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In the beginning....

The first Dillon racing boats were created in 2006 to fill a gap in the boat plans market for small tunnel and v-bottom boats eligible for nationally sanctioned racing. The earliest designs were intended for two-cylinder power in the 25hp to 40hp range. Since then, the design collection has extended into the 40hp to 80hp range.

Since 2006 these boats have won races and championships in American Powerboat Association races, and in 2011 made their debut at the OPC National Championships (Dillon boats took first and third).

Since 2006, Dillon racing boats have been built by amateur and pro builders around the world. See what these builders have accomplished in Customer Projects .

If you are looking for a small, high-performance boat that you can build and drive, then you've come to the right place. You don't have to be a professional boatbuilder to build one, and you don't have to be a racer to enjoy it. Each boat features straightforward plank-on-frame plywood construction and includes detailed instructions which you can review before you make a purchase.

Whether you want to race or just go fast or are looking for a fun and satisfying project, one of my designs may be just right for you.

Available by INSTANT DOWNLOAD . You can start building today ! (Or choose optional postal mail shipping.)

I am currently offering plans for eight high-performance boats, plus plans for a jackplate, seat and composite cockpit. For more information, including VIDEO from APBA races , or to make a purchase, follow the links under the photos above. Or take a look at the comparison table of all my designs to help you choose the boat that best meets your need for speed.

VIDEO: See Dillon boats in APBA-sanctioned racing action .

More specific information on the Tunnelboat Page or the V-Bottom Page . See also my Jack Plate Plans .

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What is a Puddle Duck Racer

The PDRacer is a developmental one design racing sailboat that is basically a plywood box with a curved bottom and is the easiest boat in the world to build. The rules are aimed at keeping the lower 10" of all hulls the same but the rest is up to the builder. A simple hull can be made from 3 sheets of plywood, titebond II glue and latex house paint. If you work hard for 2 weekends you can go sailing on the 3rd weekend. If you are really in a hurry it is possible to go from lumber to the lake in 5 days. Here are our free plywood sailboat plans

What our club is about

Interesting niche racing.

Most of the other sailboat classes fit in one of the two basic categories. 1: One Design where the class keep the boats as identical as possible so that the competition is between the skill of the crew. 2: Developmental class where the competitors engineer different sailboats so that their boat design is a significant part of their ability to compete. This category also tends to become a competition of who has the financial resources to gain the best engineering solutions.

Our class fits in an area between those 2 general types, we are a "developmental one design". Our hulls are a fixed one design shape, the sail rigs and fins are open for development. The result is our racing competition is blend of both the sailing skill of the skipper AND boat engineering & building skill. Because our boat is so small, that imposes a natural limit on the cost so our class will always be within the grasp of an amateur garage level competitor.

Getting Started On Your Duck

You don't need permission from headquarters, just build your duck, contact other duckers to get out there & do our motto !! If nobody else is organizing events in your area, then stand up and take the initiative to organize a local fleet and make the magic happen !!

Free Plans Site Map - All Pages On This Website Subscribe PDRacer Newsletter Contacting Other Duckers

Many other uses.

Our boat is not just for racing, she is great for all sorts of other purposes and in most states a boat this small does not need to be titled or registered. The hull shape carries 630 lbs. One member took 2 adults and 3 kids for an afternoon sail. Another went on a 3 day cruise with his wife and slept aboard at anchor every night. If you think about it, many people go backpacking for long periods, a PDRacer can hold much more gear and water than a backpack. She also works good as a row boat and motor boat. free plans diy boat oars

I often take my kids out rowing in mine, instead of a sail rig I put a big beach umbrella in the mast sleeve so they can sit in the shade. If you like fishing, you can row her into the shallow areas that power boats can't get to and launch in areas that don't have a boat ramp. She is very stable, enough that you can stand up and cast.

Which boat to build?

If you just discovered boat building, very soon you will become aware that there are TONS and TONS of different boats you could build. For some odd reason, many sailors think they should only have one sailboat - please realize it is perfectly OK to have several (or many) sailboats at the same time. Consider building a puddle duck to get some experience and have fun sailing with other duckers. The lessons you will learn will give you better understanding of how to build boats and make your next project go a lot faster. The duck is big enough to carry a 2nd passenger but small and easy to store. If you lose interest or don't have time, then stand her upright in the corner of your garage or out back till you get the itch to go sail her again.

Don't know how to sail?

For many people that build ducks, it is their first boat and they don't know how to sail either. Sailing is easy, just point the boat in the direction you want to go, then pull in the sail till it stops flapping. The best way to learn is to have your own boat and take her out on a very light wind day, on a very small lake and give it a try. Take a set of oars, if you can't figure out how to sail back then drop your sail and row back. If you know a sailor then invite them along and they will help you out, the PDRacer can easily carry 2 adults.

Afraid it will leak?

All boats leak especially wooden ones. Just because it might leak, doesn't mean you will sink, that is what the airbox flotation chambers are for. Besides, when you are sailing on a very windy day splashing along you will get more spray water than from any leak. Take along a bottomless chlorox bottle and when the water gets to about an inch deep inside the cockpit just do a couple of scoops to flip the water out.

If you are worried about capsizing, see our info about emergency flotation and recovering from knock down pages. Then go practice capsizing with your duck tied to the dock with a long line. After you learn how to recover from a knock down, you won't be afraid of them anymore.

Afraid it won't be perfect the way you build it?

A big part of puddle ducking is to continually tinker with your boat to improve it. Figure which configuration attracts you the most and start building it. Later if you change your mind, you can reconfigure her or just build another hull and move your parts over. They have almost no resale value so no matter what you do, she will be worth the same.

Club Membership

All you have to do is build (or get) a class legal PDRacer and register her. Registration is FREE and Shorty has tried to keep all other aspects of puddle ducking free, offering free plans and full instructions here on the website and requiring entrance to the world championship be free to any registered puddle ducker and their crew. There are no protected territories and any puddle ducker is welcome to organize events and invite others to go sailing.

We have an open member list, if their email address is listed, that means you can contact them direct for duck related activities.

Hatch Events

Want to increase the number of puddle ducks in your local area? One of the things we do is organize "hatch events". This is where people organize a day (or weekend) to get together and build ducks. Many times these are as simple as having a friend (or two) come over and just try to build what you can with no prior preparation needed or can be elaborate events on a big scale with 15 or more ducks being built at the same time. If you are interested in doing a hatch, consider inviting the other local duckers to come help because we really like any excuse to build another boat or help someone else build theirs. :)

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• About The Thistle

The Thistle is a high-performance one-design racing sailboat that is g enerally sailed with a three-person crew. Thistles have a main, jib and symmetrical spinnaker sail plan. They’re:

• Consistently fast due to the high sail area to weight ratio
• Quick to plane thanks to the wide, flat stern
• Built to slice through waves with the plumb bow

It’s a fun, fast, responsive boat that does well in a wide variety of conditions. Thistles plane easily in 10-12 knots of breeze and glide effortlessly in light air. 

What's the ideal Thistle team composition?

The typical Thistle crew has three people with a total weight of 450-500. Because there are no weigh-ins or crew weight requirements, you’ll see lots of different crew set-ups.  

What do our one-design principles mean for you?

