What’s the ONE Thing Professional Boat Builders DON’T Want YOU to Know? It’s that with easy-to-understand plans and instructions, YOU can make a boat that’s better and costs a LOT LESS than any “store-bought” boat and is customized to YOUR needs… A boat that will give you pride & satisfaction you never imagined possible… Give me the next 4½ minutes and I’ll clue you in to a mindboggling new experience of adventure, exploration and fulfillment that can be your own. Fair enough? First, a little background… My family has been (just about “forever”) in the business of making possible the dreams of countless numbers of families and individuals who desire to escape the day-to-day humdrum by enjoying the boat of their dreams.
Since the early 1950’s my family has had the privilege of being a part of lives changed, relationships enhanced and families creating memories together as they explore the vast expanse of rivers, lakes and seas in boats which, with our guidance, they’ve crafted themselves, bringing them a new world of enjoyment and enormous personal fulfillment.
Consumer Tip: Buy Plans From a Company with A Solid Reputation Because of the quality of our plans and service, an entire community of boat builders has formed through our online Boatbuilder Forum. This friendly group helps others who are putting together our boats, and answers questions along the way. They even get together once a year to play on the water and get to know each other better at our Boatbuilder Gatherings in Tennessee.
This Guide will introduce you to this wonderful world and (hopefully) entice you to become part of it…
What Kind of Person Builds Their Own Boat? There actually IS a “type” of person who enjoys creating their own boat. Since you requested this guide you are probably one of them. Maybe you’re the type of person who enjoys planning and
thinking about the best way to do things to arrive at the best result... You’re probably independent, responsible, and not looking for a bail-out from the government, but would rather make your own way... You enjoy the outdoors and take care to preserve its beauty so that your children and grand-children can enjoy it too... You’re not really concerned with what everyone else thinks, but when it comes to creating something with your own two hands it sure feels good when you hear all the complements... You may like to be left alone for the most part, but if a crowd forms around the beautiful boat you built you won’t mind too much. That’s the type of person who is drawn to the idea of creating their own boat, and the memories it will bring that will last a lifetime.
A 9th Grade Wood Shop Class is All You Need... (and honestly, most builders don’t even have that!) Bob Maskel is one guy as described above. As a State Trooper and family man, Bob didn’t have a lot of free time, but he had a love for wood boats.
Bob has fond memories of a friend who had a wooden boat when he was a kid. Because of those enjoyable memories, he started looking at Glen-L catalogs and remembered seeing articles in Popular Mechanics magazine; this enticed him into this new and exciting adventure...
Consumer Tip: Involve Your Kids—The Rewards are Endless Bob and his 12-year old son were at a local boat show and he commented to his son, “Before I die, I want to build a wood boat.” His son responded bluntly, “well Dad, why don’t cha?” Good point, eh? Why put off doing the things on your bucket list? Right away, Bob got out his dog-eared Glen-L catalog and let himself start dreaming once again... Bob decided on the Sea Knight, a 17-foot cabin cruiser as his very first project. What a wonderful opportunity it was for Bob and his son Jer to build this boat together. The memories of together creating something so special will be ones they both treasure for as long as they live. Bob’s daughter helped with the build as well and often would bring her homework into his garage and hang out with Dad while he worked. She even asked if they could camp out in the boat before it ever hit the water and they had a great time! We all know that kids grow up so fast, and time spent with them like this will surely make a positive impact on them that they won’t forget.
You don’t need a ton of time or money In all, Bob’s boat took 600 hours to build and he estimates about $6,000 total. The memories created with his kids... priceless. Bob comments, “I'm proof that with a 9th grade wood shop class, a messy garage, and a little time and patience, anybody can build a great boat!” Bob is now retired and enjoying exploring the rivers of Minnesota, Tennessee, Mississippi and St. Croix. Also, he’s currently completing a 16-foot Malahini classic runabout. He’s got the boat building bug! Another guy with the “bug” is Ray Macke who owns a successful insurance agency and enjoys helping people find the best means to protect their family and assets. He works hard and though it’s satisfying to earn a living and provide for his family, he still had a dream unfulfilled. Ray had a desire to explore the US Intracoastal Waterways and experience the adventures that would captivate his imagination and take him away from the daily confines of life. The best way to do this was by boat. He longed to rely only on his internal clock to wake him rather than the shocking squall of the alarm clock. So, Ray decided to build a small boat specifically for river cruising. He chose the 16-foot Cabin Skiff, choosing to lengthen it to 18-feet. It’s built of plywood and has a berth that will
sleep two and an enclosed cockpit for protection from the elements.
