Tools for wood boat building

Minimums

Tools for building a wooden boat can be as many or few as you desire. What I use for building SV Sojourn will likely vary greatly from what someone will use building their own boat.

If you are an experienced wood boat builder already this is probably all old news to you. For the novice it may be of interest. If you are even considering building a wood boat for the first time, you probably already are some sort of DIY house project person (Yes ladies too) and likely have some of the basic tools to get started.

Some of the minimums are your basic hand tools such as Hammer,Tri square, perhaps a few chisels, a cross cut saw, crescent wrench, a plane, level, and so on. A few more deluxe and labor saving tools would be a bevel measure, rip saw, and a block plane. 

To really make your project easier a few power tools are essential such as a Skill saw or circular saw which you will use for just about everything. Another important power tool would be a 10 inch table saw. You don't need to go out and buy a big industrial brand or model. A cheap one from Harbor freight tools or even craigslist would be fine. In fact after you are done building your wood boat you could even sell the table saw for what you bought it for. Maybe more. 

Some more deluxe power tools would be a chop saw. I got my 10 inch compound chop, miter, bevel, and sliding saw at harbor freight for $100 on sale. I paid the extra $20 for 2 years full warranty. 

A bandsaw would be great to have although expensive. A cheaper solution would be a high quality sabersaw. probably best to get one with a scrolling head.

You need at least one 3/8 inch chuck reversing drill. Corded or cordless is up to you. I would have two available so you can use one to pre drill and the other to drive screws.

For me and the design I am building, a chainsaw would be handy. Another worth considering is an electric plane depending on how much you might use it for your particular design.

An air compressor would be handy as well. Aside from using air to blow off sawdust, all sorts of tools can be run with an air compressor. I am thinking about when it comes time to bolt the keel and ballast up.

Clamps! You can never have enough clamps! I think at a minimum you would need to have 8 C clamps large enough to cover the frame and planks plus a couple of inches. Twice as many would be preferable. 9 sliding pipe clamps 4 foot long is great for many things. Also one or two deep throat 2 foot bar clamps come in handy everywhere. Of course you can make the pipe and bar clamps with a little effort and save some bucks.

So unless you have no tools at all, I would just start building with what you have already and then later when you find yourself needing a special tool that is the time to buy it. Browse yard sales, garage sales, clearance sales at hardware stores or Craigslist is a great source for not only tools, but parts and materials as well.

Just now did a search for clamps on Craigslist and found these assorted clamps for $10 total.

Of course you always find that tool for the bargain price when you don't need it. Think ahead and save!

I know many of you will have a gazillion suggestions for the proper tools to have when building a wood boat. These are my basics and I will probably expand on them as time goes by. As always open to comments and suggestions.

Fair winds and following seas,

Scotty