Hello everyone, long time lurker first time poster here,

I'm just looking for some advice on building a wooden duck boat. Anyone every attempted it? Resources? I'm thinking of building it to look a lot like the aluminum hulls that some of the custom boat builders on here make. 18' long, 54" wide. flat bottom. Gonna put between a 30-35hp motor on the back (not sure which one yet).

My plan so far is to start with the frame. Then I am going to layer 1/4" ply strips in opposing directions until it is approximately 1" thick. Once that is done I am going to coat the outside in a thin layer fiberglass (for waterproofing) before I paint it and flip it over to put in the front deck. and flooring.

Any experience will be great.

I realize the inevitable "it won't last when you hit a stump" or "insert rude and discouraging comment here" is coming. I am only looking for productive criticism. Where I hunt (central alabama) there aren't a bunch of stumps. Just mud and weeds. I'm not planning on being real rough on the thing. I just figure I can save some money and have some fun in the process.

dguidry..... where you at

You're kidding right?

If not, you needn't look further than this post for your source of information. Ask and it shall be answered; from design to construction material and method.

Coosa county.....

and I'm not kidding. I have been working with wood for over 20 years now. Very strong if you know what you are doing.

I think DGuidry just got a woody,,,,,,,,,,,,,,pun intended.

Brad from Toller Boat Works had a mud motor on one of his boats. You can get the plans he uses from Gator Boat Company. They are very nice wooden boats, I built one a few years back. It served it's purpose until I got serious about raising hell in the mud and stumps.

Toller is over your way. Brad would probably be happy to talk with you. He makes some fine wooden hulls.

http://tollerboatworks.com/

Which one of them Venice boys had that wooden hull?

Here's mid consruction progress of my last boat

Final product

that's it

That looks like Bruce

A layer of 45 degree stitchmat glass cloth laid on wif epoxy resin will make the bottom as hard as any fiberglass boat. U can get it in 60" widths, so don't go any wider than that. I'm good wif glass, wish I was good wif woodworking.

I used 6 oz cloth with double tape on the seams, some of the guys were also using kevlar. It makes a strong boat, but will never be like 3/16" aluminum!!

how thick of plywood do ya use for a boat like that?

Gator Boat plans call for 1/2" bottom, 1/4" sides, and 3/4" bulkheads with doubled 3/4" transom. All marine grade plywood... that $hit can get costly for the good stuff. Both inside and out are covered with glass.

aahh.. i had been kinda thinkin bout maybe workin on a wood boat.. think i just lost that dream..

I appreciate all the help. I have already built several aluminum hulls I just thought a wooden one would be fun. Maybe I'll stuck with aluminum for now.

I am considering one of brads boats. I have a buddy that built one and loves it.

Glass has a bad habit of trapping water under it and speeding along rot.
I wouldn't glass the inside if I was you. (or maybe the outside too)
If you want a wood boat (like the ones yall are talking about) this day in age it's for very specific reasons. So if you go that route, go all the way and spend the extra time/effort to keep it maintained properly. Ask the guys that run real wooden boats day in and day out (maryland/virginia watermen, west coast salmon trollers, alaska halibut schooners) and they will tell you they probably spend as much time maintaining the boat as they do working it.

Most all the custom aluminum boats on here could be made form ply wood. Not sure a strip built boat would work too well. Would be heavy. Seen many ply wood airboat hulls that lasted a long time with up to260 ho.

Lots of race sleds made of ply wood with bog hp on them.

you need to keep it light, You can glue and stitch over a frame . They build canoes and kayak;s that way. kevlar on the outside and glass cloth on the inside. You need epoxy not polyester resin. Unless you have a supply of suitable wood , and a good table top plane and good table saw to make strips, you won't save any money, Epoxy and kevlar are expensive.

if you already have the wood and tools go for it.

JD

*pay attention to the dates of latest posts.


Lol

Yea there's a few years in between the posts.


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