I have created a set of plans for building the BW. These are very detailed plans complete with pages of thorough step-by-step instructions with numerous photographs, and 21 detailed, scaled, computer-drafted drawings with all the necessary dimensions.
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Boat BW Specifications
Construction:
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Plywood/fiberglass/epoxy
stitch-and-glue
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Hull
Type:
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Planing, semi-V, 8° deadrise aft,
12° deadrise mid-ship, chine flats and lifting strakes
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Length
Overall:
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23 feet
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Beam
at Sheer:
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7’-9”
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Beam
at Chine:
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5’-9”
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Draft:
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6 inches with outboard motors up
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Hull
Thickness:
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Bottom: ½ inches, deck: ½ inches, sides:
3/8 inches
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Side
flare:
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20°
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Deck:
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Continuous from chine-to-chine. Not
self-bailing
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Weight
(empty, hull only):
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2,000 pounds
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Power:
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Outboard motor or motors totaling
100Hp
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Maximum
weight hanging on transom:
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400 pounds
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Transom
angle:
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15°
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Speed:
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31 knots with twin 50Hp OBs at WOT
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Fuel
Consumption:
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1.8 gallons per hour per OB, at 24
knots with twin 50Hp OBs
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FAQs
How much did it cost to build the BW?
In 2016, it cost me $11,200 USD for the materials to build the BW hull with an anchor well, a forward locker, a fuel locker, a steering system and a pilothouse console with laminated safety glass windows. I used Hydrotek
BS-1088 meranti plywood which is more expensive than run-of-the-mill
marine plywood.
Here is my 2016 cost breakdown for the hull only, not including a boat trailer, outboard motors, fuel system and USCG-required safety gear:
In addition to the $15,700 USD, there will be costs for outboard motors, associated fuel systems and USCG-required safety gear.
How long will it take to build a BW?
For the hull with an anchor well, a forward locker, a fuel locker, slopwell and a modest pilothouse console, I spent 600 hours
building it. Being that the BW was the tenth boat that I have built, it will
probably take most people a bit longer.
The hours spent working on the boat are not the only consideration. The
calendar time also matters. Due to the curing time of epoxy, it is difficult to
work more than a few hours a day. After a few hours you will have something
glued with epoxy that cannot be disturbed until the epoxy cures. This often
ends the day’s work session. That is why even though it took me only 600 hours, it took 15 months to build the BW.
It is possible to reduce the calendar time by having several things
being fabricated at the same time so that when one item is waiting for the
epoxy to cure, you can be working on another item. However, this takes planning
and a large shop.
How big of a shop will I need?
I built my BW in a shop that was 12 feet wide x 25 feet deep. But the
width available for the boat was only 10 feet due to a 2-foot workbench that
runs the length of my shop.
I put the hull on a wheel dolly so I could push it to one side of the
shop for working on the starboard side of the boat. Then I would push the hull
to the other side of the shop to work on the port side.
How experienced should the builder be?
The BW is a big home-build project. It is larger but not much more complex than the kayaks, dories, drift boats and little runabouts that are common first-time-builder stitch-and-glue boats. Due to its size, the BW will take time, space, money and patience to complete.
Some, but not much, woodworking experience is
necessary. There is no complex joinery and only a few compound angles. A little ability to read plan drawings is required.
However, stitch-and-glue
boats are amazingly forgiving since epoxy is really strong and you can use thickened epoxy to fill in and fair over carpentry imperfections then hide the faired imperfections with paint. This is why shipwrights
hate stitch-and-glue boats and call them Bondo Boats.
In addition to the $15,700 USD, there will be costs for outboard motors, associated fuel systems and USCG-required safety gear.
Some, but not much, woodworking experience is necessary. There is no complex joinery and only a few compound angles. A little ability to read plan drawings is required.
However, stitch-and-glue boats are amazingly forgiving since epoxy is really strong and you can use thickened epoxy to fill in and fair over carpentry imperfections then hide the faired imperfections with paint. This is why shipwrights hate stitch-and-glue boats and call them Bondo Boats.
The instructions are well-organized with table of contents, glossary, detailed bill-of-materials etc.
The instructions contain tutorials for each process in the stitch-and-glue and WEST system of plywood/epoxy boat building.
Every little step is outlined as needed for the beginning boat builder but still suitable for the experienced builder. Photos accompany every major stage of the build.
Included are 21 detailed, scaled, computer-drafted drawings with all the necessary dimensions.
Also included are instructions and drawings for the optional pilothouse console.
$35USD