Building the Ben Garvey
A simple and hardworking launch designed by Doug Hylan
- Geoff Kerr —AUGUST 5–18
Tuition: $1150 two-week class
The “Big Ben” Garvey is a large, sturdy, outboard-powered utility boat from one of our neighborhood designers, Doug Hylan. Garveys are pram-bowed, V-bottomed skiffs that offer a lot of capacity for their length; sort of a really big, far more capable johnboat. In this case, rated for engines up to 85 hp, and with a load capacity of eight people or 1,300 lbs, the design is a versatile platform with performance that can be fitted out for many purposes.
This project is big-boat plywood construction, with hull panels at ½″ and bow and stern transoms at 1 ¼″. The hull is assembled over molds, and fastened with epoxy fillets and “significant” fiberglass tape. We’ll start with an already-executed lofting and molds, whose origins and processes will be covered as part of the class. Then we’ll have to erect the building frame and set the molds, use the lofting to create the transoms, hang them in place, and then spile and get out the hull panels. Once these are hung and faired, we’ll sheathe the hull in ’glass and mount four external stringers. You’ll learn all the tricks of epoxy-plywood boatbuilding.
After turning the hull over, we’ll install floor timbers, bulkheads, decks, flotation, and lockers. The boat we’ll be building is destined to be a new harbor launch and workboat for the WoodenBoat School fleet, so we’ll design and build a custom center console and bench seating. We’ll complete the project to the “bare hull” stage, for subsequent finishing by the staff and future classes. As time allows, we’ll discuss options and variables, and the eventual steps of prep, finish work, and equipment and rigging.
Instructor Geoff Kerr of Two Daughters Boatworks will be leading the two-week project. He has plenty of experience with this design, having built it both as a tricked-out sport utility vessel and as a stripped-out camping skiff. We’ll be building a custom version of Doug’s hull, with a raised forward sheer and matching forward transom. This seems to increase her seaworthiness and sturdy appearance, and will certainly render her a happier and drier boat for a load of students. The basic design remains within, though, and nothing we do will disguise or eliminate any of the steps or techniques of building Big Ben or the smaller sister as drawn by Doug Hylan. This course should be dynamic, exciting, and a great introduction to modern big-boat building.