I built and maintained wooden boats for 50 years (40 of those sanding) so take this from one who knows. Great video, well narrated, bloody beautiful boat! Be proud sir, very proud!
I come from a traditional boat building family and I built a few wooden boats myself. Seeing this video made me appreciate the fact that my long experience permits me to skimp and skip on a few processes which make my life easier but not necessarily what I call the best procedure, but it is good enough. The gentleman who built this boat was even so precise in building the strongback. Boats are not so fussy about being warped or twisted a little through their length and they will still float you know! He was even fussy about the flatness part of the sheeting and arranged for it to be corrected. As for the finishing, well I must admit I was never so fussy about the manner I finish boats as I like to think mine were working boats and that finish normally does not last long in the manner I use boats. There are so many issues about which this narrator should be congratulated. The fact that he found a slight error in the framing, the manner in which he corrected all he could to make pleasant curves and that finish is much better than I seek myself. I like the manner in which his ingenuity saw how to correct and improve the seating attachment arrangement. Well, all I can say is that for the first boat, this is brilliant and shows that where there is a will one can do even better than those who have been in the trade for a long time. Sir, my congratulations. Well done.
As an amateur boat builder I had the luxury of time to do as good a job as I could and not worry about trying to make a buck doing it. Many would say I’m too fussy but I just like to do as good a job as I can when I make something. I like the challenge, and the reward, that approach offers. That’s why I built a boat instead of just buying one. And I hate standing back and thinking well that looks rough - I could of done it better than that! What I like is standing back and thinking, man that looks good! You’re quite right in saying that if it was a work boat all that time consuming finish would soon be undone. Mind you, at the other end of the spectrum a dug out canoe will float. Horses for courses I guess. Cheers
@@robinhodgkinson After three years I came back to admire your beautiful boat, Now my grandson is with me and he loves it. Again, Sir, my congratulations for building such a dignified ,majestic, elegant boat,
@@carmelpule8493 Thanks for your kind words Carmel. Although it was a great little boat, and we had lots of fun in it, my true passion is sail, and having this boat reminded me of that fact. So after two years I sold it to a very happy new owner and after nearly another two years of work I’m about to launch a Scarab 650. A 21’ trailerable folding trimaran built in epoxy/pvc/fibreglass sandwich. Light but very stiff. A modern design built with modern materials. It’s been quite a journey and an interesting build with lots of new challenges. A lot of work (2000 hrs) and I have to say not my favourite materials to work with but the results look great. And I’m sure she’ll sail beautifully. I’ve shot a lot of video and stills of the whole job, from designing and building an arch shed ( “the project before the project”, as my son called it) to launch day, coming soon, and I’ll be making a few videos of the process. Should be an interesting watch. Cheers
Thanks Dave. Glad you enjoyed it. Not essential by any means, but a very handy tool that makes accuracy over a distance easy to achieve. Btw, new build coming up in a month or two. Subscribe if you want to see a 21’ trailerable trimaran take shape. I’ll be blogging this one. Cheers
Unbelievable workmanship! Believe me, I know! I admire your laser focus, determination and true grit needed to pull this off! And, you're organized!!🤣🤣✌👍
Wow, great video and beautiful build! I bought the plans in the mid 80’s from WoodenBoat magazine. They included dimensions so the frames could be made without lofting. Like you I noticed this resulted in a very strange shape up front. I called the designer, Charles Wittholz, and asked him about it. He agreed that the frame dimensions given did not result in the correct shape (I suspect he already knew that). I ended up lofting the boat from the table of offsets provided and the result looked great. Built the oak frames (still have them) but never went further due to a move. Seeing your video has motivated me to build a 1/6 scale RC model from the original plans. A new lofting!
Well that's an interesting story! Thanks. I know I was pedantically accurate marking out the frames from the dimension table, but the resulting shape looked like I was drunk doing it! Staggering from point to point in a shallow zig zag. Like you I quickly abandoned the frame dimensions and referred to the offsets table, which itself wasn't perfect at a couple of points, but pretty close. I guess that's the difference between an old plan off a drawing board, and one off a computer. As I recall the frame dimensions were written in another hand and had obviously been added later, no doubt in an attempt to make the plans more novice friendly. Sounds like you weren't the first to draw the "loose" frame dimensions to his attention. Cheers.
I honestly can't decide what is more impressive; the boat build, or the voice work. You should seriously consider recording children's audio books, or film narration. Very well done on both counts!
Thanks Chris. With still pictures I thought I needed to tell a good story to accompany them otherwise it could easily get boring, and I realised after I started listening to my nasally mumble, that pace and enunciation were key to avoiding a "monologue with pictures". One person has since commented that I sounded like I was going to cry, and in the first 5 minutes particularly, he's right! Lol. I was getting over a cold and a bit husky, so I left it for a few days, and after a little practice got the hang of it and the remainder of the video is better... Anyway, glad you enjoyed it. Cheers.
Thanks Preston. Glad you enjoyed it. Thought I’d show the issues I had as well. It was a lot of fun but not all beer and skittles, as the saying goes. Experience is a great teacher. Cheers
When you rake the time to painstakingly build a boat like you have, it resembles art! Well done - you now have a boat like no other that fits your needs perfectly!!!
Well done! I was planning on building a boat, I searched the internet for weeks and almost gave up on the whole idea, But after watching you project build I think I am going to proceed with it, I am planning a larger boat with a inboard V8 motor, I found some designs and have also drawn up some of my own. Thanks again :)
@@robinhodgkinson I am thinking i am going to go with my own design but thank you for the input. I have put together a 20 foot, Deep V hull design, I am now sourcing building materials that are available in Calgary. Not a lot of luck so far
I'm Brazilian, and I thought your video was incredible. I have been studying many projects here on RUclips because I intend to make a small boat. Congratulations, you documented your work very well.
absolutely amazing! great ingenuity and craftsmanship. Also a very inspiring video. normally I can't watch slide show type vids but this one was more informative and interesting than most boat building videos i have seen! well done good sir!
WOW ...... What a great job you did . Its really Beautiful .... I'm 60 and disabled with a really bad back and was thinking of building a boat like yours , but after watching this video it was a wake up call telling me I'm past the point of building one . I live in extreme Pain so maybe I'll try a small boat for use as a lawn ornament . Thank you very much for sharing .
Sharpshooter no doubt about it, building a boat is a serious undertaking - even a small one like this. And you do need to be reasonably nimble. There’s quite a bit of crouching, bending, twisting, lifting, involved along the way. This framed design adds quite a bit of extra work over stitch and glue as well, particularly for a first timer. If you do decide to give it a go, make sure it’s small, and I’d suggest stitch and glue. It’s much better to end up with a finished small boat, than an unfinished collection of shapely wood which cost you a lot of time and money, now worth nothing, and a pain in the arse to deal with. : ) Cheers.
Look up "the single sheet skiff" on the Duck Works web site. It's made from a single sheet of 1/4" ply and some 1 by 2" stringers. I built 2 in an afternoon with the help of a friend. $70 + time = an 8 foot sailing dingy! I was easier than I though! :-) It can Totally be done at home with a simple circular saw! Cheers!
Mate, I've got to say; the quality of your work is something you must be really, really proud of. Even down to your jigs and patterns. Truly wonderful to watch (and I was a boatbuilder). Congrats.
Thanks Chris. I had a lot of fun building it, but when I listen to the video (rarely) I sound like it was all just hard work! lol I put the video together shortly after finishing the boat and while it was great to have a finished boat you can't help feeling a bit of, "glad that's finished", as well. Anyway sold this boat recently and I'm just a couple of weeks into building another build - a Scarab 650 trimaran, so keep an eye out for the first video. I'm going to blog this one... Very different build to this boat - epoxy over foam mostly. Light but strong - modern design, modern materials. Not looking forward to the fairing I gotta say but should be an interesting build with the floats, fibreglass moulded arms, folding arm mechanisms, interior fit out, rig, custom trailer, etc.... I betta get busy! Cheers
This has to be one of the best start to finish boat building vids on youtube. I was debating skarfing my plywood and after watching this and getting that jig tip, will definitely go that route.
Thanks Greg. I'd recommend scarfing. The jig is easy to make and once made makes cutting the scarfs easy. I used West System epoxy and their 403 Microfibre Adhesive filler which makes it super strong. Once bonded and set you'll break the ply before the join lets go. The link to the jig is in the description above.
I am working on my first boat and now completed frames,batterns, keel and stem. now in the process of putting it all together. Your video helped me a lot in deciding how to go about fitting chine, scarfing plywood, planning for uprighting the boat interior construction and so on.. I admire your dedication to do a detailed video which is highly educational, so selflessly. Thank you very.
Thanks Naseef, I'm glad you found it helpful. I had no idea how to build a boat when I started and spent lots of time looking at videos and reading forum posts. So much of what I talk about in the video is me passing it on, and maybe adding a few extra bits of my own experience. My day job is a photographer so I took lots of snaps along the way. The bonus fun was putting the video together and chatting to fellow boat building enthusiasts like you. Plus the video lets me relive the experience so it wasn't done entirely selflessly! :) If you have any questions or issues you can message me privately. Happy to help. Cheers
Hi Robin Hodgkinson Thank you for acknowledging my comment. I would like to be in touch with you to clarify many of my doubts. Can I email you some photos of my project.
