Boat Building
I Wanted To Build a Boat
What Is This All About?
This part of my site is devoted to all those interested in following the progress of my building a variety of boats designed by Jacques Mertens and associates at Bateau.com - in my garage in Brisbane, Australia.
I have already completed and successfully launched 2 boats - an OD18 and a SC16.
My Skillset
I was a first time builder of ANYTHING, let alone a boat, so these should be exciting projects to undertake. I had only used a screwdriver and electric drill before the OD18 and it was a great experience to learn how to use power tools (just what is a jigsaw anyway; and the circular saw - now there is a tool with ATTITUDE) and the skills associated with building a boat, not that you need any; a stitch and glue boat is a progression, skills are readily picked up.
As the saying goes - if I can do it, anyone can - Really!
Everything you need to know about a stitch and glue vessel is supplied by Bateau. Support is offered not only by the designer but it seems everyone who has ever built one of their vessels.
I have a one stop shop for all my material needs being Boatcraft Pacific, friendly, helpful and better still they are the manufacturers of the epoxy system, I have even met the chemist!
For those of you in Brisbane, you can't go past Boating&RV (Fish Sail Explore), Muir Marine and Whitworths Nautical World for all the chandlery you will ever need; or in my terminology - boat bits.
Please have a good look around the site, it has a lot of detailed information for you if you are thinking of building a stitch and glue boat, with a stack of photos.
Outboard Dory 18
OD18 Fast Planing Boat
The OD18 is the big brother of the OD16. The OD16 was first designed as an 18' hull then shrunk in length to 16' at the request of the first builder. The OD18 hull is longer but has the same beam and freeboard. The only difference is the slanted chine: while we prefer the stepped chine of the OD16, this slanted chine was requested by potential builders. It is easier to build. We added a spray rail.
The displacement at DWL is 1,630 lb.. The PPI is 322 lb.
A US Coast Guard capacity tag would show max. capacity 6 persons or 850 lb., 1050 lb. persons motor and gear. Max. 30 HP with tiller steering, 70 HP with remote steering. It would be very easy and legal to calculate a tag for 8 persons but the boat would be crowded.
This boats transom is designed for a standard 20" shaft. The transom can easily be modified to accept other shaft lengths.
The Swift Canoe 16
SC16 An outboard powered square stern canoe
The Swift is an outboard powered square stern canoe. The fine hull will travel fast with little HP. In displacement mode, the Swift will go much faster than a wider boat. She moves with less fuss and creates only a small wake.
Rigged with a 6 HP outboard, the Swift will plane with 2 people (350 lbs) on board. Heavier loads will require more HP. We know that most owners of square stern canoes use larger engines but 6 HP is the limit calculated with the USCG formula.
Compared to other square stern canoes, the Swift has the advantage of a wider stern. This makes starting the engine much easier. The Swift hull also also more lift than a regular canoe with a cutoff stern.
Being light and long, like all square stern canoes, she is sensitive to longitudinal weight distribution. Handled by one person, the weights must be kept in the center. This means that the single hander must sit in the middle of the boat and use a tiller extension to steer. A tiller extension is a simple PVC pipe.
This boats transom is designed for a standard 15" shaft. The transom can easily be modified to accept other shaft lengths.
