[OC17] Open version of Classic 17
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Boatbuilding is one of the most ancient forms of craftsmanship still alive today. As long as our ancestors have had a curiosity about exploring open waters, they have been practicing and honing their boatbuilding skills.
To be honest, however, building a boat is no small task. It will require a lot of work and patience to ultimately create a finished product that you are happy with and that is actually seaworthy.
Of course, we have also included a few free boat plans. You can keep in your back pocket for the next time you are asked to build a cardboard boat as part of a contest or lakefront teambuilding adventure.
We hope that these resources help you in your journey to build your own boat!
Photo by SeventyFour via Shutterstock
The Handy Andy
The White Duck
The Crazy Cardboard Boat
Photo by Halsey via Shutterstock
There are a lot of reasons why you should explore building your own boat versus buying a pre-made model. Here is a quick breakdown of the most obvious benefits:
Of course, most first-time boatbuilders still experience some level of trial-and-error. With patience and perseverance, however, you can craft a one-of-a-kind vessel that has no equal anywhere in the world.
1. the wanigan.
PC Duckworks Boat Builders Supply
The Wanigan boat began as a garvey design, which is one of the older boat plans known to the Americas. Traditionally, these boats were built as work scows and were very popular among American summer camps.
The design itself is very simple, but these boats can carry heavy loads. It can also handle a trolling motor being mounted to the stern so you can cover more ground if you want to use it as a fishing boat.
The creator of this boat plan became aware of some of the downsides of the garvey design, such as the heavier weight that made it less efficient than some other designs. So he combined elements of dory and wanigan designs to create a hybrid.
The main changes include an enlarged beam, tilted lathes to provide a stiffer hull, and knocking off the top strakes to reduce the boat’s overall weight.
The Wanigan text
These additional The Wanigan drawings  may also prove useful for your build process!
The Mouse is one of the most compact and nimble boat plans we have found for this list. It is an easy build and also a great boat for two kids or a single teenage paddler.
The original builder began with a one-sheet boat design in an effort to create the lightest and most affordable boat possible. This means it is only suited for calm waters and should not be used in high winds or wavy conditions.
That said, it was built in roughly 12 to 24 hours of work time and doesn’t require a full workshop to construct. The main material that is required for building this boat is quarter-inch plywood. But the builder recommends using one-inch by half-inch pine or something a little sturdier.
The plywood and pine components are held together using a method called ”˜stitch and glue’. This method requires choosing one of the best glues for kayak outfitting , which are typically made of epoxy and glass tape rather than something cheaper like polyurethane.
The Mouse Instructions
Also, here are a few extra useful The Mouse Notes for builders
The Slipper is the first of many sailboat plans on our list and it is faster, easier, and cheaper to build than most. It also features a deeper cockpit than many other sailboat designs, which makes it safer for intermediate sailors.
This sailboat plan features dual steering stations so that you can sail from inside or outside of the helm. It also includes a centerboard trunk that hardly intrudes into the cabin at all. So that, it is easier to work around while you are in the cockpit.
The exterior hull and cabin of this sailboat feature a modified dory design using two sheets of plywood ripped to three feet wide before being joined together. The resulting hull is a modified V-shape that reduces drag.
The centerboard of this boat can also be winched up to the level of the top of the cabin or lowered down to alter the draft. This allows you to customize the boat design for a stiffer and more weather-worthy vessel if you need it.
The Slipper was also intentionally designed with an aft cabin that naturally helps to keep the bow pointed into the wind whether you are underway or the boat is anchored in the port.
The Building Slipper
PC DIY Wood Boat
The Handy Andy is a great little 10-foot portable rowboat for hunting, camping, fishing, and other recreational uses. It is actually the only folding boat design on our list, which makes it best for folks that need the most portable boat plan possible.
This boat features a 42-inch beam and a depth of about 15 inches at the mid-section. It also weighs roughly 80 pounds when assembled and can handle up to three average-sized human passengers.
