Building the 23' V-Bottom Skiff - Episode 12: Finishing the first layer of bottom planking

[@tbc210]

Not only is this guy an absolute expert at what he is doing, he is also incredibly good at clearly explaining exactly what he is doing, and why. Two completely different skills, and a master of both. What a great video.

[@gysbertvanderwesthuizen8011]

That shape is simply killer, this baby is going to be so good on the water, for many years, simply excellent!

[@randallparker8477]

My grandfather grew up building boats and ships near Dundee Harbor in Scotland. He came to the states as a teen, doing carpentry, wheelwright, and as a teamster. Out of large old growth cedar and california oak, he built river work boats and wagons, furniture and buildings and mills , etc. My dad had a boat for years, that was one he helped his dad make when he was 10. By the time I came along it was still water worthy but only on lakes, and powered by a 20 horse hand steered outboard. It was kind of like your work skiff design. I remember it had a keel about 6 inches below the stern and tapered up to the stem. Every spring he would "scuff it up" and re-varnish and/or oil. It was built in 1929-30. I learned to swim and fish in that boat. It was destroyed in 1964 when that side of the storage shed burned. Watching your videos is like a connection to the days of craftmanship, and pride in the work. Thanks Louis!

[@MikePurdue-ky9pm]

So happy to see you getting back to the V bottom skiff! I've been waiting patiently to see how it turns out. Beautiful work Lou as always!

[@DouglasASean]

I do CAD design for a living, man it's good to see people just get out there with a string line and curved edge and build something amazing.

[@ccamen]

I also use CAD. Cardboard aided design . 😃

[@petrichor649]

In that case check out a guy called Alan Millyard and his engineering.

[@JeffreyDRein]

Have you ever taken data from a design like Lou's and done fluid dynamic s test/simulations and been able to make tweeks for optimization (recognizing traditional designs are arrived at through years of real world trial and error over infinite real world variables/operating environment and ware, with available materials/methods... I.e. planing & high speed turning (with that following sea Lou spoke of when building his flattie work skiff - divert'n) slow trolling, static mooring and trailering)... I imagine radical shifts for optimization could render the method unworkable... But it would be interesting if application of technology to design would impact it appreciably.... Or just guide a few optimizing tweeks here and there within tolerances of the traditional/Lou method and materials???

[@johncarter5022]

When you look at places like where the planks transition, it is more like cabinetry than boat building, precision is very impressive 👏

[@marcmarc172]

Thanks for making these video. We all love them so much!

[@floridasaltlife]

I am still a proponent of seeing Lou build a poor mans lumber yard skiff that all of us any where in the world could try and replicate.

[@TermiteUSA]

I'd have to disagree, it takes more work to build a crapper or anything else with bad materials. Encouraging quality and expertise is what will keep traditional skills alive.

[@ronwatson4902]

Everywhere I look I see skill,skill,skill and it sure is fun to watch. Thanks Lou!

[@sydneyharbourscenery1206]

We ARE havin' fun! This channel is the best. Thank you Lou.

[@sethbarnes7608]

Loving this series. Definitely hoping to see more on the Orca soon.

[@robschaffer2189]

What a great shape! I agree - using hand tools is very therapeutic. Keep the sanding dust and give me chips. :)

[@Lanxe]

She's a beauty mate. Well done and looking forward to the next episode.

[@garymassey2285]

YOU ARE AN AMAZING WOOD SHIPWRIGHT!

[@johnburgess6572]

It's like watching someone from another era...old world skills...fabulous !

[@davewill5226]

Loving the shape now you can see it in real life, this is going to be one very strong hull.Looking forward to the next one.

[@Bookerb2004]

There’s Nothing I don’t Like about this, Amazing work & love the commentary

[@swubben1]

Thanks for the mention! Throughly enjoy your videos and find what you do fascinating. Keep up the good work and take some time to put some miles on that panhead! Ride safe!

[@floridasaltlife]

Always brings a smile when I see Lou has dropped a new video. I am fond of the original skiff but this has drawn me in more than I thought it would.

[@aserta]

Well, this is an unexpected pleasure. A Lou video out of the blue. :))

[@yashaashayeri7055]

Love your videos Louis! Love your boats even more!

[@silasmarner7586]

Fantastic results Lou!!

[@gems34]

Hey Lou, its always such a pleasure to watch you work and listen to you sharing your insights. Looking forward to you demonstrating the adze

[@fonhollohan2908]

This isn't just boat building this is craftmanship that's what were seeing here.