Sure, no problems. Private message me your email address and I'll reply - click on my photo under the video above. This will take you to my channel page, then under the "about" tab, click on the message tab. Cheers
Hi Naseef. I can't see the message icon on my phone or iPad, but I can see it on my computer. There's a slightly different layout for different devices. Perhaps that's the problem...
Charlie's "Little Moby" is--in my opinion--one of the best small outboard-powered boats ever developed. You did a GREAT job building it and talking all of us through the construction process--including the glitches, which are really important. Like the commenter below, I would LOVE to see some footage of the boat handling a stiff chop and to hear your description of how it copes with rough water.
Thanks Chris. Yes she's a sweet little boat with very great manners. He knew how to design boats. I will be making a short follow up video soon of the additions and changes since my last, and with some on water video. Though that will likely be more calm weather footage as while she'll handle the rough stuff, the crew prefer the flat stuff!
You're just the sort of self-taught guy who deserves admiration for your attention to details. Great craftsmanship lasts forever, less than perfect is not an option. Never rush, just stay the course as long as is needed and enjoy the journey. There were a few comments about the pure joy of building a boat versus getting out on the water. That's a bit hard to answer. But because you know your boat inside out, there is a sense of confidence when you take out your family and mates. That's the extra reward - and for the boats I have built, we seem to catch more fish :0
Thanks! Then I better make a new one. : ) Arch shed video coming soon, and new build following…when I finish. You might like to check the other video of this boat - on the water and finishing touches. Cheers
Fantastic instructional video with precise language. Excellent craftsmanship. The only thing wrong, you're making me look like a hillbilly carpenter. Thanks again for the impressive video.
A first or second glance at the finished product does not do justice to your efforts. The average eye could not appreciate all of the fine details that lurk behind that clean white paint. You knocked yourself hard over the gap in that hull panel, but it was a valuable lesson learned. Hopefully you WILL build another and sharpen those skills further. As for the presentation: I usually skip past the RUclips videos that are photo montages instead of actual video. Two or three frames in, I was hooked. Your photos were clear, the narration matched and the transitions kept it flowing. You deserve more views for this build and production. Excellent work!! Chris W., San Antonio, TX
Very much enjoyed your video, I noticed your how to, was actually done with a slide show format, which seems to work very well, I am starting to do hot rod how to stuff, and was just assuming live video footage was the way to go, but the slide show with commentary works very well. Besides the car stuff I am doing, I also want to build a boat some day, I have lots of practice, as my hot rod I call The Backyard Coupe is also made of wood! Very nice boat, and thanks for posting!
Thanks Kent. I’m a photographer so I shot stills during the build then decided to make a video. If you have a good commentary going it ties it all together and stills are good for technical stuff since you have time to study what you’re looking at. Either way it’s about telling a story. Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers
Thanks Mostyn. Making the video was a lot of fun and I hope it's some help and information to others building a similar boat. There are quite a few things I didn't cover like steering and electrics where there was a gap in my photo taking... However there's lots on RUclips about those issues. Cheers
That is a great video to show people what it is like to build a boat . Extra points for building it in such a tight space ! The only thing that crossed my mind several times while watching was would you clear coat some of the beautiful wood on the inside . The boat is somewhat similar to a boat my Dad had in the 60s that we fished lakes and Puget Sound in . She did well when we got caught by a sudden blow . Fine job , good Sir !
My late father used to build racing dinghies in the garage or ( in one case) the dinning room. So having spent hours watching someone who can see how wood needs to be worked with rather than fought and forced, I can say that you are a craftsman and your boat is a work of art..Respect..enjoy and stay safe
Hey Jon. In lockdown here in New Zealand - which officially starts in 1 hour : ) Already I'm watching way too much YT. Thanks for the compliment - I had a lot of fun building it. You might like to see my other video which shows the finished product. At the moment the boat is decorating the driveway and it'll be that way for at least another 4 weeks! Oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do. Cheers
Hey thanks for the kind words. I'm a photographer by trade, so that helps. Building a boat is a pretty long haul, even a small one, but if you're enjoying it, it's not work. I've since built a 21' folding trimaran in PVC epoxy sandwich - now that was a mission. But I need some inspiration to make a video. No, make that a lot! That took about 3000 hours and I have a collection of photos and video to match! 😅 You might want to see the finished version of the skiff build - check out the other video. Cheers ruclips.net/video/i2XwNZII76g/видео.htmlsi=FdFcc3aVEORM3Mlf
I just sanded my 5th coat of epoxy, Robin. I officially hate (1) epoxy and (2) sanding. I still have primer and paint to go on the hull. Your video has been helpful and gives me hope though!
Tom I lost count of the epoxy fairing coats, but I reckon it must have been at least five or six for me as well. As the fit of the batten got closer I just had to fix what I could still see wasn't quite right... Make sure you use a good epoxy based two pot undercoat/primer designed for "high build" application and sanding. That will give you an easy sanding final fairing layer. And I highly recommend a two pot finish coat. It's much harder and gives the boat a great "glassy" tough finish that resists minor knocks and scratches. Keep on sanding. You won't regret the effort when you're admiring those sweeeet reflections! : )
Maybe someday I will get to try to make one myself, but for now I am just watching a bunch of build videos for fun. Having said that this is one of the more enjoyable ones I have watched so far, well done. Also the level of skill, attention to detail, and patience that was obvious in your video, and was pretty amazing. You should make a video of this beauty in action!
Beautiful job mate and I thought I was too fussy. I have built and modified 8 boats you say a bigger one I am also thinking about more self harm and building the Atkins Ninigret.
Self harm...:) Yes I can tell you've built a boat or two. Nice boat you're looking at! I'm eyeing up an Arch Davis design, the Bay Pilot. mobile.archdavisdesigns.com/davis_bay_pilot_18.html
Very nice I would go for the Jiffy 22 same work but will need a longer garage. I like low power planing hulls hence the Ninigret only needs a 30hp. The motor is the big money today. I did get a fright when looking at the Jiffy when they mentioned 42 sheets of plywood.
Yeah the Jiffy 22 is a sweet looking boat but as you say it's a bigger boat that needs a bigger garage to build it in then bigger trailer, bigger motor, bigger dollars (yeah I read the materials list - how you use 42 sheets has me scratching my brow as well) You've got me thinking about lower power planing hulls though. I already have the 40 horse and maybe I could find a bigger boat which the 40 could still push along nicely. Hmmm.... : /
Thank you Robin! I'm building my first boat and your video is the best among tens I've viewed and answering all the problems I have. My best wishes to you
Perhaps you’re thinking of building in fibreglass..? On this boat applying a fibreglass skin is not hard. Squeegee our the bubbles and excess resin. Add another coat when the first tacks off... just a few basic rules. Then lots of sanding. : )
Very very nice thx for sharing! Restored old racing sloop working with wood is addictive… dreamed of building a boat from scratch but other projects keep popping up… awesome work!
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. Three years later I’ve sold this to a happy new owner and I’m onto a new build. A Scarab 650. But I’ve gone over to the dark side on this one with composite sandwich construction - epoxy, pvc, fibreglass. But you’re right. My preferred material is definitely still wood.
Outstanding video! I have watched dozens of them in preparation for my build and none of the others come close... they say “brevity is the soul of wit” and you nailed it brother I will be watching for that next boat of yours Thanks
Cheers Tim, unfortunately there’s a lot I left out as well like electrical, steering etc. Happy to answer any questions you have along the way... happy building.
Hi Moe. I think costs will vary wildly depending on where you live and how you fit it out. This was a plan from the US and I chose to use the specified timber ( lumber) like yellow cedar and oak and BS1088 marine ply. These were expensive but being a small boat I didn’t need much. Then of course it’s how you build it. I used all bronze screws I probably spent quite a few hundred on them alone! And then there’s a motor, fish finder, anchor, rod holders, steering, wiring, hatch, chain, battery, bimini etc, etc. It’s quite a list if you want to fit it out well. All up I spent about NZ$6500 on the boat including everything on it. A new 40hp 4 stroke cost NZ$10,000 fitted and the trailer was NZ$2200. My recollection is just the boat itself was about NZ$3000 - $4000. So all up you see her on the trailer she cost roughy NZ$18,800. But that was the “best of everything” approach without the gold fittings - though sometimes I was wondering if there was gold there somewhere! Going to a boat shop is a scary experience. If you had a tight budget you could probably fit a second hand 25hp 2 stroke for a quarter of what the new engine cost, and if it’s tiller steering, and the original thwart seating, secondhand trailer, etc etc I reckon you could build this boat and have it on the water for well under NZ$10,000. Maybe closer to $5000 if you took the cheapest option in just about every case. But of course by then you wouldn’t have the same boat as this one... Hope that gives you some idea. Cheers
@@robinhodgkinson Very nice! Thank you for the detailed response. very inspiring and jaw dropping project indeed. I hope you have been enjoying it lots on the water mate!
