The Plan. Build a 19' Ohio Pound Net Sharpie with plans from Reuel Parker of Parker Marine. My woodworking background is basic at best, but our new place has a 2 1/2 bay garage with a work bench that beckons for a project. We don't normally keep the cars there anyway. I did attend the Wooden Boat School in the late '80's and took the Fundamentals of Boat building course. But what I learned from that endeavor was that I don't have the skills to build a traditional carvel planked boat and that they have a fantastic fleet of classic vessels for students to use, even (especially) if you cut class.

It's Mike's fault. Reading Mike O'Brien's reviews in the back of Wooden Boat Magazine never fails to get the juices flowing. After reading his reviews of various sharpies in a recent issue and comments on how "easy" they were to build, I couldn't resist. I ordered Reuel's "The Sharpie Book" and really began to drool. He mentions the Ohio sharpie as a great beginner boat. The plans were ordered next.

It's logical? There is some logic here. Building a boat, even a "simple" boat like this will take me many months, if not longer. At my skill level the building will go so slow that it should be difficult to out spend my budget. Especially considering what we would be budgeting for if we were to buy a boat, dock and maintain it. Plus my wife will know where I am in all my off time. She is very supportive of this so far.

Step 1: Build a 1" scale model of the sharpie to see how the parts go together, or don't. Make a bunch of mistakes on the little one that hopefully don't have to be repeated on the big one. .

Step 2:. Build a Peace Canoe was published in Wooden Boat at this time and since the construction method seemed somewhat similar to that of the sharpie, plus it is a "weekend" project (right) it seemed like a good warm up for the real thing.

Minor changes from the plans: moved the chine log inside, glass (xynole cloth) and epoxy the exterior. I did these modifications more for practice as this what will be done on the sharpie and I've never messed with that much fabric and epoxy before. She should end up being one battleship of a "canoe!"

Another first step, build a model of the canoe.	Still another step: Needed a few more sawhorses. Check out the 14 minute sawhorse.	Cut and measure, measure and cut, not always in the right order.
Most of the parts laid out	Starting to come together	Failure of my ever first scarf, not a good omen. Here is an attempt at a repair.
Dogboat-Schooner and Dory getting their sea (garage?) legs.	Plans available from WB	Ghost boat. A real trick or treat: epoxying Xynole-poly cloth. (beats fiberglass!)
Wetting out, only 3 coats to go.	Epoxied and dog approved. But what do they know? They're waiting for a treat or at least to go swimming.	Who's the guy in the funny suit? It keeps dust in shop and out of happy house.
Looking like the battleship she is, primed navy gray. Reminds me of why I'm a pilot today.	Showing her true colors, and blemishes. They don't hide under black paint! This is why this is the practice boat.	Turned over. Now all she needs is a little epoxy, trimming, paint, and this "weekend" project will be out the door. EST (estimated splash time, in the real world) two weeks.
Stems trimmed. Boat gets final coats of paint and even a name.	Dry launch and dog approved.	In the water, sort of. Launched in our small pond. Knew this was designed for sheltered waters, but this is ridiculous.
DogBoat Sold

Launched 8/09: Vika - 19' Ohio Sharpie