The class holds firmly to one-design principles (“a form of racing where all boats are virtually identical or similar in design” says US Sailing ), which rewards the quality of the sailor rather than the dollars invested in the boat. What does that mean in practice?

The TCA has implemented measures to keep costs reasonable and avoid an “arms race.”

• Boats need to meet weight and measurement requirements to be allowed to participate in regattas.
• No one is coming to every regatta with a crispy, new set of sails because boat owners can buy only one suit per year.
• We don’t allow coaching during regattas (“paid hand” onboard or in a coach boat).

There’s a strong history of leadership and governance in the Thistle Class. Our class officers:

• Enforce the spirit of the rules as well as the letter
• Uphold the rule that says that if something is not in the rules, it’s prohibited
• Encourage a unique balance of top-level competition, affordable racing and a family atmosphere

Where Can I Buy a Thistle?

Whether you’re looking for a new boat or a used one, there are plenty of quality Thistles for sale. New boats are available from the class-approved builder: Beacon Composites . Search through a collection of used Thistles for sale at a variety of price points on the Thistle Marketplace.

One of the things you’ll love about the Thistle is the affordability for such a competitive class. A new Thistle runs around $25,000 for the hull, spars, blades and rigging. For a very competitive used boat, expect to spend between $10,000 and $15,000. Want to try the boat and upgrade later? You can pick up a ready-to-sail used Thistle for under $10,000. 

Need help figuring out what’s right for you? Let us know , and we’ll set you up with a local Thistler who’ll be happy to walk you through your options. 

• About The Class
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• About Modern Wooden Boats
• Tips & tricks
• What’s inside a boat plan ?

Petrel 33: widen your horizons

Petrel 33 is the logical evolution of her smaller sister petrel 28 , with the task to expand the horizons of cruising activity for a 4-6 person crew, raising the bar of onboard comfort, keeping the boat size under the critical (for a homebuilder) size of 34 foot – 10 meters of overall length., a “new classic” looking cruiser, sturdy, with no frills and weird solutions, ready to let you sail with a decent speed and a very good comfort level both at anchor and sailing., the starting point is the very good sailing capabilities shown by the petrel 28, so i decided to develope this hull into a enlarged design, keeping a quite narrow hull for actual standard, prolonging the bow lines for a plumb stempost; i expect to have a similar behaviour of the proven 28footer, with a tender weather helm in every situation, a very soft and gentle wave riding attitude in a seaway, and a good acceleration coming out of the tacks, i expect a little bit more speed given the longer water length ; section are moderately full at the bow, maximum beam is around 60% of hull lenght , transom sections keep a moderate vee.

Stability calculations give us good parameters (see stability curve attached) , with a real large positive area stability, a 123° AVS (Angle of Vanishing Stability) with loaded boat, and a minimal negative area in the stability curves.

Rig and sailplan:

Sailplan is based on a 50% area split among mainsail and a furling jib ; we kept the upwind sailing area to a moderate value, avoiding “wannabe racers” temptations; a decent sized gennaker can be hoisted on the fixed bowsprit, an obvious choice given the fact that the new generation furlers are making this sails very easy to manage for cruising crews too, adding the pleasure of sailing downwind in light airs at a decent pace, a weather situation which is quite a pain in normal mainsail + jib configurations ; in roughest situation you can hoist a storm jib on a removable internal stay fitted on a high load chainplate leaning on the forward structural bulkhead ; rig is a classical 2 spreaders mast , spreaders are 15° swept, there is a structural backstay and no structural runners, lower shrouds are doubled., deck gear configuration features classical sturdy and manageable solutions, without too many frills : 4 self tailing winches to pull sheets, halyards and control lines, 2 stoppers array on cabin top panel, 2 tracks for jib cars, so that the jib can keep a decent shape even furled, a small track for the mainsail purchase, all the control lines are led to cockpit to avoid bow walks in “spicy” situations (plans will detail how to make bombproof fitting points for lifelines too);, boat will be powered by a diesel (20-30 hp) or electric (7 kw) inboard engine fitted with a saildrive or shaft-line transmission ; this will allow to keep a decent pace while motoring in zero wind situation, or to add a good booster to sail thrust if needed; i expect to reach a 6.5 knots boat speed at 2000 rpm with a 30 hp diesel engine., rudder and steering system:, rudder is a single blade semi-compensated one with tiller steering system ; there will be two options detailed on plans: spade rudder with ss steel shaft (this solution is depicted in rendered images), and an easier to build transom hung rudder., finkeel is naca profile keel made of welded steel plates, ; ballast is made by lead poured in the keel hollows ; keel is fitted on the hull with a web of bolts on solid hardwood floors, with nuts and high thickness ss steel counterplates under the cabin floorings; keel load is carefully distributed to avoid any local high stress area., interiors and on board living:, this area marks the main differences among this 34 footer and her smaller sister; higher hull topsides and two more meters of boat make a world of difference in terms of interiors and on board comfort; we have 6 regular berths, a comfortable galley and dinette area, a decent volume for on board systems and storage, all that you need to medium-long range sailing given the size of the boat ; both forward and after cabin are closed with a small door to gain a little bit more privacy ; cabin height is around 191 cm , cockpit is quite wide, and it’s designed to be comfortable for a crew of 6 while sailing with the heeled boat too ; transom area is protected by a sturdy wooden hinged structure that can be lowered when moored to be used as a transom platform. low sleek coamings protect the forward area of the cockpit , making the primary winch basement too; toerails and good sized areas among cabin flanks and hull sheerline make going to the bow a very safe operation even when boat is heeled and in rough conditions;, building system:, given the good amount of miles sailed by petrel 28  in every sea state with very good reliability, i keep a similar structure for this project, upgrading the scantlings to cope with higher stresses; so the boat structure is a grid of plywood bulkheads and frames linked by solid wood stringers and a mixed plywood-solid wood structure forming keel backbone and stempost ; hull planking is made by 12 mm plywood, with the radiused area made by two layers of 6 mm plywood panels , all glued to the underlying structural grid , in a reliable , sturdy and easy to build system called “radius chine” ; cabin , cockpit and deck surfaces are made by 10-12 mm plywood panels stiffened by a grid of secondary stringers, solid beams and other structural elements; the hull bottom is further stiffened by a number of solid wood floors , tightly spaced in the centerboat area, where they bear the finkeel loads. all critical areas and structural bondings are strengthened and stiffened by epoxy resin laminated glass fabric and epoxy resin liquid joinery and structural bondings. this building system is definitely suited to be realized by home builders or small boatyards, with a basic level of wood craftmanship , in a decent amount of time given the size of the boat., in my view this will allow a small boatyard to build and offer a highly customized top level sailboat keeping the final prize to a reasonable level, which is basically the main concern when it comes to manage a small boatyard..

Building plans and study plans: project Petrel 33 is is completed : now I’m starting the long and meticulous process of drawing the building plans; complete plans will be available approximately at the end of spring at this link , anyway if someone is so committed to long for an immediate start of construction he can purchase plans starting from now, a first batch of drawings (hull parts , assembly scaffold and hull structures) will be delivered within a week so that he can start building, the rest will follow as scheduled within half of June 2018; study plans and bill of materials will be available approximately within the end of April 2018 and will be downloadable form this page for free, as usual. Stay tuned !!!