The design boasts a flat bottom with canvas-bound edges and the primary material used for construction is ⅜-inch marine-grade plywood. Despite its lightweight nature, this rowboat can handle trolling motors or even outboard motors with a maximum of five horsepower.
Once finished, the hull can be folded or unfolded in less than a minute’s time.
This design makes it one of the only boats on this list that can be stored in a truck bed or easily carried by two people to be launched at more remote locations.
If you are looking for an all-purpose dinghy that can handle almost any use you might imagine, look no further than The Junior free boat plan. It can carry three or four average-sized adults and is much easier to row than a traditional dinghy.
It is also durable enough to be equipped with a small outboard motor. You could even set it up with sailing equipment if you want to use it as a sailing vessel. As we said, this is truly an all-around boat design!
This boat plan requires constructing three frames that will provide the majority of the load-bearing support. The builder recommends using ¾-inch framing with ⅜-inch plywood as the exterior material for this boat build.
Resin glue and flathead screws are also required to hold this boat together. But there is a full list of materials included in the plans we have linked to below. Sticking to that plan should also give you enough leftover materials to construct two six-foot oars for rowing this boat until you install a trolling motor or outboard motor down the line!
Channel your inner Captain Morgan when you are following these plans to build your very own Jolly Roger boat. This flat bottom boat design is designed for pond fishing . It can also be a useful yacht dinghy for getting from your dock to a larger vessel anchored offshore.
The plan follows conventional dinghy construction methods but also includes a few modifications that will save you time and energy. The wide design is super stable for boaters of all ages.
The keel, frame, chines, and risers are all cut from ¾-inch oak, ash, or any other trusted hardwood you can get your hands on. For the smaller components, the builder recommends using cedar, cypress, fir, or white or yellow pine.
Because this boat plan is also sturdy enough to handle a small motor, it includes important points for protecting the wooden hull from spark plug damage.
Be careful to follow these guidelines to build the safest boat possible if you imagine installing a motor down the line.
The Jollyroger
The Cork is another simple rowboat design. This one trends away from the flat bottom plans that we have included thus far. Instead, it features a deeper, V-shaped hull that makes it better suited to more efficient rowing and easier maneuverability.
It can be rowed easily from either seating position and is durable enough to handle up to three average-sized adult passengers. The ends of the boat are identical, which allows for multi-directional rowing.
The list of materials required for this boat plan should cost you between $30 and $50, depending on your location and hardware costs there. The resulting build is lightweight enough for two people to be carried and also to be transported on top of a vehicle .
Inside the boat, the builders use aluminum tubing to secure the struts that hold the seats. This material choice keeps the overall weight of the boat down while still adding the necessary rigidity across the beam of the boat.
The Hobie Cat is one of the most iconic and recognizable small sailing vessels ever made. This Hobby Kat plan is your answer to building your own iconic sailboat without spending thousands of dollars.
Your finished boat will be able to handle speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. It will be a super fun vessel for windy days on the lake or bay. The builder was able to construct the hulls, decking, and rudder for this boat while spending little more than $200.
From there, they purchased and installed the mast, boom, sail, and rigging, which brought the total amount spent to roughly $650 (still much less than a name-brand Hobie!). Without the mast and sail, this boat weighs roughly 165 pounds and is constructed using primarily 3/16-inch marine plywood.
You can also elect to build your own mast, boom, and sail if you have the time and skills to do so.
Those elements are not included in this boat plan, but they do offer some recommendations for where to buy these components!
The HobbyKat
Named after the common seabird found around the world, the Tern is a lightweight and nimble sailboat with a 72 square foot base design. She is made for inland sailing and planes very well in moderate breezes.
The hull design also provides minimal water resistance and the small floor plan makes this boat easier for intermediate sailors to handle. Even though it offers a small footprint, this boat is sturdy enough to handle up to four adult passengers.
