SCROLL DOWN THIS PAGE FOR MANY MORE PLANS
This a page of links to some favourite free boat plans at intheboatshed.net. They’ve been chosen because they are derived from traditional boats, or in some cases simply for their usefulness. There are quite a few here, but you’ll find still more in the intheboatshed.net weblog by clicking on the free boat plans category or using the search gadget. If you find anything you feel I should add, please let me know at gmatkin@gmail.com.
Boats designed by Gavin Atkin - The Barton skiff, a low powered outboard skiff – get the plans here. 
The Barton skiff – click on the thumbnail for a larger drawing
Brian King’s Barton skiff during construction:
See a short video of Brian’s boat in action using a 3.5hp outboard at 6knots or so. Note the near complete lack of wake, which should indicate that the boat’s working efficiently.
- The 14ft Sunny skiff – get the plans for this easy to build lightweight rowing boat here.
Sunny skiff lightweight plywood rowing dinghy
- The 12ft Ella skiff – get the plans for this easy to build lightweight rowing boat here.
12ft Ella skiff
- The sailing version of the Ella skiff – get the plans here.
The sailing version of the 12ft Ella skiff
- The intheboatshed.net Julie 15ft 7in flat bottomed rowing skiff
See:
- Complete free plans package for the intheboatshed.net flat-bottomed 15ft 6in skiff
- intheboatshed.net skiff – drawings and coordinates for stitch and glue
- intheboatshed.net skiff – photos of our model, and maybe yours too?
- intheboatshed.net skiff – now we can make a model
- intheboatshed.net skiff progress
- Early drawings for a 15ft 5in lightweight flat-bottomed American-style skiff
- The Light Trow
The Mk 2 Light Trow – click on the photo for a larger image
See a clip of the Light Trow sailing:
Download the Mk 2 Light Trow plans, and the model-making plans (making a model to be an important preparation for making this kind of boat). Also, see Ben Crawshaw’s excellent weblog about building and then cruising the Light Trow on the Spanish coast; also, read about the original trows: The Fleet Trow
- The Cinderella canoe
Al Burke’s Cinderella
Al’s comments following his first test were interesting: ‘A successful design that is an absolute delight to paddle and which brought comments like “beautiful lines” and “do you want to sell it?” from people on the beach watching the test.’
I think this is a nice small open paddler, but bouyancy tanks or bags would be a essential if you’re going to do more than paddle in narrow rivers or small shallow lakes.
See:
A Cinderella canoe adapted for rowing
Plans for building the Cinderella: Cinderella download
- The Light Dinghy
Light Dinghy – click on the drawing for a larger image
For more on this boat, see:
- From dinghies to the Architectura Navalis and back
- Tempting plans for the boat-dreaming season, part III
- The Forest & Stream skiff
Forest & Stream skiff in built in Sweden – click on the photo for a larger image – see the post: A little classic to build this spring
- The small Bluestone schooner: My Bluestone schooner design in the spotlight and the download including the chine version
- The Electric Schock skiff 
Electric Schock dinghy – click on the drawing for a larger image The Electric Schock plans at Duckworks
Free designs from other designers
- A sailing Duck Punt, as raced on the English East Coast
Plans for John Milgate’s Duck Punt
- The South Haven Dory
- International 12 dinghy
George Cockshott’s sweet 12-foot dinghy
- Chuck Merrell’s Apple Pie
Temptations part V: a dinghy so small, your family will hardly notice…
- Canvas canoe
How to build a canvas canoe
- Hannu Vartiala’s coracle
Hannu Vartiala’s website changes address
-The Brockway skiff
- Wolfgang Brink’s Greenland Kayak
How to build a Greenland kayak
- An alternative folding boat
An alternative folding boat
- Boat plans from Practical Boatbuilding for Amateurs, including the 10ft double-ended skiff, various punts etc
Practical Boat Building for Amateurs
- Thames skiff and racing punt
At last – free online designs for a skiff and a racing punt
- Howard Irving Chappelle’s traditional 14ft skiff
Chappelle’s 14ft skiff – another candidate for the 2008 boatbuilding season?
