Gator Boat Trailer

I plan to make a wood boat in wood shop. the problem is i need the boat to be movable without a trailer, something that will fit in a truck bed about 6 feet long a typical chevy 1500. i plan to do a gator boat from the website gatorboats but its a one person boat canoe style and its about 11 feet long. theres a bigger version called the croc that is a 2 person boat the same as the gator just longer about 11 feet 9 inches longer. well what i would like is advise for building these boats shuldn't be too hard for me the only thing that worys me is TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, and most importantly COST.
mainly on the fabrication proccess on how much fiberglass cloth cost and also the epoxy to put it on. How long will these boats last me?
remember the key points is i only have a truck to transport it with and also the cost to build one. the website estimates around $100
also other boat plans that fits 2 people or 1 that is cheap and small. If i can get a 2 seater it be nice to take my dad out or brother

I admit, I don't know a "croc" boat from an alligator. . . But I do know a thing or two about building boats. I've done that for more then 40 years.

I don't know how old, or when the website you are referring to, was updated last. But with today's prices for fiberglass & epoxy (the two main ingredients you will need other then wood) it would be impossible for you to build a boat large enough for even a kid to float in, for only $100. So, forget the $100 part - you can simply put that in the round file (trash can).

However... you can build a really nice boat you (and your Dad) can be proud of, for about $800. (Maybe more, maybe less, it depends on how well you shop around, and how much "stuff" you need that you already have.

I am including two links for you. One is to my favorite site for boat building plans. This site has all kinds of boats that you can build, and many of them are down right inexpensive; but they are all quality. You (even if you don't buy a single thing from them, will learn an awful lot about what building a boat of any size will amount to. If you browse through their website, you will learn everything it takes to build a boat.

The second site is one of my favorite sources (suppliers) for both epoxy & fiberglass. I don't think you will find these products cheaper anywhere else. Regardless of the boat you decide to build, to make it last your lifetime, and your kids lifetime, you will need to laminate it with "boat epoxy" and (while optional) fiberglass your boat's exterior hull. This site has "7 and 1/2 oz E glass" which is the easiest one layer boat fiberglass cloth you can apply. (and it is really easy to do, so don't let the "fiberglass" part scare you away. You can buy this in two widths, for under $6.00 a yard, so you will probably only need 4 yards or $24 worth.

Epoxy however is a bit more expensive. You will need about two gallons (about $130.00) One "thin epoxy" with a medium hardener for laminating your boat inside and out - this is simply "painting" (with a brush and/ or roller) ALL your lumber - after it is cut - that is used in building your boat. This protects your wood against rot, worms, etc. You will then need it again, after you have completed your boat, to "wet out" and apply your fiberglass cloth. The "thick epoxy" is for all your "gluing" and joints - but you will get all those instructions with your boat building plans. So, don't worry about that now.

So... there you have it. You have $154 in epoxy & fiberglass, and you haven't even bought your wood or your paint yet... If you find a boat you like at the site below, you can look up it's BOM (bill of materials) and it will tell you EXACTLY what lumber, amount of epoxy, fiberglass, etc. you will need. So, you can use that, you go price out your lumber. Other then that, if you have access to a power saw, and a good drill/screw gun, then all you will need is some throw away paint brushes & rollers.

Building your own boat can be fun, and it is certainly a great learning experience. It is also much-much easier to do then most everyone thinks. So, check out the links, and good luck.

2010-12-07 17:05:10 by Lovin the OUTDOORS

Synopsis: Having created the character of Gator McKlusky in 1973's White Lightning, Burt Reynolds reprises the role in the appropriately ...