Robin Hodgkinson With monks being cloistered away from everyone, you can’t prove that they weren’t/aren’t swearing like sailors during their developments....
Thanks Steven. Glad you enjoyed it. I’d done quite a lot of d i y, but building a boat was a bit of a steep learning curve for sure. Care, common sense and attention to detail go a long way to achieving a good result, but there’s nothing like experience... Cheers.
Congratulations Robin , I admire your patience , especially for the small things. Sorry but I could not even try to accomplish this seemingly mammoth task of building this beautiful craft ! All credit to you . I love these skiff type small boats and can`t wait to see more of you and her running around the harbour and maybe out into the Gulf. Cheers and happy boating and fishing. Rick O.
Robin Hodgkinson Let her choose the design. provide her with enough designs that she feels she had all the power of choice, but all designs you were willing to have as the last big boat you’d ever want/need to own..... show the completed photos as well as basic design schematics for each design being chosen from, make sure to include all plans that have actual bathrooms in them, women like bathrooms, to them a boat is a building they are locked in for hours at a time, and women don’t like being in buildings that don’t have real bathrooms, especially for hours/days at a time. DISCLAIMER: I have experience with women, but no man is an expert on women... your results may vary.
Sorry mate but a boat with walk in bathrooms is not on the cards - too big! However funny you should mention another boat build as I’m prepping for one right now. In the spirit of “and now for something completely different...” , it’s a 21’ folding trailerable trimaran. (Try saying that after a couple too many! ). A Scarab 650, built in foam and fibreglass this time - modern boat, modern materials. Check it out online. Should prove to be an interesting build with the new materials, folding mechanics, rig, etc. I’m currently building a Gothic arch shelter to build it in. This time I’m videoing the whole project and will post regular YT updates. Subscribe if you want to get a notification. Should only be a month or two away. Roll on Spring. Oh and thanks for the tips on wrangling the wife, but after I put my best sales pitch together, I got the got the green light from head office. She’s a sweetheart.😁 Cheers. PS say hello to Morty for me!
Good to know Steve, as while I did get a much better finish on the deck and upper hull, it wasn't a mirror finish by any means. But still pretty good. Cheers
I have plywood in the livingroom behind me and the smell enhances your great vid!!! I am repairing the rotten wood in an old fiberglass boat and having it in the livingroon of my small mobile home helps to ensure it will be dry.Enjoying your vid from western Canada.CHEERS
Absolutely beautiful boat and a classy job you've done too. And also if I may add, a fantastic and informative video showing the build with quality photographs, your excellent narration and all done without the usual annoying and crappy music blaring the whole time that videos such as this are usually accompanied by. Well done sir and having completed similar projects in the past myself all I can say to you is if the funds are available... BUILD YOUR BIGGER BOAT! Thanks for posting.
Hey thanks for the positive feedback. Little Moby has in fact gone onto a very happy new owner. You might want to check out the follow up video to see her fully completed and on the water. And yes I am building that bigger boat, a Scarab 650. A 6.5 metre (21’) trailerable trimaran sailboat. Something totally different in foam and epoxy - modern boat, modern materials. I loved the skiff but confess I missed sailing - this was my first power boat. I’m shooting as I go so a new video/s will be forthcoming down the track. Should be a cool project with quite a few interesting aspects such as folding arms, sail rig, foam build, custom trailer etc, etc. Must say I’m enjoying working with foam sandwich construction. Lightweight but rigid with “stitch and glue” assembly so no frame to deal with. Currently fairing the main hull and hopefully will be turning the boat in a week or so once it’s had the high build undercoat applied. Oh and did I mention the Gothic arch shed with plywood laminated arches to build it in... Also known as the “project to do the project” as my son named it. : ) Got to have reason to get up in the morning... Cheers.
@@robinhodgkinson Just checked out your other video and once again it looks amazing. Aside from the windscreen (just a personal preference) the whole boat looks so professional and as if it was something custom made that you could actually buy. I'm sure her new owner is enjoying every minute out on the water. In the past I've built a couple of cedar strip canoes and a 14ft sailing dingy but I've always wanted something bigger. So about 6 years ago I started building in plywood and epoxy out in my barn what is basically a heavily modified set of plans so that the end result would resemble a Menorquin 34 HT www.sasgayachts.com/en/modelos/menorquin-34-ht but stretched to 38ft and specifically fitted out comfortably for a cruising couple with only occasional guests. Lots of varnished wood, a real gentleman's yacht. Separate washer/dryer, full size domestic fridge, oven, microwave grill vent combo, dishwasher, 3 burner gas stove, reverse cycle AC/Heating, queen sized bow master suite, separate shower, twin 150 diesels etc... I have a lovely finished hull painted in blue (talk about sanding...) a windowless unpainted superstructure and most of what I need to fit her out except the electronics suite... but the thing is my life changed massively in the intervening years. Having been poor most of my life or at the very least living from paycheck to paycheck a number of factors combined to seduce me into selling a business for far more than I could have imagined in my wildest dreams. My business partner and friend of ten years had a massive heart attack so wanted out. And because I didn't want to work with anyone else and the fact that I now have a beautiful Danish partner with whom I spend most of the year at our 2nd home in her country, I sold up. And quickly spent some of the money on the boats of my dreams. A Lagoon 630 which lives in the Mediterranean and a Selene 60 Trawler here in Denmark. And last year we enjoyed a 6 month Covid KungFlu avoiding northern cruise aboard the Selene. Along the beautiful Swedish coast, through many magnificent Norwegian Fjord, across to the Faroe islands and a circumnavigation of Iceland before heading back to Denmark. Words can't describe what a life changing experience that was. I've worked hard in my life and I'm also a veteran who has seen, done and experienced some serious shit. Not just in the service because I also lost my 2 1/2 year old daughter Gabrielle to cancer in 2004 with my ex wife in Canada. But I also know that I'm fortunate these days to have my health, my younger Danish woman and to be able to do the things I now can so believe me, I count my blessings every single day. But the thing is, that unfinished cruiser back in England is gnawing away at me. After watching your videos I went back to look over the 100's of photos I've taken of the build so far and I must have about 25 hours of video that my girlfriend has filmed. I hate unfinished business and as much fun as much fun as I'm having, I really miss the practical aspect of working wood and raw materials with my own hands. I've always been a tinkerer and a builder. Creating the things from nothing that I never could afford. And nothing beats the tactile sensations, the smell (although like you I f*cking hate sanding) and the pride one feels when looking at the finished end result. So thanks for inspiring me again and when I get back to the UK, even if I have to employ help, I'm gonna knuckle down to get her finished in a timely and Bristol fashion. Oh, apologies for going on. I don't drink coffee often if at all but after my 4th cup today, I'm wired.
Wonderful video, well thought out, intelligently presented. That is a very attractive design, I can see why you liked it. I once spent two days cleaning up a wavy chine which didn’t seem to bother anyone but me. After the paint went on I realized I would have hated myself if I hadn’t gone that extra yard.i know you see it the same. Beautiful boat.
Thanks Pablo. You got it. I to hate to look at a job I've done and see the things I didn't do well. I've since made a few changes and additions. That video's coming up soon. Cheers
Great example of patience, persistence, and perfection. Loved the video. Thank you for sharing with everyone. P.S. would love to see a follow-up on the water/performance video.
Thanks Stan. Glad you enjoyed it. I confess all three were wanting on occasion. :) But you come back the next day... I'm planning to do an on the water video - roll on Summer!
That was an excellent video and narrative for building a lovely boat. Very professional finish. Congratulations on an exceptional build sir and thank you for sharing this.
Absolutely love the shape of that hull. Great clear photos. I am not very experienced at boat building more standard finish carpentry. I was surprised that you could bend those Chine batons without steaming the boards. Obviously it worked well. Nicely done.
Thanks John. She's a sweet boat with lovely lines. But I was always very happy I took some of the swoop out of the shear line. Instead of dipping from the stern then rising from midships towards the bow as per the original design, I flattened it out such that the shear line came horizontal from the transom then slowly increased in curve up to the bow - about a 2" difference around midships. I spent some time playing around with line battens. It's a personal preference but I felt the original design from the 70's was too traditional and gave the boat a bit of a "bathtub" dory look which I wasn't a fan of - I wasn't out to build a traditional design. The new shear line gave it a slightly stronger more assertive look while still remaining sympathetic to the original shape, and the increased freeboard was a bonus. I think it worked out well. Yes those 2" x 3/4"chine battens were at about the limit of flexibility! If I were doing it again I would probably steam it to take out some of the wrestle factor. Thanks for watching. You might like to watch the update video showing all the final additions etc. Cheers
@@robinhodgkinson Thanks Robin very interesting choices. I am in an area that has only fresh water lakes although some of the great lakes like Superior can get pretty rough but generally we don't get too many nice majestic looking hulls. I think you nailed the perfect combination of function and aesthetics. I will definitely check out the update and I am now a subscriber.
i saw this build a couple of years ago and i am happy that i ran across it again tonight. great job and awesome build. it stands proud and so should you. jim in central florida
Thanks Jim. She turned out pretty good. But I gave it a lot of fussy attention. You might like to check out the short follow up video with final fit out etc. I’ve just sold her recently and onto a new build. Something different this time. A Scarab 650. A trailerable trimaran in foam and epoxy. Just about to turn the hull once my favourite part (not), the fairing is done. : ) Cheers.
