Step One: Building the Bulkheads

In this instructional skiff building video, Harry Spear of Spear Boatworks shows how to build bulkheads. This video is part of the series "The Art of Skiff Building" which walks through how to build your own skiff after purchasing one of his kits. To learn more, head to SpearBoatworks.com

[@Ken-xm1rf]

Holy cow! That trick with the 10 oz. cloth is super helpful. Thanks!

[@NucInst]

Super excited to see this and can’t wait for more!

[@homiedeehomiedee9963]

I really enjoyed your video it answers a lot of questions that I didn’t know how to do I am building a micro skiff in Texas

[@timothyengland3]

That 10 ounce cloth made a really nice finish

[@harryspear1948]

Sure I can do that just not sure when. Thanks for the kind words. Blessings Harry

[@guywhitley2858]

Harry really enjoy your video very informative could you do a video on building hatches thank you sir

[@rjohnson5120]

13:00 “it will require a whole lot less fairing and sanding…” Amen!

[@stoneyface65]

Could you use the foam board material for parts of a boat that is made of plywood? Would you encounter adhesion problems?

[@davidh6396]

Is this vinylester resin? Seems like you have a long pot life on this. Where do you source your glass and resins from?

[@jaybietila]

Hey harry. I’ve rebuilt a gheenoe before and I’m thinking of building a small micro skiff for the backcountry of Tampa bay. I’m 18 and very mechanical inclined. How difficult would it be to build a 14- 16 foot poling skiff from scratch? I would very much like to know the art of skiff building:) Thankyou.

[@harryspear1948]

If you are mechanically inclined, it can certainly be done! Email me at [e-mail]

[@harryspear1948]

Have you stared you Skiff Build yet?

[@jakefromstatefarm9721]

hey, Im in Tampa as well (Westchase) and started building a 14 polling skiff a month ago. let me know if you have any questions.

[@robertboyer5498]

Is the hull foam and fiberglass as well? Is it reinforced with wood?

[@harryspear1948]

Yes and no.

[@grahambouthillier6597]

love no mask or gloves and suits. I wear glasses and surly love to work naked . How crazy no dust recovery on your sanding must be a nightmare ?

[@harryspear1948]

AME 1001 vinylester resin non Cat 11 catalyst @ 1.5%

[@flhick]

Harry everything i read cat 11 is a epoxy hardener.. i like the long working times being im in florida and the work times here are horrible most of the year because of the heat. I know the mek works with vinylester and polyester. would the cat 11 catalyst work on poly as well?

[@harryspear1948]

Cat 11 works fine with poly or vinylester. Not to worry. This time of year with lower temperatures use 1.5 to 2% catalyst. Don’t lay up any parts when temperatures are 55 or below.
Good luck

[@projectblue1751]

Need more beer....

[@Fulcrum205]

Harry I saw a really great boat builder named Larry Teuton use a hot glue gun to stick his bulkheads in place to hold em while the putty cured

[@harryspear1948]

Yep works just fine. I’ve been using it for years.

[@grahambouthillier6597]

Your arms must feel like you had bar fight with a porcupine my god man.

[@Micington]

You clean your bed sheets every 6 months... regardless ... even if there isn’t any fibreglass in it

[@stevequate1797]

Fucking totally Awsome, I’m half way done with my little boat, but just watching this video fir 10 mnts I learned 5 new ways bd tricks I didn’t know before. I fight my glass more than anything you didn’t fight it at all will start laying abs cutting diagonally how cool thanks can you come spend the weekend with me and think I could learn a craps’s of bid you could use experienced help free room available food and beer bro

[@stevequate1797]

Wished someone would show let me explain it. I am building a pontoon catamaran style little flat deck type boat my big boat was stolen I’m saving up for down payment so I wanted something to get me across a couple big ship channels on texas coast tried floating in a tube but two bulk shark encounters Charteruse fed my mind 1/4 way thru it and at 59 years old didn’t feel like loosing a limb
So my little boat I didn’t even consider my problem I would run into. My deck is 4 1/2’ x 5 5 1/2, I hv 2 pontoon/sponson, one each side under edge of my deck it’s bolted down to pontoon about 12” down each side of deck w/3/8” bolts. But when I stand bost on the edges line in the water the hulls fokd inwards or outwards abs eventually gonna rip the wood from bolts holding deck to pontoons. So I had a piece of hardwood solid one piece cut 2” x 2” x 4’ long putting 3 of those equally i front behind and middle of deck area, plus bigger one piece braces. My problem is holding the 2”x2” brace in one spot permetly. So I screwed a 3” x 3” to 2x2, then screwed a 6” x 6” to 3x3 more area to bond to inside of hull. So do I take abs kayer around the 6x6 a d 3x3 several layers then mix up some resin ek micro balloons silica and silica thickener a d smear around hull abs end of brace and kind of make like a Big radius up the 2x2 o reign. Racing abs everytbing for solid support I know I hv everyone confused only by a drawing or showing what I need to do oh well