The development of Wooden Boat Building techniques led to the opening up of the world as never before. Whilst boats made of materials such as bark and reeds or animal hides stretched over lightweight frames, had been used since prehistoric times, it was not until mankind learnt to use timber, in a form other than the simple hollowed out log; that travel by water became more than a local excursion.

Much experimentation over many centuries, with materials and methods of both construction and propulsion, led to wooden boats growing in size to become mighty ships, this led to world wide systematic exploration, which was followed by trade and conquest. By the time wooden boats and ships were replaced by the modern examples constructed of iron and steel; or aluminium or fibreglass the whole world had been discovered, mapped and irretrievably linked together.

The crowning glory of the wooden boat age was the “Great Republic” the largest commercial wooden sailing vessel ever built. The three and four masted super sailors; “clipper” ships like the cutty sark; which plied the seas transporting tea and wool and grain, were mostly composite vessels made of timber over steel frames and can’t really be called wooden boats. Their reign over the seas lasted but a few years before they too were gone and with them the many of the traditional wooden boat building skills.

Today wooden boat building exists mainly in a few traditional areas still building small fishing or transportation vessels (mostly in third world countries) and to the world of pleasure boating. Sail and motor boats of all sizes, as well as dingys, dorys and other forms are still being constructed by craftsmen and a now growing band of enthusiasts.

Wooden Boat Building associations and clubs are springing up all over the world and schools dedicated to teaching what were mainly traditionally handed down crafts are found throughout England Europe and North America. Dedicated volunteers are signing on to restoration or replica projects and more and more individuals are committing themselves to building wooden boats.

There is nothing more satisfying than seeing the finished product, of sometimes months or even years of work, reach fruition by firstly surviving its launching and then proving itself seaworthy.

What are you going to do this winter, watch reruns on TV, worry about the midriff bulge or get out into your garage or workshop and get to work building a beautiful wooden boat. Then when spring arrives you can look forward to spending some time on the water, fishing, sailing, motoring about; whatever the project you undertake seeing it come to fruition will be a wonderful reward for some fulfilling winter work.

Timber is just the most wonderful material to work with it is buoyant, cheap, widely available and easily worked and the satisfaction of creating something from a natural traditional living material cannot exaggerated; even if the method and tools you may chose to use are modern, just working with wood takes you back to much simpler times when skill and craftsmanship were greatly admired. Wooden Boat Building plans and step by step instuctions are readily available, what are you waiting for, get started.