Hi Michael. Glad you liked it. In terms of finish I think it compares well with any other material. But you have to put the time into fairing and sanding to achieve that of course. Ply is not as strong as say fibreglass though, a fact I keep in mind when moving along at 20 knots - hit the end of a log or 4x2 and you’re going to punch a hole straight through it. But sharp impacts aside the hull is pretty strong. I oversized the frame timbers by about 25% by using 2” x 3/4” instead of 11/2” x 3/4”. The timber I could buy was all 2” dimensioned so it seemed a waste to turn the difference into sawdust! The weight increase was negligible in terms of overall weight - yellow cedar is pretty light, but I’m sure it increased the rigidity of the hull significantly. Cheers
What a fantastic build, iv done stitch and glue but this is much more involved, my fathers boat was built just like this one and being a wooden ply boat many think they don’t last. Dads boats is over 40 years old and no fibreglass just painted and still in operation today, it’s a beautiful little 12 runabout just like this one , great job well done.
Cheers Fishmut. Having built ply over frames I can tell you with some authority there's a lot to be said for stitch and glue - much faster I'm sure! I nearly went with a stick and glue design but something about the shape of this boat got me hooked. If you keep the water out they'll last for many years. I made sure to epoxy seal all surfaces before painting as double insurance, so hopefully this little fish is still around in 40 years!
Dude. I have zero inclination to build a boat, nor zero inclination to even own or use a boat. But I couldn’t stop watching, and admiring your tenacity in taking your complex project to completion. With beautiful result as well. Fantastic job !!
Thanks Curtis. Building a boat is not a task to take on lightly, even a small one like this. My hats’s off to those who take on a big one - this boat x 20! 🤪 Same process though - just keep knocking jobs off one after the other until you run out of jobs. But I’m not sure I believe you have zero interest in boats. This is a very boat video... 🤔😁 Have a good one... Cheers
Very nice! Like RL A, I'm building Little Moby now in Canada. I'm twisting the chines in place right now. White oak and shavings everywhere. Thanks for an excellent video! I'm impressed that you worked out that you didn't need an engine well as deep as specified by Wittholz. I expect I will flip the boat over next summer and I might borrow your method. Thanks again for posting an excellent video!
Hi Tom. I hope the video helps. Experience is a wonderful teacher... like I said in the video I'm not sure why the engine well was so deep but I suspect it's a product of a couple of "fixed" factors. One the vertical depth of the well, and the angle of the base of the well i.e at 90* to the transom, and in turn how that intersects with the height and position of the rear seating and probably his wish to keep the design simple. Then again the comment about that being a "minimum" still has me scratching my head. What I can tell you is moving away from the plans made things quite a bit more complicated... and adding deck behind the removable seat backs, and removable seats didn't help. However I was pleased with how it looks and functions and would recommend it if you want to go the extra mile. Happy sanding!
Sanding ... yes. Torture boards. Very funny! I picked up the plans for Little Moby 3 years ago. Traced out the frames a year ago. Picking up speed on weekends and evenings lately. Your video is like watching the kids open up presents on Christmas. I know every bend curve of her frame. Really very very helpful Robin! And a bit overwhelming. Cheers down in New Zealand!
Cheers Anthony. Yes I hope the next owner loves it at much as I do. However I’m thinking seriously about selling it so I can afford to build another. Maybe a sailboat this time..... We’ll see. : )
Just discovered this video. What a magnificent job you did. I would have left some of the wood bright but that is just me. Bet you are one proud boat owner!!
I discovered early on that ply over frames will not give you a perfectly smooth hull - ply wants to stay flat and will try to wherever it can i.e. in between frames. Same goes for the deck. So if you want those perfect sweeping curves you have to fare it. So bright is not an option. Perhaps I could have in some details but I decided to forgo that. That issue aside I wasn’t after that wooden boat look particularly anyway. In the second video on finishing and accessories I painted the hull sides which was always my intention - the all white look is a it boring and stark I agree. It came up looking pretty smart. Check it out... Cheers
Thanks Billy. Funny I watched the video myself last week and I sound like it was a chore to do! I made the video shortly after I’d just finished and at that point it was like, phew, mission accomplished. But in fact it was a fun, rewarding, and challenging first boat build and I’d start another bigger boat tomorrow if I could talk the “financial controller” into it. : ). Cheers
I've completed 4 boats and ive heard that when you get to the point when there is the tedious works like time to sand the whole inside but really you don't even want to look at it.. they call that "sittin in the moaning chair" a couple of your comments cracked me up . Awesome video documentary of your work... WELL DONE!!!!!
Lol. Yeah I sat in that chair a couple of times. Building a wooden boat is a lot of fun but you sure get acquainted with 80 grit, and it’s good brother 120!
I’ll be posting a video of my 22’ center console build soon. Hull complete, cap rails going on this week flip paint hull flip again rig, flooring and then hardware. You did a very clean sturdy build my friend very impressive and a nice design. Love the way you describe how you overcame the obstacles
I built and maintained wooden boats for 50 years (40 of those sanding) so take this from one who knows. Great video, well narrated, bloody beautiful boat! Be proud sir, very proud!
excellent workmanship,and appreciate that you never used annoying loud music during your talk.
I come from a traditional boat building family and I built a few wooden boats myself. Seeing this video made me appreciate the fact that my long experience permits me to skimp and skip on a few processes which make my life easier but not necessarily what I call the best procedure, but it is good enough. The gentleman who built this boat was even so precise in building the strongback. Boats are not so fussy about being warped or twisted a little through their length and they will still float you know! He was even fussy about the flatness part of the sheeting and arranged for it to be corrected. As for the finishing, well I must admit I was never so fussy about the manner I finish boats as I like to think mine were working boats and that finish normally does not last long in the manner I use boats. There are so many issues about which this narrator should be congratulated. The fact that he found a slight error in the framing, the manner in which he corrected all he could to make pleasant curves and that finish is much better than I seek myself. I like the manner in which his ingenuity saw how to correct and improve the seating attachment arrangement. Well, all I can say is that for the first boat, this is brilliant and shows that where there is a will one can do even better than those who have been in the trade for a long time. Sir, my congratulations. Well done.
As an amateur boat builder I had the luxury of time to do as good a job as I could and not worry about trying to make a buck doing it.
Many would say I’m too fussy but I just like to do as good a job as I can when I make something. I like the challenge, and the reward, that approach offers. That’s why I built a boat instead of just buying one. And I hate standing back and thinking well that looks rough - I could of done it better than that! What I like is standing back and thinking, man that looks good!
You’re quite right in saying that if it was a work boat all that time consuming finish would soon be undone. Mind you, at the other end of the spectrum a dug out canoe will float. Horses for courses I guess. Cheers
@@robinhodgkinson After three years I came back to admire your beautiful boat, Now my grandson is with me and he loves it. Again, Sir, my congratulations for building such a dignified ,majestic, elegant boat,
@@carmelpule8493 Thanks for your kind words Carmel. Although it was a great little boat, and we had lots of fun in it, my true passion is sail, and having this boat reminded me of that fact. So after two years I sold it to a very happy new owner and after nearly another two years of work I’m about to launch a Scarab 650. A 21’ trailerable folding trimaran built in epoxy/pvc/fibreglass sandwich. Light but very stiff. A modern design built with modern materials. It’s been quite a journey and an interesting build with lots of new challenges. A lot of work (2000 hrs) and I have to say not my favourite materials to work with but the results look great. And I’m sure she’ll sail beautifully. I’ve shot a lot of video and stills of the whole job, from designing and building an arch shed ( “the project before the project”, as my son called it) to launch day, coming soon, and I’ll be making a few videos of the process. Should be an interesting watch. Cheers
Brilliant! Looking at the finished boats, one would never know all the work that went into building it.
Looks like I need a laser level. This is a documentary, sir. Very, very well done. Thank you.
Thanks Dave. Glad you enjoyed it. Not essential by any means, but a very handy tool that makes accuracy over a distance easy to achieve. Btw, new build coming up in a month or two. Subscribe if you want to see a 21’ trailerable trimaran take shape. I’ll be blogging this one. Cheers
@@robinhodgkinson I want to see that. Subscribed!
Unbelievable workmanship! Believe me, I know! I admire your laser focus, determination and true grit needed to pull this off! And, you're organized!!🤣🤣✌👍
Sir... You are an absolute master, what a joy to see that process, craftsmanship and fine work.
Leo glad you enjoyed it. But I won’t be taking you up on the Master title! However she came out pretty well in the end. Cheers.
