2x4s for frames...will it work?

I'm building a 16' drift boat on the cheap...real cheap.  I've found a bunch of old 2x4's.  Can I use these for the frames or will that be way too heavy for the boat? Can I just screw those 2x4s together and call it good? I am willing to accept that this is a crazy idea. -Thanks for any advice!

Views: 4940

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by justin nicola on May 23, 2011 at 9:51am

as a better woodworker than boat builder, i would say yes.  pine is naturally porous and considered a "soft" wood, so it is certainly not ideal, but from a structural standpoint it will work.  certainly would not be my first choice, but if money is an issue, i would vote go for it. 

 

that said, there are many people on here w/ far more knowledge than i have on the finer points of boat building.

Permalink Reply by Randy Dersham on May 23, 2011 at 10:02am

2x4 is way too big. 

Find a friend with a band saw to resaw them in half.  You will get two 5/8 frames which will work as long as they are clear.  Another idea would be to plane them down to 1/2 inch or 7/16 and back them with 1/4 in plywood.  The plywood needed might be able to be found from scraps.

 

I'm thinking if you have the tools and the time then then you might be able to save the money on materials.

Permalink Reply by justin nicola on May 23, 2011 at 7:04pm
you can use a strong table saw to accomplish this as well.  just set it on edge, run it through, then flip it over and run it through on the other side.  all of a sudden you have 2 1x4s instead of 1 2x4. 
Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on May 23, 2011 at 10:10am

Ukalady, how about some wood from some pallets, you can usually get old pallets for free and the pallet slats are much thinner, making for a lighter boat. I like your plan, I have several parts left over from a drift boat that I bought but it had a lot of rotten wood so I have been considering doing the same thing. Perhaps a "contest" to see who can build the least expensive, but serviceable boat could be fun. There is a storage company in Spokane that often gives away plywood storage boxes. I saw one the other day and it appeared to made from Douglas Fir. A few butt scarfs, and you would have material for a floor. Do you have a Habitat for Humanity builder store in your area or in Seattle? The one in Spokane has materials donated from the community, stores and builders. Gallons of paint are $8, quarts are $4. They have a variety of hardware, wood and such.

 

Also if you have a table saw or band saw you can rip the 2 x 4's to a normal frame thickness. Lots of options when low cost versus long term is the main criteria.

 

Good luck on your build. Keep us informede.

 

Rick Newman

Permalink Reply by Dave Z on May 23, 2011 at 10:33am
I like Randy's idea of resawing.  know what I'd do?  I would not overlap them, but make plywood gussets to join the side frames to the bottom members.  Would simplify the build.
Permalink Reply by mark hilbert on May 23, 2011 at 8:55pm
I built my Rapid Robert out of 1"x4" pine and luan mahagony plywood.  I spent more on fiberglass and paint than wood.  Next one may just be pine and oil to keep costs down.  If I wait around to have the money to build the boat I dream of building, it may never get built.  
Permalink Reply by lhedrick on May 24, 2011 at 7:46am

I would go for it.  You can always cover them with epoxy to keep water from soaking in and the ideas posted about cutting them in half will double your supply.

 

----

Deso launch this Friday.  Looking for flows of 40000, too bad you couldn't make it.

Permalink Reply by Brad Dimock on May 24, 2011 at 9:40pm
We built ours out of 2x4s ripped in two on the table saw. Quick, easy, cheap, plenty strong. You can usually manage to avoid the serious knots with a bit of judicious selection.
Permalink Reply by Troy Nicolls on May 24, 2011 at 10:18pm
I built my first build from recycled 1x4 redwood trim which is softer than pine. I also used $25 radiata pine plywood. The boat is nearly a year old and been on a dozen floats. No complaints from my son and daughter in law. I would not hesitate to resaw any reasonably sound lumber for frames or chine battens or even shear rails, but most everybody seems to favor white oak for the chine log and I have to say I am glad I used white oak myself, but after recently milling some oregon ash, I wonder how it might work?
Permalink Reply by Lawrence E. Long on May 25, 2011 at 2:31am
Troy:  Oregon ash has very similar strength properties as our eastern white and black ash.  I would not hesistate to use it for rails, chines etc.
Permalink Reply by Kelly Neu on July 1, 2011 at 12:31pm

Thanks everyone.  Your advice is a treasure!

I decided to give it a try and build with driftwood 2x4s.  I tried ripping 'em in half but due to their questionable strength I used the whole darn 2x4 in the end.  The pallet idea was golden.  I'll do that for round 2.  The drift 2x4's were readily available and it felt good to get those rusty nail ridden boards off the beach.  

Today, the frames are constructed and the panels are scarfed and glued.  With a little luck I'll get the hull constructed this weekend. My chine logs and gunwales are highly questionable material. hmm.  That part is gonna take an extra beer or two...

Permalink Reply by Troy Nicolls on July 3, 2011 at 5:51pm

Drift wood...that is awesome. So will it be a drift wood boat or a wood drift boat?

 

FYI, I have built many things from salvaged driftwood lumber. Can't beat the price and cleaning up the beach is always a good thing. 

RSS

© 2024   Created by Randy Dersham.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service