Being the poor college student that I am, I dont have enough money to buy a boat. So i thought i would just build one. I am trying to build somthing in the 15-20ft. jon boat range. Do any of you have any tips, hints, or anything tohelp me out with? I'm building it mostly for fishing and a few cold ones on the lake.
do you have a motor already, because that's the expensive part not the boat. I would think the cheapest plywood / fiberglass boat you could build in the 15 to 20 foot range would cost you more in supplies, than buying a used 15 to 20 ft Jon boat with a trailer and old motor.
do you have a motor already, because that's the expensive part not the boat. I would think the cheapest plywood / fiberglass boat you could build in the 15 to 20 foot range would cost you more in supplies, than buying a used 15 to 20 ft Jon boat with a trailer and old motor.
You will spend just as much, most likely more, than if you went out and bought a manufactured boat. It will also take you much longer than you had planned. Get the Boat Trader, plenty of good boats. Perhaps look for a beater, and fix it up. You will be on the water a lot sooner.
You won't save any money building the boat yourself. If, however, your desire is to have the satifaction of building your own boat, I say go for it. I have built two small ones from scratch when I was much younger, 10' hydroplane and 14' sail boat. Also rebuilt numerous boats and did renovation work on several yachts.. It is a lot more work and money than meets the eye.
I'd say look around for an old boat sitting around. I've seen 16 footers that need some tlc for less then $500 with a motor and trailer. Lots of people get a boat and it sits and they want it gone.
do you have a motor already, because that's the expensive part not the boat. I would think the cheapest plywood / fiberglass boat you could build in the 15 to 20 foot range would cost you more in supplies, than buying a used 15 to 20 ft Jon boat with a trailer and old motor.
I've built two cedar strip canoes. Great boats, way better than your average run of the mill canoe but it was as expensive if not more than a new "average" canoe. Would I do it again? Yes, but it's not cheap and not a fast project.
Put me in the "you don't build a boat to save money" boat. I'm not saying it can't be done...I just don't see how. To save money buy a used boat or get a "fixer upper" for free and well fix it up. good luck!
Go used aluminum and small outboard. You want to have fun, not make a ton of work for yerself. Should be able to pick something up for $500, you could here anyways. You'll spend that on resin alone.
A boat is a hole in the water that you pour money into.
Sometimes it is cheaper and more fun to stand in a bathtub and rip up hundred dollar bills.
Go for a tinny and an outboard. My first boat was a 10' tinny with a 6hp Johnson I got for $300. I caught heaps of quality fish from this boat and had a ton of fun. I've since traded up to get the boat I wanted back then. Now I want a 7.3m plate alloy half cab set up for long range touring the same as what we make at work. Time to start trading up again. Anybody want to buy a 4.1m tinny with a 30hp Merc set up for fly fishing and lure casting?
I agree with the above. Building a boat is super fun, but you can snag a used boat, motor and trailer for way cheaper and it will perform as well as your home built. Go for a simple aluminum jonboat with a smallish 4 stroke outboard and then go have fun.
If you really want to build a boat, I highly recommend plywood core epoxy fiberglass stitch and glue construction of the Payson and Michalak school. Check out these websites:
I've built two cedar strip canoes. Great boats, way better than your average run of the mill canoe but it was as expensive if not more than a new "average" canoe. Would I do it again? Yes, but it's not cheap and not a fast project.
I've done a cedar strip kayak as well as a few stitch and glue ones.
I didn't find them more expensive, but that cedar strip 'yak took forFREAKINever to finish. Turned out nice, fit perfectly, and rugged as all get out, though. And - in a strange turn - they're lighter than my 'glass and my son's plastic yaks!
If you want the 15-20 I'm in the buy camp.
If you just want to mess around and build something I'd suggest you look for plans for a single sheet plywood dingy project. That will give you a good feel for how much work and expense are involved. Most of the on-line distributors od resin and supplies have free plans available.
Of the millions of sites I'm not affiliated with ... you choose the one site I own. Great. Never would have got that one.
We're switching over servers, changing the SQL stuff and attempting to use up my entire collection of tequila to relieve the headaches caused by PHP 5.1.4. Had I not modified the code rather extensively before the switch, it would still be up. It'll be back by Monday.
haha, i'm starting to think it mght be easier and cheaper to buy a boat. i'll pick up a boat trader. The internet plans say that i can build a boat in a weekend, and for only 150 bones. i looked ebay and local paper and craigs list and found nothing affordable
