Wooden Boat People
By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
Building a McKenzie drift boat
My brother and I are thinking about building a 16 ft Mckenzie style drift boat this winter (glue and stitch method). To my surprise I don't see any free plans out on the internet to assist in the planning and build. As old that these designs are I would think there would be allot of documentation out there. Does anyone know where I can start? I took out my #2 pencil and paper and started my own plans but would really like to see proven plans.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on
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Go to http://montana-riverboats.com and see what Sandy has available. He has varied between charging and not charging. Quality plans will make your life easier and you won't have to experiment to see what works. Sandy's 30 plus years of experience in building stitch and glue drift boats makes him one of the most experienced S & G drift boat builders around.
Rick N
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Permalink Reply by James Prepura on
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unless you are well versed in this area I think the cost of the plans out way the coast of the misstakes you might make, and the guys in this forum won't steer you down the wrong track. I think most of them live vicariously though your build even though they might have built many boats themselves they seem to have a true investment into your build, follow there advise and you will end up with a beautiful build
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Sandy's plans have cost $25 in the past when he charged. Considering the cost of all the materials, trailers, oars, boat covers, fiberglass, epoxy, paint, sandpaper, tools you may need you may end up spending $3,000 +, makes the plans cost an infinitesimal part of the whole. I figure I spent well over $100 on sandpaper alone!
Rick N
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Permalink Reply by David L Baker on
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So it is not unusual to spen $3000 on building a a drift boat. I was thinking more like $1000 to $1500 (I must have been dreaming). I guess getting good plans and estimate the cost of materials based on those plans is the first step. I don't want to start this project and have to set it off to the side waiting for my budget to catch up. I think we all know what happens when a project is halted hale way through. Does Sandy's plans estimate what materials are need for the build?
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As Eric mentioned Roger Fletcher's book is a wonderful accompaniment to Sandy's plans. look at Riverstouch.com to order it and learn more. Those that have taken the time to read the posts on here and on Sandy's site will also learn a considerable amount. Seems the same questions keep getting asked as new folks come aboard, there are a range of answers to all the questions but at least you will have a better idea of the options you have for epoxy, fiberglass, fishes, trailers, tools, length of time it takes, etc. I spent six months redoing my garage to make it into a relatively dust free location. Then I had to reorganize all the tools and such to make space. Then my employment ended and I returned to school and get an IT degree. Winters were to cold to epoxy in my shop and I didn't have 220 V service so I couldn't run a big enough heater. Bottom line is it took well over three years to finish my boat. I purchased materials and supplies as I got extra money from doing side jobs. You don't have to have all the money upfront.
You might also visit Mike Baker's site: www.bakerwooddriftboats.com/ and see if buying his kit makes sense. He is also very helpful to folks with questions here on WBP.
(You can see pictures of my boat by visiting my page here on WBP.)
Rick Newman
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Permalink Reply by Gregg Maddock on
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David I am starting a new build so here is my break down;
Wood includes mahogany & fir plywood, fir for frames, white oak for rails, Chimes and gunnels $785
Fasteners $195
Fiberglass, $200
Epoxy $150
Paint $90
Oil interior $75
So there is $1,495 spent already just for the boat. Oar locks, oars, anchor system and anchor can add another $500-$1,000. Trailer is $1,000-$1,500 new and a couple of hindered for a cover. So for the whole enchilada your looking at $3,500-$4,000.
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I believe Sandy is back to charging $25. This includes plans for three boats, the honky dory, beavertail, and buffalo boat. And, instructions on how to construct a stitch and glue dory, plus guidance on converting frame dory plans into stitch and glue.
When I was first contemplating building a dory and didn't know what I wanted, the idea of spending several hundred dollars for plans from Montana Boat Builders, Roger Fletcher (before his book), Montana River Boats, and Don Hill to compare them and then decide which I wanted was over my budget. I went with Sandy's Montana River Boats, and think it was a good choice. I designed my own....a blend of the honky dory and beavertail.
If in your situation I was seriously consider getting the MRB on-line plans for $25 plus Roger Fletcher's book, Drift Boats & River Dories. I think it is about $50 or so. Roger's book has plans for a Rapid Robert, and Hindman double ender with transom. These could be built stitch and glue using instructions from MRB. Roger's book also provides instruction on building a framed boat, and dory modeling. All of this would help in the construction of any dory design.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Thomas on
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I think Greggs prices are a little conservative too. I think I spent 2-300 on epoxy, but I covered about every pc of wood, and most with a couple coats. I need to add up my costs and the taxes paid on materials to get registration for if I ever want to put a motor on it, which I will want to do someday.....but I bet I`m 4 grand, and I made the oars and the trailer myself.
With that said though, I got way carried away with expensive woods, full floors, glassed the entire outside. The anchor system with a anchor was around 300 alone.
I was gonna go as in expensive as I could and figured 2 grand, but then once I started decided to go all out. I didnt have any plans, just figured out what I needed for my boat and winged it. You can go all rocket science on it, many do, but I built a good floating/working boat with just bending a couple batten strips for figuring curves, angles and shapes, and a tape measure.
This is not a white water boat, Michigan rivers, or I would have added more rocker, flaired the sides more, and went heavier on the bottom glass. It turned out to be just what I wanted though and I`m happy with it.
It would not be hard for S&G, to make a few temp frames at the sizes you want, bend some strips around them and adjust if needed. Use them to bend all your plywood around and glue and stitch it all together. I was gonna go that route myself, but just really liked the appeal of the framed boat.
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