Today for our backyard boat shop tour, we’re back inside the boat shed of Scott Smith and the Sea Dreamer Project, a home built “Diesel Duck” trawler. Like many of our other favorite YouTube boatbuilders, Scott is finishing up the keel timbers and is excited to finally be adding parts that make his project resemble, well – a boat! The transom template is a big help here, as are the few stations that Scott installs allowing him and us viewing at home to begin to see what shape his boat will have.
Scott is an experienced woodworker of 20+ years who thought he lacked the skills necessary to build a boat. But he found a friend in well-known boat designer, George Buehler who was eager for the little backyard DIY guys like Scott to catch the boat building bug. Buehler recently passed away and a nice feature about him appeared in Soundings Magazine’s May issue. They wrote, “His design philosophy was that boating should be fun and accessible to lots of people because different types of boats make different kinds of fun possible. His primary niche was cruising boats that were simple, reliable and affordable — boats that virtually anyone could build and run.”
With this philosophy in mind, Soundings editors reached out to Smith to reflect on working with Buehler and on building one of his designs as his first big boat build.
“He was very plain-spoken,” Smith says. “He removed a lot of the jargon. There are many people who want to believe that they’re really special and that building a boat or woodworking is beyond the reach of normal people, and George was completely the opposite. He was of the opinion that this was not some obscure art form that only the rich and talented can do. A DIY guy can figure it out.”
And for this, we love both Buehler and Smith. Anyone who makes boat building approachable for the common builder or tinkerer is a friend of ours. And we are thrilled to know that Scott depends on TotalBoat Epoxy Resin to help make sure he’s getting the job done right the first time. Although maybe we love Scott more for admitting to and correcting his mistakes in his videos. He’s the real deal and we find him to be a great inspiration. Check out all the progress on his Diesel Duck, including the boat name which Smith couldn’t wait to announce. We can’t tell you what it is – you’ll have to watch the video below to find out for yourself. Enjoy!
You like so many others that undertake these projects, you inspire me.
I need to get going on a rebuild of a 28 foot Eastern Sea Skiff I own. I would like to have information on how you built your boat shed. I cannot understand the Web address you mention at the end of this video not matter how many times I replay it.
Please supply the web address that you refer to in the video in regards to how you got started and how you built the shed.
I would love to visit your project someday. I am only a few hours from you near the Eastern border of the State near VT.
Thank you,
Lee
Hi Lee, Us New Yorkers are fast talkers!
http://www.seadreamerproject.com is our address. Look at the top of the page and on one of the tabs you’ll see “the boatshed” tab. Click on that and you’ll see the pictures and info.
You are really doing an awesome job. Can’t wait to see more. I want to build a 1948,19′ Chris Craft Barrell back boat for myself. So this boat you are building gives me great learning and an awesome experience.
Nice work, when you attached the first plank on the transom that is a monumental moment. Great work, really like the videos.
Hello Scott ,thanks for the inspiring videos. Could you share the manufacture of your work vest. I use the Blackladder vest but the pockets don’t have enough space to hold adequate tools,thanks Glenn Bradley
Hi Glenn. The vest and pants are from Atlas 46. American company, american made products. Very high quality but certainly not cheap. However, you get what you pay for and I love them. If you make a purchase through this link, our project gets a cut of the sale. But Of course no big deal if you just google Atlas 46, you won’t be disappointed.
https://www.atlas46.com/index.html?tap_a=12580-4fee7f&tap_s=257018-204570
Nice job! Did you make or buy the shed? I would be interested if you bought one. Thanks,
Bob Fultz
Thanks bob. We built the shed from plans sold by Shamrock Aquaponics. Fairly straight forward to build but a bit time consuming. We did a few extras that raised the total cost to build but you could build a bear bones one for under $600. Very strong and has weathered two severe windstorms with winds over 80 mph with no damage. I’m happy with it, but would not use standard 6 mil plastic unless you’re in a very protected area. It just doesn’t last unless you get something UV coated. Our most recent roof is a 12 mil poly tarp with UV coating and it’s holding up great.
Thanks for the information Scott.
Bob
You mentioned a salvage supply house in India? Where you purchased those plaques. Can you tell me where that is? I am renovating a Chris Craft Constellation and wold like to see what they have, thank you.
Hi Pete. Here’s a link to his Ebay store. I’ve made 3 purchases from him now and he’s legit. i always worry about buying over seas with all the scammers but this guy is good. Not great english but manageable. I can’t complain since I only know one language!
https://www.ebay.com/usr/sweta4086?_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2754