- Mark Wallace’s Black Skiff
Mark Wallace’s elegant Black Skiff
Boatbuilding plans for the Black Skiff have been designed and made available for free by Mark Wallace – he says all he asks for is to be given the credit for designing the boat.
I think it’s an elegant design. The plans are not likely to be the easiest for first-time boatbuilders to follow, but it would be well worth picking the required skills up by reading one of the classic books on this kind of boatbuilding. See the Intheboatshed.net Amazon bookshop for something suitable.
Mark ways she’s a strong light-weight boat loosely with strong links to Scandinavian types. She proven to be an excellent rower, has a capacity of four adults and has a flat bottom for easy beaching.
Go to Mark’s website for more information and plans in pdf format: http://www.markwallaceshipwright.com/plans.html
By the way, don’t miss Mark’s impressive collection of testimonials.
As my mind turns to building MY first boat during the winter months, I browsed and found many sites and such. Yours has been a great place to see and feed that desire. Thank you for your site. I live on a river that empties into the Matagorda bay, here in Texas, and the wind blows regular like crazy. But, I think that I found my first boat in the information given here on your site. Wish me luck!!! The water might be shallow here on the river but the mud is VERY deep. I'll be sure to send you photos and let you know how it all turns out. Again, thank you.
Glad to be of help Charli – which boat are you planning to build for your first boatbuilding project?
Gav
Hey, I am hoping to build the julie skiff for my first boat.
I made the model last night but i am unsure on how it scales up, i downloaded the zip file and i am unsure on how to use your co-ordinates, please help!
Thanks!
-Derek
It's late and I have a date with a pillow, but I'd delighted you're interested in building this boat.
The coordinates work like this. The letters label the many 'significant' points on the drawings, often they are points where two different lines join. The coordinates are pairs of numbers, as you'll have noticed, and each pair defines a particular single point on the ply.
It's like plotting a graph at school, but if that doesn't come easily think of it this way:
Consider two coordinates 3 1/8, 6 1/2
3 1/8 defines a line parallel to the left-hand edge that is 3 1/8in in from the edge, while 6 1/2 defines a line parallel to the bottom that is 6 1/2 up from the bottom. The point being defined is where the two cross! There are a lot of points to plot, and when they have been plotted, you have to join the dots to make a complete drawing, as it were.
Does that help? If not, if you know someone with some background in maths should be able to sort it out for you using pencil and paper.
Gav
Hey, I am 14 years old and plan on constructing a skiff for fishing.
My grandpa has a Bachelors in Drafting and is very good with wood and we have all the tools, so I was wondering, do you think you could work with me on designing a boat if you have the time? I have a few ideas in mind and I'm starting to put them down on paper.
By helping I mean could you tell me what I would need for the design I have? Thank you for such a great website!
I'm sorry Ryan – I'd like to help but I'm desperately short of time due to work and family responsibilities. You max find some of my free plans will give you some ideas however. Gavin
It's ok Gavin,
Like I said, only if you have time and are interested.
When I come up with a design I'll send you them and send you pictures of the outcome that you can put up
There's a great little book entitled How to design a boat by John Teale – if you can find it, I think it will be very useful.
Gavin
Thanks Gavin
I have actually managed to maneuver my way over to Duckworks Magazine through your site, and they have been very helpful over there!
Excellent news – I'm sorry I'm in no position to help myself at the moment.
Gavin
it's quite alright Gavin, you have been of help though. Your hard work in putting this site together has payed off for me and many others!
Hi Gavin, Many thanks for all that you've done for potential DIY Boat Builders, like myself! Look forward to the new adventure.
Hi there, a little advice please.
my brother and I have a 3 year plan. My kids will both be teenagers in 3 years time.
My brother is the sailor in the family (the brains) I am the canoeist and rower (used to be the brawn now a little slack around the middle).
We want to build a boat that we can sail both on lakes and lochs and when the kids are teenagers we can take up the west coast of Scotland for extended touring holidays – ideally both camping and sleeping on the boat.
At the moment the kids sail mirror dingy and are very keen to help in the build.
My brother and i really like the looks of norse double enders and are taken with the caledonian yawl. Problem our woodworking skills are basic DIY – we've built sheds and summerhouses but would like some info on what we should expect from a project like this and what your thoughts are about choice of boat for our requirements.
