Boatbuilding Tips
Our vast collection of boatbuilding tips, drawn from decades of experience in supporting backyard boatbuilders.
![Strip Planking 25: Fixing a Broken Seam [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/tip-25.jpg?v=1729120781&width=533)
Strip Planking 25: Fixing a Broken Seam [video]
Nick Schade writes: While rolling out the fiberglass before glassing the deck, I ended up cracking a section on the back. The break was along a glue line. To fix...
Strip Planking 25: Fixing a Broken Seam [video]
Nick Schade writes: While rolling out the fiberglass before glassing the deck, I ended up cracking a section on the back. The break was along a glue line. To fix...
![Strip Planking 24: Fairing and Glassing the Deck [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/tip-24.jpg?v=1729120627&width=533)
Strip Planking 24: Fairing and Glassing the Dec...
Nick Schade writes: This largely time-lapse video starts out with scraping and proceeds through sanding to glassing and finishing with a fill coat. I've found a good source of high...
Strip Planking 24: Fairing and Glassing the Dec...
Nick Schade writes: This largely time-lapse video starts out with scraping and proceeds through sanding to glassing and finishing with a fill coat. I've found a good source of high...
![Strip Planking 23: Cutting the Cockpit Recess [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/tip-23.jpg?v=1729119800&width=533)
Strip Planking 23: Cutting the Cockpit Recess [...
Nick Schade writes: I like to put what I call a "recess" around the cockpit. On some boats, like these microBootleggers, the recess is not all that recessed, i.e. the...
Strip Planking 23: Cutting the Cockpit Recess [...
Nick Schade writes: I like to put what I call a "recess" around the cockpit. On some boats, like these microBootleggers, the recess is not all that recessed, i.e. the...
![Strip Planking 22: Straightening a Crooked Seam [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/tip-22.jpg?v=1729119614&width=533)
Strip Planking 22: Straightening a Crooked Seam...
Nick Schade writes: After carefully stripping the back deck, I notice the feature line had a funny bump in it. I used 2" wide strips on the back deck and...
Strip Planking 22: Straightening a Crooked Seam...
Nick Schade writes: After carefully stripping the back deck, I notice the feature line had a funny bump in it. I used 2" wide strips on the back deck and...
![Strip Planking 21: Stripping the Back Deck [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/tip-21.jpg?v=1729111912&width=533)
Strip Planking 21: Stripping the Back Deck [video]
Nick Schade writes: The back deck of the microBootlegger has two "chines" or hard knuckles on each side and a relatively flat area in between. Like stripping the bottom earlier...
Strip Planking 21: Stripping the Back Deck [video]
Nick Schade writes: The back deck of the microBootlegger has two "chines" or hard knuckles on each side and a relatively flat area in between. Like stripping the bottom earlier...
![Strip Planking 20: Installing a Center Accent Line on the Deck [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/tip-20.jpg?v=1729106536&width=533)
Strip Planking 20: Installing a Center Accent L...
Nick Schade writes: I want a light colored accent strip running down the center line of the foredeck. Depending on how the strips line up at the bow, his strip...
Strip Planking 20: Installing a Center Accent L...
Nick Schade writes: I want a light colored accent strip running down the center line of the foredeck. Depending on how the strips line up at the bow, his strip...
![Strip Planking 19: Releasing Forms in Staple Free Construction [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/tip-19.jpg?v=1729104982&width=533)
Strip Planking 19: Releasing Forms in Staple Fr...
Nick Schade writes: I used hot-melt glue to install the strips, this let me avoid putting staples in the strips. But now the boat is glued to the forms. Before...
Strip Planking 19: Releasing Forms in Staple Fr...
Nick Schade writes: I used hot-melt glue to install the strips, this let me avoid putting staples in the strips. But now the boat is glued to the forms. Before...
![Strip Planking 18: Trimming off the Excess Glass [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/tip-18.jpg?v=1729106547&width=533)
Strip Planking 18: Trimming off the Excess Glas...
Nick Schade writes: After you have wet out the fiberglass and the epoxy has set, you can trim off the excess 'glass. This is easiest done as soon as the...
Strip Planking 18: Trimming off the Excess Glas...