Consumer Tip: Stitch & Glue is a Simple Construction Method for First Time Builders Ray’s choice of boat was designed for Stitch and Glue construction which goes together quickly and is a good method for a first time boat builder. The plywood used to form the hull is actually folded together and stitched in place with copper wire. The patterns for this boat are very much like the “flattened” photos of the earth shown in books, with various gores and cut-outs. Maybe not the “fanciest” boat, but like many families, he had financial constraints and having a boat had to take a back seat to cracking that monthly “nut”. Some of his friends said the boat was too small, but he was determined to prove them wrong.
Consumer Tip: Enjoy Your Boat! Now Ray has gleefully explored the Tennessee River and its many inlets since creating his adventure-seeking boat. He’s learned the lock systems and used them many times along with the enormous barges that also traverse the river.
He’s traveled the Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky and Tenn-Tom just to name just a few. In all, Ray has travelled over 27,000 miles in his “little” boat.
Experience the Freedom to Explore On his first voyage, he was on the water for five days and passed through 10 locks. He covered a total of 883 miles. Ray reports that “the Cabin Skiff performed flawlessly and has met all my expectations as a long-range river cruiser. She kept me dry and provided a comfortable place to sleep. Reasonably fast, quite comfortable and economical. That’s what I wanted and she has delivered.” Ray fondly describes one of his days on the river, “The sky is overcast and a few raindrops fall now and then. But the ride is smooth as silk and the sound of the water sizzling off the chines reminds me of why I love boating so much.” “I have passed this way several times before by car but today the view and enjoyment level is greatly exceeding the drone and boredom of wheeled travels.”
Ray enjoyed building his boat so much that he named her “Therapy”... Ray and his wife decided cruising would be even more pleasant with a shower and private toilet facilities, so he has built another dream boat.
This time, he chose a 25 foot cruiser design called the TrueGrit. Once again, Ray made some changes as he built to get just the boat for him. He lengthened it a couple of feet and changed the arrangement of the cabin area.
Consumer Tip: Beware! Boatbuilding Can Be Addictive After cruising a while in his new boat, Ray’s already made some changes and upgrades to make cruising even more enjoyable. Knowing your boat as intimately as you do when it’s built with your own hands, really enables you to tune it like a fine instrument to get just what you want. Ray is a member of the Glen-L Boatbuilder Forum and has attended all but one of our annual Gathering of Boatbuilder’s events. Bob is also a member and hasn’t missed one of our Gatherings! These are two of many builders who are like family to us...
She’s not laughing anymore… Tom Smitherman is another “dream creator” that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting at our yearly Gatherings. He and his wife were considering purchasing a used boat to explore the rivers near their home in Alabama and were looking at some “for sale” ads. The prices being asked were pretty steep, so Tom commented to his wife that he could probably build a boat for them himself.
Tom said she just about fell off her seat laughing and said, “If you build a boat, I’ll go anywhere with you in it!” Well, she isn’t laughing anymore! And, she’s been travelling with Tom quite a bit as well. It took Tom about 2 years to build his Bo-Jest, an 18-foot Pocket Cruiser which he extended to about 19-feet. As with most builders, he worked on it in his spare time. It cost him about $16,000.
Consumer Tip: Building a Boat Yourself Isn’t Just About Saving Money Tom’s not exactly sure on the cost because he’s never taken the time to add it up. Sure, you will save money by building your own boat, but that’s not what it’s all about for most builders. His boat is very economical to run since it’s a semidisplacement hull. She gets about 13 mpg and runs about 6 mph. That’s why he named her “Knot-So-Fast”.
Building a boat draws attention! The creation of Tom’s boat was truly a community experience. His grand kids and cousins pitched in, and, he had a big “Turn the Tugboat” party when it was time to flip the boat.
Most all boats are built upside down on a building form because it’s just easier that way. Then once the hull is finished and painted, the boat is turned over so the interior work can be done.
A heartfelt letter says it best Tom says it best when he describes what building a boat means to him and his family in a recent letter to my father, Glen: “We've never met, but I am one of the many who are in debt to you for creating an avenue for my dreams to become reality. I can remember, as a very young child, reading about your boats in Popular Mechanics magazines that an uncle saved for me, and dreaming about someday building one myself and sailing to far away places.”
