Building a Fishing Boat - Fly Fisher

The important thing about building a boat such as a 16' Fly fisher is that you need to have the whole project planned out step by step. Otherwise building these fly fishing boats can become a very difficult task. Below is a summarized process for building a 16' Fly Fisher that should be easily understood by even amateur boat builders.

Step by step list of how to build a fishing boat

1. Firstly you need to build a ladder frame, this is used as the workbench and support for the structure of the fishing boat. The size of this ladder frame should reflect the size of the hull that will be built. Also you need to make sure that the workbench can support the weight of the finished vessel. This step is usually overlooked particularly by amateur boat builders and can result in major setbacks to the project.

2. The name of this type of boat is known as lapstarke or clinker. The outline here is to fix the hull to wooden planks and fix iron plates so that they overlap at the edges. The joint that is overlapped is at the edge and the whole length is known as a strake. This method was mostly used by Vikings and currently generally used by amateur builders due to its simplicity. However it is a relatively inefficient and slow process, which means that more experienced boat builders tend not to use this particular setup. Furthermore the bonding of the parts of the vessel is known as glued plywood strake. Essentially all the plywood parts are glued together into a very solid structure that is known to be very sturdy and reliable.

3. The order in which the different plywood parts are glued together is important and will be outlined in a boat plan that you should be consulting regularly unless you know it of by heart. Each plywood plank will have a lapping surface area of about 75%. Getting the overlap area consistently correct is important as it will reduce the risk of leaks. The glue used also acts as an impermeable membrane for the water.

4. Once the planking is complete all the different components (such as the hull, bow and stern) will be very pleasing to the eye. Essentially not just a bunch of wooden lengths glued together, but a good looking boat that is nearly ready to be taken onto the water for a test drive.

5. Now sternposts and skegs need to be installed, this is a very straightforward procedure that can be carried out by simply following your boat plans and is usually a generic process for small wooden boats of this type.

6. Finally an epoxy coating is required for reduced degradation of the boat, which includes dirt accumulation and scratches.

7. Optional additions can now be made such as a motor or paint job of your choice. However make sure that the installed motor is as quiet as can be for the reason of not scaring the fish away. Remember fishing boats should not be about visuals, but instead about practical considerations that will actual help you catch a lot of fish. Generally building your own 16' fly fisher will be a simple and rewarding procedure which will also give you some good boat building experience.

What water will you be fishing on?

Before building your fishing boat you need to decide where you will be fishing. Fishing boats for lakes, rivers and the sea will require different design features to minimize the use of resources. Lake boats can be very simple such as the 16' Fly Fisher due to the calm waters and proximity of the land should any problem arise. On the other hand sea vessels used for fishing need to be bigger and much more reliable as breakdowns can be fatal. This is especially true if you plan to go on fishing trips on sea waters that have known to be very choppy and stormy. Building such a boat requires a considerable amount of experience and resources. Ideally you would take on such a project with a qualified and experience boat builder to show you all the techniques used in building such a fishing boat.

River boats need to have relatively powerful motors like the ones found on runabouts. This is because some rivers have currents that exert very powerful forces, this results in traveling upstream very difficult. The engine also needs to be as quiet as possible so that the disturbance in the fishing waters is kept to a minimum. Engine installation can be a very technical and difficult process, if this is the case for you then you might be better of with a professional doing this step for you. Alternatively if you think you can handle this task then doing some research online will help with the success rate of the engine installation, after all this is not some simple stitch and glue method you have been using up until this point.

How much money will you spend?

Ideally you would spend the minimum amount of money possible in order to get the job done. However this is an approach that can lead to corners being cut which eventually leads to a fishing boat being built that is not fit for purpose. To avoid this you should look at previous projects and search for a list of items and their respective costs. You might even get in contact with the boat builder to find out where they buy their materials and tools for the project.

Do you have the skills?

Any construction worker with experience of woodworking tools such as a jigsaw or a circular saw should have the ability to handle plywood and therefore build the majority of the boat. For instances where you are short of skill you can do some research viewing online videos. This is a great free way to educate yourself on a hobby that can turn into a reliable good money maker. Building a fishing boat that is small and made only out of wood is a good educational tool in itself.

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