Plans price: 900 € for paper sheets, 840€ for pdf format drawings, 350 € for cad engraving files (required if you want to cut all the plywood parts with cnc machinery, includes keel steel plating shapes) ; plans will be made approximately of 27 drawings and a 25 pages booklet with assembly sequence, tips and tricks, plans can be purchased here, a discount will be available for the first buyer ., petrel 33 specifications, hull length: 9,90 m (bowsprit included), overall length: 9,90 m, maximum beam: 3,03 m, prismatic coefficient: 0,53, sink rate: 170kg/cm, canoe body wet surface: 18 m2, draft at design displacement: 1,80 m, vacant ship diplacement: 3400 kg (all gear up, no water and food, no fuel), design displacement: 4050kg (crew of 4 + luggage, 50kg fuel, acqua 150 liters water, 100 kg extra), maximum displacement: 4500 kg (crew of 6 + luggage, full fuel, full water), ballast: 1300 kg: fixed keel, upwind sail area : 47,3 m2 , mainsail 23.2 m2, jib 24 m2, staysail on removable babystay: 6.5 m2, gennaker: 65 m2, mast height on dwl: m 13,3, performance parameters : sa/displ^0.66 = 19.5 , sa/wet surface = 2.6 (canoe body only), engine: diesel inboard with saildrive or shaftline transmission, 20-30 hp, 50 liters fuel tank , electric engine specifications on plans, accommodations: 6 fulls sized (1,90 m or more) berths, 1 v berth at bow, 1 double berth on transom , 2 galley berths, interiors: charting table with main electric panel, vhf radio and chart plotter area, galley with stove, sink and 30 liters fridge, enclosed toilet with wc sink and shower, central table in dinette with foldable wings. 190 cm height in the whole galley area., systems: 12 v and 220 v wiring scheme, fresh water and black water plumbing scheme, 200 or more liter freshwater tanks.; two service batteries and a engine dedicated battery, ce label : possible b6/c10 , data to be required as extra item..

• plans: 900€ for paper version, 840 for PDF version , 350 for CNC cutting files , can be purchased here

MIKE WALLER 

Yacht design.

WE SPECIALIZE IN BOAT PLANS FOR AMATEUR BUILDERS

We provide stock boat plans for both monohull and multihull sailing vessels, including sailing skiffs and sharpies. Our designs mainly feature timber construction, in plywood or cedar strip plank composite construction, using the W.E.S.T. system (wood epoxy saturation technique). Our designs are intended mainly as cruising boats, although several have done well in racing. All designs are suitable for amateur boat builders.

 MONOHULLS

 multihulls  , photos from our builders.

Photo galleries are provided on each design page where available

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Sailboat Plans

Free Sailboat Plans

A selection of some of the Free Sailboat Plans (pdf) that were published in magazines such as “Popular Mechanics”, "Popular Science" and the "Boat Builder Handbook".

If you need help with lofting out the plans click here for an article here which should help.

• Open Dayboats/Dinghys
• Rowing Boats

Open/Dayboat, Free Sailboat Plans

Everyone who digs boating has heard of the Hobie Cat, the sleek little catamaran that burst on the scene and captured the attention of all the fast-action sailors.

Marked by asymmetrical hulls and special trampoline supports, the Hobie can reach speeds above 20 mph and perform with a rare agility.

But it has one drawback.

It costs mucho dinero.

Thus, we introduce the Hobby Kat, sailboat plans, a build-it-yourself version of the “Hobie” that should cost from half to a third of the commercial version. If you have the moola, of course, go for a Hobie and have the time of your life on the water.

If not, try our Hobby

The homebuilt is not quite the same.

But she sails sweetly and fast—qualities which have made the “Hobie” popular

Even in a light air she’ll slip through the water at a fast clip.

She has no centreboards, leeboards or keel, and needs none.

The inside of each hull has built-in lift, like an airplane wing, so that as the boat heels and one hull digs in the boat is pulled back to windward.

Click Here for the Plans

She can run in very shallow water and the rudders kick up for beaching.

You can carry her on a trailer or even disassemble her.

Many a “stink pot” addict will take a second look at Tern because she planes in modest breezes, is easy to handle, and her streamlined prow arid pod-shaped, “inland scow” type hull offer slight water resistance. Then too, there’s a charm about the tiller of a sailer that’s not matched by the wheel of a motor-powered boat. Part of it is the challenge of making the most of nature’s free-wheeling breezes. Even with her 72sq.ft of sail, this Free Sailboat Plan is remarkably stable, and packs as many as four persons aboard

For thousands of inland lakes, Tern is the answer to sailing water sport, she is rugged and easy to launch

And she’s remarkably easy to build.

Falcon is a small, speedy, sporty sailboat which handles well. Tests on the original Falcon showed that she could easily out-distance boats of comparable size such as the one design class Snipe and Comet sailers.

And she will pace neck and neck with 18 footers with considerably greater sail spread.

This strong, beamy, eight-foot pram may be sailed either cat-rigged or sloop-rigged.

The dagger-board may be adjusted forward to balance the helm when sailing with the addition of a jib sail.

Oars or a small outboard motor may also be used to power this versatile Free Sailboat Plans.

Dart” is a small two or three person sailing craft, designed for use on protected waters such as bays. lakes, rivers or wherever sheltered waters are found. Its construction will repay the builder handsomely and provide a fast sailing craft, light in weight, easily transportable and cheap to construct with all difficult joinery eliminated

It provides thrilling and economical sport.

The 'Crescent', designed by C. T. Allen, is the ideal sailboat for day sailing on a small lake, river, or protected waters of a bay.

Centreboard design (Fig. 2) reduces Crescent's draft, so Shallow is not a problem.

Its broad beam of over 5½ft. makes it an ideal family boat because there is room for a cockpit large enough to accommodate four adults or two adults and three kids, and side and forward decks big enough to stretch out on when sun bathing.

"Jewel" is a 16' Crescent Sailboat being built by Mike Allen from the free sailboat plans by C.T .Allen in the 1958 "Boat Builders Handbook". And what a superb job Mike is doing check out his photos here .

Click Here for the Free version of the Plans

Sailing enthusiasts and backyard boat builders are not likely to find free boat plans for a sailing pram that can be built faster, lighter, stronger, or less expensively than Graefin-10. Two men can begin work on a Friday evening and have a smart, lively 10-ft. 85-pound sailboat in the water by Sunday evening (it’s been done).

Zephyr Is a refinement of a type of boat developed by the English for use in the rough open waters of the English Channel. Not only is it fast under sail, but it can stand up under punishment. And it’s light enough to be easily loaded atop an auto or light trailer.

Breeze-Baby

Skimming off a brisk wind or with the wind abeam, Breeze-Baby actually planes with one person aboard. Despite her rowboat lines that make her easy to build, she handles easily under her simple sail, an ideal first boat. Simple lines are adapted to plywood construction that’s strong, light and that keeps Breeze-Baby’s bilges dry

You can take her with you atop your car or on a lightweight trailer for summer fun wherever you vacation or get in a week-end’s sailing.

