Category Archives: Boat Construction

Building a Strip Kayak

By Alan Bergen

Before jumping into building a strip kayak, I wanted to find out all I could about the process. To begin, I read the book Kayakcraft: Fine Woodstrip Kayak Construction by Ted Moores cover-to-cover and referred to it frequently during construction.

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Great Lakes Boat Building School, ariel view

The Great Lakes Boat Building School is Growing

By Matt Edmondson—Lead Instructor at GLBBS

Epoxyworks last highlighted the Great Lakes Boat Building School (GLBBS) in its Spring 2014 and Spring 2015 issues. The school has come a long way since then. Let’s take a look at what’s changed and glimpse into its exciting future. Continue reading

BO-PEEP II underway.

BO-PEEP II 75-Year Refit

By Ronald Lane

The motor yacht Bo-Peep II is a 55′ bridge deck cruiser designed by Hacker-Fermann Naval Architects Co. of Detroit, Michigan. In 2001, BO-PEEP underwent a major refit with extensive use of WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy. Two decades later, the benefits of this approach are apparent in hull longevity and strength; dry bottom blanks, frames, and keel; a dry bilge; dry bronze thru-hull fittings, hardware fasteners staying put; shorter shipyard haul-outs; and the propeller shaft remaining properly aligned. We no longer have rotted planks or loosened fasteners to replace, seams to caulk, or corrosions headaches. Continue reading

Nelda Ray under sail

Aluminum Mast Step Repair

On a Farrier Trimaran

By Don Gutzmer—GBI Technical Advisor

Epoxyworks #54 cover featuring the NELDA RAY, a Farrier folding trimaran

Cover photo: The Farrier folding trimaran Nelda Ray under sail following Don Gutzmer’s aluminum mast step repair.

I received a call from a friend of mine who owns a 2004 Farrier F33RX folding trimaran, the 33′ Nelda Ray. This sailboat is a frequent competitor in regattas on the Great Lakes. The aluminum mast step was compressing the deck and causing laminate failure. I told my friend I’d figure out what went wrong and then fix it so it would never happen again. I’ll outline the process I used to make this successful repair. Continue reading

trailer sailer LULU

LULU, the Biggest, Baddest Trailer Sailer

A home-built water-ballasted trailer sailer

By Brad C. Frederick

I’ve always wondered if LuLu wasn’t the largest trailer sailer on record. I’ve been sailing this 35′, self-designed and homebuilt trailerable sailer since launching her out of Morro Bay, California in 2010. I laid the keel in 1993 after three years of testing on a half-scale model I’d built. Her construction consists of ¾” planks bent over bulkheads on a strongback and closely fitted, layered joints held together with a lot of West System® Epoxy. I also used West System® when I sheathed her with fiberglass. Continue reading

stand-up paddleboards complete

Building CLC Stand-Up Paddleboards

By Bruce Niederer — Retired GBI Technical Advisor

Helping my brother Nelson build two Chesapeake Light Craft (CLC) stand-up paddleboards was one of the first projects I started after retiring.  We were building them for the best kind of friend—the paying kind. I guess I’m one of those guys who finds retirement much busier than work. In fact, I wonder how I ever found time to work. Continue reading

A cedar strip canoe by Kurt Mangseth.

Readers’ Projects, Issue 53

This cedar strip canoe (top) was laminated with WEST SYSTEM® 105 Resin®/207 Special Clear Hardener®. It is the work of Kurt Mangseth of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Continue reading

Obsession fulfilling its purpose, charging down the rapids.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go…

in a Wooden Boat

By Greg Hatten

I was anxious the first time I took my handcrafted McKenzie-style drift boat to The Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend, Washington. Realizing that boat builders and woodworkers with discerning eyes would be inspecting the construction details of my boat over the course of four days was almost reason enough for me to create a “change of plans” and not go. Continue reading

Stormy Weather, an East Coast 32 designed by Dovell Naval Architects and built by Denman Marine.

Stormy Weather

By Lorraine Murray — ATL Composites

Denman Marine in Kettering, Tasmania built and recently launched Stormy Weather, an East Coast 32. Renowned naval architect Andy Dovell designed the boat primarily as a day boat but included accommodations for overnights at harbor or short coastal cruising in good weather. She features traditional styling including a plumb stem and curved, raked transom. The Western Red Cedar strip hull is constructed with modern materials including multiaxial E-glass and WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy, resulting in a strong, lightweight, and easily handled boat. Continue reading