What is a good boat to build while stuck in COVID virus quarantine?

I started this group to show that there are some positive sides to the quarantine. Many of us are stuck at home, so what boats are good candidates to build from my plans or some others.

Maybe you can go sailing too!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Criteria for boats to be home built during virus quarantine.

  • Boat should be easy to build for first time builders
  • Plan should be very detailed
  • Materials should be available locally
  • Some specialist materials may need to be ordered online and delivered
  • Time to build should not be too long but not too short
  • Suitable for kids to be a part of the building process
  • No truly fancy parts unless these are to be fitted later to a basic hull.

Many suppliers and manufacturers have been closed down or short of workers…

…so order materials early

One exception in many countries are hardware and big box stores. They are classified as essential in many countries – leaky taps, broken toilets, leaky roofs need to be fixed.

Recommended boat plans from us to build at home while practicing social distancing …

Plywood DIY canoe looks good on the beach.

The Quick Canoe

This canoe comes from three sheets of 1/4″ (5 or 6mm) plywood.

The plan includes methods for builidng with polyester resin, fibreglass tape and alternative glues like Tightbond 2 or PL Premium.

It can carry a sail or be converted into a trimaran with a bigger sail (see below).

50 to 60lb finished.

If you have access to the materials they are even better built with epoxy glue as a simpler building method becomes available.

Measurement points are marked direct on the ply. Nails are put into the ply at each point and then a batten or electric conduit or similar bent around the nails to mark out the shape. Any mistake in measuring is easy to spot and the measurement rechecked.

They can be pre assembled with duct or gaffer tape. Then fibreglass tape in resin is put along the seams inside. Then the tape removed from the outside and glass tape put on the outside.

Some timber around the top edge and along the bottom middle and the shell is ready to add the seats.

There is an awesome video that uses epoxy.

Can You Make a Canoe from Plywood? DIY Quick Canoe. Plywood Cheap Canoe Build

Video image can take a moment to load.

Quick Canoe Electric - Simple Plywood Electric boat using trolling motor - storer boat plans

The Quick Canoe Electric

Takes an inexpensive electric trolling motor to go much faster than paddling.

Has a lot of volume to carry a good weight

3-4 sheets of ply. Polyester or epoxy resin (see comments for boat above)

Builds in the same method as the video above. 60lbs depending on built-ins.

Strolling through a big box store while visiting the USA I was amazed at how low the prices were for trolling motors. A 34lb thrust outboard moves this at much more than paddling speed.

One was fitted with a 2hp outboard and it went fast enough to give me nerves about the structure and the chance of flipping it – about 15mph.

Stick to low power. Comments about the boat above apply to this one too. Two batteries will keep you moving for most of a day.

See Joe and his family explore the backwaters of the Snowhomish River with electric power.


Turn an existing canoe into a fast outrigger sailboat or a diving platform.

drop in outriggers to convert a small dinghy or canoe into a sailing trimaran includes sailing rig plan for outrigger canoe - storer boat plans

Drop in outriggers

Convert that old canoe into an awesome sailboat.

Only limitation is that the material of the canoe has to allow strong points to be mounted to lash the crossbeams.

So sorry … plastic kayaks are out. But fibreglass, aluminium, wood and plywood are OK.

2 sheet ply 5/32 to 1/4″ (4 to 6mm_ and timber

For purchasers of the outrigger plan we have a free supplement (just email me) giving a sail design for a 50 square foot sail that you can make yourself from polytarp.

Also makes a stable platform for diving. The outrigger canoes throughout the Pacific are not an accident! Here are our outriggers being used for just that out on the islands.

Drop in outrigger plan. Turns any canoe, kayak or narrow dinghy into a stable sailing or diving platform

Another one for the Canoe you have now … a drop in sailing rig without outriggers

drop in sailing rig to convert a canoe to a sailboat - storer boat plans

The sail area is more modest but it still sails well.

The leeboard is part of the support structure for the mast so only need to fit and remove one part.

Some timber and a bit of ply.

Recommended sail area 20 to 35 sf and we get sails here at Duckworks. The one in the pic right is home made.

Also Models are great to get the idea of what you are building or as an activity for kids.

Making models can have two functions.

  1. An activity of building a model boat for kids at home or for home schooling.
  2. To give you an idea if you want to build the actual boat.

This is where to get some fully legal free plans of real boats that can be used show you where to get some free plans as an activity for kids

kids build models of real boats as a home activity during corona virus.

Here are some pics of a model of our 23/27ft dayboat. A model helps you understand the building process and will save you heaps of time on the actual project.

Venezia launch 27ft plywood canal boat riverboat plan square (Custom) - storer boat plans

A Stand up Paddleboard if you can get 3 or 4mm ply (5/16 or 1/8″)

Plywood Stand Up Paddleboard Plan - Taal Touring SUP has a bow profile to minimise the pitching rate when in waves - a smoother ride

The advantage of this design is you can sit indoors with a carpet/stanley knife and cut bits out. All the prep work can be done on a dining table. Don’t cut the table though!

The downside is finding the thinner ply, preferably in gaboon/okoume. Might be possible at this time of outbreaks and quarantine.

Look at all the lovely little pieces to cut out.

Small parts for SUP board are a good home projecct during corona virus

Two things to remember while we have Corona Virus circulating

Find some positive activities

Plan for getting outdoors again after it is over

College students build 10 racing sailboats in two weeks

My other plans are here

Click this Link for boats that are only slightly more elaborate than the selection above.

See our Storer Boat plans on the home page