Build a Wooden Rowboat

A classic two-piece design for easy transport and storage.

By Will Shelton
Published on June 1, 2001
article image
Flickr/aka CJ

Follow this guide for how to build a wooden rowboat that is easy to construct, transport, and store.

When my family and I packed up our possessions and moved across the country some years ago, it broke my heart to leave behind my Dad’s old boat. One year, he decided to build a wooden boat as a winter project, and my brothers and I gave it quite a workout every summer. We rowed it, fished from it, dove off it, even sank it a couple of times, but with a fresh coat of paint each spring, it was ready for another season. That boat hosted the first outboard motor I ever used, which was quite a thrill — but I got an even bigger kick out of the boat’s most unusual physical characteristic: It came in two. Dad designed it that way to fit in our small utility trailer. The boat rode in the trailer with its front half tucked inside its back half. When we got to the lake, we would simply bolt it together and off we would go.

When it wasn’t in use, the boat rested beside the garage under a leaky tarp. As time went by, the plywood delaminated and the glue let go until it was beyond restoring. Fortunately, I took its dimensions so that I could recreate it, and now so can you.

If you use the best material to build the boat, such as stainless steel fasteners and epoxy, this little skiff will last you many years. These materials do cost a little more, but the boat will last years longer. Obtain and study literature from epoxy suppliers before beginning the project. (See sources below.)

These drawings for building a wooden boat are based on dimensions that I took from the skiff my father built. The boat from my boyhood may be long gone, but its clone has proven just as enjoyable and promises to be the center of summertime memories for years to come.

Build a Wooden Rowboat Illustration
Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368