Cat’s Paw is easy to build because of the straight-sided hulls. The sheer line is flat and that simplifies building the form. Bow and stern are straight, so there’s no cockeyed bevel to fit and fuss with

She Is an Ideal boat to learn or practice sailing in because she will forgive so many mistakes.

Cabin Cruiser, Free Sailboat Plans

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I am perfectly aware that the majority of Wooden Boat aficionados are sensible folk. However, I need to point out that I am an amateur wooden boat enthusiast simply writing in order to try to help other amateur wooden boat enthusiasts. And while I take every care to ensure that the information in DIY Wood Boat.com is correct, anyone acting on the information on this website does so at their own risk.

Affordable Sailboats You Can Build at Home

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

September 13, 2023

‍ Key Takeaways

• There are many sailboats that anyone can build from home depending on tastes
• Budget will be the biggest deciding factor on a majority of the process
• Consider kits that come with most of what you need or choose ones that are all-inclusive
• Design complexities and new materials may make the building time process longer
• Plan the best you can ahead of time to save money and your working hours

‍ Buying a sailboat can be expensive, but building your own can save you money. So what are sailboats you can build from home?

Sailboats that you can build from home will likely be a small boat under 20 feet. These could be from many different boat suppliers such as B&B Yachts, Brooks Boat Designs, and Chase Small Craft. Boat plans will vary based on your budget and how much time you have on your hands.

Based on my previous experience, building your own boat will take much longer than if a professional were to do it. You also have to be able to study plans, consider various sailboat designs, and have tons of supplies such as fiberglass tape or fiberglass cloth. On top of that, you will also have to be good with your hands.

Table of contents

‍ Top 10 Affordable Sailboats Anyone Can Build at Home

Building your own pocket cruiser or other styles from boat plans is an impressive feat, as this will need dedicated time and money to assure your boat sails safely. Boat building takes a lot of patience as well, especially since this will not be completed in a fast manner.

Finding boat plans and materials that fit your budget will be key to being able to complete the project. The time it takes to complete these projects will vary on your overall experience and needs. Below are 10 of the most affordable sailboats that you can build in the comfort of your home.

B&B Yachts

B&B Yachts have 14 different boat plans you can choose from to find the boat of your desires. Their shop is located along the Bay River in North Carolina where they construct all of the kits and have a 100 foot dock to show off your project once you complete it.

One popular model to check out is their Core Sound 15, as it is the perfect size for those wanting to build a modest size boat for a handful of people on board. Their website features some videos of completed projects and the plans or kits for purchase.

• 14 different models to choose from plus some dinghies
• Various monohull and multihull options
• Friendly customer service with attractive prices
• Might be too many options for some that are indecisive
• Not ideal for those wanting to have a motor sailer

Brooks Boat Designs

Brooks Boat Designs has a handful of options to consider for your next sailboat building project. They are located in Brookline, Maine and give the option to buy the kits or have them build one from scratch for you. They have plenty of knowledge, so do not be shy to ask about modifications or custom features you are looking for.

Depending on your specifics, they can attempt to accommodate some of their plans to help fit your desired outcome. By checking out their site, you can see many examples of their construction in progress and what the boats will look like when completed.

• Offers a variety of kits
• Plans vary around $50 and up, while materials will obviously add more costs
• Some plans can be rowing boats that can convert to sailboats
• Might take a while to hear back from them, as their contact section is a little outdated
• Their plans may not accommodate a ton of extras for your taste

Chase Small Craft

Chase Small Craft offers a simple process for building boats. Their kits are equipped with everything you need and will help save you time than just buying the materials outright and other parts you could need. This is arguably one of the best bang for buck instances if you want to save time and money searching for pieces to your boat.

They are located in Saco, Maine and will ship everything to your home from there. All the necessary materials are included and all you need are the proper tools and working space.

• All-inclusive kits with what you need
• Tons of knowledge on their site for boat building
• Easy process to order and customize
• Complete kits can range over $20,000 for larger boats
• Kits may take up to eight weeks to ship out

Chesapeake Light Craft

You can expect high-quality boat kits from Chesapeake Light Craft . They feature 18 different sailboat kits that vary from eight to 20 feet in length. This should be more than enough to find one for you if you are newer to boat building.

They also have a wide variety of other kits in addition to the sailboat, in the event that you wanted to order a small kayak or paddleboard in addition to your sailboat. The prices vary considerably when considering a small or larger boat, so check the complete list of options to in order to potentially fit your needs.

• Plenty of sailboat offerings to choose from
• Different beautiful hull form options to consider
• Easy to build and perfect for sailing
• Only has basic materials needed for kit, so you may need to purchase other items
• Has epoxy shipping fee no matter if you pick up item

Dudley Dix Yacht Design

Dudley Dix Yacht Design has an extensive list of plywood and single skin sailing boat options. They have plenty of sail plans and kits to consider depending on your goals. These follow a classic look for sailboats, which are aesthetically pleasing.

If you are wanting one to accommodate a small family, they have more than plenty to look through. The cost is not as bad compared to others, but keep in mind that you may need to throw in your own supplies or specific tools to get the job done.

• Plans start at $30 and range up to $7,500 or more for kits
• More than enough of options to consider
• Affordable variety of sailboat offerings
• Might be too many options for those new to sailing
• Most are wood without the use of aluminum or steel

Farrier Marine

If you are in search of a multihull to build, then Farrier Marine is what you need. They offer a unique folding catamaran that is trailerable and give you the option to build it yourself. This not only makes it an appealing option, but anyone can take this multihull boat wherever they want with ease.

It features a thorough construction guide once you receive all of the materials. These also come with stainless steel fasteners and an aluminum mast for high-quality materials. Pricing will vary since you must request which model type you are considering.

• Ability to build a unique catamaran
• In-depth construction guide to help
• Easily handled and trailerable
• Price may be too high
• Limited offerings since only a few multihull options

Glen-L Marine Designs

Building a boat from Glen-L Marine Designs can save you time and money. They feature an easy system to order and receive the kits, as well as an in-depth guide to building them. This is an appealing option compared to most boat kit sellers.

The beauty about Glen-L is that anyone can build these from scratch, so you do not have to be the best boat builder in the world to get it done. They offer guides and helpful insights from their team to point you in the right direction. Plans vary around $15, while kits can range well over $1,000 depending on boat size.

• Nearly 50 designs to choose from
• Complete guide to help anyone build it
• Plenty of price points depending on size
• Might be overwhelming with the amount of options
• Could take a while to get parts since they are popular

John Welsford Boat Designs

John Welsford Boat Designs invites new and veteran boat builders that want a taste of quality small wooden boats. The boat plans are designed to meet your specifications and are catered to your desires.

There are seven sailboat designs to choose from so you do not feel overwhelmed in the process. However, they do not sell kits all the time, so you would need to have the materials or be on the lookout for the best prices when they are available.

• Seven sailboat plans with different sizes
• Quality boat builder and supporting community
• In-depth knowledge provided to you when you order
• Might be too small of boat size
• Kits are not always available

Iain Oughtred

There are plenty of options on the wooden boat store, but you should narrow down your search for Iain Oughtred’s line of sailboat kits and plans. There are 25 different plans to choose from, which should accommodate most everyone looking to build their own boat.

