This is a selection on some of the Free Motorboat Plans that were published in "Popular Mechanics", "Popular Science" and the "Boat Builder Handbook" yours to download for free (pdf).
Plans for the "PM-38" free motorboat plan first
appeared in the
August 1962 issue of the "Popular Mechanics" magazine.
It was named the PM 38 because the magazine claimed that it could, not
only be built in 38 hours, for a materials cost of a mere $38 (1962 prices) but
would, when launched, do 38 mph.
117 page, step by step instructions for
building the PM 38 using modern
plywood building techniques and materials.
Yours to download (pdf) for
only $10
The "Mustang"
This is a sound, basic design contains plans for
constructing sleek-looking 10, 12 or 14 footers, all based on a design
tried and proven.
Note the attractive tumble-home, the minimum number of frames, the
major portion of the bottom constructed from one standard-size plywood
sheet, which is stressed for maximum strength.
This Blitzen design makes either an ideal fast
utility boat or a racer hydroplane.
Its
hull does all right for itself with the more powerful 25hp Johnson and
Evinrude motors in smooth and rough water, and on either the utility or
racer hull, it’s bevelled chines give you an easy manoeuvrability.
Buzz is a versatile, planing outboard runabout measuring 11 ft. in
length with a beam of almost 56 in.
It
is lightweight with strong and sturdy constructional features, seats
four passengers and uses such outboard motors as the Evinrude 9.7hp,
Johnson 9.9hp, and the Mercury 10hp.
Buzz will plane a remarkable load at high speeds, equalling other boats
with twice the hp.
It also manoeuvres well in rough or smooth water, making turns easily
at wide open speeds. As a lightweight, portable boat Buzz may be loaded
atop any auto for sport trips.
Fire Fly Is a high speed, stepped, outboard hydroplane.
A new but thoroughly proved method of venting the step for top speed,
and a new bottom design, make this sporty craft fast, efficient and
seaworthy on smooth or rough water.
Fire Fly will exact every bit of speed possible from the power utilized.
Outboard motors of 15 to 50 horsepower are best
adapted to this super speed runabout.
With this hull, the Evinrude Big Four (rated conservatively at 50
horsepower), can plane six persons with ease, haul aquaplanes, and
attain speeds approaching 60 miles per hour.
However, an outboard motor such as the Johnson Twin (developing around
25 horsepower), will give very satisfactory performance.
Fire Fly measures 14 feet long with a beam slightly over 5 feet.
The completed weight of this hull is close to 275 pounds.
Merry Maid motorboat plans for the man who desires a roomy little
runabout capable of good speed and having rough-water ability.
With her graceful, sweeping sheer, she is a saucy little packet.
She has completely pleased her original owner and may interest those of
you who desire an inexpensive, easily built boat.
Under
way Merry Maid runs cleanly at either high or low speed, banks
beautifully, and has sufficient stability, despite her light weight, to
allow a couple of passengers to sit on the side decking without fear of
being tossed overboard.
The boat is large enough so the passengers sit down in it rather than
on it.
Sharp styled like a sporty inboard, that’s Playboy.
From her wrap-around spray rails to the walk-through entrance to the
forward cockpit, Playboy simply exudes class.
With a Johnson or Evinrude "25", Playboy will step around lively at 32
mph.
Extras
include a "glove compartment" for fishing gear, charts, odds and ends,
smooth floor to save scrambling over frames and mahogany planking and
deck.
Ideal for sports, Playboy packs plenty of power for skidding aquaplanes
or water skis or hauls up to six persons seated.
Even
with the convex bottom, you can plank Playboy with plywood sheets that
keep it dry and take all the punishment a fast ride on a choppy lake
can dish out.
You can do more than just wish that you had a sleek, powerful,
mahogany-decked runabout like Riviera.
By
constructing it yourself you can turn out this eye-appealing 38-mph
boat that will be the pride of the lake and a treat to ride in, yet
spend only 1% the price of even modest boats of the same size and power.
You can further fit Riviera to your pocketbook by bargain hunting and
using just the amount of trim you wish.
133 page, step by step instructions for
building the Sea Rover using modern
plywood building techniques and materials.
$10
Shore Lark
Fast,
safe, and seaworthy on almost any waters, this general utility runabout
will afford long happy hours of sport and repay its construction many
times.
