Building a Skin On Frame Boat

I spent the last 4 months building this boat through another lockdown! In Auckland, New Zealand.
The Boat is a Geodesic Airolite 'Classic 12' designed by Platt Monfort, I bought plans and a partial kit from GABoats.com. The shape of the Hull is Loosely based on the lines of a whitehall rowing boat and can be built and setup to be sailed which I opted to do.
A skin on frame boat is basically a wooden frame wrapped with some sort of fabric, in this case Platt Monfort came up with a technique using Kevlar twine to reinforce a thinner wooden frame to make an exceptionally light boat. I covered the boat with 4oz Dacron which I coated with the skin boat school 2 part polyurethane.
I haven't weighed the finished boat but according to the Geodesic Airolite specs it should be around 16kgs, I'd assume mine is slightly more than that, I dont know if that would account for the daggerboard box etc, but it is very light, I can easily lift it onto a car roof rack by myself.
I used yellow cedar for the stringers and most of the rest of the boat and then oak for the ribs and marine ply for the rest. I couldnt get green oak very easily so I had to use kiln dried for the ribs, I soaked the ribs overnight and had very little issues. I think part of my success with the steam bending comes down to selecting the best grain for the tightest bends. The frame was finished with a homemade blend of equal parts tung oil, marine varnish and turpentine.
I used epoxy for most of the glue ups because it is extremely strong, gap filling and has a long open time for all of the difficult and intricate glue ups. Occasionally I used titebond 3 where I wasn't so worried about setup time or gap filling.
I took the boat out for a test a week ago and it feels great, very stable. I do need to learn to row properly though, very different to paddling! I also had a couple of issues with the sailing rig but I did have a good minute or so of "wow I'm sailing! I can turn it where I want with the rudder! Its really happening!" and I'm looking forward to learning more about that. Sorry I didn't get any footage of her in the water it was a bit of a stressful day!
As is a little tradition with my canoes I named her 'Little Wing' after a Neil Young song.
I was so glad that I had almost all of the materials I needed to build this before the lockdown started! I only had to wait a couple of weeks when I ran out of wood and was waiting for my timberyard to re-open in lower restrictions for a contactless collection! Having this to get on with really kept me sane when we were stuck at home again and everything seemed bleak. I hope you enjoy watching the process.
If you want to see more photos etc I uploaded some on my instagram
davidbrynparker

[@waltersnowdon1243]

That was visual poetry.Such a delicate looking dinghy built with true craftsmanship. I am 83 and in the 1950s built six craft using only hand tools and due to post wartime austerity using whatever materiels I could find. (most of my timber came from wartime wooden military buildings which were being demolished nearby). took great pride in this. (Three canvas canoes and three 10 foot sailing dinghys ). It was a true pleasure to watch you make such a beautiful craft. Thank you.

[@DavidParker]

Thanks for the lovely comment! Hopefully I’ll look back on building this boat with the same fondness!

[@gracegood3661]

There are channels that would have taken a year to show this craft being built- and elevated the process to some kind of religious revaluation as one becomes one with the wood type carry on. You just showed me eight aspects of small craft design and method I hadn’t know prior and you did it in a few minutes. Thank you very much.

[@jackx4311]

David - that's a beautiful combination of lightness, strength, and resilience, and definitely a build to be proud of! I hope your little ship gives you many years of pleasure.

[@alangood8190]

Very interesting. Beautiful boat. Aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

[@alanwareham7391]

I can only congratulate you on the skill you used to create this lovely little boat

[@DavidParker]

Thank you!! You’re very kind!

[@williamwightman8409]

Just a beautiful job on this boat. I built a shrink-skin experimental proa sailboat 25 years ago and did not think to use the diagonal Kevlar stiffeners. Thanks for the great video.