While they do offer some kits, they do not routinely offer sailboat kits. You would need to purchase all of the materials if you are considering one of their sail plans. Keep this in mind if you are considering, as you would need to hunt down the parts yourself.

• 25 different sailboat plans to look through
• Various sizes to contemplate for you sailing needs
• Prices will vary but are not bad compared to market
• No sailboat kits, only plans
• Newer boat builders might find too many options unappealing

Paul Gartside Boat Builder and Designer

Gartside Boats is a boat builder company based in Long Island, New York that showcases a variety of boats from traditional and newer methods of boat building. Within that variety, they have boat plans meant for six to 50 feet in length.

With an abundance of options, you will need to contact them regarding prices and any customizable options. Kits may vary as well, as they typically design in-house and build for you.

• Experienced boat designer that can accommodate with custom plans
• Many options are trailerable
• Can have plans for up to a 50 foot boat
• You will need to contact them for prices
• Customized options may make process more complicated for new boat builders

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Sailboat at Home?

As you have likely already done so, the math between building your own boat and buying one may be a huge difference. Likewise, you may even enjoy the challenge of taking an older boat that is gutted and restoring with parts from a kit to build one new again.

But how much does it cost exactly to build a boat from the comfort of your own garage or workshop? The prices are going to vary dramatically depending on your situation and material needed to get the job done. In addition, the time that it takes to complete this will also vary.

Sail plans are rather inexpensive if you are aiming to build a small boat. These plans allow you to see the workings of the boat design and what you need to build the boat.

Without these plans, you will not know the exact details of the design and it can cause major issues with the boat’s hull or other areas of the boat. Think of these as the backbone or instructions of the boat’s infancy before being built.

Price Per Square Foot

You should assume to pay anywhere between $300 to $600 per square foot if you are interested in building a boat. Buying a kit outright can be a good way to save time, but oftentimes these do not come with everything you need.

Instead, you should try to source as much of the materials at the best price as possible. Thinking ahead is part of the process and you might be able to score a deal at a lumber yard or hardware store for parts.

Boat Designs Matter

The design of the boat will be much different from one boat to the next, regardless if they are the same size in length. If you are pondering boats that range anywhere between 16 and 20 feet, you should factor in the shape of the hull, any rigging, and various appendages.

Prices tend to increase when there are more complexities within the designs. If you are considering a kit with more details than others, you will also have to pay more for the designs on that as well.

Kits Can Differ

It is important to understand that all kits are not going to be the same. As you gander at sailboat kits online to stitch together, you need to thoroughly look over to see if you have everything you need before buying.

It would also be at your advantage to ask the seller if any additional parts or supplies are needed. This may change your dynamic on the kit buying process and you may pass up one for another if it has everything you need. An all-inclusive kit may cost several hundred, if not thousands, of dollars more to have the convenience of everything in the bundle.

Construction Approaches

Some boat plans may require you to have certain tools to get the job done. This means special saws or planers, which the average person simply does not have.

Purchasing specialty tools might be expensive upfront and hard to find depending on what it is. Your best bet would be to check locally for others trying to sell their tools or consider a boat plan that does not require extensive tools to finish the job.

How Long Does it Take to Build a Sailboat?

An easy to build sailboat could take a while to build from scratch. Many different variances come into play that are difficult to pinpoint for everyone. But how long is that exactly and how will your experience play into this?

A fun project to sail in the wind could take you several months to well over a year depending on the boat plan and how big your boat is going to be. In addition, the materials all need to be accounted for prior to starting in the event a hardware store does not have them in stock.

Time Varies

The time that passes for simple boat designs on small sailing vessels can be done in a few weeks. This is assuming you have everything you need and work non-stop around the clock.

Certain complex situations may make the process long, such as the difficulty of working with some materials. If you are a skilled laborer, it may take you half the time compared to a novice. The amount of time it can take will vary on your availability and skill level.

Planning ahead will undoubtedly offer the most time-saving features. It also helps if you can tackle parts of the project at your own pace.

Complexity of Design

The design of the boat may make the construction process longer. For example, it may take you longer to build a catamaran compared to a similar lengthed monohull.

More complex designs might require more materials, therefore making the process a bit longer to complete. Furthermore, you will also need more experience working with difficult designs and that will affect you more as a newbie.

Be sure to manage your expectations well and do not allow yourself to become too stressed over this fun project. If you can, seek expert boat building advice from a local builder or the company you purchased sail plans through.

Quality Materials

The quality of the materials will matter significantly when building a boat and will greatly affect the time it takes to construct it. Handling fiberglass or carbon fiber might require specialty tools, while wood also demands a certain level of craftsmanship.

If you are not skilled at working with the material at hand, it might affect the quality of the build and you may have to go back to fix mistakes. This will definitely add more time to your project, because mistakes are bound to happen with your first project.

To save time, consider adding the tools and materials throughout the year or as often as your budget allows. You may want to try testing your skills on fiberglass or other materials to get a feel for how to work with it.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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O’Connor Racing: Wooden Hydroplane Built for Speed

Passionate is a word that only begins to describe Bob O’Connor’s lifetime of devotion to building and understanding hydroplane boats. “You don’t do this for the money,” the energetic, Farmington-based boatbuilder said. “In fact, you’re lucky if you break even on these things.”

Now that O’Connor has taken over his well-known late father’s hydroplane building business, he has his sights set on nothing less than seeing one of his creations win the world title of hydroplane racing. “My father’s boats won third place twice,” the 56-year-old woodworking aficionado said while bustling around his small, basement shop. “But he wasn’t going to use modern materials in his boats. I do.”

Actually, in the subculture of international hydroplane enthusiasts, the current construction methods of O’Connor Racing Hydroplanes might still be considered a little old-fashioned despite the recent addition of materials like Kevlar and carbon fibers.

Hydroplane racing goes back a long time. The Gold Cup race was conducted on the Hudson River in 1904 with the winner’s boat topping out at an average, straight-line speed of 23 miles per hour. Contestants in those days drove lightweight boats made of wood, which is what O’Connor still prefers—mostly. 

Wooden boats dominated racing for the next 30 years. The go-fast thinking then was simply to put more and more power in bigger and bigger planing boats. Winners like the 38-foot  Miss America X , with four V-12 Packard engines jammed into her planked hull, hit speeds of more than 120 miles per hour in 1932.

In the late 1930s builders began to tinker with hull shapes.

An innovative boatyard in New Jersey radically redefined the planing boat’s hull design. Instead of a relatively flat hull with one small V-shaped keel down the middle, Ventnor Boat Works designed a hull with two V-shaped, underside projections at the edges, much like a catamaran. Called “sponsons,” these two outer edges provide additional lift to get more of the boat out of the water, as well as add stability when the boat goes into a turn. A lightweight Ventnor hydroplane won the 1939 Gold Cup, and racing has never been the same since. 

“Basically, these boats are just airplanes brought down to the water,” O’Connor said of today’s three-point hydroplane design. He said there is more aerodynamics to the design than hydrodynamics. The key is getting most of the seven- to eight-foot boat out of the water so the two sponsons just barely skim the surface while the prop of the outboard engine stays in the water, pushing boat and driver along—hence the three-point nomenclature. “It’s definitely a balancing act out there,” he said. “You have to get everything just right.”

