Australian Boatbuilding Materials

Hi.
Having just read Swallows & Amazons for the 2nd time (1st time was 40 years ago!), and because I now live on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, I've decided it's time to try sailing as a hobby.
I quick look around the web shows that building your own boat first might be even more fun.
So i'm thinking to build a (budget) plywood sailing boat (David Beede's Summer Breeze maybe) to learn to sailing in, and to learn the techniques of building a boat.

Most of the web sites, blogs, ect., seem to be U.S. based and mention the materials they can get [usually from Home Store?].
My question is "What do people here in Australia/Queensland use?"
- Glues
- Epoxies
- Fibreglass sheet/tape
- Polytarp?
- Cheap mast options
- Paint
- Wood (ply & hardwood)
and "Where do you shop? - Specialist Store v. Bunnings"

 

Duck tape and eucalyptus resin are primary sealants, which can be mixed with talcum powder and kangaroo spit to make a reasonably fine adhesive.

Couln't resist Max

 

Here's a better idea:

Look into a boat that has a class association and active fleets in Australia. If you do a good job, you will be able to sell it if it has a valid measurement certificate and you will get all the tricks while building.

Australian plywood dinghies that are in australia that might suit you:

Mirror (I wouldn't suggest this though that's personal preference - slow boat)
125 - good 2 person boat, used to race these - Active association in qld.
sabre - single hander, have seen a few very good (read better than your best furniture) examples more common in vic though are sailed from cleveland.

the sabre is probably the simplest, though it is only a single hander


good luck.

 

Australian Boat Building materials

Come now PAR...don't lead the poor boy astray. You assured me that Wombat sh*t applied by a C# didjeridoo was the best sealant and Koala spit (because of it's high eucalypt content) made the best adhesive.

Just imagine what will happen if he takes you seriously....

 

Australian Boat Building materials

On a serious note PsiPhi - if you are really starting from basics (and congratulations and welcome) Arthur Ransome books are a pretty good guide to the joys of sailing. 'Coot Club' will give better details - and illustrations - on sail settings and rigs. (I was weaned on Ransome and still have the complete library (volumes 50 years old) - now handed on to my youngsters).

Raw suggests the Mirror Dinghy as being 'slow'. True - but face it, no novice rider begins on a race-horse. The Mirror is stable, comfortable and very forgiving. It's also simple to build, ply (stitch and glue) and plans are widely available. It's also 'car-topable'.
And like my learned colleagues - Good luck. (PAR by the way, designs and builds beautiful yachts, future classics - when you get more experienced - have a look at his portfolio...And I hasten to add - he's not paying me to say this...)

 

Yeah, thanks guys.
Did I say, I've never even been in a sailing boat before?, never ever sailed one?, and only first considered building one a couole of weeks ago?

RAW, those dingy classes look good, just a little above my abilities at the moment, think I'll stick with PAR's eucalyptus resin and talcum powder (worked fine on my lounge chair!) until I get the hang of it.

Now, where can I buy Koala Pooh varnish . . .

 

But seriously, at the moment what I need to do is prove to myself (and my wife) that . . .
a) I can actually build a boat.
b) I'm not too old to learn to sail.

All the boat building blogs I ready talk about 'PL' adhesive. Is that available in Australia? Is there a local alternative? What should I avoid?

 

Of the boats I mentioned,

All are stitch and glue plywood. similar construction techniques.

The simplest to build would be the sabre.

All are easy to sail, but hard to sail well. All forgiving. the sabre the easiest due to one sail, and one person. The others have jibs and spinnakers.

The worst boat amongst them is the mirror:

 

Australian Boat Building materials

Pah...tell that to half a century of Mirror enthusiasts...Anyway, what does a junior member know....

Perhaps you were facing the wrong way when you tried to sail it...

 

I know enough to be dangeous.........listen twice, speak once....

All those classes are decades old........whats your point.....

My old 125 would be around 35 years old now, and there were some 1500 boats before it.....

 

Australian Boat Building materials

Fifteen hundred, Raw. Wow, certainly makes the 70,000 Mirrors look silly. And I seem to remember a Mirror was successfully sailed from Liverpool (England) to the Baltic...

Your serve, I believe.....

 

I say that if 140,000 englishmen want to sail a heavy, pram bow, plywood shoebox with a spinnaker the size of a tea towel and red sails, then let them. I'm an australian, and though I am well past the 125 in terms of performance sailing, I like to sail something that feels like it does what it was meant to.

Besides, I know of a sabre fleet and a 125 fleet in SE Qld, but haven't seen a mirror for well over a decade........

 

The 125 was a fine boat I tought my kids to sail in one decades ago and I am very fond of the design. Mirrors are good for newbies but in light air they sit there like a flock of bored gulls.

 

Australian Boat Building materials

Errrr. Not just Englishmen, Raw. Although most popular in the UK the Mirror also has a strong presence in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, most of Europe, and many Asian countries.

The International Class Association of Tasmania was able to record 2,000 Mirrors in Australia in 1970. Just think - even before your 125 was built its class was already outnumbered by this English invader. If you haven't seen one for over a decade - perhaps you haven't been looking.

But that apart, PsiPhi is looking for a simple, inexpensive dinghy to begin with. He suggests he has neither experience in building or sailing. That's why I suggest the gentle - OK sluggish in light winds - Mirror. Though at the end of the day, it's up to him to decide.

 

Okay, kidding aside even if Koala hair brushes rank as some of the best, small, easy to build dinghies plans abound. Literally thousands of them, from old classics, through 'round the buoys war horses to new, state of the art, precut kits.

The selection of a design is an overwhelming process, for many. What do I need, how do I know what I need, can I build this, is this to ambitious a project for a rank amateur, etc. are questions that run through the heads of each making such a contemplation.

You'll do best with a forgiving hull shape that can offer a beginner a stable, safe ride, but also has the ability to challenge the intermediate sailor, who's developed some skills, a good thrill. Other wise you'll get bored with it in a few years.

So ask yourself, what kind of styling do you want, classic or modern. What will you do with it, sail on Saturday afternoons, maybe some over night camping on the water, beat up on the local 'round the buoys crowd, just look good, gliding along in an expression of your craftsmanship, etc. What type of construction do you want to try, are you a handy person, have you a reasonably selection of tools, can you employ these tools without loosing too many fingers in the process, etc. What about where you'll build, will your other half get in on the fun (very important if you expect to keep them around) . . .

Then start looking at designs that sort of meet these ideas and desires. You should find a ride on a boat (as many as you can) so you can get a feel for it (it's easy). Local sailing clubs are always looking for "rail meat" (extra crew) to fill out their rosters. Stop down and see what you can get into. You'll learn a lot from these folks.

If you'd like, I have several of these little day boats that may fit your bill of needs. Drop me an email (click on my name) if interested. There are also many places on line you can find low cost and free plans, for all sorts of boats. Be warned, you often get what you pay for in a free or low cost set of plans.