Serial Boat Builder – Small Wooden Boats and More

This Saturday the girls and I finished our second boat. The tentative name is
“Lizer Pizer,” but Eliza doesn’t get to officially name her boat until I have built one for Abigail as well (I am going to vote for Fabbylosa for that one).

I touched up the white paint on Nephi's Courage while I was painting the new mouse boat. I also took the opportunity to take a picture of both boats together. — I touched up the white paint on my pdracer “Nephi’s Courage” while I was painting the new mouse boat. I also took the opportunity to take a picture of both boats together.

My records show that I started this boat on September 6, 2014, and I did a much better job of documenting the build with pictures than I did with my pdracer. I have already started another article with the details. Today I just want to talk about the fun that we had on Saturday painting the boat and finishing it.

Before we actually started painting the girls all wanted to get a picture sitting in the boat.

Eliza, ready for adventure. Notice the can of glitter. That will play an important role soon.

Abigail can hardly contain her enthusiasm.

I haven't had the heart to tell Stella she can't go in the boat by herself yet. — I haven’t had the heart to tell Stella she can’t go in the boat by herself yet.

We started painting outside, but it quickly turned cold and windy.

I am not sure I have ever seen all three of these girls actually working at the same time. Small boats are a huge miracle.

The older girls wore my clothing so that they wouldn't get paint on their clothes. Apparently Abigail can pretend my shorts are a skirt if she only uses one leg hole. — The older girls wore my clothing so that they wouldn’t get paint on their clothes. Apparently Abigail can pretend my shorts are a skirt if she only uses one leg hole. Eliza is wearing my shorts as well, but I am pretty sure that shirt is hers.

When I told the girls that all of the boats were going to be white (I didn’t want to have to purchase small quantities of various different paint colors), they were disappointed. Eliza asked if she could apply some glitter to the first boat. My initial reaction was “no.” I am probably going to use this boat sometimes, and it is likely that my scouts will as well. I didn’t want a glittery boat for the same reason that I didn’t want a pink boat with unicorns on it.

However, she persisted, and it occurred to me that perhaps glitter would be useful as a sort of low cost non-skid surface. So we applied some glitter to the cockpit. I didn’t include the glitter in the price list because we always have glitter at our house. Pictures just do not do this justice. The glitter is very sparkly.

Abby and Eliza sparkling next to the new applied glitter.

The new boat, the next day, out in the sun.

I am ridiculously pleased about this boat. I think that it turned out extremely well, especially considering the materials that I used. I am expecting to have a lot of fun with this boat this summer.

If you liked this post you might want to read about the details of the build process.

One response to “Serial Boat Builder”

Bob Harvey says:

April 8, 2015 at 1:23 pm

Great, stuff you really ought to publish this.
The boats look great, I liked the white look.
I have made one mouse boat for the grandsons and also I made a Jiggity to use on a canal. My eldest son was going to put an electric motor in it and use it up and down the canal.

Unfortunately he and his famil have departed to Canada so the UK venture is on permanent hold. Anyone want a Jiggity.

We intend to go out there in August, and if I can escape perhaps I can put something together.

After all practice makes perfect.

Best wishes,
Bob