Hope you can help.
That's a nice dream!
Everyone you talk to will give you a different answer. If you're tendency is to craftsmanship, I'm sure you can build a Caledonian Yawl, but might benefit from building something simpler first. If it isn't, I'd suggest you don't even go there!
I'd also say that by the time they're teenagers, your kids are unlikely to want to sail with Dad, and probably not for days at a time – your kids may be different but my experience is that what they enjoy most is being skipper of their own ship in the company of others in similar boats. That way, they don't have to follow orders or watch Dad do the interesting stuff, and they can race each other, chase each other, play at capsizing, flirt and all the rest of the stuff kids that age do. If you want them to be interested in boating and particularly sailing long term, I think the best advice is to find a sailing club that does this sort of thing well.
I should add that home built boats are for individualists, which counts out most teenage kids.
So if you would like to dabble in the noble art of boatbuilding, I'd suggest making something simple that you'll never regret owning and which will add a fun dimension to picnics on the river or to the seaside. I'm thinking of a lightweight little rowing boat like the Ella by the way!
Hope that helps a little and doesn't seem too partial!
Gav
Hi
Not sure if anyone can help but I'm looking to build a model of bawley cockler. Does anyone know where I can get plans to achieve this.
Thank you all in appreciation.
Russell
Hi Gavin:
Great website and info. Are you selling plans for a large (or small) scale model of the Iain Oughtred designed St. Ayles Skiff? This was the one that Alec Jordan built for the Scottish Coastal Rowing Project (as seen in Water Craft magazine Jan/Feb 2010). I'm located in the United States.
God bless and many thanks,
Jimmy
I'm sorry Jimmy – I don't sell plans, at least not currently. Check my posts for a link to the Jordan site and ask him. He might be persuaded that the St Ayles skiff is now such a celebrity that he could successfully model kits.
Actually, my guess is that some good models would make great trophies…
Gav
Hi, I've been trying to download the free plans for the flying mouse without success.Can anyone please sent me a copy that I can just print off.Thanks most appreciated.
Happy to do it.
Gavin
I'm delighted you're building one of these boats. Please keep in touch – I'll be pleased to help in any way I can.
If the added weight is no problem to you, then it won't trouble the designer!
The only thing I'd say is that I've never needed laminated such a large area and if I did so I'd want to know (i) how to eliminate bubbles and (ii) how to make sure those that do creep in are there are well sealed.
The second part may be easy – perhaps all you have to do is to make sure you coat both sides of the joint well, I suppose, but the first part is something that would make me turn to the forums for advice from someone who has done it a few times.
Gav
i found by accident some plans for a 16` launch, from a book about the ww2, is it possible to look at these some where on the site? hope you can help. regards julian
I'd like to help Julian – but can you tell me anything more about the boat you're looking for? What was it that interested you? Was there a link to some plans? Did it have accommodation?
Gavin
hello gavin hope you ok ,i am still trying to find out about this motor launch, the plans are in a book you mentioned,is it possible to get a copy or any chance of a copy, regards julian
All the information about this boat that appears in the book is in the post. If you found the particular edition of the Motor Boat Manual concerned (I can't remember which it is), you would not have any more information.
Gavin
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am project secretary to Students Health HOme the largest student CBO/NGO in India. We are contemplating to start a mobile waterway health service in the Sunderbans for students. It would be highly convenient if you can help with some low cost boat plans for the purpose
thanking you
Dr. Amit Shankar Jana
I have written to you directly.
Gavin
I need a flat bottom dolly boat design could you please make one?
yours sincerly David Doyle
I'm sorry but I don't understand the request. What's a dolly boat? Or do you mean boat dolly?
Thanks, Gavin
Hello Gavin, I have started to build a Barton Skiff and would love to put sails to this boat, please could you suggest a simple rig that I could use as I think it would set my boat off. Maybe also could you suggest the position of the mast.
Kind Regards,
Andrew.
Andrew
I'm delighted to hear that you're building this boat, and would very much like to follow your progress and provide whatever help seems to be required. Where are you?
However, the Barton skiff is really not intended to be a sailer – it's got the wrong kind of hull, particularly for upwind sailing.