Wow, great video and beautiful build! I bought the plans in the mid 80’s from WoodenBoat magazine. They included dimensions so the frames could be made without lofting. Like you I noticed this resulted in a very strange shape up front. I called the designer, Charles Wittholz, and asked him about it. He agreed that the frame dimensions given did not result in the correct shape (I suspect he already knew that). I ended up lofting the boat from the table of offsets provided and the result looked great. Built the oak frames (still have them) but never went further due to a move. Seeing your video has motivated me to build a 1/6 scale RC model from the original plans. A new lofting!
Well that's an interesting story! Thanks. I know I was pedantically accurate marking out the frames from the dimension table, but the resulting shape looked like I was drunk doing it! Staggering from point to point in a shallow zig zag. Like you I quickly abandoned the frame dimensions and referred to the offsets table, which itself wasn't perfect at a couple of points, but pretty close. I guess that's the difference between an old plan off a drawing board, and one off a computer. As I recall the frame dimensions were written in another hand and had obviously been added later, no doubt in an attempt to make the plans more novice friendly. Sounds like you weren't the first to draw the "loose" frame dimensions to his attention. Cheers.
I honestly can't decide what is more impressive; the boat build, or the voice work. You should seriously consider recording children's audio books, or film narration. Very well done on both counts!
Thanks Chris. With still pictures I thought I needed to tell a good story to accompany them otherwise it could easily get boring, and I realised after I started listening to my nasally mumble, that pace and enunciation were key to avoiding a "monologue with pictures". One person has since commented that I sounded like I was going to cry, and in the first 5 minutes particularly, he's right! Lol. I was getting over a cold and a bit husky, so I left it for a few days, and after a little practice got the hang of it and the remainder of the video is better... Anyway, glad you enjoyed it. Cheers.
I appreciate the candid approach talking about the mistakes. A truly great instructional video. Great project. Turned out beautiful.
Thanks Preston. Glad you enjoyed it. Thought I’d show the issues I had as well. It was a lot of fun but not all beer and skittles, as the saying goes. Experience is a great teacher. Cheers
Sir, you are one HELL of a craftsman!! Beautiful build, I love it!! Thanks for sharing your time, talent and sense of humor!!
Thanks Derek. Glad you enjoyed the video. It was fun to make. Cheers
When you rake the time to painstakingly build a boat like you have, it resembles art! Well done - you now have a boat like no other that fits your needs perfectly!!!
I'm not sure i'd call it a work of art. But building a boat is certainly creative and lots of fun if you like building things.
Incredible skill and an amazing amount of patience. That is something to truly be proud of. Great job!
One of the finest jobs of home boat building I have ever seen...! Thanks for sharing!!!
Well done! I was planning on building a boat, I searched the internet for weeks and almost gave up on the whole idea, But after watching you project build I think I am going to proceed with it, I am planning a larger boat with a inboard V8 motor, I found some designs and have also drawn up some of my own. Thanks again :)
Best of luck. Remember it’s a marathon not a sprint and you’ll enjoy the journey and the boat. Cheers
If you haven't already, check out a boat design called the Bartender.
One of my favourites is the B&B designed, Outer Banks 20. There’s a great blog of the construction of one of these. Sweet boat.
@@robinhodgkinson I am thinking i am going to go with my own design but thank you for the input. I have put together a 20 foot, Deep V hull design, I am now sourcing building materials that are available in Calgary. Not a lot of luck so far
I'm Brazilian, and I thought your video was incredible. I have been studying many projects here on RUclips because I intend to make a small boat. Congratulations, you documented your work very well.
Thanks Sidney. It was a fun build and since I studied at the School of RUclips myself before starting, I thought I could maybe give a little back. : )
absolutely amazing! great ingenuity and craftsmanship. Also a very inspiring video. normally I can't watch slide show type vids but this one was more informative and interesting than most boat building videos i have seen! well done good sir!
Thanks Lee. Glad you enjoyed it.
I loved this video, it was perfect length, but packed with perfect information and entertaining commentary. Oh and the boat is beautiful.
Thanks Branden. You might like to check out the next video of the finished product - fittings and fixtures, etc. Cheers.
Excellent work and a phenomenal explanation especially of the problems you encountered! Very well done.
Awesome job. You clearly have a talent for this type of work and the patience of a saint.
Absolutely stunning build. Great attention to detail. Great stuff
WOW ......
What a great job you did .
Its really Beautiful ....
I'm 60 and disabled with a really bad back and was thinking of building a boat like yours , but after watching this video it was a wake up call telling me I'm past the point of building one . I live in extreme Pain so maybe I'll try a small boat for use as a lawn ornament .
Thank you very much for sharing .
Sharpshooter no doubt about it, building a boat is a serious undertaking - even a small one like this. And you do need to be reasonably nimble. There’s quite a bit of crouching, bending, twisting, lifting, involved along the way. This framed design adds quite a bit of extra work over stitch and glue as well, particularly for a first timer. If you do decide to give it a go, make sure it’s small, and I’d suggest stitch and glue. It’s much better to end up with a finished small boat, than an unfinished collection of shapely wood which cost you a lot of time and money, now worth nothing, and a pain in the arse to deal with. : ) Cheers.
Look up "the single sheet skiff" on the Duck Works web site. It's made from a single sheet of 1/4" ply and some 1 by 2" stringers. I built 2 in an afternoon with the help of a friend. $70 + time = an 8 foot sailing dingy! I was easier than I though! :-) It can Totally be done at home with a simple circular saw! Cheers!
FANTASTIC JOB well done ..
Mate, I've got to say; the quality of your work is something you must be really, really proud of. Even down to your jigs and patterns. Truly wonderful to watch (and I was a boatbuilder). Congrats.
Thanks Chris. I had a lot of fun building it, but when I listen to the video (rarely) I sound like it was all just hard work! lol
I put the video together shortly after finishing the boat and while it was great to have a finished boat you can't help feeling a bit of, "glad that's finished", as well. Anyway sold this boat recently and I'm just a couple of weeks into building another build - a Scarab 650 trimaran, so keep an eye out for the first video. I'm going to blog this one... Very different build to this boat - epoxy over foam mostly. Light but strong - modern design, modern materials. Not looking forward to the fairing I gotta say but should be an interesting build with the floats, fibreglass moulded arms, folding arm mechanisms, interior fit out, rig, custom trailer, etc.... I betta get busy! Cheers
@@robinhodgkinson Good luck and hope your fingers survive the fairing!
i think it's quite a personal accomplishment and look a real well built good looking finished product. thumbed up.
This has to be one of the best start to finish boat building vids on youtube. I was debating skarfing my plywood and after watching this and getting that jig tip, will definitely go that route.
Thanks Greg. I'd recommend scarfing. The jig is easy to make and once made makes cutting the scarfs easy. I used West System epoxy and their 403 Microfibre Adhesive filler which makes it super strong. Once bonded and set you'll break the ply before the join lets go. The link to the jig is in the description above.
Wow! Beautiful result. I liked your narrating very much. It made this video very pleasant and interesting to watch.
Thanks Bob. Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers.
I had a lovely time watching the story of her building. Thanks for putting this together. It was great! Best of luck with her.
Excellent work.
Boat and video are thoughtful and organized, and the results really sine through.
Thanks Nick!
Pretty boat, and created with love (and a touch of madness)... I say that because I hate when the wind blows and I hit the pier!
Good on ya Mate! Nothing is quite so satisfying as messing about in boats. Nice vid, Cheers!
I am working on my first boat and now completed frames,batterns, keel and stem. now in the process of putting it all together.
Your video helped me a lot in deciding how to go about fitting chine, scarfing plywood, planning for uprighting the boat interior construction and so on..
I admire your dedication to do a detailed video which is highly educational, so selflessly.
Thank you very.
Thanks Naseef, I'm glad you found it helpful. I had no idea how to build a boat when I started and spent lots of time looking at videos and reading forum posts. So much of what I talk about in the video is me passing it on, and maybe adding a few extra bits of my own experience.
My day job is a photographer so I took lots of snaps along the way. The bonus fun was putting the video together and chatting to fellow boat building enthusiasts like you. Plus the video lets me relive the experience so it wasn't done entirely selflessly! :) If you have any questions or issues you can message me privately. Happy to help. Cheers
Hi Robin Hodgkinson
Thank you for acknowledging my comment. I would like to be in touch with you to clarify many of my doubts. Can I email you some photos of my project.
Sure, no problems. Private message me your email address and I'll reply - click on my photo under the video above. This will take you to my channel page, then under the "about" tab, click on the message tab. Cheers
Robin I could not find message tab under "about" tab.
Cheers
Hi Naseef. I can't see the message icon on my phone or iPad, but I can see it on my computer. There's a slightly different layout for different devices. Perhaps that's the problem...
A solid piece of art.
Thanks Gunnar!
Charlie's "Little Moby" is--in my opinion--one of the best small outboard-powered boats ever developed. You did a GREAT job building it and talking all of us through the construction process--including the glitches, which are really important.
Like the commenter below, I would LOVE to see some footage of the boat handling a stiff chop and to hear your description of how it copes with rough water.