The balancing act in construction methods accelerated in the 1950s when new technologies made it possible to combine lightweight glass fibers with various hardening resins. But as a longtime furniture maker and home builder, Bob O’Connor Sr. wanted to stick with good old Maine white cedar for many parts of his hydroplanes, marrying them to thin plywoods and other woods, with weight reductions based mostly on design. That was the world into which Bob Jr. was born. 

“I’ve been working with wood ever since I can remember,” O’Connor noted with pride. In addition to the boats, O’Connor has a full-time job as a foreman with the Farmington municipal waterworks department. During the school year, he also coaches wrestling at the local high school. All other free time (yes, he does find some), he devotes to working on, studying, thinking about, and designing hydroplane boats. He also has a very understanding wife.  

“Without question, Bob builds some of the safest and fastest hydroplanes in the world,” said Bill Allen, a Massachusetts hydroplane racer who heads up America’s most prestigious racing syndicate, U.S. A-Team. A ten-time national hydroplane champion, with four world speed records to his credit, Allen praised O’Connor’s “old-fashioned” construction methods. “In Bob’s boats, if something happens, the other boats are going to bounce off you, not go through you.”

O’Connor said driver safety is one of his prime concerns, having been a hydroplane racing driver himself most of his life. With his active racing days over, he now sticks to building and testing boats. “It does beat you up out there,” he said. “You’re crouched down, tensed up, barely able to move at all.”

Even slight driver movements in a hydroplane cockpit can send the vessel “kiting.” That’s when there’s too much lift forward and the hydroplane becomes airborne, usually going straight up in the air and flipping over amid the other contestants. 

Remarkably, both O’Connor and his father before him are self-taught engineers and designers. While many competitors on the international racing circuits employ naval and aeronautical architects, along with certified engineers for creating and modifying their hydroplanes, Bob Jr. sticks with modifications suggested by customers like Allen, along with learning by deconstructing boats that are wrecked during the course of a race. “You can learn an awful lot about how to improve a design by finding out what went wrong,” he said.  

Composite wood-based hydroplanes that include Kevlar, carbon fibers, and the like are also easier to modify than boats made solely of modern plastics, he noted. A wood boat can be modified and reworked to make subtle changes to gain an edge.

“That’s what I like about Bob,” said racer Allen, who has owned and raced no fewer than 10 O’Connor boats. “He’s willing to work with you and make little changes to your specs, and usually comes up with good suggestions of his own.” 

International Olympic Committee-sanctioned hydroplane races are held every year in Europe. Annually, the U.S. A-Team competes against heavily financed European and Asian teams in the OSY 400 class, which is considered the top competitive class among dozens of various hydro classes, both in the U.S. and abroad. 

Said O’Connor, “I’m going to keep building them until we win first place. Second place is no place at all.” 

Ken Textor has been living on, working on, writing about, and cruising boats along the Maine coast since 1977. He lives in Arrowsic.

O’Connor Hydroplanes

Builder: O’Connor Racing Hydroplanes 693 Holley Road, Farmington, ME 207-491-8144

Hydroplane No. 55-A: small, but very, very fast

By Polly Saltonstall 

Launched last spring, the boat, which has no name—just a number like a stock car, 55-A— competed in its first race last May in Standish, Maine, on Watchic Lake.

Hamilton, who grew up in Rumford, learned about hydroplaning when his father took the family to races around the state in the 1960s and 1970s. When he was 12 Hamilton rebuilt a hydroplane for himself, and then built one from scratch with his brother when he was 14. Then came high school, college, and life. He left hydroplanes behind until 2014 when he was living in Wisconsin and could not get to Maine to sail his boat on Penobscot Bay. So he reacquainted himself with the speedy side of his character, bought a hydroplane, and took up racing in the Midwest region. He received the American Powerboat Association’s stock outboard rookie of the year award in 2014.

When he moved back to Maine, to Rockport in 2015, and became the plant manager for DuPont in Rockland (formerly FMC), his hydroplane came with him, but he knew he wanted a new one.

Hamilton’s younger brother also races hydroplanes and has two boats built by O’Connor. Hamilton put his name on the Farmington builder’s waiting list and two years later got his boat: a C Stock Hydro. Powered by a Yamato 33-hp racing engine, the boat weighs just 100 pounds.

In addition to the speed, Hamilton likes the sport because of the people he meets at races.

“The racing community is like one giant family,” he said, explaining that as many as 80 to 90 boats show up for these events. Hamilton planned to compete in six races over the summer, three of them in Maine.

Hydroplanes are not much more than wedge-shaped flying saucers with cockpits. Hamilton’s boat will go as fast as 65 mph, and races might last just three minutes. The driver kneels in the cockpit behind a narrow windshield. “With your head and your arms forward you hang on for dear life to the steering wheel and the throttle,” he explained.

“Injuries are rare despite the speed. There is a high level of safety focus. The clothing and gear I wear costs more than my boat does.”

And Hamilton’s sailboat on Penobscot Bay? He still has a J46 named Meme Chum . It’s considered a fast sailboat by many, but for Hamilton, it’s where he goes when he’s ready to slow down.                           

