| So you've stopped dreaming and you've decided it's | | | | So you're not going to skimp on your boat plans, you |
| now or never, you're going to build a boat. You know | | | | want something with highly detailed drawings which |
| what type of boat you want to build, and you made | | | | show you every step of the way exactly what |
| sure that when it's finished you can get it to the | | | | shape the different parts are and how they fit |
| water. We don't want any dinghy's marooned in the | | | | together. This is no time for guessing, and if you've |
| basement do we! | | | | allowed a week or whatever it's going to take to |
| You already realised the most obvious and important | | | | build your boat, maybe you've even booked vacation |
| thing you need is a good set of boat building plans. | | | | time from work, you don't want to waste time |
| So what exactly makes a good set of plans? You | | | | scratching your head in puzzlement. Good plans and |
| may be building your boat on a tight budget in which | | | | instructions should give you a good idea of how long |
| case you might even have looked for free boat | | | | it will take to build your boat, assuming you follow |
| plans. | | | | those instructions carefully. |
| Sadly this is a false economy, ask yourself is any one | | | | Make sure your chosen plans have an accurate |
| likely to give away a really good set of quality boat | | | | materials list telling you exactly what tools, glues, |
| plans? There has to be a catch of some sort, sooner | | | | nails, screws, and timber you will need. The secret of |
| or later either they'll want paying for the vital bits of | | | | most successful construction projects is careful |
| information which didn't come with the free plans, or | | | | planning. Get your work space organised get you |
| the plan turn out to be something they copied from | | | | tools and materials ready and you should do a job |
| an old book and it's barely readable. | | | | you'll be very satisfied with |
| Even if you want to build you're boat for the lowest | | | | Check that the plans you're going to buy are up to |
| possible price, you still want to do the best job you | | | | date and take full advantage of modern boat building |
| can, you want a boat you can be proud of and which | | | | methods; these can save time and money, and need |
| other people will admire. Let's not forget there's also | | | | lower skill levels then traditional boat building methods. |
| you're safety to consider, and maybe that of your | | | | If you're buying your plans online make sure you can |
| family. Rivers, lakes and the sea can be dangerous | | | | also get them in some form of hard copy, either on |
| places they're no place for a shoddy piece of work. | | | | paper or CD-rom or DVD. Especially useful if you've |
| Let's not even think about the humiliation or cost of | | | | got a slow internet connection. |
| a rescue. | | | | |