More than just one man’s dream “But even more important than that, through your work and encouragement for the amateur boat builder, you have helped to grow the character of my grandchildren. While they wouldn't recognize your name, you gave me the tools I used to teach them that when they combine their dreams with hard work, the results can be amazing.” “On our trips on our Bo-Jest in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Florida my wife and I have watched as all our grandchildren gained knowledge in math, history, geography, weather, science and many other areas. The greatest thing they've gained though, is self confidence and a sense of accomplishment.”
“We have especially enjoyed watching Abby, our 9 year old granddaughter who has been on most of our longer trips. The knowledge and skills she gained on the boat have helped her develop into a very confident, assured young lady who has a great appreciation for the beauty that God created.”
She’s proud of her Papa! “I can't help but smile when I hear her telling someone about the animals and birds we've seen, how a lock works, or how to steer when passing a tug and barge. When someone asks about the boat, she's always quick to remind them that "my Papa built it himself". She has even written a book about our 8 day trip down the Alabama River.” “While you may not want to take credit for it, your work is an integral part of the whole chain that has given her, and many, many others, a part of their personality that will serve them well throughout life.” “You may think your life was spent designing boats, but I assure you that you have done much, much more than that. Thank you.” These aren’t isolated stories of builders, I promise you. There are so many that it boggles my mind sometimes. My father never imagined the outcome of doing something he loves and the impact it would have on people’s lives.
Consumer Tip: The Boat You Build Is Part Of Your Legacy I hope you’ll allow me one more story, this one about our friend Kevin who has now built three Glen-L boats and I’m sure he’ll keep building because he’s one of the many who enjoys the process as much as the product.
Kevin’s first boat was a little tugboat called the Tubby Tug. This is a 9 foot Stitch & Glue boat which is again, a good first time project. Kevin built “Abby’s Lil Tug” for his daughter who was 4 at the time. This little boat is complete with glitter embedded in the floors and a mermaid flag. Can you imagine the thrill of giving that to your little girl?! She loves it!
Then Kevin built our 10-foot Squirt runabout which is by far our most popular design. He named her “Fastidiots” for good reason--he altered it to use a jet drive and that thing flies! His last boat he has built (so far!) is a 16foot Console Skiff that was partially built by another builder and he completed it. Kevin and some of the other guys at our Boatbuilder Gathering were sitting on the dock talking on Saturday night. They started talking about boats and the “real story” behind building them.
The REAL Benefit of Building a Boat In Kevin’s case, the “real story” was that building a boat brought him and his father closer together. His dad wanted to help even though he didn’t know how. He just wanted to be there. At visitation after his father passed away, Kevin was astonished at how many people came up to him and said, “So you’re the boat builder?!” In all Kevin had done in his life, building a boat was what his dad talked about most—he was proud of his son. Another builder commented on how his father made three trips each several days long, to be with him working on his boat. These times together were especially cherished by him, as until this, he and his father had not spent much time together. Yet another builder built his boat using the same tools his grandfather had used, and every time he sharpened his plane he felt his grandfather’s presence... as if grandpa was watching over his shoulder with quiet approval. Once again, Kevin reflects on how happy his daughter is every time they go out in her boat together. And how creating a boat has allowed them to build memories that will last both their lifetimes. For this, he is eternally grateful...
I’m Yearning for the Vast & Endless Sea... Now What??? So, what does it take to get started creating your own boat and memories to last a lifetime? Having dealt with beginning builders for over 58 years, we’ve discovered some things you should look for when choosing boat plans:
A solid guarantee on the plans and products—if the company doesn’t believe in the quality of what they sell enough to back it up with a guarantee, why should you? Full size patterns! It may cost a little more for these, but the time savings is immense. Plus, they’re done by an expert, so you know they’re accurate.
Check into the type of support they offer—will they talk by phone with you, do they have an active and friendly support Forum? That kind of thing. Does the designer have a good reputation? There are many computer programs that will generate plans to build a boat, but that doesn’t mean the design will perform as expected. Make sure the boat has been built and used by others besides the designer.
Well, we can’t directly help with creating your own memories of building a boat, but we can provide the resources to get you there. Glen-L designs are proven, and our reputation is excellent. We have a wonderful support forum and phone support, a 30-day money back guarantee and full size patterns on most every design. We have designs for over 300 boats that you can build yourself plus books, DVD’s, supplies & hardware to help in our online store: http://www.boatdesigns.com/ Don’t hesitate, get started today on building a boat and memories to last a lifetime... If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. At Your Service,
Gayle Brantuk President – Glen-L.com 562-630-6258
[email protected]
