DIY dinghy – Streaker?

Hi ChrisB14,

I've seen a lot of wooden boats being built and restored when I lived near Falmouth.   Everything from plywood dinghies to a 120 ' schooner.  The more you watch the process, the more you realise how skilled these people are.

They also have very good tools ; hand, power and fixed workshop tools .  You shouldn't under estimate this.  It is almost impossible to get good tight wood working joints without and you will definitely need to be able to prepare lengths of wood to your precise dimensions, often with bevels on them.

The minimum workshop tools I would personally  want are :  A bandsaw with various blades, a planer/thicknesser, pillar drill, router and router table, a table saw and a compound mitre saw.   Then you can add a belt sander and various hand tools including chisels and many more clamps than you ever think you will need.

You will also need a decent sized and strong bench with a wood workers vice.

Most of this will fill your garage !

Yes, it can be done with far less but I think the end product will be compromised.


Edited by boatshed - 24 Mar 14 at 12:04pm

Err... if ChrisB14 builds a Farr 3.7 using the AUTOCAD files supplied with his plans the majority of parts are laser cut plywood. The build base can be built from MDF, accurately pro cut at the timber yard he chooses to supply him. And is simply built.

Most of the woodworking is in shaping the 'stringers' and 'scarfing' the ply sheets. Which doesn't need all the gear you are talking about needing 'boatshed'.

Take a look at Dave Barkers blog http://davesfarr37project.weebly.com/1/archives/01-2012/1.html

He will need lots of 'clamps' though! Or, as Dave used... bicycle inner tubes!!

I've been working on boats for years without most of that lot.

It may cost a bit, but a timberyard (or friendly woodworking place - I have a window maker nearby) can size wood etc, and loads can be done with simple power and hand tools. If you can make and put up a bookshelf, you are well on the way to being able to build a boat - with a learning curve, of course, but then that is the point of the project.

Originally posted by JimC Oh good grief, a huge list of nice to haves there sure, but absolutely no need for most of them...

I bet the OP will end up buying several on the list !   Get them second hand and flog them again afterwards.  

My dear old Dad, Gawd bless 'im, built our Cadet & Geep from plans & woodyard bought timber. No pre-formed / pre-cut stuff for him. The only power tools used were a (home made) circular saw bench (lethal - 'elf n safety would have carted us kids off to social services!), and the power drill. To that, today, I would add a router to do what his trusty plough-plane did. The secret, IMHO, is being able to get / keep the tools sharp. I can't and that's why I'm a cr4p woodworker.

Hand tools were what should be found in any decent workshop: Tenon, Dovetail, Panel & Jig saws, Chisels, Plane, Pencil (obviously), Straight Edge...

Measure, measure and measure again before cutting.

Yes - a zillion clamps were used, but the Spanish Windlass was also very useful.

All this was done in a 1950's single garage that had been extended lengthways about 6-8 feet. Width was never a problem really.