[@ericbutler7310]

Great job on your boat! I built one of these out of mahogany and ash about 19 years ago...beautiful design. I built the whole thing with a portable circular saw and a Ryoba style Japanese saw...and used a wallpaper steamer to bend the ribs. I think I loved building it even more than putting it in the water. I made two major build changes. First, I lashed the ribs using artificial sinew instead of using the kit epoxy. I did use the epoxy for the attachments fore and aft along with all the reinforcement blocking. Second, I used 600 denier water shrink polyester instead of the included heat shrink variiety. And, I coated it with 2 part polyurethane for more strength. The Kevlar turned out to be unnecessary. I was lucky enough during the build to correspond with Platt Mountford (the designer) before his passing a few years later. ..super nice guy and very helpful.

[@DavidParker]

Cool! Yeah I also used a special 2 part polyurethane from the skin boat school, bit of a nightmare to apply but supposedly super hard wearing! I thought about lashing the ribs but decided to just follow the instructions!

[@JagLite]

Very well done video! I have the plans for the Classic 14 so I was very glad to find your build. I appreciate that you made the video at high speed to show how much time goes into building something. Some viewers seem to think this is an instruction video, it is not, it is an excellent overview of how a Platt Monfort Geodesic design boat goes together.

[@DavidParker]

Haha yeah none of my videos are instructional videos, but I find I learn so much from watching other people make things and I was desperately looking for more content around skin on frame boats to see if I could work out how people did certain processes etc hope it helps! Good luck with the build

[@steffenb.jrgensen2014]

What a beauty! And a fascinating combination of ancient craftmanship with new materials!

[@DavidParker]

Thanks! Yeah it’s a super interesting design!!

[@spanishjo4282]

I award you the best golden charismatic stylish waterski diy king 2022

[@chcorreia]

Thank you for taking all that extra effort to share this with the world and congratulations on the fantastic job. She's truly a beaut!

[@DavidParker]

Thank you! Sometimes filming is a chore when I’m trying to get on with something but I enjoy it too and hopefully it helps someone down the line!

[@Estudiante-musico-con-hobbies]

​@@DavidParker birreme o tireme, pleaseeeee

[@Tampo-tiger]

What a beautiful creation David. There is something 'very New Zealand' about a work of art, lovingly built and for use in a place so innately benign (except for those damnable rips!). I'm a UK dweller, but visited your magical country 20 years ago, and have never forgotten the unique feel of kindness and gentility. Your boat is every bit a product of that. Thank you for all your efforts, especially going to all the effort of filming the process.

[@DavidParker]

Thanks for your kind words!! I grew up in England until I was 16. For a few years we lived right next to a canal in Cheshire and I am kicking myself now that I wasn't making use of all of those incredible, flat waterways just walking distance from my house!

[@konstasg6620]

This boat with the tire ups is like pinheaded.magnificent work!

[@alexhawkhead]

What craftsmanship, that is such a beautiful thing you’ve made.

[@DavidParker]

☺️ thanks!!

[@brucesinclair2981]

Could not have said it better.your a very talented man.

[@voornaam3191]

We got a skin on frame kayak builder in the club. He has the same grade of perfection as this Kiwi. You really need that "do everything the right way" mentality, or you end up with an expensive sinking tent like thing. Mistakes will say "crack" in the worst possible moment, surrounded by salt water crocs, you can imagine yourself. But most DIY'ers can learn how to build such a boat. There are also easier to build designs, do that first, just a small dinghy is a good idea. A second and larger boat will be easier after building number one. Skin on frame is extremely light, modern skins are bulletproof fabric, so you can forget punctures. Such a lightweight boat is fantastic.

[@broftkd]

First video I see someone close a boat, as if it were an airplane wing. Nice!

[@cihangirkoparal8047]

Perfect construction and very beautiful video .thanks David..

[@DavidParker]

Thank you!!

[@benskai2475akurfishing]

very genius, senior, rare stages of boat-building work, with precise and precise calculations, every detail of the boat, I was very impressed

[@GergC0521]

This was fabulous, thank you for sharing. I'll be doing one this summer.

[@maxchristianesteffan2321]

beautiful. I was surprised at the end that it was finished and ready to go on water.

[@barryp4700]

A fantastic build, congratulations.

[@DavidParker]

Thank you very much!

