Building Wood 16' Jon Boat

[electric603]

If you are not doing any tight bends the exterior ply will work. If you have to put a lot of stress on it a marine grade would be best because there is no interior voids. Exterior grade ply has voids in the interior plys which could cause a break when bending. But I imagine a john boat probably does not have any bends tat exterior ply can't handle.

 

[electric603]

By the way I am a big fan of home made wooden boats, looking forward to watching your build. I have plans for a 15'
glen-l skiff and Renn Tolman's book with plans to build one of his skiffs. I just have not been able to get started yet.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Thanks Guys for all the info. This is all good info and helping me remember a lot of info that I knew a couple years ago. I will update with pictures later this week.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Ok guys! The project is officially underway! I bought all the plywood needed and I cut out the side panels.

First Cut of the project!


The angled side panel laid out.


The angled side panel cut


The rest of them


A couple things the plans do not clarify are what thickness plywood to use for what? I figued the sides had to be 1/4" to be able to bend into shape. The rest I am not sure. I am going to have to do some studying online .

I am excited to be moving on this project. It is going to be fun.

 

[Isaacm1986]

The most important thing for plywood for a hull is exterior glue. Second is no voids in the layers, And distant third is a high number of layers. When I built the dory I went with Baltic birch. It had either 11 or 13 layers for 3/4" and no voids. A good ACX would work too. I used the Menards ACX for the transom in my current restore and that would be good for a hull. Personally I would like a few more layers, but for what you are building it would be fine.

Are you talking Layers of glass to equal 3/4"? No where in my plans does it call for more than 1/2" plywood.

 

[Woodonglass]

No, He's talking about layers of wood to make the plywood. But what you have will be fine. Is that 1/4"???

 

[Isaacm1986]

No, He's talking about layers of wood to make the plywood. But what you have will be fine. Is that 1/4"???

Yes that is 1/4" ACX plywood. The plans don't mention anything about layering at all. I am on Bateau website now reading up on the boat. Any advice is gladly welcome!

 

[Isaacm1986]

Here are the side laid out. All the wood is cut exactly as the plans say, But I am confused why the back part of the boat has shorter sides than the front?

 

[saginawbayboater]

Here are the side laid out. All the wood is cut exactly as the plans say, But I am confused why the back part of the boat has shorter sides than the front?

That is weird. i'd read the plans front to back, and back to front,and back again a few times. maybe something will pop out about it!

 

[sheboyganjohn]

Are you talking Layers of glass to equal 3/4"? No where in my plans does it call for more than 1/2" plywood.

Just like Woodglass said, it the number of layers that make up the plywood. Since they run the grain cross ways with each layer it is generally better to have more layers. It also means if there is a void in a layer, it is much smaller then if the layer was thick.

My guess is that the 1/4" would be for the sides of the boat and the 1/2" for possibly the bottom and most likely the transom. There is a guy on Youtube that has a channel callled red barn boats that makes a lot of stich and glue boats that he designs himself. Very good to watch and learn the methods. He is also the master in conserving resin.

 

[jbcurt00]

the stern of many boats is 'shorter' then the bow, look at my 'new' to me Sylvan Sea Breeze:

For the purposes of your skiff, it's taller because of bow rise:

Unless I'm missing something, I don't understand why the stern end of your side panels has a step down at the top edge:

 

[saginawbayboater]

Maybe this is ruff gunwale to be finish cut later in the process?:noidea:

 

[Isaacm1986]

Well I figured out the cut. I was miss reading the plans, So i recut those sides and now they fit. We have all the pieces cut out and labeled, not to begin assembly.

My buddy decided we should build tyfighters instead...




Transom


Seat frames


FG splice for the sides.




Now we are waiting for the fiberglass to dry. Then we can begin to put it together.

 

[electric603]

Nice Progress. Looking good.

 

[sphelps]

" May the Force be with you " ! :lol:

 

[Isaacm1986]

Got it all framed up. Done for the night. Will continue on it over the week.

 

[GT1000000]

Great looking progress!

 

[Isaacm1986]

Weekend Update. Yesterday we got the seat tops installed and all the seams fiber glassed. Today we went off plan a little and made stringers for the boat and got it flipped over. It is ready for the bottom to be cut and installed. I decided to add the stringers and "overbuild" the bottom. The plans even warn not to put too much weight up front. This will be my duck hunting boat, so It needs to be able to carry my dog, decos, and gear. So we added the stringers to give the floor strength.

Seat Tops:









Stringers and bottom






​

 

[Isaacm1986]

Once everything is together than we will begin the fiberglass part.

 

[sphelps]

Really starting to look like a boat now ! I guess the rocking chair is for contemplating your next step .. Everyone needs one of those .. :lol: