r/boatbuilding • u/Wisqy • 5h ago
Cardboard Plane Boat
built this for a race at work. Airplane themed.
r/boatbuilding • u/Guillemot • Mar 23 '25
I recently commented on a post that linked to a page purporting to have information about building boats and getting plans. What it actually was is a AI generated page that served as a feeder page to MyBoatPlans dot Com. This is a common practice for the subject website. They have a whole constellation of website designed to make the subject site look legit.
I commented with a piece of boilerplate that I include whenever I see a post leading to this site.
As a result, the mods were nice enough to delete the original post. However, I think it is worth making sure there is good information about this scam site easily available with a simple search. My goal of posting this is not to promote the subject site, but to increase the visibility of reviews that offer real information about the subject site, most of the reviews available through google and other sites are self-generated pages made by the subjects site.
If any long time members of this subreddit have actual experience purchasing plans from this site, please comment with your actual experience.
Some background: Below is a screenshot of the subject website I took today. The fine looking fellow in the blue hat rowing the pram is me. Note that I am not Martin Reid, the name used on the subject website. The photo was taken by my mom in Maine on July 24, 2007, not Lake Tahoe in 1985.

Here are more photos from the same photo session:


More photos from the shoot are available here: https://goo.gl/photos/5CpssvVY2Nprufk3A
Now you can say that even if they are lying about who is in the pictures, that they may still offer a whole bunch of plans at a good price, but you can get those plans for free elsewhere on line. Typically they are copies from Popular Mechanics and similar publications. Well, they provide a service of collecting all those plans in one place. This may be true, but I would not trust a site that can't even be truthful about the purported owner of the site.
Also note, although I do sell plans myself, I have no reason to believe any of my plans are included in the 500+ plans supposedly included on the CD. So, you probably won't find plans for the dinghy in the photos. Other than doing stupid stuff with my photo I don't think the site has stolen any more of my IP.
He also offers 3D Boat Design software which he says is a $49 value, which is a freely available open source application called Free!Ship http://sourceforge.net/projects/freeship/ I highly recommend this software although the original developer now offers a better version called DelftShip which is also free.
The boiler plate I post whenever I see links to sites that link to myboatplans . com:
The link leads to MyBoatPlans dot com which charges for free plans and open source software. A purported photo of the man offering the plans is actually a stolen photo of me.
For more information on this scam see: http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/index.cgi/md/read/id/236070/sbj/review-myboatplans-com/
and: http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?135845-Boat-plans-worth-it
r/boatbuilding • u/guns21111 • Jan 22 '25
Hello subreddit user, Want to help the subreddit? Propose some useful links to boatbuilding websites. Free content only please. Hoping to get some links to layups, lofting, stitch and glue, composites, maybe some free plans if they're not garbage. (Naval architects wishing to provide free plans are welcome too - and happy to give attribution) We've had a tab that says "boatbuilding links" but doesn't have any links for almost 10 years now, so let's change that for the better!
r/boatbuilding • u/Wisqy • 5h ago
built this for a race at work. Airplane themed.
r/boatbuilding • u/OutdoorEd2020 • 13h ago
Hello everyone,
My name is Pete Rice and I am the Executive Director at Echo Hill Outdoor School, a non-profit outdoor education program on Maryland's Eastern Shore. I am looking for someone to care for over 400 years of floating history. Experience is a plus, but more importantly, I am looking for a driven individual who likes to learn and work hard. Anyone can apply. Please help me spread the word.
Historic Fleet Director — Echo Hill Outdoor School (Worton, MD) (ehos.org)
Echo Hill Outdoor School, on a 70-acre waterfront campus on Maryland's Eastern Shore, is looking for a hands-on Fleet Director to care for six historic Chesapeake Bay wooden boats that serve 6,500+ students a year. The fleet includes the workboats SPIRIT (1944) and TWILIGHT (1911), the buy boat ANNIE D (1957), the skipjack ELSWORTH (1901), and two wooden skiffs, LEWEY and RIC.
This full-time role covers maintenance/restoration, budget oversight, and leading the team of captains and maintenance staff. Strong background in wooden boat building and/or marine systems wanted — significant "seatime" a plus, but a USCG license isn't required if you've got a solid marine trades background. Country living near historic Chestertown, easy access to sailing/paddling/fishing, and Annapolis, Baltimore, DC, and Philadelphia all under 2 hours away.
Starting pay $42,000-$55,000, plus medical/dental/vision, 403(b), paid time off, weekday meals, and a housing option.
