How to Build a Boat - Small Wooden Sail Boat

It’s not very hard to build a small wooden sail boat.  All you need to do is get the correct dimensions for building a boat.  For different boats you need different dimensions and different number of dimensions.

For instance, for a wooden boat with cypress wood you will need eight different dimensions of planks, but in the case of oak you can use just six different types of planks.  Subsequently if you are using Georgia pines then you need just three and five if it happens to be white pine.

Now dimensions and planks are ready, so the next point would be where and how to fix the stern.  What bottom would the boat have, a flat bottom or a ‘V’ shaped bottom.  It is mandatory that your stern should be build only with white oak. Saw and plane the side boards. 

The next step would be the mould, and then the stern board comes next.  Next step is the sideboards to be nailed to the stern by nailing in a double row for perfection and durability.  Set in the moulds keeping in mind they should be perpendicular to the boat’s middle.  In this way nail up all the moulds and the transom by using galvanized nails for permanent nailing of the boat.

The sides are complete now and the boat should be turned upside down to fix the bottom.  Nail the floor and the sideboard together with the stringer.  Fill in all gaps and make the fitting as tight as can be.  Then turn it once again and attach the seats and make way for two posts to be fastened in the boat.

Next step would be the keel.  Remember the keel is a very important part of the boat and precaution should be taken that no mishap occurs while nailing it to the floor.  The rider’s seat the cockpit should be done.  The final point should be the painting of the canvas deck in white.

Finally the oars and the extra fittings would complete the dream boat you have been planning for years and years to build.  Now you surely would understand how to build a boat – a small wooden sail boat.

You can also use the 3D design software which would make your labor a bit easier with its neat and accurate calculations for the curves and dimensions.  You don’t have to work out wrong calculations, you don’t have to draw and erase, you don’t have to cut and waste planks.

Try the new 3D software as well; it could be beneficial to you and your family members if they are involved too in making that boat of yours.  It is affordable software that would benefit you throughout your boat building career.  Just try it.