[@zoranastalkoski3515]

Dave brother you are amazing.Fantastic job. Thank you for sharing with all of us.

[@daverowlands5046]

Beautiful Dave! Loving seeing the smaller details come to life in the video ❤️

[@DavidParker]

Thank you!! Haha yeah so many little pieces!

[@ranselcruzcolon5837]

@@DavidParker building canoe with pedal

[@butunayhagverdiyev5184]

Love the accuracy you work with! Beautiful job sir!

[@margaretgoodwin4484]

when I did mine I couldn't rig a steam box so I used 3 laminations of mahogany. I soaked the strips in a long water tube then bent and clamped them into position. I let it dry for a few days then removed the laminated ribs and glued them with water activated glue. Then clamped them back in place until the glue set. thanks for making the video, maybe it will encourage others to take a kick at the cat. Once you get into it it is kind of straight forward, like assembling a big puzzle but you have to make your own pieces.

[@nigelbeaumont1109]

Beautiful little Vessel. Good job.

[@RhythmicEye]

Awesome effort dude! I hope you’re proud of your achievement. Nothing like sailing the boat you built.

[@sick-days]

It's a gem, Dave. Such a cool, lightweight frame.

[@DavidParker]

Thanks Tom!!

[@StephanieElizabethMann]

Great video. Good clear explanations. Beautiful boat.

[@PowerOfOne-u4h]

Beautiful. And light.

[@DavidParker]

Thank you!

[@geodesicairoliteboats1632]

Beautiful job, David! I get a lot of questions about building the Classic boats so I'll be sending some builders to your video in the future. Congratulations on a great build. Larry LaLonde, owner, Geodesic Airolite Boats

[@DavidParker]

Thanks Larry! Haha yeah I found your videos very helpful but there was a few times I wished there was a classic 12 specific video!

[@theonlyrobot]

@@DavidParker It looks like you have a lot of footage. Maybe enough for a build series. I would really appreciate that when I build mine. However this video is a really big help on its own.

[@theonlyrobot]

Larry, could this be reinforced to take a 4hp outboard? I was thinking of a small thrust troller for a backup, but if I could hang my old Mariner on there, it would be really nice. I could take it down river through the lock to Nashville and motor back up river to get home.

[@geodesicairoliteboats1632]

@@theonlyrobot The transom could be reinforced to take a motor but the hull simply isn't designed for that and I strongly discourage it. If you just need some help going back upstream, you'd be surprised how easily the boat is moved by a small trolling motor. Several people have done that. Thanks!

[@theonlyrobot]

@@geodesicairoliteboats1632 Thanks for weighing in on that Larry. For the troller, I'm assuming something in the 30-60lb thrust is the range to go with?

[@davidcatanach2620]

Beautiful job mate, thanks for sharing.

[@osvaldomartinez2427]

Te felicito amigo , eres un GENIO , gracias por compartir Conocimientos Prácticos !!!

[@radarriau]

Looks light! Nice build.

[@shiningirisheyes]

Thank for the info and insight to this method of boat building.

[@benndanny12]

That was absolutely amazing! Thank you very much. 🙂

[@davesalisbury1820]

Awesome craftsmanship!

[@chrishodde]

Fabulous workmanship. Thanks!

[@Pete-eb4ec]

My dad was a boat and mast builder. I've see a lot of boats built, but never a dacron skin on frame. Wat elegant lines! It reminds me of the 12ft. Jol, which is built from wood.By the sound of it, you had great weather for a build.

[@secretsquirrel6308]

This is how the Wright Brothers did it. The Inuit too except they used seal skin. This video shows an exceptional build.

[@JustAskingAndCurios]

Beautiful work of a craftsmanship.

[@dfeisst]

What an accomplishment! It looks fantastic. Great stuff!

[@DavidParker]

Thank you!!

[@davesmith6193]

Hello David,from the UK. I've just spent a long time watching you build this boat. I was awstruck with your skills,and attention to details in everything you do. I wish I was as skilled as you. Now don't drop sharp items in it whilst out sailing eh !! Good luck. I hope she sails well. I'm sure she will. Because the lines are lovely. Regards Dave. In the UK

[@csquaredvisionsfpv8964]

This was a fantastic build! Thankyou for the extra work to make the video! Beautiful boat!

