: New Free Downloadable Report - Scarfing Plywood
- Monday, August 20, 2012: Setting Up Frames on Strongbacks
- Friday, July 27, 2012: Steam Bending Longitudional Frame Elements
- Sunday, July 22, 2012: Scarfing Lumber for Boat Building
- Sunday, July 22, 2012: Hatteras V-Bottom Dory Now Available In Metric
- Thursday, July 19, 2012: Easily Built Truck Rack for Homebuilt Boats
- Thursday, June 7, 2012: "Hey Jeff, You Forgot This on Your Plans..."
- Sunday, May 20, 2012: New Video Uploaded - Flipping Over a Chesapeke V-Bottom Dory
- Thursday, May 10, 2012: New Sabine Flats Fishing Boat Plans Added to the Site
- Sunday, March 25, 2012: Registering Your Homebuilt Boat Article
- Wednesday, February 15, 2012: What Size Outboard for Your Homebuilt Boat?
- Sunday, January 15, 2012: Major Website Update
- Thursday, December 22, 2011: New Mission Bay Stitch and Glue Boat Launched
- Wednesday, December 21, 2011: One Way to Flip Over Your Power Dory Project
- November 17, 2011: Free Boat Plans and Ebook How To Build a Kayak
- December 14, 2010: Free Wooden Boat Plans Video
- November 22, 2010: The Truth About Free Boat Plans on the Internet
- November 18, 2010: New Stitch and Glue Boatbuilding Manual
- November 17, 2010: New Ply On Frame Manual
- November 1, 2010: Ozark Fisherman Construction Photo Essay Uploaded
- JUNE 16, 2010: Web Site Update - Winchester Power Dory Added, plus 2 new Metric Carolina Dory Boat Plans
- JUNE 9, 2010: Setting Up Framing on Strongback Guide
- MAY 30, 2010: Selecting Wood for Your Spira International Boat Guide
- JANUARY 31, 2010: New Youtube Video - How to Build a Stitch and Glue Boat
- JULY 4, 2009: New Article: Home Built Boat Seaworthiness
- MARCH 26, 2009: Framed Boat Plywood Cutout Guide
- MARCH 15, 2009: Boat Building Epoxy Source
- MARCH 4, 2009: Innovative Clamping Technique for Boat Building
- MARCH 3, 2009: New Fishing Boat Building Article
- MARCH 2, 2009: Wooden Boat Building - The Perfect Winter Project
- DECEMBER 18, 2008: Boatbuilding Web Site Update and New Stock Boat Plans
- DECEMBER 17, 2008: Ultra Light Duck Boat Plans Now Available
- NOVEMBER 22, 2008: Marine or Construction Plywood for Boatbuilding?
- OCTOBER 23, 2008: New Boat Building Video on Youtube
- OCTOBER 18, 2008: Fitting Sheer Clamps and Chine Logs
- OCTOBER 13, 2008: Free Study Plans
- OCTOBER 13, 2008: New Boats added to Website
- OCTOBER 10, 2008: New Boatbuilding How-To-Guides Section
- AUGUST 23, 2008: Raptor Nails
- AUGUST 22, 2008: Ordering Boat Plans
- JULY 23, 2008: Main Website Update and NEW BOAT plans
- JULY 22, 2008: Can You Really Build a Boat for $50?
- JULY 21, 2008: Fasteners for Boat Building
- JULY 19, 2008: Dories for Rough Water Use
- JULY 17, 2008: Can You Really Use Construction Grade Lumber?
- JULY 16, 2008: New Article on Lofting
- JULY 13, 2008: New Boatbuilding Tips and Tricks Blog Started
Blog Contents
Blog History
Boatbuilding Pictures
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.