how to build a wooden ship?

Answer 1

I think you will need to start off with wood

Answer 2

You don't mention what size "ship" you're interested in....if its 100 plus feet, JF covered a lot of the details..and you can find out more by googling "Spirit of Massachusetts" "Pride of Baltimore", "Californian" or Maynard Bray.....he built them.....

if you're looking at a 30-50 foot boat of your own......LOTS of people have done this, building in their backyard or an odd corner of a boatyard........figure, with hull, deck, engines rigging interior and everything ready to sail away, about $3,000 a foot and about 75 to 100 hours a foot to build......yes, a 30 footer willl cost you up around 90 grand all done, and take the best part of 2 years for one person.....so this is not something that will get done quickly working nights and weekends!

For 30 years, WoodenBoat magazine up in Maine has been information central for those of us smart enough/stupid enough to make our hobby or living in building and repairing wood boats........go to their web sight, subscribe to the magazine and buy a copy of Bud Macintosh's " How to Build A Wooden Boat ", the single best one volume written in 50 years on how to turn a pile of lumber into a sailboat.

A good introduction to this whole art/science/profession/mystery is buy an old boat with problems and start fixing them....at least you have a finished product to look at and know what a piece of the puzzel should look like, so that part of the learniing curve is already done.......

Answer 3

VERY CAREFULLY.

First you need to make up some blueprints. Then you draw a lifesize template on paper, to help make sure it fits. After that, you cut the boards. For the sides you'll usually need to steam bend the boards, and usually the ends of all the boards will need to be carved and sanded into shape. Once that's done you'll drill the holes for hardware. Next, you brush every sufrace with chemicals to scare away teredo worms... or varnish... or both.

Then you begin a complicated process of attaching Tab A into Slot A, using screws, nails. supports, etc.

It's a tough process unless you know what you're doing. I wouldn't, so I don't even try.

Answer 4

Way back in time -like 74- I was in Malaysia and Indonesia. There were small crews along the beaches with a generator and chain saws building some really big boats. They were mostly Americans. There were also several Asian crews building "Junks". All top notch work. It is just something to look into- but there were no pirates then.

Answer 5

Slowly, but to tell the truth there are too many factors not mentioned that will affect the time table. Are we talking about a canoe or a 72’ CAT? If you’ve never worked with marine grade wood, get ready for some expensive bills. It makes hobby or household lumber look cheep!

Good luck.

Answer 6

i saw what the naval acitect said and dont be put off by all that i looked into it myself and the best place i found was glen-l you can look at there web site and order a catalo. i did and also bought plans (i didnt build because of personal cicumstances) but it is a great place to look good luck

Answer 7

This seems to be quite a varying question as to the notion of who you are, how old you are and are you willing to committ to such a task. I work as a naval architect, so building ships isn't as easy as it may appear to be to some people.

If you understand the business and want to committ to the permits, laws, and building of such a vessels that must have strict requirements on needs and fruitless material, then go ahead an build a vessel.

Depending on where you reside, if you are near a coast, then that's perfect, the only thing you need to do now is find a slip or yard that is willing to accommodate your request. You have to prepare a contract for work, because no shipyard is going to let one person build a vessel on their own. This would take up far too much of their own time that is so sorely needed to build their own vessels and craft. By securing a contract, you'll need some other underlying things first. First, credit to build under a sea-permit, which requires you to have some sort of knowledge of building ships over 200 feet in length. If you cant support you own credentials, then you might as well forget about the whole idea. Second, you will have to secure a working contract with the shipyard who is willing to take on your project. You will have the need for much financial support in order to cover the costs of paying the employees for working out of their time to build your craft. The yard is going to need that money probably upfront, or at least a down payment for the supply costs. If you want to build your vessel in your own gantry, then good luck seeking a private permit for building your vessel.

You will need to supply the yard with money for outside supplies, in your case wood. You'll have to pay for the drawings, designs and other materials that must be approved my the local shipping regulation board or inspector's office of naval architecture. You will have to have someone put your designs or thoughts onto paper and then into the proper contractor's hands.

Here is just a small list of who you will need to pay;
1. Drafters, engineers, architects, and contractors, not to mention the yard for use of their machinery, scales, slip, cranes, workers, supplies, and their granting of access to the waterway.
2. Down payment for outside hauled-in supplies and materials, steel, wood, furnishings, (because not all wooden vessels even today are made out of just wood), framework, and supporters.
3. Erecting process of schedule, working timetables, pay, and governmental costs on permits and when your vessel is going to be launched, have her sea trials and regulated time out at sea for proper authorizing of shipping lanes to be cleared out for your craft to be passed by the Board of Regulated Trade Standards, the local governmental shipping office, or various other institutions that require you to pass their tables before you can be authorized to become seawothy.
4. You'll need to have your designs certified which could take upwards of one year depending on the need for your vessel as what type of a craft. If your designs are not certified or are thought not to be safe, your project could be delayed by weeks to months, which would make the shipyard require more money to hold the slip or gantry open.
5. You'll have to pay for lofting, welding materials, steel and framework, as well as wood products, sails or motors, electrical components and other minor engineering details, (depending on how long your vessel is going to be).
6. You will have to pay for electricians, welders, fitters, designers, scrimmers, plumbers, inspectors, and many other types of jobs that the shipyard will want for their services to be used.
7. After everything has been completed which once more (depends on how large your vessel is and what its sole purpose is designed for) it could take up to a year or more, and will require a last inspection before launching. You'll have to have set a date with local ship trafficing authorities for the blocking off of the local waterway for your launch and towing to a fitting basin for final installment of rudder, propellers, sails, engines, ballast, etc.

After all is said and done, you will have spent roughly between $15.3million and $20miilion. If your craft is going to be smaller, then you can rough it to around $500,000 depnding on the yard and upwards to $4million give-or-take.

I don't mean to sound like you can't do this, but, there is quite a lot of what goes into building even the smallest of vessels. usually those who committ to such a task have some share holders in a company that can invest in the production of a vessel, are single holders of their own wealth, or is a larger company that is requesting an order of ships, like a fleet.

Best of luck into your task and where it takes.

Answer 8

LOTS and LOTS of popsicle sticks and glue. smile life is short.

Answer 9

the very 1st thing i would do is go to www.iboats .com go into the forums there u can find all the info you need

Answer 10

First you plant lots of trees.................

Iam sorry....... I just had to......