Blog / Archive
Every post
Everything written on the blog, newest first. 8 posts so far.
Scarf, butt block or puzzle joint: joining plywood sheets
A hull longer than 8 feet needs plywood joined end to end. How scarf joints, butt blocks and puzzle joints work, which to pick, and how to glue one flat.
Sanding epoxy before paint: how smooth is enough?
What grit to start with, when to stop, and how to fix sand-throughs and blush when you sand cured epoxy on a plywood boat before primer, paint or varnish.
Your boat build log ends as a book you can hold
Every build log here prints as a book with chapters, photos, hours and costs. Here is what one summer of logging a dory came out as, and how to make yours.
Framing a hard-chine plywood hull, step by step
Frames, chines, sheer clamps and battens: how a hard-chine plywood hull is framed and faired before planking, from two real Glen-L build logs.
Sail or power for your first wooden boat build?
A sailboat is a hull plus a rig. A powerboat is a hull plus an engine. Here is which second project suits a first build, using real hours from real logs.
Selling a Glen-L you built, and finding the right buyer
Selling a homebuilt Glen-L is hard in the usual places. Here is why, and how the for-sale page here puts it in front of people who get it.
Glen-L vs CLC: which is easier for a first boat?
CLC ships CNC-cut parts and a 143-page manual. Glen-L sells plans for far more designs. Which suits your first build, from someone who built both.
How to build a boat: start with plywood and stitch and glue
How to build a boat for the first time: why plywood and stitch and glue, the eight steps from plans to launch, and real hours and costs from build logs.