Plywood Boat Build FAQ

In this post, I will attempt to answer some of the Frequently Asked Questions about my homemade plywood boat (view the video here or read about it here). For the purposes of this post, the term "frequently" is defined as any number greater than or equal to zero.

1. Why didn't you add a keel?

Initially I decided not to add a keel as I had no plans to do any keel hauling. Later, I discovered that a keel could be used for other purposes, like making the boat go through the water more efficiently, i.e. with less swaying back and forth as I paddle. I did add a skeg, which helped some, but upon reflection I do believe a keel would help more. I may add one in the future, or I may just build another boat and use a keel on that one.

2. Did you add a skeg?

Yes, I did. You can see a short video about it here:

3. How much does it weigh?

According to my bathroom scales, it weighs about 58 pounds. To clarify, I took the scales to the boat rather than taking the boat to the bathroom. I think it was the best choice.

4. How much did it cost to build?

I spent about $125, although I had some materials on hand. If you had to purchase everything, the materials would probably cost around $200. There is a detailed cost breakdown here.

5. What is the maximum weight capacity?

I really don't know, although I'll note that the New England Patriots made no attempt to recruit me for a linebacker position. So far I've only gone out for short trips, carrying a camera, snacks, water, extra paddle, etc. I estimate that me and my limited gear weigh less than 170 pounds and it performs fine. I would also feel comfortable taking my 30 pound dog, or some fishing gear.

6. Am I an elf?

Someone actually posted this question on my YouTube channel. Elves exist in the realm of mythology and folklore. I, on the other hand, exist in the real world. Sooo....

7. What kind of boat is it?

Actually, the only one who asked this question is me. I tend to call it a kayak, although it is open like a canoe. Someone told me that since it has a flat bottom, it's a skiff. The term "pirogue" is also used to describe boats like this. You can call it whatever you want as far as I'm concerned. I named it Swamp Thing Jr.

8. How stable is it?

It feels fairly stable as long as you keep your center of gravity low. It handles small boat wakes with ease, but basically I stay on flat water.

9. Could you add a sail?

A very intriguing idea, but I wouldn't know how to go about this. I suspect the boat would have to be a bit larger, and of course it would need a dagger board and some way to support a mast.

10. What are the measurements?

There is a basic diagram posted here.

11. How would you make a longer boat?

I would get a set of plans from a professional boat designer and follow them. One method to join two pieces of plywood together end to end is to use a scarf joint. That gives you a 16 foot sheet to work with. You can find some more information here.

12. Why didn't you use a 10 foot length of PVC pipe as a guide to draw the curved lines for the bottom piece?

Because that would have made things easy, and I was trying to do it the hard way to build character.

13. Why don't you adjust the seat to sit further forward?

I think the idea is that maybe the rear part of the boat sits too deeply in the water, creating excess drag. I did move it forward a couple of inches. However, I've experimented a bit with sitting even further forward and it seems to make the boat a little less stable. Everything is a compromise.

If you have other questions, please post a comment on the video, or shoot me an e-mail.