[@bigmuz_pilot]

She's beautiful man, awesome work and thank you for sharing

[@Finn-McCool]

I am absolutely obsessed with this boat build Lou! By far my favorite project on KZbin. I wish someone would put together a round table with You, Wintergarten (marble machine X) , Torbjorn the blacksmith, Essential Craftsman, etc etc for a live Q&A.

[@Finn-McCool]

@Jacinto Gonzalez It's not even called a convention. It's called a round table. Ya numpty.

[@Finn-McCool]

@Jacinto Gonzalez It doesn't bother me at all that you are a waste of space.

[@o.h.w-ok]

Love it! I also can’t wait to see Orca!

[@MrWhitexWolf]

Loving the project!

[@mattevans-koch9353]

Lou you always deliver great information and videos. Thank you very much. The view of the bottom from the bow really shows the wonderful curves and shape of the bottom. This is going to be another beauty. Take care.

[@thomasarussellsr]

Wow, the shape is even more beautiful and more fair than I was picturing. This is set to be a gorgeous boat. I loved the flat bottom skiff, but I think this is shaping up to be my new favorite small boat on YT. I'm loving this build, and enjoying each video, but I am really looking forward to the Orca recreation too. 😀

[@ajlewis723]

I love this channel it’s amazing love what u do I’m 15 and would love to become a shipbuilder or capt of a schooner

[@bugnfront]

Look for a apprenticeship... write Lou..mot too many young folks are willing to work hard..a real craftsman is looking for a young person willing to work hard..put those two together. Show yourself above all others..you will stand out and will have offers coming after you!

[@jwilsonhandmadeknives2760]

I agree with all these guys. Good effort and a great attitude will take you anywhere you need to go. The knowledge will come as you do the work.

[@chetthejet3896]

AJ Lewis what part of the world do you live in? I am 85 and have always loved boats and boat building. It is great for a young man to have a direction when he is your age. My hobby now days is model building.

[@bugnfront]

@@chetthejet3896 Chet I am 80....so AJ..do you see how us who have lived a while might have great advice..go for it .carry no regrets!

[@kevinsmith3274]

I'm 70. If I was 15 again I would try to do the same thing you're wanting to do. Go for a young man.

[@yopage]

Great video!! Because of Lou I've bought a few planes and chisels, using hand tools on wood is so satisfying. The old quality tools are getting hard to find and very expensive. Better get yours soon.

[@danacrook4203]

Great Job! I'm learning every video and I've done some builds already. The planing instead of sanding blocks is great!

[@murrayandru7527]

It's already Looking Like a Million Lou Awesome Build well done .

[@Pete-z6e]

Another great video Louis, always a treat.

[@tomtruesdale6901]

She is coming right along and looking great! One thing I noticed as you laid on the planking is how big the skiff is for a 23 foot boot. Looking forward to your next video.

[@shoresharp8349]

Hey Lou wow that's alot of fiberglass !!! Bullet proof bottom!!!

[@raytheron]

That bottom is beautiful! Love the sweet lines. Thanks for yet another fab video, Lou!

[@tonykazz2779]

beautiful wood working demonstration, thank you Tony in Venice Florida

[@Tonnsfabrication]

17:15 You may not want to brag, but you have every right to do so if you should choose. Fantastic !

[@kittonsmitton]

Beautiful building technique Lou, you are a master boat builder!

[@arthurzettel6618]

I love the lines of that V-Bottom.

[@txkflier]

Amazing work, as always. I look forward to each new video. Thanks, Lou..

[@citizenone3442]

Love watching you work brother. You are a true craftsman.

[@eoghanbishop9745]

Wow! Those lines are fantastic.

[@NoName-jg3vz]

artistic genius !!! a true master....

[@rml3wood]

Inspiration! Thanks for what you do, Lou❤️

[@Fambamm-ib6pw]

As always, great video.

[@FluffH1]

What a beautiful shape.

[@tphvictims5101]

BEAUTIFUL. If you look at the Stonework in Peru you’ll see how important this Art really is.

[@pelleandersson3634]

You are the best boatbuilder 😀

[@jessejenks5401]

Fun to watch! Why wouldn’t you coat the backside of the planks and all the internal structure with epoxy or varnish? It will obviously be getting wet in there.

[@melvindenny8962]

Ahh....She's a Bonney Lass Lou. Thanks for the time you give us.

[@indiankite7358]

You, Sir are a master.

[@bosse641]

Wonderful work.

[@FrankLassowski]

In short: You just love what you do here. :-) Thanks for your videos!

[@billywhizz6483]

It looks beautiful!

[@ateliedemaquetes.aereoenav4894]

Nice work!

[@SMKreitzer1968]

Thanks Lou, looks great!

[@giannisquillace9068]

Beautiful, as usual!

