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Comment by Michael Rosso on March 12, 2012 at 6:55pm

I drew up all the framing on google sketchup so I could flesh out the interior and came up with the same problem... No where to hang the seats. It was either too far forward or too for back. I'm planning on scarfing all my plywood, even though I'll be painting the outside. I ended up using 3/4 clear spruce forge transom but am planning on adding a solid teak centerpiece with a handle to it.
Don't think I'll find a nice piece of mahogany laying about :) .. So I'll probably have to go to my lumber yard and be creative (laminate multiple pieces together)
Now that the strongback and framing are complete, I don't even look at my plans from spira anymore. I'm really surprised that I read so many good things about them!
Thanks
Mike

Comment by stephen ludwig on March 12, 2012 at 6:41pm

I pulled a 4X4 off of a palet we got in at work from indonesia. It is hard and looks like mahagony, I am not really sure what it is but it sure looked nice (pretty sure it is mahagony). Cut the piece up on a table saw according to one of the designs in the fletcher book. I am a closet wood hoarder.  I also dropped the Spira plans after I had the plywood on the frames. The keelson was nice for limiting the scarfing required for the bottom. I butt jointed down the center with my bottom plywood. Sides are scarfed. I would have added frames if I had it to do over.  I had to dream up a way to hang the seats because I do not have frames where the boat would trim out nice with two or three anglers. He really does not take into account the seating arrangement in his design....I ended up hanging my seats from blocks fastened to the rails. I will add some pics of this when you get there. Good luck

Comment by Michael Rosso on March 12, 2012 at 5:00am

Outstanding!   That sounds just about spot on to the situation I find myself in.   I purchased a Spira 14' foot 'Canadian' plan set after doing what I thought was thorough research only to find this site and end up purchasing Fletcher's 'bible' on driftboats and dories.  Inevitably, I found myself with more questions than answers!  Should I use this kind of stem?  That transom looks so much better...   why NOT use 1/4" ply for the sides?   ...and on and on.   Not to mention Spira just does NOT explain himself very well (at all)

any how, I'm glad I found your boat and I'm happy to know someone has successfully augmented Spira's original plans.   I will most likely be shooting questions your way the next few weeks!

My first question is : What kind of wood did you use to make your stem?   Did you purchase a 4x4, or laminate two pieces together?

Thanks again

Mike

Comment by stephen ludwig on March 9, 2012 at 1:24pm

It started as a spira boat and changed from there. I fit everything on this boat with a little stanley plane and sanders (belt/hand/vibrating, etc). I used his spiras frame dimensions and built it on the strongback on wheels because I had to move it during the build and could not take up space. for the keelson, I tied it down at the middle frame and kept sanding and planing and pulling the keelson down to check fit. I also made my own transom and made a seperated top rails becasue I did not like the way his looked all sandwiched together. Good luck with your build and ask me questions anytime.

Mine is almost ready for the water.  A couple of weeks will be the maiden voyage.

Comment by Michael Rosso on March 9, 2012 at 9:47am

Beautiful boat!   Who's design is it?  Aside from the 'traditional' stem, it looks like one of the ones designed by Jeff Spira.  

did you managed to bevel the notches for the keelson?   If you did, what did you use?   I'm at that stage in my build right now and I can't seem to decide which would be easiest.

Either way, looks like you did a fantastic job!