Thanks Chris. Yes she's a sweet little boat with very great manners. He knew how to design boats. I will be making a short follow up video soon of the additions and changes since my last, and with some on water video. Though that will likely be more calm weather footage as while she'll handle the rough stuff, the crew prefer the flat stuff!
Outstanding craftsmanship!
You're just the sort of self-taught guy who deserves admiration for your attention to details. Great craftsmanship lasts forever, less than perfect is not an option. Never rush, just stay the course as long as is needed and enjoy the journey. There were a few comments about the pure joy of building a boat versus getting out on the water. That's a bit hard to answer. But because you know your boat inside out, there is a sense of confidence when you take out your family and mates. That's the extra reward - and for the boats I have built, we seem to catch more fish :0
Thanks Yukari. Yes it’s fun to go out fishing in a boat, but it’s way more fun, and rewarding, if you built it!
Fantastic work and quality, loved this video.
Thanks! Then I better make a new one. : ) Arch shed video coming soon, and new build following…when I finish. You might like to check the other video of this boat - on the water and finishing touches. Cheers
Fantastic instructional video with precise language. Excellent craftsmanship. The only thing wrong, you're making me look like a hillbilly carpenter. Thanks again for the impressive video.
Thanks Sander. That one had me laughing out loud. Cheers
My goodness what a well done video/boat!! I loved it! Well done! And thank you for sharing! New sub.
A first or second glance at the finished product does not do justice to your efforts. The average eye could not appreciate all of the fine details that lurk behind that clean white paint. You knocked yourself hard over the gap in that hull panel, but it was a valuable lesson learned. Hopefully you WILL build another and sharpen those skills further. As for the presentation: I usually skip past the RUclips videos that are photo montages instead of actual video. Two or three frames in, I was hooked. Your photos were clear, the narration matched and the transitions kept it flowing. You deserve more views for this build and production. Excellent work!!
Chris W., San Antonio, TX
Thanks Chris. I wanted to show the whole job, both successes and failures. And I had some fun putting the story together. Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers
Very much enjoyed your video, I noticed your how to, was actually done with a slide show format, which seems to work very well, I am starting to do hot rod how to stuff, and was just assuming live video footage was the way to go, but the slide show with commentary works very well. Besides the car stuff I am doing, I also want to build a boat some day, I have lots of practice, as my hot rod I call The Backyard Coupe is also made of wood! Very nice boat, and thanks for posting!
Thanks Kent. I’m a photographer so I shot stills during the build then decided to make a video. If you have a good commentary going it ties it all together and stills are good for technical stuff since you have time to study what you’re looking at. Either way it’s about telling a story. Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers
This would have to be one of the best boat construction videos I have seen. Awesome work. i hope you're enjoying her!
Thanks Mostyn. Making the video was a lot of fun and I hope it's some help and information to others building a similar boat. There are quite a few things I didn't cover like steering and electrics where there was a gap in my photo taking... However there's lots on RUclips about those issues. Cheers
Fantastic result. Well done.
That is a great video to show people what it is like to build a boat . Extra points for building it in such a tight space ! The only thing that crossed my mind several times while watching was would you clear coat some of the beautiful wood on the inside . The boat is somewhat similar to a boat my Dad had in the 60s that we fished lakes and Puget Sound in . She did well when we got caught by a sudden blow . Fine job , good Sir !
You did a awesome job on your boat 👍👍👍✌️
My late father used to build racing dinghies in the garage or ( in one case) the dinning room. So having spent hours watching someone who can see how wood needs to be worked with rather than fought and forced, I can say that you are a craftsman and your boat is a work of art..Respect..enjoy and stay safe
Hey Jon. In lockdown here in New Zealand - which officially starts in 1 hour : ) Already I'm watching way too much YT. Thanks for the compliment - I had a lot of fun building it. You might like to see my other video which shows the finished product. At the moment the boat is decorating the driveway and it'll be that way for at least another 4 weeks! Oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do. Cheers
Absolutely remarkable!!
Glad you enjoyed it! It was a lot of fun. Right now I’m contemplating a new build. Watch this space... : )
a fine boat built by a thoughtful man ans he is also a good film maker
Respect - great skill, great outcome.
Your photography and narration is suberb. You make it look easy but I know it isn't; it's a lot of hard work and sweat. I'm inspired. Nice boat!
Hey thanks for the kind words. I'm a photographer by trade, so that helps. Building a boat is a pretty long haul, even a small one, but if you're enjoying it, it's not work. I've since built a 21' folding trimaran in PVC epoxy sandwich - now that was a mission. But I need some inspiration to make a video. No, make that a lot! That took about 3000 hours and I have a collection of photos and video to match! 😅 You might want to see the finished version of the skiff build - check out the other video. Cheers
ruclips.net/video/i2XwNZII76g/видео.htmlsi=FdFcc3aVEORM3Mlf
I just sanded my 5th coat of epoxy, Robin. I officially hate (1) epoxy and (2) sanding. I still have primer and paint to go on the hull. Your video has been helpful and gives me hope though!
Tom I lost count of the epoxy fairing coats, but I reckon it must have been at least five or six for me as well. As the fit of the batten got closer I just had to fix what I could still see wasn't quite right... Make sure you use a good epoxy based two pot undercoat/primer designed for "high build" application and sanding. That will give you an easy sanding final fairing layer. And I highly recommend a two pot finish coat. It's much harder and gives the boat a great "glassy" tough finish that resists minor knocks and scratches. Keep on sanding. You won't regret the effort when you're admiring those sweeeet reflections! : )
Most beautiful homebuilt boat I've ever seen
Thanks! You might like to see the follow up video...
@@robinhodgkinson I totally will. Didja give her a name?
@@olfatskootch Just sold her. I told the new guy he better do that... : )
Awesome! Looking forward to see your bigger boat video.
Maybe someday I will get to try to make one myself, but for now I am just watching a bunch of build videos for fun. Having said that this is one of the more enjoyable ones I have watched so far, well done. Also the level of skill, attention to detail, and patience that was obvious in your video, and was pretty amazing. You should make a video of this beauty in action!
Thanks Chris. Yes I plan to do a short follow up video once summer arrives and we're back on the water. Cheers
Excellent effort!
HANDS DOWN best video of this type on RUclips! Congratulations on a job well done! Top work!
Beautiful job mate and I thought I was too fussy. I have built and modified 8 boats you say a bigger one I am also thinking about more self harm and building the Atkins Ninigret.
Self harm...:) Yes I can tell you've built a boat or two. Nice boat you're looking at! I'm eyeing up an Arch Davis design, the Bay Pilot.
mobile.archdavisdesigns.com/davis_bay_pilot_18.html
Very nice I would go for the Jiffy 22 same work but will need a longer garage. I like low power planing hulls hence the Ninigret only needs a 30hp. The motor is the big money today. I did get a fright when looking at the Jiffy when they mentioned 42 sheets of plywood.
Yeah the Jiffy 22 is a sweet looking boat but as you say it's a bigger boat that needs a bigger garage to build it in then bigger trailer, bigger motor, bigger dollars (yeah I read the materials list - how you use 42 sheets has me scratching my brow as well) You've got me thinking about lower power planing hulls though. I already have the 40 horse and maybe I could find a bigger boat which the 40 could still push along nicely. Hmmm.... : /
Thank you Robin! I'm building my first boat and your video is the best among tens I've viewed and answering all the problems I have. My best wishes to you
Thanks. Good luck with your build. 👍
Love it GOOD JOB!!!!
Sound like you better build one James. : )
@@robinhodgkinson I think i will.
I'll need 2 learn some fiberglass skills first
Perhaps you’re thinking of building in fibreglass..? On this boat applying a fibreglass skin is not hard. Squeegee our the bubbles and excess resin. Add another coat when the first tacks off... just a few basic rules. Then lots of sanding. : )
Very very nice thx for sharing! Restored old racing sloop working with wood is addictive… dreamed of building a boat from scratch but other projects keep popping up… awesome work!
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. Three years later I’ve sold this to a happy new owner and I’m onto a new build. A Scarab 650. But I’ve gone over to the dark side on this one with composite sandwich construction - epoxy, pvc, fibreglass. But you’re right. My preferred material is definitely still wood.
Great job, she looks wonderful! Any video of her on the water?
I'll be posting a little follow up video come summer. Cheers
Outstanding video!
I have watched dozens of them in preparation for my build and none of the others come close... they say “brevity is the soul of wit” and you nailed it brother
I will be watching for that next boat of yours
Thanks
Cheers Tim, unfortunately there’s a lot I left out as well like electrical, steering etc. Happy to answer any questions you have along the way... happy building.
Wonderful job mate, congratulations on your beautiful boat. How much does a project like that cost for materials?
Hi Moe. I think costs will vary wildly depending on where you live and how you fit it out. This was a plan from the US and I chose to use the specified timber ( lumber) like yellow cedar and oak and BS1088 marine ply. These were expensive but being a small boat I didn’t need much. Then of course it’s how you build it. I used all bronze screws I probably spent quite a few hundred on them alone! And then there’s a motor, fish finder, anchor, rod holders, steering, wiring, hatch, chain, battery, bimini etc, etc. It’s quite a list if you want to fit it out well. All up I spent about NZ$6500 on the boat including everything on it. A new 40hp 4 stroke cost NZ$10,000 fitted and the trailer was NZ$2200. My recollection is just the boat itself was about NZ$3000 - $4000. So all up you see her on the trailer she cost roughy NZ$18,800.
