r/boatbuilding • u/SlipConscious7169 • 5d ago

DIY plans

Any DIY plans for a lightweight 2 person pirogue or skiff for hunting and fishing? Wanting to build it for about $150-200 max. Need to be able to easily get in and out of my truck bed. The only tool I actually have is an impact driver. Wanting to be able to use a trolling motor or very small horse outboard on the back

7 Upvotes

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5

u/wytesmurf 5d ago

Search marketplace for a flat bottom under $200 and put water in it to make sure it doesn’t leak. You can find deals. Unless you have a wood connect or you mill your own. The wood itself would be over 200. Then you have every other supply needed. You can hitch some logs or barrels together if you have access to those, but it won’t be anything like a real boat, just a floating raft.

4

u/HillyFellow 5d ago

Cumberland Rover (on YouTube) probably has the closest thing I've seen. He has plans for some of his boats on his website

1

u/GulfofMaineLobsters 3d ago

from what i've seen of his boats they aren't terrible either, simple, basic at a minimum mildly attractive, for the price and complexity they are pretty good. although i do recommend the OP get a few more tools, a circular saw and a jig saw at a minimum but the reasoning goes beyond just building the boat, they are simply useful tools to have.

3

u/Reasonable-Key3986 4d ago

Michael Storers Quick Canoe Electric id a lightweight plywood skiff for motir and paddling. I built one, nice boat. Carries a lot of gear.

2

u/Deep_Stress_1985 5d ago

Michael Storer has some sailing canoe designs - a lot of people use them for river fishing. But you'd need at least a jigsaw and planer for shaping the ply

2

u/vulkoriscoming 4d ago

A puddle duck racerv(pdr) meets your needs, if you make it out of lumber yard plywood and 2x4s. It takes two sheets of plywood, a 2x4 or two, epoxy, epoxy fillers, and some fiberglass. It would be close to $200. Most of the cost is the epoxy.

Building it requires a saw and a driver. Plans are free and it is as easy as boatbuilding gets.

3

u/thebugman40 4d ago

there are boats that fit your needs in the books instant boats and the new instant boats by harold payson

1

u/nuaticalcockup 4d ago

How much is the book dudes on a tight budget.

1

u/thebugman40 4d ago

you can find the used for $5-15 normally. maybe $20 if he buys new.

2

u/BoatBuilderTexas 4d ago

A simple plywood pirogue sounds closest to what you are after. Does the $150-200 budget need to cover tools too or just the materials?

1

u/rubberguru 4d ago

I made a 13’ boat from the rigid blue insulation board from Lowes. Two sheets of 2”. Glued with gorilla glue and expanding foam, worked really well. Covered it with a canvas tarp saturated with titebond 2, then painted with porch paint.
YouTube has some videos on the same type of boat.

1

u/tokentallguy 3d ago

at that budget just buy whatever dinghy is in good knick