Adapted
to the use of outboard motors from 1 to 24hp, the utility runabout will
plane safely, at speeds from 5 to 45 mph and easily carry four or five
persons depending upon its power.
This motorboat plans is
designed to eliminate difficult joiner work, the "Shore Lark" is easy
to build and presents a lightweight sturdy hull that one can build for
a fraction of the amount he would have to pay for a finished boat of
this type.
Here are plans for a pint-sized V-bottom express cruiser that will
really get up and go.
Under the impetus furnished by a 33.-hp. outboard, she’ll do 23mph with
two people aboard.
And she’ll cruise along economically with this power at 19mph.
Her name? It’s taken from a couple of lines in an old English Christmas
song that fit the desires of boat-hungry fellows in moderate means:
"If you haven’t got a penny, then a ha’penny will do.
If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you!"
This convex bottom (hydroconic) runabout is 15½ ft. long with a beam of
6 ft. and a maimum draft of 20 in.
You can use either a double cockpit or a single cockpit style for
utility use.
The Chum
motorboat plan was designed for use with a Manned Jeep Engine (such as
the Lehman
Econ-o-power, which develops 60-hp at 3400 rpm and will propel Chum at
over 30 mph).
Any 25-100hp similar engine may also be used to power Chum, as long as
the motor is of light weight, high-speed design.
Caballero
motorboat plans were designed for’ the amateur builder who desires a
roomy, fast, and
comfortable cruiser without the attendant high building and upkeep
costs usually associated with inboard craft.
This motorboat plan is a direct development of an earlier design that
has proved
successful in the hands of a large number of builders.
The cabin provides comfortable quarters for two.
Besides the berths, it contains a galley stove, food locker, icebox,
water-closet, and adequate storage space.
There is not, of course, standing headroom but there is, however, ample
sitting headroom.
That
is all you can expect in a boat of this size; so don’t be persuaded by
some misguided amateur adviser’ to increase the headroom in hope of
making a better boat of her.
The Nancy Jane is an all purpose craft designed to fulfil a great
variety of uses in one boat.
With
a length, beam, and depth generous enough to be usable anywhere,
these motorboat plans provide a craft that may be equipped
with a
marine or
converted auto engine from 15 to 100hp for speedy, stable riding
service on open or sheltered waters.
For those to whom cruising
is the ultimate relaxation Jane may be equipped with one of the trim
cabin designs shown or utilized as a double cockpit runabout.
However
the basic design as indicated upon the plans is that of an open cockpit
utility runabout which is not only easy to build, requiring the minimum
of labour and materials, but for all around use such as fishing,
hunting, surf board riding and short pleasure trips this model would be
difficult to surpass.
Sportsman
is a unique cruisette having a combination of runabout and cruiser
features, but is well adapted for day cruising or short trips almost
anywhere.
"Sportsman"
is a self-contained, seaworthy, open-water Free Motorboat Plan for week-end cruises
or short overnight fishing trips that will accommodate a pal or the
"missus".
It may be transported by trailer wherever desirable.
Designed
to be powered with high sped converted auto or marine engines from 15
to 90hp, "Sportsman" will go places in a hurry and provide protection
during inclement weather.
It would be difficult to find a trimmer and more attractive cruiser.
Sea Rover: 25 HP outboard engine really enough? Hi Sailors,
Having started to build the 17 ft version of William Jackson's Sea Rover on Majorca it ist time to look for a suitable outboard engine. …
Boat Books a series of boat books based on some of the 1960's, classic, Free Boat Plans that were published in magazines such as "Popular Mechanics", "Popular Science" and the "Boat Builder Handbook".
The Ashcroft method of building small wooden boats, an early from of cold moulding using thin layers of wood with the layers all running same direction.
A brief guide to timber properties and wood, characteristics such as strength, stiffness and elasticity for choosing lumber for wooden boat building and restoration.
Wedge Seam Construction method for wooden boat building and glued wedging or ‘splining’ as a restoration technique for restoring old carvel planking seams.
I am perfectly aware that the majority of Wooden Boat aficionados are sensible folk. However, I need to point out that I am an amateur wooden boat enthusiast simply writing in order to try to help other amateur wooden boat enthusiasts. And while I take every care to ensure that the information in DIY Wood Boat.com is correct, anyone acting on the information on this website does so at their own risk.