Elegant Punt 2015

Step by step instructions for building Phil Bolger's Elegant Punt.

[@AhnkoCheeOutdoors]

I built mine in 1983 also in one week end. She was a surprisingly seaworthy craft. I used to take it out into the open Pacific here in Hawai'i in pursuit of offshore gamefish even tuna. I always carried a pair of oars, and once when my motor died I rowed back into shore for 8 miles. I wish I still had her.

[@sindarpeacheyeisacommie8688]

Build another!

[@geraldperyman6535]

Ahnko;how long did it take to row8 miles?

[@solarsail56]

Pretty awesome.

[@ArthurTanner-d7s]

@@geraldperyman6535 Well it's been a year since you asked and he's not responded so I guess he's still rowing.

[@Murphyboatprocess]

I’ve built one which I’ve enjoyed for many years, but plan to add flotation as the plans specified, because without I was unable to self rescue and bail it after capsize without dragging it to shore. Thank you for the video and fond memories.

[@solarsail56]

Thank you for the comment. I used to build them without the floatation. After watching one capsize I now always add floatation under the seat to help keep it higher in the water in case of capsize.

[@mr.e1944]

Cool little boat and very good video. Thanks!

[@scottfels4083]

Thanks for sharing, Joe. I'm going to build one this winter.

[@solarsail56]

See you at the Boat Show this weekend - I hope you were successful with your build!

[@jamesHadden-l6l]

Great builds When the Gougeoun Brothers book first came out They had plans for a 8 foot cold molded pram Was fun to build with varnished cedar hull

[@solarsail56]

Thanks for the comment!

[@sindarpeacheyeisacommie8688]

Excellent video. Ive had a copy of Instant Boats on bookshelf for twenty years. I think it may soon be time to make a punt

[@CampfireKodiak]

Wonderful pram! Do you know how much it weighs? Can you lift it over your head without hurting yourself?

[@solarsail56]

The boat weighs 40 pounds. I can lift it over my head, one end at a time. I also carry it on my back, turtle style to move it around the shop and docks.

[@CampfireKodiak]

@@solarsail56 Sounds just about perfect!

[@dougborden1]

HI Joe. What glues do you use and also what paint. Too many choices out there and too many opinions. close to done the boat

[@solarsail56]

I like to use thickened west system epoxy. When we build them at the Toledo Boat show we use West System Six/10. It is a bit pricey, but it is very easy not not at all messy like when you are mixing your own.

[@WinterBeachProductions]

Thanks! Also, any tips on placement of the oarlocks and do you mount them on a support plate or just right to the inside of the gunwales?

[@solarsail56]

MrInspirationzzz sorry for the delay. I’ve been camping with no electronics. I mount them directly to the gun’l but think it would not hurt to reinforce them by mounting them on a block mounted to the gun’ls.

[@ObsidianFrog]

Great video. Thanks very much for sharing. ( great clamps idea!).

[@solarsail56]

Thank you for the compliment. Those clamps are a great deal. I don't remember where I picked up that tip, but I've been using those clamps for years.

[@huxmetalworks7371]

Great job love the boat can you tell me if the book is still available thanks for sharing

[@solarsail56]

Thanks for the note. You can sometimes find the book for sale on eBay or Amazon. I did a quick search and did not find one at the present time. Keep checking.

[@gmaclaren]

Pretty little boat! Thanks for the video.

[@solarsail56]

Grant MacLaren thanks for the comment!.

[@ArtworkAnon]

I want one of these. I have instant boats on the way in the mail. How much does this weigh, and how could you possibly make it any lighter? Cool build. Thanks for the video.

[@solarsail56]

The boats I've built range between 30 and 40 pounds. You can keep the weight down by using thinner plywood. I've made them out of door skins, but they are not as durable because of the three ply veneer versus 5 ply on marine plywood. You can get more life out of a door skin boat by storing it indoors and do not leave it in the water for extended periods of time. I suggest just using 4mm marine grade plywood and don't worry about the one or two pounds it saves.

[@ArtworkAnon]

⁠@@solarsail56Wow thanks for the thoughtful reply. Maybe I will tell you what I’m trying to do in case you have some good ideas. I am looking for a sailing dingy that I can, by myself, lift out of the water and onto the cabin of my 31ft Bolger motor vessel. I want something we can row / sail around when we are on moorage, but also something to teach sailing with. (Kids) If I could get this to be under 50, even 60lbs, I think it could be just right. Thoughts? Thanks for the videos, I’m going to watch this how to make an oar video now.

[@solarsail56]

Building it per plans will be plenty light for your needs. I've made several into sailboats. I highly recommend reducing the sail rig by 30%. The sail rig in the plans is actually the same rig Bolger put on the 15 foot surf. It is too much sail for the punt and everyone I know who has put the full size rig on it has capsized - and the boat is not self recovering. Let me know what you think about the oar video. I just threw that one together because I could not go teach a class for some folks and instead made the video for them. @@ArtworkAnon

[@solarsail56]

I've helped several people make one of these as a tender for their larger boats. They all loved it. @@ArtworkAnon

[@Mauriciomel1]

Good...

[@dougborden1]

I am currently building this thank you for your video! I am just gluing the thwarts.

[@solarsail56]

Great - Let me know if you have any questions!

[@dougborden1]

Thanks Joe. A few small blunders so far but the chines go on tonight.