One of the best things about this boat plan is that it can be built almost entirely by using only common hand tools.
Of course, you can speed things up if you have power tools and you are skilled enough to use them correctly.
The Tern boat plan includes a 20-foot mast, but you can shorten that length if you desire. The plan includes a complete list of materials and step-by-step instructions on how to plane and assemble each element.
As you might expect from its name alone, the Falcon is an incredibly speedy sailboat for its size. It boasts a 14-foot centerboard and can handle two to four passengers, depending on its size and weight.
In tests of the original build, the creators claim that this boat out-distanced many Snipe and Comet sailing vessels as well as pacing evenly alongside longer 18-foot sailboats. When finished, your boat will have a six-foot beam and a total weight of roughly 475 pounds.
For the main framing components, they recommend using white oak and plywood will be the main material used in the hull construction. The hull features a V-shaped that was inspired by larger schooners.
The Falcon is best suited to sailing on bays, lakes, and wide rivers. It is also a boat plan with just under 120 square feet of deck space and it is a great build for amateur craftsmen and sailors.
The White Duck is a flat-bottomed rowboat with a total length of 13’6” and a four-foot beam. The cockpit is approximately 15 inches deep all the way around and this boat can handle up to five passengers while maintaining buoyancy and stability.
When fully constructed, it will weigh roughly 200 pounds, but the final weight will depend on the type of lumber you choose for your build. This boat plan features plywood planking over solid wooden frames.
The White Duck is built with a pointed bow that cuts nicely through the water. The flat stern of this boat design will make it easy to attach a small outboard motor with a maximum of six horsepower.
As you might expect from its name, this rowboat is a great option for duck hunting trips. That being said, it is a highly versatile craft that can also be used for pond fishing or casual rowing on your nearby lake.
The Sea Midge is one of the smallest rowboats on our list and it is ideally suited for one average-sized rower or two small paddlers. It is only about 8 feet in length and offers a 52-inch beam at its widest point.
The Midge’s small dimensions make her ideal for navigating narrower creeks and streams. With an approximate weight of 62 pounds, she is easy to maneuver on the water and can also be much more easily transported than some of the larger boat plans on our list
The Seamidge
The Zephyr is a compact and speedy dinghy sailboat that measures roughly 14 feet long and approximately five feet across. This boat style was originally developed for safely crossing the English Channel. This means it can stand up well in rough waters.
When finished, it is also light enough to be transported on a small trailer or on top of a larger vehicle.
The boat plan calls for using hemlock or fir for the framing and oak or Douglas fir for the keel and chines.
The Gypsy is a small cruising sailboat that is meant to be equipped with an outboard motor for powered locomotion. The original design resulted in an incredibly seaworthy vessel that logged more than 6,000 nautical miles in her lifetime.
It includes a comfortable cabin that makes it well-suited for multi-day sailing adventures. This boat plan includes improvements on the original design that will help you build an extremely durable and long-lasting sailboat.
The Gypsy boat design will help you construct a vessel that can handle a motor up to 25 horsepower so that you can enjoy cruising speeds of up to nine miles per hour.
While it may require a bit more of an investment in time and money, it will also help you produce one of the best boats you can build with a free boat plan!
PC Saint Dominic Catholic School
Finally, let’s talk about a crazy cardboard boat plan that you can build in less than a day. This is a great boat plan to bookmark for your next teambuilding project so that you can earn bragging rights with your coworkers.
The plan calls for using 1.5 sheets of cardboard. But you can use the remaining half sheet to build your own boat paddle if you want to get creative.
Triple-thick cardboard is best for this boat plan. But you can always double up thinner sheets if that is all you can find.
These plans include an easy-to-follow diagram for marking, cutting, and folding the cardboard sheets to create the hull of your boat. From there, it calls for using contact cement and construction adhesive to seal the edges and corners.
If you are looking to save a little money on this build you could also use duct tape and then wrap the entire design in plastic sheeting to provide waterproof qualities.
