All my life I have had a passion for boats. My first boat was a 12 foot Whirlwind that I purchased for $100 and repaired with the help of my father when I was 15 years old. Now after many years I have the opportunity to enjoy my passion. My first restoration projects and now my first attempt at building my own boat are posted here.
The Whitehouse fibreglass runabout was found at an auction in upstate NY and purchased for $5.00. It was in terrible condition with a substantial hole in the bottom just at the jucture of what, on a wood boat, would be the stem and the keel. It was remarkable how simple it was to repair a fibreglass boat with cloth and epoxy resin. I used two layers of 9 ounce cloth on the outside and another two layers on the inside with thickened epoxy resin to fill the gap in the hull. The entire hull was then sanded, coated with resin and then painted with three coats of 2 part epoxy paint. The seats are constructed of 3/4 inch exterior grade plywood and covered with foam and vinyl.
The Larson needed a new floor due to moisture build up and rot. After cutting the fibreglass layer from over the plywood base I replaced the floor with 1/2 inch pressure treated plywood, tabbed it in with 12 inch fibreglass woven roving and resin, and then re carpeted the floor. I finished the interior with 1/4 inch marine plywood side panels and reupholstered the seats and covered the side panels with vinyl seat cover material.
I picked up the Minimax just for a little fun boat for my kids and eventually my grand kids. Depending on how much speed they want I have a 7.5 HP, a 10 HP and an 18 hp outboard. My total cost including the boat, motors, fibreglass and paint for restoration was a little over $200.00. Actually, I bought two motors for $100 from the local marina, sold back one part that he wound up needing to repair someone Else's motor for $100 and then settled for a trade for a Velvet Drive 71C inboard transmission that needs rebuilding. I'm keeping that for my next building project.
I finally thought I was ready for the challenge of building my own plywood boat. So on July 31, 2010 I started the project on the Glen L Squirt. I decided to modify the plans and build it as a jet instead of an outboard. I chose the Squirt because it is simple to build at a relatively low cost. It has been a popular first project for the first time builder to gain experience and confidence to move to something more complex.
I discovered that the Squirt had been built by about a half dozen others with a jet ski motor and drive. I spent a couple of days on the Glen L builder forum and obtained the information I needed to modify the plans.
I obtained the motor and drive from a friend who has a local marina, did the appropriate measurements to accommodate it in the hull and wound up lengthening the hull by 12 inches and extending the pump unit outside the transom under a mock swim platform. The unfinished hull is sitting in my garage waiting for warmer weather. I'm looking forward to launching it sometime in June.
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The Whitehouse fibreglass runabout was found at an auction in upstate NY and purchased for $5.00. It was in terrible condition with a substantial hole in the bottom just at the jucture of what, on a wood boat, would be the stem and the keel. It was remarkable how simple it was to repair a fibreglass boat with cloth and epoxy resin. I used two layers of 9 ounce cloth on the outside and another two layers on the inside with thickened epoxy resin to fill the gap in the hull. The entire hull was then sanded, coated with resin and then painted with three coats of 2 part epoxy paint. The seats are constructed of 3/4 inch exterior grade plywood and covered with foam and vinyl.
The Larson needed a new floor due to moisture build up and rot. After cutting the fibreglass layer from over the plywood base I replaced the floor with 1/2 inch pressure treated plywood, tabbed it in with 12 inch fibreglass woven roving and resin, and then re carpeted the floor. I finished the interior with 1/4 inch marine plywood side panels and reupholstered the seats and covered the side panels with vinyl seat cover material.
I picked up the Minimax just for a little fun boat for my kids and eventually my grand kids. Depending on how much speed they want I have a 7.5 HP, a 10 HP and an 18 hp outboard. My total cost including the boat, motors, fibreglass and paint for restoration was a little over $200.00. Actually, I bought two motors for $100 from the local marina, sold back one part that he wound up needing to repair someone Else's motor for $100 and then settled for a trade for a Velvet Drive 71C inboard transmission that needs rebuilding. I'm keeping that for my next building project.
I finally thought I was ready for the challenge of building my own plywood boat. So on July 31, 2010 I started the project on the Glen L Squirt. I decided to modify the plans and build it as a jet instead of an outboard. I chose the Squirt because it is simple to build at a relatively low cost. It has been a popular first project for the first time builder to gain experience and confidence to move to something more complex.
I discovered that the Squirt had been built by about a half dozen others with a jet ski motor and drive. I spent a couple of days on the Glen L builder forum and obtained the information I needed to modify the plans.
I obtained the motor and drive from a friend who has a local marina, did the appropriate measurements to accommodate it in the hull and wound up lengthening the hull by 12 inches and extending the pump unit outside the transom under a mock swim platform. The unfinished hull is sitting in my garage waiting for warmer weather. I'm looking forward to launching it sometime in June.
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| 1950's Whitehouse runabout restored 2008 |
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| 1968 Larson Purchased 1986 Repaired 2009 |
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| Minimax hydroplane with 18 HP Johnson restored 2010 |
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| Glen L Squirt building project September 2010 |
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| Squirt turned over for decking October 2010 |