Nick Schade writes: After you have wet out the fiberglass and the epoxy has set, you can trim off the excess 'glass. This is easiest done as soon as the...
![Strip Planking 17: The Cotton Swab Test [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/tip-17.jpg?v=1729103943&width=533)
Strip Planking 17: The Cotton Swab Test [video]
Nick Schade writes: When is the best time to apply the next coat of resin? It all depends. But if your schedule allows, you will get the strongest bond when...
Strip Planking 17: The Cotton Swab Test [video]
Nick Schade writes: When is the best time to apply the next coat of resin? It all depends. But if your schedule allows, you will get the strongest bond when...
![Strip Planking 16: Removing White Glue Lines [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/tip-16.jpg?v=1729095193&width=533)
Strip Planking 16: Removing White Glue Lines [v...
Nick Schade writes: Sometimes when you are using carpenters glue between strips, you will end up with white glue lines. These lines are typically due to the glue being too...
Strip Planking 16: Removing White Glue Lines [v...
Nick Schade writes: Sometimes when you are using carpenters glue between strips, you will end up with white glue lines. These lines are typically due to the glue being too...
![Strip Planking 15: Fiberglassing the Hull [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/tip-strip-planking.jpg?v=1753291269&width=533)
Strip Planking 15: Fiberglassing the Hull [video]
Nick Schade writes: This video shows the fiberglassing of the hull of the microBootlegger. I'm applying one layer of 4 ounce E-glass with a coat of epoxy resin. After the...
Strip Planking 15: Fiberglassing the Hull [video]
Nick Schade writes: This video shows the fiberglassing of the hull of the microBootlegger. I'm applying one layer of 4 ounce E-glass with a coat of epoxy resin. After the...
![Strip Planking 14: Sanding the Hull [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/tip-sanding_hull.jpg?v=1729040621&width=533)
Strip Planking 14: Sanding the Hull [video]
Nick Schade writes: If you are careful gluing up your strips, the sanding can go quite quickly. My process here was: Scrape the Glue Rough Sand with 60 grit using...
Strip Planking 14: Sanding the Hull [video]
Nick Schade writes: If you are careful gluing up your strips, the sanding can go quite quickly. My process here was: Scrape the Glue Rough Sand with 60 grit using...
![Strip Planking 13: Closing the Bottom [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/tip-closing-the-bottom.jpg?v=1729040232&width=533)
Strip Planking 13: Closing the Bottom [video]
Nick Schade writes: The last strip to close the bottom always takes time. The narrow remaining gap must be matched quite precisely for a tight fit. Part of the difficulty...
Strip Planking 13: Closing the Bottom [video]
Nick Schade writes: The last strip to close the bottom always takes time. The narrow remaining gap must be matched quite precisely for a tight fit. Part of the difficulty...
Strip Planking 12: Repairing a Damaged Strip [v...
Nick Schade writes: With book matched strips you can not throw out a damaged strip because doing so would disrupt the pattern of the grain. Instead you will need to...
Strip Planking 12: Repairing a Damaged Strip [v...
Nick Schade writes: With book matched strips you can not throw out a damaged strip because doing so would disrupt the pattern of the grain. Instead you will need to...
![Strip Planking 11: Fixing a Popped Seam [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-fixing-popped-seam-1.png?v=1728335117&width=533)
Strip Planking 11: Fixing a Popped Seam [video]
Nick Schade writes: It will happen that as you are building a strip-planked boat, one of your seams will pop open. If you are using staples, you may be able...
Strip Planking 11: Fixing a Popped Seam [video]
Nick Schade writes: It will happen that as you are building a strip-planked boat, one of your seams will pop open. If you are using staples, you may be able...
![Strip Planking 10: Stripping The Bottom Part 2 [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-stripping-the-bottom-pt2.png?v=1728334875&width=533)
Strip Planking 10: Stripping The Bottom Part 2 ...
Strip Planking 10: Stripping The Bottom Part 2 [video] Nick Schade writes: In part one of stripping the bottom I did not need to worry about the length of the...
Strip Planking 10: Stripping The Bottom Part 2 ...