Overall, this build is one of the cheapest and easiest on our list. It is also a great project for hot summer camp days on the lake or river!
Photo by Alexandra Soloviova via Shutterstock
We hope that you now have a couple of free boat plans to inspire you to begin your own construction project.
Don’t hesitate to check out YouTube for some useful boat-building videos when you are getting into the nitty-gritty of these build processes!
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Pete is the Owner of KayakHelp.com. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, he grew up kayaking, fishing, sailing, and partaking in outdoor adventures around the Great Lakes. When he’s not out on the water, you can find him skiing in the mountains, reading his favorite books, and spending time with his family.
Cabin Powerboats
Jarvis 21 plans.
Suremike ii plans pdf.
Crispy 660 CABIN project rises from a client’s request to have a small planing boat with a cabin, a hull to be easy built in plywood and epoxy, a boat powered with an headache-free outboard engine; he will sail the boat as a small week-end cruiser in coastal areas, channels and lakes, taking advantage of the interiors, made by a full size double berth in the lower cabin (with a real marine toilet), a decent amount of space for lockers, stoves and a sink in the cabin ; basically all you need to cruise for a prolonged weekend with the protection of a small cabin, all cooked in a “nu classic” looking small planing boat.
140 liters (plus 60 liters if a secondary fuel tank is fitted) | ||
2,51 m (trailerable) | 60-100 liters | |
0,36 m | 40 liters | |
approx 0,72 m | approx. 28 knots at design displacement (see also chart table) | |
2,52 m (no mast on cabin top , no engine ) | ||
1150 kg | ||
1600 kg | 420 € (pdf version) | |
2000 kg |
Hull and structures are derived from Crispy 650 open boat , slightly modified to cope with the different weight of the superstructure, and with a new flared design of the hull topisdes ; the hull is thus made by a structural grid of marine plywood bulkheads linked by a T shaped solid wood keel beam and an array of longitudinal stringers running from bow to transom, this one made by a 58 mm thick sandwich of plywood and solid laminated wood bonded with epoxy; cockpit, deck and superstructure are made by bonded plywood panels, light, stiff and easy to build.
Topsides are made by two layers of 6 mm thick plywood (or solid wood if you prefer) veneers overlapped and bonded on the structure; the boat can be powered with a single or double outboard engine up to 160 HP (single engine) or 2 x 100 HP , giving her a top speed of approximately 31 knots ;
Hull geometry with flared topsides is clearly shown here
Plans are as usual super-detailed with all the developed panels, a huge amount of structural details and several drawings specifically dedicated to systems : electrical, black water, fuel system, bilge system and freshwater system.
All in all Crispy 650 is good choice if you want a classical look coastal cruiser to be built and operated with a reasonable budget , avoiding bigger boats and too expensive powerplants , and she features a modern wooden-epoxy composite hull 15% lighter than a “normal” GRP boat of the same size.
In this kind of boats as usual deck and cockpit arrangement can be widely customized to suit your needs, ranging from pure coastal cruise, to a serious fisherman.
Here it is the interiors layout detailed in plans: a double v berth on the bow, a separate marine toilet, pilot steering position, a galley featuring a couch and sink and stove. cockpit has two lateral seats: hatches on the floor are made in order to easily do maintenance works on systems (fuel tanks, batteries and other systems); two lateral seats can be built in the cockpit
How to build her: the hull is in marine oukume plywood and solid wood battens notched on plywood bulkheads, all glued with epoxy resin, chines are reinforced with glass tapes epoxy laminated. The construction will start setting up the plywood bulkheads on a cheap wood scaffold; we’ll proceed to link the bulkheads with stringers and keel backbone, gluing all together with thickened epoxy, thus making a sturdy and light structural grid. The planking will be made with plywood panels glued on the stringers and bulkheads; chines between panels will be stiffened with glass tapes both inside and outside, the same thing will be done among bulkheads and panels; deck and cockpit will follow the same scheme, plywood panels glued with epoxy on a grid of bulkhead and stringers. The hull will behave like a composite monocoque, light, strong and stiff. The boat can be customized with all the accessories that you need: fishing rod holders, additional seats, a retractable bimini on the cockpit, a diving equipment rack, and so on.
