Wooden boats are an important part of our historical heritage. They have played a crucial role in the development of civilizations. For most of history, wood has been the only material that could be used to build boats. Modern times have brought new materials such as fiberglass or aluminium, which have allowed to build new kinds of boats, powered with high-power engines.

In front of such technological changes, wood has lost most of its significance. If you visit any boat reseller, it is very probable that you will not see any wood boat at all. But you will be stunned by amazing designs with shining fiberglasses everywhere and luxury interiors. Wooden boats are now praised by only a small minority of enthusiasts, who push the passion to the point of actually building their own boats. This is easy to understand, as wood is nearly the only material that an amateur can reasonably work at home. All other construction techniques require complex tools and equipment, as well as some very specific skills. Skills can still be learned by a real enthusiast - although this would require an expensive training - but the setup and the tools are beyond the reach of most people.

For most people, boats made of wood give a feeling of nostalgy. Maybe this comes from the fact that building such a boat is a way to perpetuate a tradition of several centuries. Unfortunately, today will never be like before, as many of the best species of marine lumber have disappeared. Some boats built a long time ago using these excellent woods are still in good shape today. In a sense, these boats have survived to the species from which they are made. The lumber of a famous boat like the King Billy Pine is so hard that it seems eternal. Today, the old roots of the dead trees are still used to do the maintenance, as no worthwhile replacement can be found. It is however sad to think that one day or the other, these exceptional woods will disappear completely, effectively preventing any further maintenance of these old ships, at least in their original form.

Today, there are still many good types of lumber available which can be used by the amateur builder. However, they are usually quite expensive. A cheaper alternative is plywood, which has become very popular. It has excellent mechanical qualities, is easy to work and remains affordable for most people. Combined with a fiberglass coating, plywood is a material of choice to build good and robust boats. This is even more true if you plan to just build a simple boat for occasional use. The simplest way to build using plywood is through the stitch-and-glue method. Using this method, you will be able to build your boat rather easily, in a matter of weeks or even days.