[@ioannisaliazis]

Wow, this thing is gonna be a tank!

[@dirtyscant3447]

sweet.thanks for sharing.

[@utubeaccess7]

There is the phrase "They dont build them like this anymore". But did they ever actually build boats this well? She is looking great!

[@richardbohlingsr3490]

Nice hull lines. She ought to cut through the water smoothly and with low power loss.

[@rickbensco9793]

I hoping for a plywood boat that my Boy Scouts can build while following you on you tube. Maybe that can be another project and make the plans available. Say a 12 foot boat that can be rowed or powered with a small motor.

[@SirPrancelot1]

Great stuff.

[@groundthing2130]

I am intrigued into your thought of the bilge, with a deck that drains to bilge depending so much on a bilge pump. Traditionally fast water that enters, should exit the boat just as fast(via a wave or heavy rain), do you plan on having gravity drains also? Seems scary to depend soley on a pump to remove water from the boat.

[@bazmon]

She looking good Lou... Nice one Sir... :)

[@cbrusharmy]

YES!

[@sbuzz5889]

she will be a better ride in a big sea i have a tri hull stable /wet- better for intercoastal waters the previous flat bottom inside an out, was a great work boat =stable w/gunnels

[@willisgemutlich2608]

another good one

[@williamperez156]

 beautiful craft

[@ronhatcher7734]

very cool

[@larry78cj7]

Awesome

[@mjamory2841]

Lou where are you? We need the next DeepV video!

[@paulbriggs3072]

How do you intend to paint the underside of those bottom planks (inside bottom when the boat's righted) with that floor platform permanently installed over it?

[@sjobang]

How will the wood in between the two waterproof layers dry, after the outer layer has got some scratches and punctures and water starts soaking the wood?

[@buckhorncortez]

It's a technique for boat construction that cannot be simply explained. If you're truly interested, then read the book, "The Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction." I have had a hard copy version for 30 years, but I think you can now find it online as a PDF. If you read that book it details how the construction ensures the boat is waterproof.

[@arrangemonk]

"i didnt use any electric tools on this ... except the electric plane" thats the spirit XD

[@oikkuoek]

Aand a jig saw..

[@paulhollyfield6044]

This is not meant as criticism. Original work is amazing and so meaningful. My question is how do you try to match the angles of the two sides of the curved bow section? From the camera, the port side of the bow does not appear as sharp at the keel as the starboard side.

[@joshwalker5605]

“im not into the dust” boy howdy aint that the truth. The #1 reason I always use hand tools wherever i can is to avoid dust. #2 is to avoid noise.

[@johnpaquin8041]

hay you make all of this look so ezy

[@davidbright7411]

WILL YOU HAVE A SET OF PLANS FOR THIS BOAT?

[@habibalorij]

I would like to ask whether we should always put layers of fiberglass. Can't we do without

[@boatrat]

The old single-planked skiffs of this shape, needed all those forward cross-planks to be laboriously carved down from much thicker stock, to finish in the twisted orientation each plank ends up with. Only with this scheme of two much thinner layers of wood planking, can this hull shape be achieved by dry-bending/twisting them into place as shown here. He spoke of his reasoning for adapting to this modern layered process, including the need for the fiberglass to enhance stiffness, stability and water-tightness, in an earlier episode. I don't think you will ever find Lou advocating "always" using fiberglass. But the scheme has clear advantages in this case. Another case in point, was the modernized composite-construction version of a traditional-shaped dory he did on this channel, a couple years ago. He explains his reasoning for the similar adaptations there too. That turned out a particularly beautiful little dory-tender, of surprisingly fast performance for a short, lightweight rowboat. And even more so than that dory, this power-skiff being built much lighter than the original working boats of this type, should show major improvements in performance compared to its ancestors.

[@madmaori8315]

Hi my names squid I'm from nz ive got myself a project to my belief its a 1920 50ft kauri wood pilot boat, At the moment I'm striping all the paint off it now my question is wots the story with corcking? Should I recorck it with cotton then use some sealer then paint? Or do I pull out the cotton and epoxy some wood strips in-between the planks then sand them back flush with the planks then glass up to the waterline or do I leave wot cottons in there and use like 3m permanent filler to seal the planks then paint it. Also ive been told I should fill the hull with salt water I'm sorry but I don't understand ive got people giving me advice that don't build boats wot would u or anyone suggest i should do any help would be much appreciated thankyou in advance

[@michaelwhitmore8574]

Hey Lou, I might have missed it in the video, but why do you do the first layer of fiberglass and then cover that up with another layer of planking? Is that just a strength thing?

[@andrewwhiting1917]

Yeah I had the same question, looking forward to your explanation and reasons for this method of construction.