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Build your own radio controlled yacht Are you ready to embark on the exciting journey of building your very own model rc yacht. Our comprehensive eBook has  clear building instructions and step-by-step photography for the Racing Sparrow 750mm RC Yacht. What we cover in our boat building eBook Download a sample of our eBook Even those with limited building experience can join in on the fun with minimal materials and a simple toolset. Our eBook by New Zealander Bryn Heveldt covers strip planking, fibreglass strengthening, mould and casting techniques, electrics installation, spray painting and masking, sail making and tuning. To get started on your Racing Sparrow model RC yacht project, purchase our eBook and download the PDF now. Racing Sparrow Blog We share tips and stories from the model boat building community. See all Blog Posts. 3D Printing Update: Print Your Own Radio-Controlled Yacht! A 3D Printed Racing Sparrow! The Design Rationale for the RacingSparrow 750 Radio Controlled Yacht Electrics - For Beginners Free model boat plans. We provide a number of different boat plans that you can build using techniques covered in our full eBook. You can download plans for boats of different sizes and specifications. What our customers say about Racing Sparrow Being a complete novice, I purchased your book a couple of years ago and built two racing sparrows. Building on this experience I then went on to build, from scratch, an IOM (Triple Crown design). I've since joined a local club and sail virtually every weekend. I would just like to thank you for your endeavours which have allowed me to enter a world I never thought was in my reach. John Sterland, Australia Coming upon your book, "Build your own Radio Controlled Yacht" in the Napier Public Library, I am hugely impressed. The combination of your superb photos and illustrations with your easy writing style make it a standout publication and I hope it does well for you. Richard Spence, New Zealand Thanks for an excellent design in your RG65. I trialled her again today in a solid 20 knots gusting higher. Even so in a steep chop and fingers off the rudder she drove upwind remarkably well, balanced perfectly. Very impressed that a model boat can handle that with a large rig. I found the book excellent. Ive built several big boats, plus a few skiffs and without that resource building such a good boat would have been impossible. Mike Bennett Boats built by the Racing Sparrow community We continue to be amazed at the beautiful model RC boats created by Racing Sparrow enthusiasts .  Send your images to info@racingsparrow.co.nz. Take a look at the full boat gallery  page. So many fine model yachts! John Goodyear with his RacingSparrow 750 , United Kingdom Nov 27, 2010 Kevins stunning RG65 , New Zealand Aug 1, 2013 'Sparrow' based RG 65 May 2, 2020 Jerome Declerck - 750 Dec 2, 2020 More about Racing Sparrow When I was nine years old my father, Ross Heveldt taught me to sail down at Bucklands Beach in Auckland. My wee optimist dinghy was called 'The Racing Sparrow', the nickname my uncle Bruce Curry gave to me when I was a small boy. Apparently I had an abundance of energy. I studied at Whanganui School of Design and have been a designer / developer since 1998. I live in New Zealand. Best wishes and happy sailing, Bryn Heveldt. To contact me please email:  info@racingsparrow.co.nz Bumblebee Sailboat Expedition Rowboat Cambridge Racer Sailing RowCruiser Oxford Wherry Wheelbarrow Dinghy Builders' Forum Builder's Resources Videos & Photos Build Articles Featured Adventures Testimonials Kids Program Boat Accessories Books and DVDs Your Cart is Empty Angus Rowboats Performance Expedition Boats you can Build Angus Rowboats is the premier producer of performance rowboat kits and plans. Our boats are expedition tested and have broken records including fastest time around Vancouver Island and first boat under 20' in Race to Alaska. Our unique, expertly crafted boat designs include rowboats geared for expeditions, racing, sailing, camping and teaching boating to children. Amateur and experienced boat builders from around the world have built Angus Rowboat designs. Build a sleek rowboat that can travel challenging coastal waters, carry your whole family, and even win races. Create your own boat from our detailed plans, an economical way to produce a stunning vessel. Accessories Build your drop in sliding seat system and sculling oars. Explore some of the places Colin and Julie have rowed on their adventures. "I love the (RowCruiser) concept!" Carl Kramer, publisher of Wooden Boat magazine Best-Selling Products Bumblebee Sailboat Downloadable Plans Notify me when this product is available: The Bumblebee is for the pint-sized mariner. This boat is perfect for kids aged 2-5 and is the only boat on the market that allows... View full product details Cambridge Racer Digital Plans The Cambridge Racer is a performance rowing shell designed specifically for speed. It is fastest in calm conditions, however, is shaped to perform well in... View full product details Cambridge Racer Full-sized Plans and Manual Carbon Fiber Sculling Oars - Two-Part $649.00 $699.00   Our break-apart carbon fiber sculling oars are the pinnacle of both performance and practicality.  There's no getting around it, sculling oars are ridiculously long -... View full product details Expedition Rowboat Digital Plans This expedition-designed rowing scull is seaworthy, fast and can carry a month’s provisions. The watertight storage space is accessed through extra-large hatches and the roomy... View full product details Expedition Rowboat Full-sized Plans and Manual $169.00 $169.00 Hollow-Shaft Wooden Sculling Oar Kit If you’ve spent months building a gorgeous wooden rowing vessel, a pair of gleaming varnished sculling oars are the icing on the cake. The shaft... View full product details Oxford Wherry Kit The Oxford Wherry combines elements of traditional beauty with modern design and construction to create a vessel that is not just gorgeous, but surprisingly functional. Its design... View full product details RowCruiser Digital Plans The RowCruiser offers comfortable sleeping accommodation for one person without sacrificing performance. This boat moves at about the same speed as a sea kayak, and... View full product details RowCruiser Full-sized Plans and Manual $189.00 $189.00 Sailing RowCruiser Digital Plans & Manual Package The Sailing RowCruiser is the most versatile boat we offer. We have taken the basic RowCruiser hull (a versatile boat on its own, which provides... View full product details Sailing RowCruiser Plans & Manual Package $299.00 $299.00 Sliding Seat/Rigger Hardware Kit with Carbon Fibre Seat Our drop-in rowing unit is designed to work with all our boats. It can also be used in many other vessel designs such as canoes... View full product details Stainless 316 Oarlock Sockets The market is full of brass and nickel-plated oarlocks and oarlock sockets, but for the corrosive maritime environment bronze and stainless steel are the only... View full product details Builders Resources Human Powered Achievements through the Northwest Passage by Julie Angus At Angus Rowboats, our passion for adventure naturally draws us to the mystique of the Northwest Passage – one of the world's most captivating and perilous waterways. Historically, this elusive passage promised a shorter shipping route, spurring early navigators to fervently chart and struggle through its icy intricacies. The summer of 2023 saw three audacious teams, including one using our very own RowCruiser boats, aiming to be the first to traverse NW Passage solely by human power within a single season. As the season concludes, we've chronicled these attempts, and catalogued past human-powered endeavors to navigate the Northwest Passage. Creating a Bookcase from a Boat by Colin Angus CNC - Cut Kits for Angus Rowboat's Customers Outside of North America Wheelbarrow Dinghy Comes to Life In 1987, a pilot by the name of Robert Plath invented a new kind of suitcase - the Rollaboard.  It had two wheels and a rigid stowaway handle.  While a pretty basic concept, it was revolutionary compared to what already existed (suitcases four wheels and leash that always fell over), and now almost every suitcase is designed in his style.   We feel that the Wheelbarrow Dinghy is to the world of boats that the Rollaboard is to suitcases... Featured Video Watch the video below to see how we taught our 1-year-old to sail. Support Forum Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more … © 2024 Angus Rowboats . 