But that was the “best of everything” approach without the gold fittings - though sometimes I was wondering if there was gold there somewhere! Going to a boat shop is a scary experience. If you had a tight budget you could probably fit a second hand 25hp 2 stroke for a quarter of what the new engine cost, and if it’s tiller steering, and the original thwart seating, secondhand trailer, etc etc I reckon you could build this boat and have it on the water for well under NZ$10,000. Maybe closer to $5000 if you took the cheapest option in just about every case. But of course by then you wouldn’t have the same boat as this one... Hope that gives you some idea. Cheers
@@robinhodgkinson Very nice! Thank you for the detailed response. very inspiring and jaw dropping project indeed. I hope you have been enjoying it lots on the water mate!
What a great Job !! Enjoyed watching your journey from start to Finnish, thanks so much for posting. Top Man...
Regards From Dublin Ireland .
Cheers Brendan. Glad you enjoyed it.
The work of a Monk !
Lol. No, there was definitely too much swearing on a few occasions.
Robin Hodgkinson
With monks being cloistered away from everyone, you can’t prove that they weren’t/aren’t swearing like sailors during their developments....
Brilliant. No matter how much you know, a project like this teaches you something. Very good looking craft, and very solid craftsmanship.
Thanks Steven. Glad you enjoyed it. I’d done quite a lot of d i y, but building a boat was a bit of a steep learning curve for sure. Care, common sense and attention to detail go a long way to achieving a good result, but there’s nothing like experience... Cheers.
Ya done good mate !!
Congratulations Robin , I admire your patience , especially for the small things. Sorry but I could not even try to accomplish this seemingly mammoth task of building this beautiful craft ! All credit to you . I love these skiff type small boats and can`t wait to see more of you and her running around the harbour and maybe out into the Gulf. Cheers and happy boating and fishing. Rick O.
Cheers Rick. Hanging out for Summer as you probably are.
Yes sir, I think we all know that you can build a much bigger boat👍🙂 But this one is a wonderful boat👍👋
Thanks Bizim. Still thinking about another... Just have to convince my wife it’s a good idea. : )
@@robinhodgkinson good luck to you then, hopefully you'll find a good reason to convince her😀😀👍
Robin Hodgkinson
Let her choose the design. provide her with enough designs that she feels she had all the power of choice, but all designs you were willing to have as the last big boat you’d ever want/need to own..... show the completed photos as well as basic design schematics for each design being chosen from, make sure to include all plans that have actual bathrooms in them, women like bathrooms, to them a boat is a building they are locked in for hours at a time, and women don’t like being in buildings that don’t have real bathrooms, especially for hours/days at a time.
DISCLAIMER: I have experience with women, but no man is an expert on women... your results may vary.
Sorry mate but a boat with walk in bathrooms is not on the cards - too big! However funny you should mention another boat build as I’m prepping for one right now. In the spirit of “and now for something completely different...” , it’s a 21’ folding trailerable trimaran. (Try saying that after a couple too many! ). A Scarab 650, built in foam and fibreglass this time - modern boat, modern materials. Check it out online. Should prove to be an interesting build with the new materials, folding mechanics, rig, etc. I’m currently building a Gothic arch shelter to build it in. This time I’m videoing the whole project and will post regular YT updates. Subscribe if you want to get a notification. Should only be a month or two away. Roll on Spring. Oh and thanks for the tips on wrangling the wife, but after I put my best sales pitch together, I got the got the green light from head office. She’s a sweetheart.😁 Cheers. PS say hello to Morty for me!
I think you did a fantastic job, I will definitely use some of your techniques to build my own boat. Thank you.
Thanks Jaime. I hope there’s a few tips in there for you. Cheers
You will get orange peel even from the best paint guns that's why car painters buff once complete that will get it out.
Good to know Steve, as while I did get a much better finish on the deck and upper hull, it wasn't a mirror finish by any means. But still pretty good. Cheers
I have plywood in the livingroom behind me and the smell enhances your great vid!!! I am repairing the rotten wood in an old fiberglass boat and having it in the livingroon of my small mobile home helps to ensure it will be dry.Enjoying your vid from western Canada.CHEERS
Thanks Darryl. Yeah the smell of wood is hard to beat - but I could be a little bias... Sounds like a good project. Cheers
Well done ! ! She's a real work of ART -- good looking and built to last a lifetime and more.
Absolutely beautiful boat and a classy job you've done too. And also if I may add, a fantastic and informative video showing the build with quality photographs, your excellent narration and all done without the usual annoying and crappy music blaring the whole time that videos such as this are usually accompanied by. Well done sir and having completed similar projects in the past myself all I can say to you is if the funds are available... BUILD YOUR BIGGER BOAT!
Thanks for posting.
Hey thanks for the positive feedback. Little Moby has in fact gone onto a very happy new owner. You might want to check out the follow up video to see her fully completed and on the water. And yes I am building that bigger boat, a Scarab 650. A 6.5 metre (21’) trailerable trimaran sailboat. Something totally different in foam and epoxy - modern boat, modern materials. I loved the skiff but confess I missed sailing - this was my first power boat.
I’m shooting as I go so a new video/s will be forthcoming down the track. Should be a cool project with quite a few interesting aspects such as folding arms, sail rig, foam build, custom trailer etc, etc. Must say I’m enjoying working with foam sandwich construction. Lightweight but rigid with “stitch and glue” assembly so no frame to deal with. Currently fairing the main hull and hopefully will be turning the boat in a week or so once it’s had the high build undercoat applied. Oh and did I mention the Gothic arch shed with plywood laminated arches to build it in... Also known as the “project to do the project” as my son named it. : ) Got to have reason to get up in the morning... Cheers.
@@robinhodgkinson Just checked out your other video and once again it looks amazing. Aside from the windscreen (just a personal preference) the whole boat looks so professional and as if it was something custom made that you could actually buy. I'm sure her new owner is enjoying every minute out on the water.
In the past I've built a couple of cedar strip canoes and a 14ft sailing dingy but I've always wanted something bigger. So about 6 years ago I started building in plywood and epoxy out in my barn what is basically a heavily modified set of plans so that the end result would resemble a Menorquin 34 HT
www.sasgayachts.com/en/modelos/menorquin-34-ht
but stretched to 38ft and specifically fitted out comfortably for a cruising couple with only occasional guests. Lots of varnished wood, a real gentleman's yacht.
Separate washer/dryer, full size domestic fridge, oven, microwave grill vent combo, dishwasher, 3 burner gas stove, reverse cycle AC/Heating, queen sized bow master suite, separate shower, twin 150 diesels etc... I have a lovely finished hull painted in blue (talk about sanding...) a windowless unpainted superstructure and most of what I need to fit her out except the electronics suite... but the thing is my life changed massively in the intervening years. Having been poor most of my life or at the very least living from paycheck to paycheck a number of factors combined to seduce me into selling a business for far more than I could have imagined in my wildest dreams. My business partner and friend of ten years had a massive heart attack so wanted out. And because I didn't want to work with anyone else and the fact that I now have a beautiful Danish partner with whom I spend most of the year at our 2nd home in her country, I sold up.
And quickly spent some of the money on the boats of my dreams. A Lagoon 630 which lives in the Mediterranean and a Selene 60 Trawler here in Denmark. And last year we enjoyed a 6 month Covid KungFlu avoiding northern cruise aboard the Selene. Along the beautiful Swedish coast, through many magnificent Norwegian Fjord, across to the Faroe islands and a circumnavigation of Iceland before heading back to Denmark.
Words can't describe what a life changing experience that was.
I've worked hard in my life and I'm also a veteran who has seen, done and experienced some serious shit. Not just in the service because I also lost my 2 1/2 year old daughter Gabrielle to cancer in 2004 with my ex wife in Canada. But I also know that I'm fortunate these days to have my health, my younger Danish woman and to be able to do the things I now can so believe me, I count my blessings every single day.
But the thing is, that unfinished cruiser back in England is gnawing away at me. After watching your videos I went back to look over the 100's of photos I've taken of the build so far and I must have about 25 hours of video that my girlfriend has filmed. I hate unfinished business and as much fun as much fun as I'm having, I really miss the practical aspect of working wood and raw materials with my own hands. I've always been a tinkerer and a builder. Creating the things from nothing that I never could afford. And nothing beats the tactile sensations, the smell (although like you I f*cking hate sanding) and the pride one feels when looking at the finished end result.
So thanks for inspiring me again and when I get back to the UK, even if I have to employ help, I'm gonna knuckle down to get her finished in a timely and Bristol fashion.
Oh, apologies for going on. I don't drink coffee often if at all but after my 4th cup today, I'm wired.
