Choosing Your Boat Building Designs

As the ultimate do it yourselfer, you may look to boat building designs to find not only that perfect boat but also the one that is within your abilities to build. Even if you are a beginner, you can find plans to assist you in building a boat whether it is a simple design or something a little more complex.

Beginners can learn to make a variety of boats such as inboards, houseboats, human powered boats, outboards, power cruisers, sailboats, workboats and even special purpose vessel. Those of you familiar with the designs of Ken Hankinson can even find plans to recreate his famous designs. You can choose to build boats according to material such as aluminum, fiberglass, steel or stitch and glue constructions.

Special purpose watercraft include airboats, boats made especially for kids, drift boats, ducks boats, flats boats, fold up boats, glass bottom boats, kayaks, paddleboards, paddlewheel vessels, pedal boats and tugboats. You can even buy trailer plans so that you can build your boat at home then transport it to the water.

Even after you have decided the primary type of boat you want, you still have choices to make. For instance, if you choose to build a sail boat, do you want to make a dinghy, a take-apart sailing dinghy, a foam or fiberglass sailing dinghy, a sloop or a cat-rig? If you choose a human powered boat, will it be a river rowing drift pram or a flat-bottom rowboat? Did you remember to pick up plans to make the oars you will need to power your watercraft?

In many cases, you can buy boat building designs and accompanying kits that have all the materials you will need to undergo your project. Otherwise, you may have to individually buy some hardware and supplies like the application materials (glue, etc.), bow eyes, cleats, deadman throttle, drain plugs, eye and deck straps, fasteners (nails, screws, etc.), fiberglass fabrics and tapes, oarlocks and fittings, paints, sealants and wood filters and various safety supplies. You might also pick up a few book and DVDs to help you along with your written plans to ensure you do the job right.

Boat building designs are vast, but you should find something to suit you when you realize what you want. Building a boat can be a demanding but fun project to undertake to fill your weekends or any other spare time you can devote to the task.