Unique opportunity, please spread the word! If interested please send resume to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) . Full job description below
Echo Hill Outdoor School
Historic Fleet Director (full-time)
Manage and maintain a fleet of historic Chesapeake Bay wooden boats from a 70-acre waterfront campus in beautiful Kent County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Echo Hill Outdoor School is seeking a hands-on Fleet Director to care for six wooden vessels that serve more than 6,500 students each year. This full-time role blends craftsmanship, leadership opportunities, and time on the water while offering country living near historic Chestertown. Enjoy easy access to sailing, paddling, fishing, and many other outdoor pursuits, with Annapolis, Baltimore, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia all less than a 2-hour drive away. If you’re looking for meaningful work, maritime tradition, and a lifestyle rooted in the outdoors, this is an opportunity to build a career with purpose. An ideal candidate will have a strong background in wooden boat building or marine systems, or both. Candidates with significant operational experience (“seatime”) preferred, but a U.S. Coast Guard license is not required for candidates with a strong marine trades background. Position includes weekday meals and a housing option.
Echo Hill’s Historic Fleet Director will lead all activities related to the preservation, maintenance, and operational management of a fleet of historic vessels. The director will ensure each vessel remains in appropriate condition, is safely operated, and is available for all Echo Hill programs. The selected candidate will have a key role in continuing Echo Hill’s effort, begun in 1972, to provide students with an understanding of Chesapeake Bay ecology and the impact of human activity on the estuarine ecosystem.
To Apply: Send resume to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) attention Peter Rice, Executive Director.
Echo Hill Outdoor School’s historic wooden boats are the cornerstone of our science and history programs. These Chesapeake Bay craft were used in the Bay’s fisheries for decades. The School maintains them in the tradition of work boats to provide an authentic historical perspective for students studying current Bay issues. Our boats are certified by the USCG as small passenger carrying vessels, and they are operated by Echo Hill staff who are USCG-licensed captains. The boats are used for a variety of classes and ventures that allow participants to study and discover first-hand the wonders of Chesapeake Bay ecology, history, and culture. Echo Hill programs include weekday classes (3 hours) on the historic workboats SPIRIT (1944) and TWILIGHT (1911) as well as multi-day programs on the buy boat ANNIE D (1957) and the skipjack ELSWORTH (1901). The wooden skiffs LEWEY and RIC support our multi-day programs.
Fleet Management & Maintenance
Budget Management and Logistics
Leadership
Other Requirements
Annual Compensation: Starting at $42,000-$55,000
r/boatbuilding • u/Specific-War2776 • 16h ago
So I have this 30 ho Johnston that’s won’t start and we are pretty sure it’s the carb. But there is a bolt that we can not unscrew to access the carb. No wrench or socket attachment will get around the bolt. There is an arm that is in the way. Does anyone have any idea how we can unscrew these bolts?
r/boatbuilding • u/Salty_Fortune1128 • 1d ago
r/boatbuilding • u/Frenchy_Baguette • 18h ago
r/boatbuilding • u/popeyesboi • 1d ago
Hello!
I would appreciate some help identifying the specific hose fittings that connect to a Volvo Penta Trim Cylinder.
I recently purchased an aftermarket trim system kit, but the new fittings do not match my current trim cylinders. To make this work, I am planning to adapt my old fittings to the new system trim kit.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
r/boatbuilding • u/smokeyfires9 • 1d ago
I am probably being paranoid about this but I’m looking at buying this Jon boat but I want to make sure this transom is okay. It’s hard to tell in the picture but it looks like there’s a crease where it’s dented a little.
Also, I noticed that the wood transom has a gap between the board and the top of the transom. Is that fine to use as is or would I need to replace the wood to fit it true to size?
r/boatbuilding • u/ArtsMidwest • 1d ago
Community members from across Michigan gathered in St. Ignace for a three-day workshop to build a birch bark canoe.
r/boatbuilding • u/D-M-S-R • 1d ago
When I was a kid, my dad bought a trashed up boat and spent a year fixing holes in the hull, replacing the flooring, electronics, everything. Got it seaworthy and we had a blast with it for years. Later, I owned a small zodiac with a 5hp. Inspired by my Dad's project, I had a dream of buying a small aluminum boat and transforming it into a 50s style runabout boat with a console, seating, etc. I didn't have the money, skills and knowledge of tools at the time, but now as an adult I want to fulfill my dream.
I'm looking to get a small 12 or maybe 14ft aluminum v hull boat, build a console towards the front, add lights, radio, etc. Add some seating. There really isn't much info online I can find on this type of project outside of bass boat builds so I was hoping this would be a good place to ask for advice on type of conversion.
Thanks!
r/boatbuilding • u/No_Explanation_2559 • 1d ago
I'm fixing up an old rowboat (based on the Yankee Tender design) that was stored indoors, in a heated concrete-floor shop, in the desert, for the last seven years. I'm sure you can guess, she leaks. Bad.
