The Hull
2018
The hull
While the traditional motorboat was not invented until the mid 19th century, motorboats were prohibitively expensive until the early 30’s. Thus began the rise of manufacturers like Gar-wood, Chris-Craft, and Hacker-Craft. Shortly afterwards, WWII halted the production of recreational craft; instead the manufacturers were commissioned to construct the P.T. boats, landing craft, and other small craft for the war. After the war ended, technology had advanced, and there had been a shift in styling, resulting in more streamlined design. Beginning in the 1940’s, the golden age of powerboats continued until the early 1970’s. The boats of this time were hand crafted from mahogany; making each boat truly unique. Powered by V-8’s, the boats of this time sounded immaculate; truly unmatched by the boats today. These boats were a thing of beauty, and not many survive today. The end came when manufacturers switched to fiberglass construction; since it was cheaper to manufacture and easier to maintain. With this new innovation, we lost the unique nature of each boat: if you go to a marina today, each and every boat looks exactly the same; regardless of size or manufacturer. Chris Craft, the king of them all, made their last wooden boat, a 57 foot Constellation, in 1971. Since then, the only wooden boats that have been made are by custom manufacturers working off of classic plans. Since this is far too expensive for a high school student, I decided to build one myself.
First layer of epoxy
The boat design I chose was a Glen-L Riviera. The Glen-L Riviera is a 22 foot long, mid-engined, inboard runabout. While it is not a genuine Chris-Craft model, it is heavily based off the Chris Craft Riviera, with some modern improvements. These plans combine classic construction with modern building techniques. The result is a stronger hull while keeping classic looks. The design also includes subtle modern improvements in hydrodynamics. With lower chine lines, the boat is capable of reaching higher speeds than its classic counterpart with greater stability.
Test fitting the driveshaft hole
The boat has other modern improvements; including an epoxy coated hull. Traditionally, wood boats had to be soaked in water for days before they were launched. This allowed the wood to swell, soaking up the water, sealing any cracks allowing the boat to float. Wood can only go through this process so many times before it becomes rotted or warped beyond repair. Also, this becomes a hindrance for the boat owner; the boat cannot be trailered, it needs to stay in the water the entire season. The epoxy seal provides a water tight seal between the water and wood. This coating can extend the life of the boat by fifty years or more. This boat is also significantly lighter than its fiberglass counterpart: a 2018 Mastercraft is 4200 lbs. versus the Riviera, which comes in at 2000. This allows the boat to be significantly quicker, more agile, and easier to maneuver.
