Things You'll Need:
- Plans
- Plywood
- Circular saw
- Epoxy
- Fiberglass tape
- Duct tape
- Paint
- Spar varnish
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Step 1
Choose a plan that meets your sailboat needs if you don't want to buy a kit. Find one that is the size and design that you desire to build. Keep in mind that you should find a simple one if you have no previous woodworking experience.
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Step 2
Buy the materials required in the plan. The wood will be the greatest expense in building your own sailboat; don't go cheap, your safety depends on you buying high quality materials.
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Step 3
Mark your plywood before cutting it to ensure accurate cuts. You can either use exact measurements or you can use a pattern and trace it onto the plywood and cut it. Using exact measurements is the most accurate way of marking but tracing a pattern is the quickest way.
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Step 4
Cut your plywood carefully and assemble your sailboat following your plans exactly. Allow all parts to dry before moving on, if you rush things you risk your boat falling apart when you are sailing.
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Step 5
Seal the joints and seams of your sailboat thoroughly with epoxy and fiberglass tape to ensure that your sailboat doesn't leak. Start with the inside of the boat and once it dries seal the outside of the sailboat.
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Step 6
Add any desired details to your sailboat such as a storage area. Make your sailboat the boat of your dreams. Paint your boat using good quality marine paint and allow it to dry thoroughly before launching your boat.
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Step 7
Assemble the sails of your boat following the plans exactly. Attach the sail to the mast of your boat and take it out for a test drive.
