About our classic mahogany runabouts...If you want a mahogany runabout that replicates boats of yesteryear, but dont want to pay the high price for a production rendition or restored antique, why not build it yourself? We ARE the source! Weve got the BEST designs and the BEST selection. Our stock plans - all done under the discerning eye and experienced hand of our designers - feature TRUE AUTHENTIC STYLING that accurately emulates award-winning restorations youve seen at classic boat shows. And youll save a small fortune in the process, not to mention all the time and effort of restoring some questionable hulk that might cost more in the long run than building new from scratch. Even the most critical eye will be hard-pressed to tell the difference in our designs from classics of the past. Each features a shapely hull with reverse curved flaring topsides forward, tumblehome sterns aft, and a generous roll all along the deck edge. Our TAHOE models replicate those boats produced in the several years either side of 1940, while our BISCAYNE models capture the elegance of those produced around the 1950's, with perhaps a hint of European influence and flair. Our BARRELBACK and KEY LARGO are as close as youll get to duplicating the famed Chris Craft Custom Runabouts built between 1939 and 1942 (less than 400 were ever built!). And theres little difference between our MISS CHRIS and the long, shapely grand triple cockpit classics of the early 1930's. If you are looking for more performance, we have a line of performance mahogany runabouts with the look of the classics, but with hull shapes designed for speed. The MONACO and RIVIERA are some of our most popular designs. Mark Bronkalla (Riviera builder) calls his boat "55 mph furniture". The GENTRY is our classic version of the perennial favorite, Cracker Box. MONTE CARLO is our performance option to MISS CHRIS. Whether you want the exact look of the originals or a performance version that most people will immediately assume is an original, Glen-L has what you are looking for. But most important, although weve designed these boats to be well within the realm of do-it-yourself builders with perhaps little or no boatbuilding experience, the resulting boats will actually be SUPERIOR to those of the past in virtually every way. Its the result of todays EPOXY TECHNOLOGY coupled with our proven building methods, leading to results youll be proud of. About the construction...While our classic mahogany runabout designs capture the look and feel of past boats, they all feature modern, SIMPLIFIED CONSTRUCTION specially designed for todays do-it-yourself woodworker. In fact, this construction is SUPERIOR to how such boats were built in the past. Unlike traditional boats often plagued by leaking seams and flexing hulls, these designs feature tight, stiff, strong, and lightweight COLD-MOLDED WOOD/EPOXY PLANKING. The epoxy seals and stabilizes the wood against moisture and locks out rot so that long life without excessive maintenance is assured. In fact, had such construction technology been available in the past, this is how boats would have been built. Our designs have no rabbets to cut, no members to steam, no seams to caulk, and no lofting from lines and offsets. Special skills and tools are not required. But only those who strive for quality craftsmanship should attempt such a project - these boats are not for slap-dash woodworkers. Planking consists of 1/8" nominal thickness veneers of solid wood or plywood laid in double diagonal format. Bottoms have 4 layers, with 3 layers on the sides (5 and 4 respectively on MISS CHRIS), or other combination of thicknesses to a comparable total thickness. The final layer on the sides is typically run lengthwise and given a natural finish to emulate planking; only this layer need be mahogany or other grain type to suit. We recommend covering exterior hull surface with our FIBERGLASS COVERING KITS which are virtually transparent when complete in order to show the natural grain. A UV-stable coating (such as varnish) is used for the final coat. Husky motor stringers also serve as jig members used to "key-in" the frames, and run nearly the length of the bottom. Closely spaced longitudinal battens support the planking over simple, sturdy sawn wood frames. All backbone member contours are taken from FULL SIZE PATTERNS. Plans include instructions, material listing, and resource list to obtain the specialty items used on such a project. Power comes from a gasoline direct drive motor located amidships; other powering systems are NOT recommended. We also recommend a contemporary powerplant over traditional types because they are lighter in weight, more compact, more reliable, and offer higher output for a given size. However, the replicas should not be over-powered; practical speeds should be limited to the 30's and 40's. For performance choose one of our performance mahogany runabouts: RIVIERA, MONACO, GENTRY or MONTE CARLO. NOTE: Length options may be offered. This is done by respacing frames proportionately. These procedures are covered in the instructions, and the option comes automatically with the plans - no need to specify on your order. Building our Classic Mahogany Runabouts...This series of photos of John Maddox building his BISCAYNE 18 in California shows the typical procedures used to build all of our CLASSIC MAHOGANY RUNABOUTS. This was Johns first boat; he enjoyed the whole experience so much that he has started another - our TAHOE 23.
Glen-L marine designs / www.glen-l.com / Boat plans for the home builder |