Wonderful video, well thought out, intelligently presented. That is a very attractive design, I can see why you liked it. I once spent two days cleaning up a wavy chine which didn’t seem to bother anyone but me. After the paint went on I realized I would have hated myself if I hadn’t gone that extra yard.i know you see it the same. Beautiful boat.
Thanks Pablo. You got it. I to hate to look at a job I've done and see the things I didn't do well. I've since made a few changes and additions. That video's coming up soon. Cheers
Great example of patience, persistence, and perfection. Loved the video. Thank you for sharing with everyone. P.S. would love to see a follow-up on the water/performance video.
Thanks Stan. Glad you enjoyed it. I confess all three were wanting on occasion. :) But you come back the next day...
I'm planning to do an on the water video - roll on Summer!
That was an excellent video and narrative for building a lovely boat. Very professional finish. Congratulations on an exceptional build sir and thank you for sharing this.
The editing was as good as the boat building. Well done.
What a beautiful boat. Amazing craftsmanship.
What a nice job! Beautiful and the end product shows it. Talk about 'blood sweat and tears' you must have gone through.
I loved the whole job, but there were a few "moments" : ) Off fishing tomorrow!
Well done Robin, congratulations on all the hard work. Id love to see more pics of the finished boat
Cheers Dirk. Planning on a little follow up video once we're back on the water
Large undertaking with great rewards..excellent job.
my friend you are a very creative and very intelligent guy. congratulations for the excellent work. I'm impressed.
Absolutely love the shape of that hull. Great clear photos. I am not very experienced at boat building more standard finish carpentry. I was surprised that you could bend those Chine batons without steaming the boards. Obviously it worked well. Nicely done.
Thanks John. She's a sweet boat with lovely lines. But I was always very happy I took some of the swoop out of the shear line. Instead of dipping from the stern then rising from midships towards the bow as per the original design, I flattened it out such that the shear line came horizontal from the transom then slowly increased in curve up to the bow - about a 2" difference around midships. I spent some time playing around with line battens. It's a personal preference but I felt the original design from the 70's was too traditional and gave the boat a bit of a "bathtub" dory look which I wasn't a fan of - I wasn't out to build a traditional design. The new shear line gave it a slightly stronger more assertive look while still remaining sympathetic to the original shape, and the increased freeboard was a bonus. I think it worked out well.
Yes those 2" x 3/4"chine battens were at about the limit of flexibility! If I were doing it again I would probably steam it to take out some of the wrestle factor. Thanks for watching. You might like to watch the update video showing all the final additions etc. Cheers
@@robinhodgkinson Thanks Robin very interesting choices. I am in an area that has only fresh water lakes although some of the great lakes like Superior can get pretty rough but generally we don't get too many nice majestic looking hulls. I think you nailed the perfect combination of function and aesthetics. I will definitely check out the update and I am now a subscriber.
What a beautifully constructed boat! I would love to build one at some point in my life.
Resolute Gryphon don’t leave it too long! 🙂
Wow - totally amazing. Craftmanship in the build and in the storytelling. Watched avidly even with no interest in building a boat.
Libby you always were a sweet one! ; )
Awesome Job building this boat - this was very extreme ingenuity, tedious, detailed, and High quality boat. Nice!
Plans are always good!
i saw this build a couple of years ago and i am happy that i ran across it again tonight. great job and awesome build. it stands proud and so should you. jim in central florida
Thanks Jim. She turned out pretty good. But I gave it a lot of fussy attention. You might like to check out the short follow up video with final fit out etc. I’ve just sold her recently and onto a new build. Something different this time. A Scarab 650. A trailerable trimaran in foam and epoxy. Just about to turn the hull once my favourite part (not), the fairing is done. : ) Cheers.
Thats a fine boat and well explained job. It doesnt look like a compromise in anyway vs a bought hull.
Hi Michael. Glad you liked it. In terms of finish I think it compares well with any other material. But you have to put the time into fairing and sanding to achieve that of course. Ply is not as strong as say fibreglass though, a fact I keep in mind when moving along at 20 knots - hit the end of a log or 4x2 and you’re going to punch a hole straight through it. But sharp impacts aside the hull is pretty strong. I oversized the frame timbers by about 25% by using 2” x 3/4” instead of 11/2” x 3/4”. The timber I could buy was all 2” dimensioned so it seemed a waste to turn the difference into sawdust! The weight increase was negligible in terms of overall weight - yellow cedar is pretty light, but I’m sure it increased the rigidity of the hull significantly. Cheers
I enjoyed every moment of the video. Great craftsmanship and great videography. Thanks for sharing. The boat looks amazing.
What a fantastic build, iv done stitch and glue but this is much more involved, my fathers boat was built just like this one and being a wooden ply boat many think they don’t last. Dads boats is over 40 years old and no fibreglass just painted and still in operation today, it’s a beautiful little 12 runabout just like this one , great job well done.
Cheers Fishmut. Having built ply over frames I can tell you with some authority there's a lot to be said for stitch and glue - much faster I'm sure! I nearly went with a stick and glue design but something about the shape of this boat got me hooked. If you keep the water out they'll last for many years. I made sure to epoxy seal all surfaces before painting as double insurance, so hopefully this little fish is still around in 40 years!
Dude. I have zero inclination to build a boat, nor zero inclination to even own or use a boat. But I couldn’t stop watching, and admiring your tenacity in taking your complex project to completion. With beautiful result as well. Fantastic job !!
Thanks Curtis. Building a boat is not a task to take on lightly, even a small one like this. My hats’s off to those who take on a big one - this boat x 20! 🤪 Same process though - just keep knocking jobs off one after the other until you run out of jobs. But I’m not sure I believe you have zero interest in boats. This is a very boat video... 🤔😁 Have a good one... Cheers
Very nice! Like RL A, I'm building Little Moby now in Canada. I'm twisting the chines in place right now. White oak and shavings everywhere. Thanks for an excellent video! I'm impressed that you worked out that you didn't need an engine well as deep as specified by Wittholz. I expect I will flip the boat over next summer and I might borrow your method. Thanks again for posting an excellent video!
Hi Tom. I hope the video helps. Experience is a wonderful teacher... like I said in the video I'm not sure why the engine well was so deep but I suspect it's a product of a couple of "fixed" factors. One the vertical depth of the well, and the angle of the base of the well i.e at 90* to the transom, and in turn how that intersects with the height and position of the rear seating and probably his wish to keep the design simple. Then again the comment about that being a "minimum" still has me scratching my head. What I can tell you is moving away from the plans made things quite a bit more complicated... and adding deck behind the removable seat backs, and removable seats didn't help. However I was pleased with how it looks and functions and would recommend it if you want to go the extra mile. Happy sanding!
Sanding ... yes. Torture boards. Very funny! I picked up the plans for Little Moby 3 years ago. Traced out the frames a year ago. Picking up speed on weekends and evenings lately.
Your video is like watching the kids open up presents on Christmas. I know every bend curve of her frame. Really very very helpful Robin! And a bit overwhelming. Cheers down in New Zealand!
Excellent job, very professional with great attention to detail and quality of appearance. Well done! Mark.
Well done, nice job! From what I have seen that boat will still be around a 100 years from now.
Cheers Anthony. Yes I hope the next owner loves it at much as I do. However I’m thinking seriously about selling it so I can afford to build another. Maybe a sailboat this time..... We’ll see. : )
Just discovered this video. What a magnificent job you did. I would have left some of the wood bright but that is just me. Bet you are one proud boat owner!!
I discovered early on that ply over frames will not give you a perfectly smooth hull - ply wants to stay flat and will try to wherever it can i.e. in between frames. Same goes for the deck. So if you want those perfect sweeping curves you have to fare it. So bright is not an option. Perhaps I could have in some details but I decided to forgo that. That issue aside I wasn’t after that wooden boat look particularly anyway. In the second video on finishing and accessories I painted the hull sides which was always my intention - the all white look is a it boring and stark I agree. It came up looking pretty smart. Check it out... Cheers
Outstanding effort. Aside from your skills with plans and wood your determination to succeed is awesome. Thank you for posting.
Thanks Billy. Funny I watched the video myself last week and I sound like it was a chore to do! I made the video shortly after I’d just finished and at that point it was like, phew, mission accomplished. But in fact it was a fun, rewarding, and challenging first boat build and I’d start another bigger boat tomorrow if I could talk the “financial controller” into it. : ). Cheers
I've completed 4 boats and ive heard that when you get to the point when there is the tedious works like time to sand the whole inside but really you don't even want to look at it.. they call that "sittin in the moaning chair" a couple of your comments cracked me up . Awesome video documentary of your work... WELL DONE!!!!!
Lol. Yeah I sat in that chair a couple of times. Building a wooden boat is a lot of fun but you sure get acquainted with 80 grit, and it’s good brother 120!
Awesome project and final product. I love how you turned it upside down (and showed it!) - the same way as giant sailboats turned during construction.
I’ll be posting a video of my 22’ center console build soon. Hull complete, cap rails going on this week flip paint hull flip again rig, flooring and then hardware. You did a very clean sturdy build my friend very impressive and a nice design. Love the way you describe how you overcame the obstacles