[@Helliconia54]

very nice

[@WinterBeachProductions]

Thanks for the great video, Joe! Just wondering what your thoughts are on seating arrangements on the elegant punt. I see the plans call for one longitudinal seat but I have also seen others that have several shorter seats in the middle and stern area.

[@solarsail56]

MrInspirationzzz thanks for the note. I’ve built the boat with many seating arrangements. The longitudinal seat is absolutely the best. At first I thought it was strange. After building 60 plus boats I will only built them with the longitudinal seat from now on. It allows for any number of seating configurations.

[@WinterBeachProductions]

Joe Novello Thanks for the speedy reply, Joe. 60 - that has to be some kind of record! Is the center seating ever an issue when sailing and you want to sit more to windward? I'd be so curious to know what the varying seating configurations are with the longitudinal seat if you'd care to elaborate. Thanks in advance, Andy Chicago IL

[@solarsail56]

MrInspirationzzz I’ve made four of these boats to sail. When set up for sailing I made the center seat removable and added the athwartship seat. When sailing you sit on the bottom of the boat. One note for the sail - the plans call for the same sail as Bolger “surf” which is 15 feet. The sail is a bit much for the Elegant Punt. I reduced the sail area by 30 percent for the last two I built for sailing and they performed quite well. With the longitudinal seat one person sits in the middle. For two people, one sits at each end. For three people they sit evenly spaced front back and center. I put two sets of oarlock sockets to accommodate various seating arrangements.

[@WinterBeachProductions]

Joe Novello is the seating arrangement in the blue and white boat at 5:40 in the video the one you'd recommend for sailing?

[@solarsail56]

MrInspirationzzz yes but I would make it removable. That boat was built strictly for sailing and the owner modified it with a portable seat for rowing.

[@RusticDavid]

Great video Joe,gives me the itch to build one can I find plans online?

[@solarsail56]

Thanks David, you can purchase plans at www.instantboats.com

[@RusticDavid]

Joe Novello Thank you! Happy sailing

[@huxmetalworks7371]

Good evening I found the book you showed in this video but I need a little help the book says to layout the side's every 6in you say every 12 inchs in the book it says to layout for the water line but looking at yours I see a curve evenly sloped if I am correct I can layout one side that looks more like yours can you advise thanks for sharing

[@solarsail56]

The book is pretty generic for instant boats. I've not looked at it for awhile - but as I remember the plans for the elegant punt call for 12" squares on the pattern. Also, in the notes on the plans the designer suggests that the builder omits the waterline. I hope this helps. Let me know if you need more detail and I'll dig out the plans and the book and see if I can help.

[@huxmetalworks7371]

I thank you for your time one more thing if you don't mind how would I go about making the boat you have here that's the reason I got the book thanks for sharing and taking the time to talk to me

[@solarsail56]

@@huxmetalworks7371 I strongly suggest you get a copy of the plans for the Elegant Punt from this website: www.instantboats.com/product-category/instant-boats-plans/. Also, check out my channel - there are three or four more videos on how to build the boat.

[@huxmetalworks7371]

​@@solarsail56 thanks for sharing I appreciate you taking the time

[@bontexx1169]

Just curious, do you think it would be possible to put the chine logs on the inside of the sides?

[@solarsail56]

Putting the chines on the inside certainly is possible, however it defeats the purpose of the design. The outside chines allow you to build the boat without a jig which would at least double the amount of time required to build the boat. In addition, the boat is designed so that every plywood edge is backed by a solid piece of timber. Putting the chines inside would create a plywood to plywood edge at one of the most vulnerable places on the boat.

[@65616larry]

Very nice build. did you use AC exterior plywood and what type glue did use use ? i have the Book with the plan. building a quick canoe now but may may build one next. should have done the reverse lol Cheers

[@solarsail56]

Hi Larz, I'm sorry for the late reply. I use 6mm Okoume and West System 6/10 epoxy.

[@WinterBeachProductions]

Hi Joe, another quick ? for you. Where have you found the sturdiest place to attach a bow line to be? I was thinking middle of bow transom with some kind of backing board. Your thoughts much appreciated!

[@solarsail56]

The absolute sturdiest place is to drill a hole right through the top of the bow transom frame and run a line through it. However, I usually put a padeye there through bolted and it works just fine.

[@billwheeler1213]

👍

[@kenlyneham4105]

This is not a punt. A punt is a flat bottomed boat with blunt transoms on both ends and usually the boat is just a rectangle with sides. A praam is a Scandinavian design where the pointy end has been cut off to allow more boat being stored on a mother boat. They are or were very popular as a dinghy for sail boats. They are capable of carrying the same amount as their pointy ended counterpart but they take up less room. The other thing about praams that puts them apart from punts is, they have camber in the bottom, they are NOT flat bottomed and are more seaworthy when being used in rough water and small waves. Punts are more easily swamped.

[@sindarpeacheyeisacommie8688]

No.

[@kenlyneham4105]

@@sindarpeacheyeisacommie8688 Even though it is titled, "Elegant Punt 2015", at the beginning of thee video the narrator refers to it correctly as, "an elegant praam", which is exactly what it is. Google 'Praam'.

[@donlofting4268]

Very nice just got to be careful how you say it 👍

[@АлександрНорченко-ж3г]

Т

[@АлексейКолесников-х1т]

Все рейки на поверхности-неправильно!!!Их необходимо прятать в нутрь лодки!Они создают сопротивление движению.Но для неправильных людей -неправильные лодки.😂🤣😂🤣