136 IMAGES Stitch And Glue Cruising Sailboat ~ Boat Ideas Plans Full size printed plans Scale 1:12 OCEAN RACER SAILBOAT 30 Free RC Sailboat Plan Downloads James: Race Sailboat Plans How to Building Plans Build a boat dock: Catalogue Dragon sailboat plan Free ship plans, R-boat, Pirate, racing, sailboat, yacht VIDEO 2010 National Offshore One Design J24 Sailing Video From The Weekender DVD Set Yellowtail From a Kayak Sailing, life goals Racing a 40 year old Catalina 22 Sailboat Adventure Phase 2: Tuning and sailing a trimaran model sailing boat COMMENTS Racing Sail Boats The VELOCE 880. The VELOCE 880 has been conceived specifically for the ORC Sport Boat fleet. This cutting edge design is intended to be a highly competitive, easy-to-handle, all-round performer for inshore and offshore use. The XS-Spider. Here at Van Gorkom Yacht Design we believe that "fast is fun". The XS-Spider definitely fits into this ... Free RC Sailboat Plan Downloads Everything from a 375mm boat right up to a 1500mm fast yacht. 7 designs absolutely free to download. Here is a selection of plans and resources. Everything from a 375mm boat right up to a 1500mm fast yacht. ... Racing Sparrow 1000 plans. A one metre version, scaled up lines. Bulkhead only plans. Look at the 750 for full schematics. RS 1000. Plans & Designs Multichine 37 S K - 11.16 m (36.6 ft) blue water cruising sailboat, lifting keel. Multichine 38 Spor t - 11.60 m (38.1 ft) performance cruising, blue water sailboat, lifting keel. Explorer 39 - 12.00 m (39.4 ft) blue water cruising sailboat, lifting keel. Aventura 40 - 12.27 m (40.3 ft) blue water cruising sailboat, classic style ... Idea 21 Idea 21 small sailboat plan is the latest development of my family of small plywood & epoxy sailboats plans for homebuilders: it was quite a time since I was thinking of an evolution of her smaller 19 footer sister, so I finally take the decision to publish this new plan. The goals of this plan is simple: add interior volume, simplify the work for homebuilders switching to a complete plywood ... Scroll Down for 100 Sailboat Plans & Kits BOAT PLANS & FULL SIZE PATTERNS - Package Includes latest sail boat plans, SAILBOAT building plan updates & revisions, PLUS direct contact with the designer. This design is for those that want a fast cruising sailboat and one that can accommodate the family or a racing crew and is a joy to sail as well as being easy to build in a variety of ... IDEA 850 Idea 850. Idea 850 is a fast paced cruiser-racer: wide beam , generous sailplan and light displacement make her a really fast boat; she can be built in wood & epoxy strip planking for an uncompromised quality and strength. This small rocket packs also huge interiors for 5-6 people, and every aspect of building is highly detailed in the drawings. Free Plans for the Puddle Duck Racer Sailboat Free Puddle Duck Plans In PDF Format. Gorfnik Micro Cruiser PDRacer by Andre-Francois Bourbeau #952. Polysail Camp Sailboat PDRacer by Dave Gray #100. Catbox PDRacer by Jim Michalak. Modular PDR by Ken Simpson. Free Plans for Other Boats. Please note: Some plans may have incorrect dimensions and other problems. Racing Powerboat Plans The first Dillon racing boats were created in 2006 to fill a gap in the boat plans market for small tunnel and v-bottom boats eligible for nationally sanctioned racing. The earliest designs were intended for two-cylinder power in the 25hp to 40hp range. Since then, the design collection has extended into the 40hp to 80hp range. Puddle Duck Racer The PDRacer is a developmental one design racing sailboat that is basically a plywood box with a curved bottom and is the easiest boat in the world to build. The rules are aimed at keeping the lower 10" of all hulls the same but the rest is up to the builder. A simple hull can be made from 3 sheets of plywood, titebond II glue and latex house ... J/24- World's Largest One-Design Sailboat Class Recognized as an international class by World Sailing, the J/24 has been selected for use in nearly every major international championship, including the PanAm Games, World Sailing Games, and Nations Cup. The J/24 is the world's most popular keelboat class, with over 5,500 boats built and over 50,000 people actively sailing in more than 150 ... IDEA 19 Fractional gennaker: 24 m2. (masthead optional: 40 m2) Air draft: 9,30 m. Plans price: € 580,00. Light displ: 1000 kg. Plans can be purchased here: Nautikit idea 19 order page. Our first and best selled plan suited for homebuilders. IDEA 19 originates in 2005 as a modification of Dudley Dix's TLC 19, a small GRP trailerable sailboat; at the ... About the Thistle The Thistle is a high-performance one-design racing sailboat that is g enerally sailed with a three-person crew. Thistles have a main, jib and symmetrical spinnaker sail plan. They're: Consistently fast due to the high sail area to weight ratio. Quick to plane thanks to the wide, flat stern. Built to slice through waves with the plumb bow. Petrel 33 Petrel 33 is the logical evolution of her smaller sister Petrel 28 , with the task to expand the horizons of cruising activity for a 4-6 person crew, raising the bar of onboard comfort, keeping the boat size under the critical (for a homebuilder) size of 34 foot - 10 meters of overall length. A "new classic" looking cruiser, sturdy, with ... Plans For Catamarans And Monohulls LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. Snail Mail: PO Box 900, Morayfield, Qld, 4510, Australia. Email: [email protected]. Mike Waller Yacht Design provides comprehensive boat plans for amateur boat builders. A range of stock plans are available for both monohulls and multihull vessels, constructed in plywood or timber / glass composite. Free Sailboat Plans affiliate links Cabin Cruiser, Free Sailboat Plans Petrel You can build this 16ft boat as a day sailer or an overnighter with cabin. Petrel is a Free Sailboat Plan that fulfils the greatest possible variety of uses in one model, offering the builder either an open-cockpit racing craft with comfortable accommodation for day sailing or a snug cabin model with accommodation for overnight trips to ... Affordable Sailboats You Can Build at Home Sailboats that you can build from home will likely be a small boat under 20 feet. These could be from many different boat suppliers such as B&B Yachts, Brooks Boat Designs, and Chase Small Craft. Boat plans will vary based on your budget and how much time you have on your hands. Based on my previous experience, building your own boat will take ... O'Connor Racing: Wooden Hydroplane Built for Speed The one on the right is a runabout that he built for a junior race driver. The boat on the left was built for a client in California who wanted higher sides than usual. Photo courtesy Bob O'Connor. Hydroplane racing goes back a long time. The Gold Cup race was conducted on the Hudson River in 1904 with the winner's boat topping out at an ... Free Boat Plans From "Science and Mechanics" Magazines Plans for Hydroplanes, Sailboats, Inboards, Runabouts, Canoes, Kayaks and many other boats. This is a FREE user supported site. An online library. To contribute just send an "E-mail". There are a few plans that have CAD drawings that users have provided. The few cad files that are available (".dwg" and ".dxf" files) can be viewed and printed ... Boat Plans, Boat Supplies & Marine Epoxy Phone Tel: (716) 634-9481. Clark Craft offers hundreds of boat plans, design patterns, and a full line of boat building supplies and accessories for the amateur boatbuilder. Plans & Kits Lisa B Good - Free Plans. Download free plans Essential statistics Length overall - 16' Beam at trailer bed - 7' 6" Beam at rubrails - 8' Weight - about 2500 lbs Draft - 5" Headroom - 6' 5" at center Power - 5-10 hp outboard Speed - 5 kts downhill Features "Lisa B... Clark Craft Clark Craft offers hundreds of boat plans, design patterns, and a full line of boat building supplies and accessories for the amateur boatbuilder. ... :1 mix marine boat epoxy, marine epoxy glue, boat fiberglass cloth, boat fiberglass tape, silicon bronze wood screws, boat flotation foam, wooden boat racing steering kits, wooden boat wire cable ... 15' Micro cruiser As a RAID class boat, she must draw 8" or less, be rowing-friendly and launched from the beach unassisted; in other words, as small as possible. The result is RoG(River of Grass), a 15ft micro ... Plans (download) $ 179.99 - $ 279.99 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page. Mon-Fri 8 ... Build it yourself Our eBook by New Zealander Bryn Heveldt covers strip planking, fibreglass strengthening, mould and casting techniques, electrics installation, spray painting and masking, sail making and tuning. To get started on your Racing Sparrow model RC yacht project, purchase our eBook and download the PDF now. Purchase PDF eBook $14.99. *USD. Performance Boats You Can Build from Plans or Kits Angus Rowboats is the premier producer of performance rowboat kits and plans designed for expeditions, racing, sailing, camping and teaching boating to children. Menu ... Our boats are expedition tested and have broken records including fastest time around Vancouver Island and first boat under 20' in Race to Alaska. Our unique, expertly crafted ... catamaran gulet motorboat powerboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht