Lewis Boat Works: Custom Boat building and Plans
Building Chugger
A 12 ft Flat-bottom Minimalist Overnight CabinCruiser.
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Update: 9.23.02
Frame and bottom
Be patient, this one has lots of pictures.
1:45 p. The start of the day's work. As you can see, I have puttered a bit in the last few days and stuck in the 1x6 pieces on the sides and picked up a couple more supplies. The window panel is still loose in the front, but it has been trimmed to size and is ready to install.
About 45 minutes later. 1x6 and 1x2 framing in place. Still a little wobbly.
The Piece de Resistance: Used a piece of scrap and cut out a solid gusset type thingy. This made the thing whole and solid as a rock.
Jumped up to the front and installed the front window pieces. Put the framing for the bottom joint exterior and.....
The top joint interior. Broke out the table saw to speed up operations in cutting the bevels.
After making sure all was OK in the upper section, I screwed a couple of braces across the bottom and tossed it over on it's side and then it's roof.
The bracing was tough enough to keep it squared up during the turn over. As there are rocks and stuff on the concrete I put spacers so the wood wouldn't get dented up. More went down before rolling onto the roof.
Here we are. Supports itself well enough. Getting it back on the dolly might prove to be interesting.
Easier than I thought. I picked up each end easily enough and swiveled it onto the dolly.
Putting on the bottom. I had heard horror stories about bending the 3/8" ply to the chines on the LilJons, I considered cutting kerfs to help it to bend. I figured I'd try it first then decide. Turns out I didn't need them. The ply already had a slight bend in it and it just kind of sagged down. I screwed the bottom down, starting from the front and working my way back.
And Voila... The bottom she is on. I used a 1x6 chunk as a butt block, connecting it to the cabin bulkhead pieces too. Climbed up on top, using the truck bumper, to screw into the butt block. Slid down the front and got a splinter in my butt. How to explain that to the wife!!
Drill batteries dead, its getting on 5 pm and I'm hungry. Flipping it over was as easy this time as it was last, except there was less to grab on to in the front when lifting it onto the dolly again.
Same angle different side. Rolled the boat around to get the better sun. That dolly really makes things easy. After the next pic, I cleaned up some floor space in the garage and rolled it right in. As you can see, it has locking wheels, to keep it in place when needed.
Quick shot of the interior. Notice the 1x6 butt block. I will be putting some additional bracing across the floor, as it is a little more flexible than I want.
Free plans are available on this site.