[@DavidParker]

Thanks for your kind comment!

[@claireadamson458]

Oh wow what a beautiful boat!

[@DavidParker]

Thanks Claire!!

[@rhyansimmons2691]

Very well done and even better documentation!

[@sereminar4]

What a beautiful boat! Great job!!

[@TakamiWoodshop]

How sweet is that! You'll have a ball with that thing over summer!

[@DavidParker]

Thanks Rob!

[@philipfreeman72]

I helped my students & an experienced AK Native build the frame for a whaling skin covered boat. This was at Nuiqsut AK , not sure if they finished it . It was an end of the year fun project . Mostly spruce , hopefully useful boat .

[@waterboy8999]

Brilliant! Looks fabulous, nice work.

[@mauriziopintus1446]

AMAZING... Fantastic job... 👏👏👏👏👏

[@visumexcipio]

Enjoyed watching n learning

[@mikeyedmund]

Love your idea hoping to start one sometime.

[@aydoganlermi789]

Awesome job, beautiful video, inspirational. thank you for sharing..

[@petercoleman6749]

well done Dave,excellent job as usual

[@lsh3rd]

I’m looking to build one of these as well… just getting to finishing my canoe, which was kind of a proof of concept. I’m really interested in doing a lug sail on either a Classic 10 or Classic 12, so I might purchase one of the small off-the-shelf sails for a similar sized boat. I’ll likely have to do a bit of research on mast vs center case positioning for the lug.

[@DavidParker]

Cool! I actually sold mine to a close friend due to a combination of health issues/moving house/not really feeling interested in sailing and wanting to canoe more, but he’s taken it out for a sail a few times this summer and has really enjoyed it, said it’s comfortable sailing along in a light breeze even with two people

[@thomaswayneward]

Great job of building the boat. You have some deft ways of getting the job done.

[@ballyhoo48]

Thanks. That was real good. Lovely job too

[@michaelwilkinson2928]

Beautifully done. I would have been tempted to epoxy a couple of layers of GRP sheet over the outside for additional strength, although it would have added to the weight.

[@thesourcerer6504]

Great job David!!!

[@grantmelocik1703]

David did a beautiful job here, however, for those that may be put-off by the huge amount and variety of power tools he used, please know that you can build these boats with nothing but simple hand tools. And lots and lots of clamps! You may need help from a friend with a table saw to make the strips, however, I have even made strips using nothing but a small battery powered circular saw. I have made several Platt Monfort boats this way. On one I covered the dacron bottom with epoxy filled kevlar cloth giving me a craft I could drag over and bump into river rocks yet still lightweight. These are great boats.

[@kf4293]

So glad for this. I was thinking he might be doing some serious overkill. I was looking at these designs for simplicity.

[@FranksDIY]

Amazing job. One day I'd like to try to make my own

[@davidelliott5843]

So would I, but woodworking machine to that standard are well beyond my mens.

[@FranksDIY]

@@davidelliott5843 I hear you

[@peterAustralia333]

good video,, I did not realise until now that the diagonals on the framing were just string,, that means it is s a simpler build than I had assumed. My guess is the string is good for hull rigidiity by resisting twisting. the string would also fill in the gaps between frames, meaning that the dips or hollows in the fabric are diminised

[@DavidParker]

Yes, it’s Kevlar twine. Once you apply the varnish it supposedly shrinks up and adds a lot of torsional strength!

[@dooleyfussle8634]

Fabulous boat! I'm inspired. Just a note, while Neil probably did a cover, Little Wing was written by Jimi Hendrix.

[@DavidParker]

It’s a different song kzbin.info/www/bejne/iauzn4SKpaqfeNk

[@An-zg4iq]

очень хорошая работа.руки просто золотые

[@mlangfordoutdoor]

I like it with the sail very nice job

[@chuckjohnson4048]

Been there done that. Mine was the Classic 10 with Monfort's centerboard that hinged upward to eliminate breaking the centerboard housing.