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It's a small sailboat with a cabin that's easy to handle and can be trailered. It weighs 1,200 pounds. 3. Com-Pac 23 is a larger sailboat that's still easy to handle. A great option for beginners seeking comfort is the Com-Pac 23. You can get it for $20,000-$30,000. This sailboat offers a cozy cabin and ample storage for your sailing adventures.
The added bonus was that this created two "pillars" (the trunks themselves) inside the cabin which not only seriously reinforced the cabin roof, but provided space to mount shelving to either side of the cabin door and provide stowage space for a 30 qt. cooler, 8 gallons of water, a small hand pump brass faucet, a 55 Ah battery, an electrical ...
The Glastron GS 259 is a 25-foot-long cruiser with a price range of about $77,000. Here it is: While the cabin is huge, as is the full galley, and the large dinette, the price also matches the large accommodations. However, it will be difficult to find such accommodations on a boat of this size.
Cabin Sailboats to 15' Sort By: Featured Items Newest Items Best Selling A to Z Z to A By Review Price: Ascending Price: Descending Products Per Page: 8 12 16 20 40 100
If you want a personal sailboat ideal for solo sailing, the Sun Can is a great choice. Belowdecks, the twin 6-foot-5-inch berths and many other features and amenities make this cat a willing weekender. $19,800, (727) 443-4408, com-pacyachts.com.
Assent 's performance in the 1979 Fastnet Race makes the Contessa 32 a worth entry in the 25 best small sailing boat designs list. Credit: Nic Compton. Designed by David Sadler as a bigger alternative to the popular Contessa 26, the Contessa 32 was built by Jeremy Rogers in Lymington from 1970. The yacht's credentials were established when ...
Balboa 26. Balboa 26 Courtesy Of Matts G. Djos. First splashed in 1969, the Balboa 26 continues to enjoy a strong following among budget-minded cruisers. Built sturdy and heavy, all of the boat's stress points are reinforced. The spacious cockpit comfortably seats 4 and is self bailing, ensuring that sailors stay dry.
Idea 21 small sailboat plan is the latest development of my family of small plywood & epoxy sailboats plans for homebuilders: it was quite a time since I was thinking of an evolution of her smaller 19 footer sister, so I finally take the decision to publish this new plan. The goals of this plan is simple: add interior volume, simplify the work for homebuilders switching to a complete plywood ...
Catalina 16.5. jlodrummer. Catalina Yachts are synonymous with bigger boats but they have some great and smaller boats too such as Catalina 16.5. This is one of the best small sailboats that are ideal for family outings given that it has a big and roomy cockpit, as well as a large storage locker.
Its enduring popularity, strong class association, and supportive community make it a beloved classic in the world of small sailboats, embodying a perfect blend of performance, comfort, and inclusivity for sailors of all levels. 8. Hobie Cat. Start a fun hobby with the Hobbie Cat. Length: 16.7ft / 5.04 m.
A floor plan is given in the DORY CABIN PLANS along with suggested cabinetry. All trunk versions feature large vee berths forward with sitting headroom. Versions B, C, and E have space for port and starboard cabinets or head and cabinet. Pilothouse versions have 6' plus headroom, helm station, cabinets and space for stove and sink.
Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere. John Vigor turns the spotlight on twenty seaworthy sailboats that are at home on the ocean in all weather. These are old fiberglass boats, mostly of traditional design and strong construction. All are small, from 20 feet to 32 feet overall, but all have crossed oceans, and all are cheap.
affiliate links Cabin Cruiser, Free Sailboat Plans Petrel You can build this 16ft boat as a day sailer or an overnighter with cabin. Petrel is a Free Sailboat Plan that fulfils the greatest possible variety of uses in one model, offering the builder either an open-cockpit racing craft with comfortable accommodation for day sailing or a snug cabin model with accommodation for overnight trips to ...