Strip Planking 10: Stripping The Bottom Part 2 [video] Nick Schade writes: In part one of stripping the bottom I did not need to worry about the length of the...
Strip Planking 09: Trimming the Keel Line [video]
Nick Schade writes: In the previous step I stripped up one side, letting the ends of the strips overhang the center or keel line. In this video I am trimming...
Strip Planking 09: Trimming the Keel Line [video]
Nick Schade writes: In the previous step I stripped up one side, letting the ends of the strips overhang the center or keel line. In this video I am trimming...
![Strip Planking 08: Stripping The Bottom Part 1 [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-stripping-the-bottom-pt1.png?v=1728334432&width=533)
Strip Planking 08: Stripping The Bottom Part 1 ...
Nick Schade writes: In this video I am stripping up the bottom. I am doing a "straight" stripping pattern where I strip up one side completely without stripping the other...
Strip Planking 08: Stripping The Bottom Part 1 ...
Nick Schade writes: In this video I am stripping up the bottom. I am doing a "straight" stripping pattern where I strip up one side completely without stripping the other...
![Strip Planking 07: Stripping a Wooden Kayak [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-stripping-wooden-kayak-1.png?v=1728334188&width=533)
Strip Planking 07: Stripping a Wooden Kayak [vi...
Nick Schade writes: In this video I am continuing with the stripping on the side of the kayak. Because of the fairly plumb bow and stern of the microBootlegger design,...
Strip Planking 07: Stripping a Wooden Kayak [vi...
Nick Schade writes: In this video I am continuing with the stripping on the side of the kayak. Because of the fairly plumb bow and stern of the microBootlegger design,...
![Strip Planking 06: Installing the First Strips [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-installing-first-strips-2.png?v=1728334005&width=533)
Strip Planking 06: Installing the First Strips ...
Nick Schade writes: The first strip on the boat is the most critical because it defines the flow of all the rest of the strips. If the first strip is...
Strip Planking 06: Installing the First Strips ...
Nick Schade writes: The first strip on the boat is the most critical because it defines the flow of all the rest of the strips. If the first strip is...
![Strip Planking 05: Setting Up Forms for Strip-Built Kayaks [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/Screenshot_2025-12-18_at_5.02.29_PM.png?v=1766095370&width=533)
Strip Planking 05: Setting Up Forms for Strip-B...
Nick Schade writes: Here I show using an aluminum strongback and spacers to quickly and accurately set up forms. This same technique would work with a plywood box beam. The...
Strip Planking 05: Setting Up Forms for Strip-B...
Nick Schade writes: Here I show using an aluminum strongback and spacers to quickly and accurately set up forms. This same technique would work with a plywood box beam. The...
![Strip Planking 01: Cutting Forms for Strip-Built Kayaks [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-cutting-kayak-forms.png?v=1728318204&width=533)
Strip Planking 01: Cutting Forms for Strip-Buil...
Nick Schade writes: The first step to assuring your boat comes out right is to assure you have accurate forms. You could buy a kit with pre-cut forms made on...
Strip Planking 01: Cutting Forms for Strip-Buil...
Nick Schade writes: The first step to assuring your boat comes out right is to assure you have accurate forms. You could buy a kit with pre-cut forms made on...
![Petrel Build: 11 Repairing a Split Strip [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-fixing-split-strip-1.png?v=1728317958&width=533)
Petrel Build: 11 Repairing a Split Strip [video]
Nick Schade writes: The first part of this video make look familiar. While releasing the hull from the forms in the last video, I ended up splitting one of the...
Petrel Build: 11 Repairing a Split Strip [video]
Nick Schade writes: The first part of this video make look familiar. While releasing the hull from the forms in the last video, I ended up splitting one of the...
![Petrel Build: 10 Flipping the Forms and Releasing the Hull [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-flipping-forms-1.png?v=1728317769&width=533)
Petrel Build: 10 Flipping the Forms and Releasi...
Nick Schade writes: After the stripping is done on the hull, it is time to flip it over. I got Robin to help and rested the now-upright hull on some...
Petrel Build: 10 Flipping the Forms and Releasi...
Nick Schade writes: After the stripping is done on the hull, it is time to flip it over. I got Robin to help and rested the now-upright hull on some...