Also, I'd strongly suggest joining the gmaboatbuilders yahoogroup and reading through the experiences of Brian and Charles, who have both built the Barton skiff, and the correspondence will include some useful bits of advice.
Gavin
Of course, you could always have a small mast with cross trees if it tickles your fancy. Add nav lights and it would have real purpose…
Gav
Gavin, I am on the North coast of Northern Ireland, from a small town called Coleraine about 5 minutes from the sea. I like the sound of the mast about 9 ft as my lathe has a 3 ft bed and I would turn it in three sections and have two cross members one at 3 ft and the bottom one at 5 ft with a cool red sail. I am a carpenter by trade so the woodwork side should be sorted. I am finishing all gunwales and finishing work with Mahogany and varnish with a green hull so it should be the best looking boat sitting in our bay. This all sounds good anyway.
Kind Regards
Andrew
Gavin,
Sorry to bother you again as I have just realised that sailing this boat will not work ( you can tell I am a novice ). Your idea about a small mast, nav lights sounds real good so I think I will run with that. Work is progressing well.
Many Thanks,
Andrew
Gavin, where would you position the small mast and what size, diameter etc do you think would look good. Hope to get some photos soon, the delay has been because daughter took my camera of to University and left us without one.
Regards
Andrew
Oh my gosh… Attached to the forward bulkhead, three times as high as the sheer, maybe 4 (side to side) by 5in (fore and aft) tapering to 4 by 4 or 3.5 by 3.5 from the front or back to taste, with a small cross tree about two thirds of the way from the sheeline to the top. That's my first guess, based on (an easy place to site it) and the rule of threes that works for most things!
Gav
I've just remembered that you want to hang a sail from this mast – so forget the cross tree, make the dimensions an inch thicker each way, and make the mast about 10-12ft high. What sort of sail are you thinking of? I'd suggest a spritsail, or maybe a squaresail. You will of course need a rudder too!
There's a fair amount of geometry involved in placing a sailing rig, so I guess this will be a largely downwind sail.
Gavin
Hi Gavin, just to let you know I have started to sheet the hull and things are getting exiting to see the shape come together.
regards Andrew
Bloody marvellous. Please stay in close touch!
Gavin
Gavin, Have finished sheeting bottom of hull and today before weather turned real bad I laminated Mahogany and Ash strips to the transom on the outside and it looks real good. Hope to sand down tomorrow and coat with epoxy to seal then finish the hull with ply before Xmas. Have set my launch date for Easter in Portrush so will be busy after Xmas. Bought an outboard last week and an engineering friend is stripping and rebuilding it for me and also restoring the paintwork to make as new. It is a small vintage 4 stroke as I do love working with old motors.
Regards
Andrew McNeill ( barton skiff builder)
I Have Just purchased a 1947 king Cruiserall original hardware , it needs tlc ,
i am looking for some basic plans to guid me on this restoration adventure , can you help , or direct me to somewhare i might find info .thanks robert
I came to this site to answer the trunnell boat query, but noticed this page. With another hat on I run the Eventide Owners Group website.
We have a host of practical seaworthy craft drawings available, designed by Gibbs, Buchanan and Griffiths, plus others, many have sailed far and wide.
We pass on to anyone in our group, the drawings of all our boats , and membership is free, you just have to enrol. Each is on a CD and we do this at cost, £5.00 inc P&P UK and a little more for overseas.
Visit the site to see more, we just want to keep these designs alive!
Regards,
John Williams
website coordinator,
Eventide Owners Group.
Hello Gavin, my Barton skiff is now finished and is being launched this weekend. Iam so proud of her and I think she looks wonderful. I went with small mast and I added my own thoughts of what I wanted to make her look like. I will send photos and hopefully speak soon.
Many thanks,
Andrew
Hi Gavin, well here I go again. I am thinking of building the Bluestone Schooner this winter as I am getting a berth in Portrush harbour and I think she will be the boat for me. Do I just download the plans again or can you send me a copy?
Many thanks
Andrew McNeill
what a marvellous site. intend retiring to goa next year or so,i am a retired joiner so i fancy building a boat for fishing in goa, any advice and plans would be gratefully recieved.
reg jeff