[@montyzumazoom1337]

Very nice, and interesting build.

[@gregbolitho9775]

Excellent job m8, liked the boat, jealous of the tools.

[@Uswesi1527]

Very ingenious. Thanks

[@arenzejeanette1120]

Well well well, a man who can build his own boat (quite a beauty ✌🏼) AND use an iron?! It's good u built a boat cuz u r gonna need it 🌊😏

[@fernancetran1329]

Que lindo trabajo. Felicitaciones!!!

[@sirjhonson8218]

You could use that design but cover it with Cedar strips . That would make beautiful boat too.

[@777brucekim777]

Outstanding work.

[@daveveryser6811]

Really nice !! Well done

[@DavidParker]

Thanks!!

[@solotraveler6025]

Very cool, great build.

[@viktoryakhnis2166]

Viktor from Ukraine, the good building boat and job. Have you a good swiming...

[@donhutcheson4374]

Yep. Guessed it was tidal. Auckland has changed so much since I (foolishly) left in 1975. I don't think Kelston even existed!

[@СергейЕлисеев-ц6р]

Красиво. Просто песня, гимн золотым рукам МАСТЕРА. Но насколько это надёжно?

[@rcpmac]

Nice video! I think the seat structure should hang from the gunnel structure as is typical in lightweight canoe building

[@DavidParker]

According to the plans and Platt Monfort who designed the Geodisic Airolite system of building skin on frame boats that’s exactly how they should be hung. The gunwales are only 10mm thick so wouldn’t be much use for hanging anything.

[@reforzar]

Beautiful work mate!

[@DavidParker]

Thanks Brian!

[@ronbaker1280]

You make it easy to make it!

[@ZenevYT]

Muy interesante y bonito, espero algun dia poder hacer un barco.

[@makewhatyoulike119]

Nice work👍

[@mohamedlyesbenyamina3077]

Vous êtes un artiste

[@jujijo16]

Amazing work, I would suggest agging glue on the screws

[@DavidParker]

I used wax to seal in the screws, I might need to take them out eventually

[@alessandromazzotti341]

Bella e ottimo lavoro, per un laghetto va benissimo, da noi in adriatico con un buon sciroccale il primo a saltare è il timone, poi raccogli i pezzi di tutto il resto.

[@SamEEE12]

Sweet boat.

[@SamEEE12]

Careful using a belt sander like 6:43. Big sandery crush machine.

[@j.p.francofranco2866]

Your boat is beautiful, make a video of you sailing ,greetings Brazil

[@1967250s]

Absolutely lovely!

[@Сергей-у4л1х]

Шикарная работа !!! Лодка похожа на классический фофан , причем прозрачная как чехонь даже страшно на ней плавать . Интересно какой у нее вес с такой обшивкой ?

[@DavidParker]

Thanks!! It’s about 15-20kg I can lift it on my own and put it on a car roof on my own so pretty light!

[@nicolafabris1041]

Caro David sei un Maestro ! E' una soddisfazione andarci in giro nel lago, non trovi? Grazie per questa bella condivisione, Ciao Nick from IT

[@robertlaird6746]

I've been wondering where you could get plans for this boat for years after I saw a photo of one a long time ago but now I know. Nice build.

[@albertmyers7176]

good job

[@GabrielIvanflyesfishing]

Foarte fain😊😅😮

[@terryboehler5752]

Good job

[@albertshilton5336]

Great work. I want to build one. But, I have a rocky beach. Will the Dacron get destroyed if you beach it? How does it sail? Is it stable? Would you build it again?

[@sedatsaygl8491]

Thank you..gret jobs..

[@theqwertydream]

Вы очень хороший мастер, приятно смотреть)))

[@NathanNostaw]

What a beauty. Lovely work and beautiful outcome. How much did it end up weighing? Looks very light and maneuverable.

[@shopnwoods9901]

Well done!

[@DavidParker]

Thanks!