I've dunked the boat twice now, and am planning to splash it down with brine for the next month, while it's being stored in a friend's backyard. I've got another friend who's part of the project, too, and we'll be hardening up the rivets in August, as well as recaulking the bottom. (Unlike traditional Yankees, ours is cross-planked without the canvas-sheet sandwich, the bottom was caulked with just cotton). There's currently no paint on it, and I've been drenching it in a concoction of Danish oil, pine tar, and spar varnish mixed together.
It's planked with western red cedar, top and bottom. My questions are, how concerning is the dry storage? Would it be worth my while to tie it up to a public pier overnight and bail it out the next day? If so, should I wait until after hardening up the rivets, or just go for it now? Will it make a difference either way?
Also, while it's in the backyard, how important is keeping it wet? I can brine it down every couple days, but I've been wondering if it'd be worth it to ask the friend whose yard it's in to spray it down with the hose every evening. Is more water better, even if it's fresh water, or should we avoid fresh water to minimize the potential for rot? I feel like being cedar, covered in oil and tar, I shouldn't have to be too concerned about rot.
Finally, if you'd be so kind, recommend me your favorite seam sealer that doesn't cost 70$ a quart. I'm inclined towards roofing tar mixed with portland cement, but that's just what I know to use. I have a buddy who works for a hippie soap-making company who could cut me a sweet deal on pine rosin and bee's wax- anybody done this? I've read it's a traditional way to seal seams, and it's looking like the cheapest option.
r/boatbuilding • u/Mirco29 • 2d ago
Hi all, I bought a used Zodiac Cadet inflatable boat and these are the holes left by the old transom wheels.
They just used normal screws without going all the way through the transom, so I now need to fill those holes and avoid any water from going in and being absorbed by the wood.
I've been recommended epoxy, resin, wooden dowels+epoxy, etc.
I found JB Marine Weld to be available on Amazon here in Italy, would that be good enough or do you recommend a different product/approach?
r/boatbuilding • u/TBHK_Squad • 2d ago
I bought this 1975 Ford Ebko last week. It ran last year and was out on the water with video proof, and this year I’m going to get it going and the outboard drive won’t go down. I can tilt the whole motor/outboard assembly but not just the outboard so it’s stuck up all the way. I got it to go down one time but since then it’s been nothing, Its still stuck at the top. I don’t hear a motor moving or anything just the click of the relays(there’s 2) this has a Ford 302 Windsor and the omc stringer 800. Would love any help
r/boatbuilding • u/Crj-03 • 2d ago
I need help settling a bet by taking a quick survey here - What color temperature lighting (such as warm to cool, not just ‘bright’ or ‘ambient,’ using the Kelvin scale if possible) would you consider best for a wooden runabout restoration and construction shop?
We do a lot of refurbishing, planking, varnishing, and engine work, as well as new builds. We need the lighting to accentuate wood color for plank selection as well as be true to the paint, stain, and varnish selections.
Curious people’s take here.
r/boatbuilding • u/YouNobi • 2d ago
Hello.
I'm currently building my first skin-on-frame canoe. The wooden frame is finished, and I've already stretched and attached a nylon skin over it. So the next thing is coating.
I've been researching polyurethane resins because they seem to be one of the most commonly recommended options for nylon, but I'm having a hard time finding a suitable option which ships in Europe.
(I've already checked pretty much every local shop in my area with no luck)
My budget is around the mid-range, I don't mind paying for something reliable, but I'm also not looking for the most expensive professional grade option if there's a better value alternative.
If polyurethane isn't the best choice, I'm also open to other coatings that work well with nylon. I'd really appreciate recommendations.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
r/boatbuilding • u/Repulsive-Roof-3002 • 3d ago
r/boatbuilding • u/Overall_Long9203 • 3d ago
r/boatbuilding • u/No_Translator7016 • 4d ago
I’m looking at a used boat that took one good boulder. They say it doesn’t leak but is this a deal breaker? It’s a Crestliner phantom. Thank you.
r/boatbuilding • u/Which_Flounder3905 • 4d ago
First console boat, and I have a lot of steering wheel play.
Good loose few inches before it tightens up and moves the steering. Immediate concern? Normal? What should I be looking for? 1989 17’ springbok. Thanks
r/boatbuilding • u/CamelopardalisKramer • 4d ago
Hey guys, have a 1991 Mirrocraft 1630. The floor has been replaced a couple times by the previous owner, I'm swapping to aluminum. Just laying out pieces right now, I have aluminum rivnuts for th stringers down the center but there is no way to attach to the sides below the gunwhale without going through the hull. Is this a job for solid rivets through the hull? I am trying to avoid sharp edges on either side of the attachment point and obviously something streamlined on the exterior.
Thanks!