Building A Drift Boat

[Pipes]

I started this thread back on the AFF board looking for some initial help. Thought I would show my progress and how the boat turned out. The boat is not the perfect specimen, but performs well. Having trouble locating 9 foot oars in Calgary. More than happy to share my experience if anyone has any questions.

Hope you enjoy.

Pipes

[Stimmy]

Nice work Pipes, looks great!! I got a pair of oars from this guy http://www.islandoars.com/prices.html. They're nice, but a little heavy, could use some counter balancing. I believe that Troutfitters sells oars as well.

 

Duncan

[Guest bigbadbrent]

wow that's gorgeous, makes me want to break out the old canoe and fixer up...amazingly done!

[admin]

Wow, that is amazing. How long did it take you to build it?

[dryfly]

Outstanding.

 

Congrats!

[Brunsie]

Nice work Pipes.

Westwinds used to sell oars

Enjoy the new boat.

BK

[cdock]

Very nice! Great work, I wish I had skills like that.

[Pipes]

Thanks for the comments. Not sure of the hours spent, but I started early March and was done around June. If I had to estimate, maybe 80 hours. It was more enjoyable and will be building another.

[lonefisher]

awesome work man..... I might have to take on a project like that over the winter to keep from going absolutely nuts

[Nick0Danger]

I just bought a House with a HUGE garage.

[lonefisher]

That is of course if I don't go absolutely nuts before winter arrives....... I think the tourism industry is all over for me.... seriously I may be a professional unemployed fish bum by the end of the week.....

 

But anyways back on topic I would be very interested in knowing what sort of specialized cutting, fastening, molding (shaping) tools you needed for this project. Also I would really like to know which areas of the construction you ran into problems with. I have access to various carpentry tools and saws and stuff and I have a small amount of experience myself and a wealth in others so I think such a project would be doable...... maybe. None the less you did a beautiful job with the boat

[SilverDoctor]

Very nice job, you should be proud of it. did you work from plans or just design as you go.

[rhuseby]

Great looking boat. Now if I only had a garage.

[Pipes]

I didn't have any plans. I just drew up some diagrams and used the slide show from Greg Tatman (gregboats.com) to follow.

Tools used:

Table saw

Skill saw

Jig saw

cordless screwdriver/drill

palm and belt sanders (the most important tools as I hate the sanding)

Lots of hand clamps

 

I used the West System epoxy resin which is available at Lee Valley and Glenmore Sailboats.

[Nick0Danger]

So did you screw any of that together, what exacly is the epoxy for? Did you buy a cooler to build it around first?

[126barnes]

great looking boat

[dryfly]

It was more enjoyable and will be building another.

 

Great stuff. Let me know when mine is done, and I'll come over and pick it up.

[SteveM]

Looks real nice,Pipes! About how much did this project cost, if you don't mind my asking?

[badatt]

I have a pair of 9' oars made from douglas fir with oak trimmed blades. They're available from Sawyer Products in Oregon. I'm not sure if theres a local distributor, check they're web site.

[Pipes]

Nick - Boat is both screwed and glued. The epoxy is used for sealing seams and screws. It is also used the glue together sheets of plywood.

 

Dryfly - Your boat should be done soon. I just need to know color and if you want left or right hand drive.

 

Bob - Cost of materials was about $850. That's for douglas fir hull and birch cabinets. Your big ticket items are wood and epoxy.