Brand new to boat building

I have used both marine grade plywood and 1/4" AC grade plywood. I have also used CDX for "quick and dirty" builds to test out a hull idea, but I would not recommend it for something you want to keep and enjoy (too many voids and defects). The AC grade will serve you well, just watch out for any voids (there is not supposed to be any but there often are, if you have to, fill the edges with Tightbond III or epoxy glue). Also, you can find decent quality sawn lumber and than rip it down yourself on a table saw or with a circular saw you screw to a sheet of plywood as a home made table saw (I have done it, I have bought good circurlar saws for less that $20 second hand, but use a high quality blade).

I do not know of any place to find skin-on-frame prams or sailing boats. I always make my own designs using the general dimensions and shapes of well known sailing boats and popular boats using other construction methods. For a 10 to 12 ft dingy, using gunwales of 1x2 size, and stringers of 3/4" square spaced six inches apart, will make a durable hull. I use .25 x 1" steam bent ribs at about 8" spacing with a built-up wood and plywood bulkhead or frame at about 24" spacing. It will be plenty strong for inland water sailing. I have used stainless or bronze screws, and lashed connections (as well as Tightbond III water proof glue), the lashed joints are actually stronger but not "traditional" for hard shell construction.

there was a book called "skin on frame boats" by Robert Morris, but it is out of print and usually costly to buy now. But it has line drawings of a number of kayaks, canoes, dingys and row boats with skin-on-frame hulls, and detailed instructions on building them. I did not find it that useful of a book however since it assumes you generally know boat building, and I think it was intended to go with his class on skin-on-frame construction. You might find it at a library or used book store for a reasonable price.



here is a good picture of how I built the frame of a my 14' dingy. It is a bit on the light side, but for lakes and inland waters it has held up well.



do a google search for skin on frame images and you will get an idea of how it is done. Experiment, have fun, and do not get too hung up on building the "perfect" boat. You will find you never can, and by taking that stress off you will enjoy the process more. Expect to make mistakes, but do not worry about it. There is not too much money tied up in this kind of construction so you can always rip the skin off and change it around later without too much time or cost involved. I have one kayak I have rebuilt 4 times to change the shape and alter some details (trying to keep my wife happy, she now love it-well worth the effort). Just get started.

 

Thanks, I appreciate the pictures and information. Yesterday I ran across the pdracer and then then oz racer. I think I want to build one of those now and I am pretty set on it(finally). It seems cheap to make in all aspect and pretty fun for a basic boat. After messing with the design on a boat like this I will graduate to other plans and SOF construction.

Cheers, Petros!