[@nathanrendelman]

he did that with the dory too

[@oikkuoek]

The shape is sea worthy, but should the second layer of planking be replaced with honey cone, or a sheet of foam? It's going to be sealed all the way around anyways, so why use wood? Wood still can't handle confined places, it's only going to spoil the fiberglass bond by sucking moisture and swelling and rotting between the sheets, so why use it? Just but some synthetic material between the layers of fiberglass, and save some weight and add stability in the process.

[@paulhollyfield6044]

EXCELLENT point!, I watch Parley Revival channel and Colin repairs hurricane damaged catamarans with hull damage. The balsa core always soaks up water and rots. He always tears out the damaged core and replaces with synthetic material.

[@oikkuoek]

@@paulhollyfield6044 Thanks! Wood is still very much alive material, no matter when it's cut, what type of wood or how small is the cut piece. It hosts bacteria and fungi, and expands and contracts with the seasons. When it's concealed it can't breathe, and therefore the bacteria and fungi can thrive with no hindrance. Wood is good material when it's saturated and ventilated, but when it's concealed with epoxy, latex, or similar material, it just rots every time.

[@trout4bait549]

Who's the new kid? I hope all is well with Caleb. ;)

[@alexhamon9261]

What's the benefit to having fiberglass between the layers rather than just laying up the next layer bonding it down with epoxy and making the outer fiberglass layer that much thicker? From my understanding of the physics, the inside part will mostly just get sheer stresses that epoxy will handle just fine while the outside will get most of the tension and compression forces and abrasion which the fiberglass will hold up better to.

[@jwilsonhandmadeknives2760]

great question. I’m wondering if Lou’s thought behind it is that the biaxial cloth will keep the planks from working in the joints.

[@alexhamon9261]

@@jwilsonhandmadeknives2760 I've done a little reading on cold molding, a boat making process where thin planking is laid in different orientations saturated with epoxy, a bit like he did the transom that handles those sheer stresses well, then putting all the cloth that's laid on the outer surfaces.

[@Stillnapie]

Did you watch the previous build??? Do so, it explains the reasons....

[@richardhoffman9729]

Yo, Lou, you need to put "1948 Panhead" under my name, along with Gainesville Florida

[@bugnfront]

That's a "double Adz".

[@colinmead8996]

✅☝🏻Great work champ☝🏻✅

[@pm1104]

Perfection on steroids!

[@immortallu5590]

There's method to your madness... 😁

[@bsa5650]

have you ever built a cat? great content

[@typicallucas]

hey just a heads-up, Orca is a character in the Jaws movie. Someone holds the copyright to that and may have grounds to sue if you continue to use that name when you're building your next boat. Don't make the same mistake as the "B is for Build" channel when they tried to replicate Eleanor - their car got repossessed!

[@MrOlddave]

Seems like it's going to be overbuilt. Why is that hull going to be so thick on a relatively small boat? I am not understanding the logic. Modern boat building is all about keeping it light to make it easier to power.

[@Stillnapie]

Well it is normal for the type and it is NOT modern boat building......

[@kcamp1640]

It's not modern boat building it's traditional boat building. On choppy water I would get in one his boats before I would get in one of yours. It's clear you don't understand what he is doing.

[@paulhollyfield6044]

You want weight for stability and good ride in heavy seas. I'l take comfort over slamming anyday.

[@Mad.Man.Marine]

Anyone that has “issues” with the way you built this boat really needs to remember. Opinions are like........... so. Don’t be a turd. This man has forgotten more then 99% of the people watching. Just remember that people.

[@buckhorncortez]

People with issues on how he's building the boat have never read "The Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction."

[@Ljet600]

cheap, simple, fast :)

[@0380chad]

The problem with this channel is Lou makes it look way too easy. Dangerous when I start thinking, “maybe I should try to build a boat.”

[@stevenholton438]

It seems your starboard side is deeper or higher than the port! It doesnt seem to be the result of the viewing angle either! Could there have been a boo boo Louis?

[@gav2759]

Ooh, did you here that noise Steven? It was the sound of a collective intake of breath at that comment. I would put my money on a perspective anomaly, rather than this guy making such a howler.

[@kcamp1640]

I'm pretty sure you couldn't even inflate a rubber raft, but you have no problem passing judgement on something you clearly don't understand.

[@Stillnapie]

Really?? Punk...

[@paulhollyfield6044]

I saw the same thing. It's not meant as criticism, Steve is a true artist. Just curious about how to try to achieve symmetry on such complex angles

[@stevenholton438]

@@paulhollyfield6044 Thanks for keeping an open mind Paul.