Trying to build a duck/fishing boat

[eagle19]

So I've been using a borrowed boat and an outboard motor that I built. But the borrowed boat has to be given back soon. I want to build a fiberglass duck/fishing boat, about 14ft long by 3ish-4ft wide. I use them in a wooded river so this thing has to be able to take some hits every now and then at about 5mph. What would be the best way to go about building this thing?

Should I get some sea glass sheets and create two caps and and fill it with foam in between them?

Or should I get some wire mesh and shape the boat and use some mat on one side of the mess then put some sea glass sheets on each?

Any recommendations on what ounce to use?

And how much do you think a project like this might cost me?

Heres what I basically want to build:

 

[nimblemotors]

sea glass sheets?

your pic did not work, typo. Is that you in the pic?

 

[eagle19]

I saw see glass fiberglass sheets on the web. I guess it's fiberglass sheets for boats!

 

[eagle19]

And yeah that's the pic I was talking about! Haha

 

[PAR]

It seems like you're trying to make more work for yourself - foam sandwich, wire mesh, etc. Use a simple "one off" single skin technique and just use an extra heavy laminate schedule to toughen up the boat against wayward mermaids, logs and the like. Of course more laminate means more materials and weight, but you could add some Xynole, Dynel or even Kevlar, if you want some real bottom bullet proofing.

 

[thudpucker]

A single sheet of 1/4" plywood, some Hardwood pieces for Chine-log and braces. Seal it with Log Oil and go enjoy.
That should take a week or less, and maybe $70. It'll last long enough for your son's to use.

 

[eagle19]

Well I don't know enough about how to brace a boat out of wood I guess I need to look more into that. However, I wanted this boat to be light and sturdy. I have a feeling with wood it will get pretty heavy and won't be something I can strap upside down on the back of my long bed truck.

 

[nimblemotors]

Sounds to me like you need to get some plans!
Or check the classified ads, gotta be lots of those boats around.
Nice longtail mudmotor you made!

 

[eagle19]

Sadly there aren't! They are two grand a piece outta Florida. I've tried just finding Jon Boats on craigslist. But you can't find anything 14ft with a title under $600. I've known too many people have to bail on a 12 footer to even want one under 14. I'm down to learn anything I have to and have a bunch of tools. I also work for a construction company so I can get some free wood for bracing!

 

[nimblemotors]

Did you google fiberglass jon boat plans ?
First link has plans for 16ft for $50...
https://www.google.com/search?q=fiberglass+jon+boat+plans&oq=fiberglass+jon+boat+plans&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

 

[thudpucker]

Lewis Boats (On this forum) has plans for a small Jon.

 

[PAR]

Agreed, a number of assumptions being made, unjustifiably. Generally, a rough and ready 'glass boat will be heavier then a wooden one, if built in the typical fashion (single skin). A cored build will have a chance at rivaling a good wooden build, but you'll have twice as much 'glass work to do, unless you dip into exotic fabrics (read bring your first born too).

In either case, you're going to need plans. If it's a 'glass build, you'll need to know what type of 'glass to use, where it needs to be and how much of it in these specific areas. Ditto a wooden build, how thick of what and where it needs to be, etc.

Plans for these sort of little boats abound, many quite cheap. Bateau. com, Glen-L.com and unclejohns.com are the usual places to start looking.

 

[eagle19]

Uncle Jon's boats look like something I like and don't look too sophisticated but some of the pictures show that the seats look like they support the frame. I really want one with a bench in the middle and that's it. Any of y'all seen any jon boat plans with a modified v?

I'm at work and on my phone so I'll definitely do some more research tonight!

 

[PAR]

Again, look around, there are hundreds of choices. A jon boat is a flat bottom. A garvey is V bottom, so are other designs. If you want a jon, it'll be flat, if you want something else . . .