Another First-Timer (Cont'd)
by Gary Stout
"I NEVER BUILT ANYTHING OUT OF
WOOD BEFORE"
T he process was at the same time
both exciting and frustrating. Never having built a boat
before I struggled with the terms and nomenclature, and most
of all I struggled with understanding the plans. Slowly as I
gained experience I gained confidence too. Probably half way
through the build I knew what I wanted and had a pretty good
understanding of how to go about it. However, the boat could
never have been built were it not from the fantastic
assistance of a great group of guys on the Glen-L Boatbuilder Forum. They were
absolutely invaluable and helped me to solve hundreds of
dilemmas that had me stumped. A particular thanks goes to
Bruce Dow who painstakingly answered all of my stupid/novice
questions and guided me through the process.
At some point in the build process one has gained so many
skills that it becomes almost intuitive as to how to complete
the boat. In the beginning, I was a complete novice and had
to look at the plans for every single step. The plans are
absolutely necessary to get the framing......the shape of the
boat just right. After that, there is a lot of
"builder's choice" as to how to finish off the
decking, cover boards, floor boards, seating, side panels,
etc. Not to mention engine, drive train, steering, wiring,
throttle/shift controls, etc. I'm guessing that in terms
of hours, at about the half way point the basic boat was
complete. The remainder of the hours it was simply
"making it look pretty." Can you say "sanding
and varnishing"? Must have taken me 3 months full time
on that step!
Yes I made some mistakes. We all do. While not a "show
quality" boat it turned out rather nice for a first time
project. I get lots of compliments and thumbs up from all
sorts of folks. There's some final sorting out to do
which shouldn't be too much of a challenge. The build
process is fairly straightforward.........challenging but not
impossible for the average guy. Probably the most critical
and difficult task was drilling out the hole in the bottom of
the boat for the prop shaft. Remember, measure twice, cut
once, and don't guess at anything. If in doubt, go to the
forum and get some help from those who have gone before you.
I wish someone had told me in the very beginning that a 350
CI engine won't fit under the hatch covers!
Financially I kept track of every single dime I spent
building the boat.......every screw, nail, piece of
sandpaper, paint brush, carbon paper, etc. I did no
scrounging on E-Bay, nor did I purchase any used parts.
Everything was purchased new and I bought the best of
everything. I have a total so far of $34,000 including a new
trailer, but excluding interior upholstery. It was kind of a
shock to see how much the deck hardware stuff
costs........cleats, bow eyes, windshield brackets, vents,
hinges, lights, etc.
When you think the boat is 90% complete, you must realize
you still have 90% to go! I totally underestimated the amount
of time to sand and varnish the boat to my satisfaction. I
think I spent about 3 months doing nothing but sanding and
varnishing, and don't underestimate the importance of
"fairing" the boat before applying any fiberglass,
resin, or varnish. Every little ding, dent, ripple or
imperfection will be magnified in the end product. Sand and
fair the boat perfectly first!
I've posted pictures in Customer Photos to show various phases
of my construction. Glen-L is a wonderful company and
provides a wonderful resource for boat builders. I recommend
Glen-L to any and all who are interested in building a
boat.
-- Garry Stout
Odessa (Tampa), Florida
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