The Lugger is 18' 9" but Drascombe makes many other models including the 15 ½ - foot Dabber and the 21' 9" Longboat, all essentially the same except for the size. The Norseboat 17.5, "the Swiss Army Knife of boats", made in Canada, is a modern alternative.
These plans are for a small 15 foot knockabout sailboat. I like these plans for their ease. Building a smaller boat is a lot more attainable than a cabin cruiser! And these plans get right to the specifics of building. From the plans: ANY SAILBOAT fancier will like "Tramp," the trim, 15-ft. knockabout that's so easy to build in plywood.
Cabin Sailboats to 15' Cabin Sailboats 16' to 19' Cabin Sailboats 20' - 25' Cabin Sailboats 26' up; Open Sailboats to 14' Open Sailboats 14' up; ... To download these plans, click HERE The Drifter 12 is a small trimaran that can be paddled or sailed, and is perfect for exploring rivers, bays, and lakes. The rig is simple, using a windsurfing ...
Grew up on the Chesapeake bay, which had some of the best work boat designs like the Dead rise skiff, the Skipjack, and etc. On the old work boats that had real small cabins the watermans saying was why use space for cabins that can be used for product. Tough guys in those days! thatone123, Dec 21, 2016. #13.
Fractional gennaker: 24 m2. (masthead optional: 40 m2) Air draft: 9,30 m. Plans price: € 580,00. Light displ: 1000 kg. Plans can be purchased here: Nautikit idea 19 order page. Our first and best selled plan suited for homebuilders. IDEA 19 originates in 2005 as a modification of Dudley Dix's TLC 19, a small GRP trailerable sailboat; at the ...
Gather the Necessary Materials and Tools. Construct the Cabin Frame. Install the Cabin Walls and Ceiling. Add Windows, Doors, and Ventilation. Insulate the Cabin for Comfort. Finish the Interior with Furnishings. Weatherproof the Cabin Exterior. Test and Refine the Boat Cabin. Conclusion - How To Build A Boat Cabin.
These free small cabin plans listed offer a variety of different styles, from five-room cabins to pole cabins to A-frames: 16' x 20' Cabin. A-Frame Cabin. Community Cabin. Five-room Cabin. Dorm Loft Cabin. One Bedroom Guest Cabin.
The C17 is a compact cruiser with a seaworthy classic style hull similar to the C19. The hull is based on our C19 design: generous volume, ample freeboard, well defended bow. In proper hands, this boat can take bad weather safely. The deadrise is 45 degrees at the cutwater progressing towards 11 degrees at the transom.
PC DIY Wood Boat. The Gypsy is a small cruising sailboat that is meant to be equipped with an outboard motor for powered locomotion. The original design resulted in an incredibly seaworthy vessel that logged more than 6,000 nautical miles in her lifetime. It includes a comfortable cabin that makes it well-suited for multi-day sailing adventures.
Small Rowboats; Tenders; Sailboats . All Sailboats ... Cabin Sailboats to 15' Cabin Sailboats 16' to 19' Cabin Sailboats 20' - 25' Cabin Sailboats 26' up; Open Sailboats to 14' Open Sailboats 14' up ... 4000 lbs.Weight Empty - 3000 lbs. I built the original Mark V 39 six years ago, and I have sold over sixty sets of plans for... $105.00. Choose ...
Crispy 660 CABIN project rises from a client's request to have a small planing boat with a cabin, a hull to be easy built in plywood and epoxy, a boat powered with an headache-free outboard engine; he will sail the boat as a small week-end cruiser in coastal areas, channels and lakes, taking advantage of the interiors, made by a full size double berth in the lower cabin (with a real marine ...