We have boat plans (both yacht designs, catamaran designs and power designs) for all sizes. From the 12ft Mushulu Dinghy stitch & glue yacht tender to the Oceansky 57 catamaran. We design timber boats, plywood boats, strip plank boats, fibreglass composite boats, steel and aluminum boats to very modern styling for both monohull designs or multihull designs, powerboat or sailboat and in round bilge, multi-chine or radius chine hull forms.

                Peter's Testimonial (NSW)

  The following list of materials is approximate and intended for calculation of approximate costs. We offer no guarantees of accuracy.
The list is for all timber in the construction of hull, deck and interior, including building stocks, temporary bracing etc. Allowance has been made in the quantities for about 10% wastage.

These figures allow for building with 1/4" (6mm) & 3/8" (9mm) plywood for the hull and interior.

To all of you reading this, I can honestly say that the build was very easy. Anyone who is good with their hands, who is patient and wants to achieve a high quality product will find this project very enjoyable and complete it with ease. When I had the entire boat formed and glassed, I decided that I wouldn't just paint the boat. I would detail it with as much exposed timber as possible. The bulkheads would be in clear veneer with solid edging with solid doors, the front seat and anchor hatch would have inlays in a contrasting colour and the boat would have a sole with contrasting colors. Also the rubbing strake would have timber inlays and the entire boat would be a pearly white color with as much chrome as possible, as it had to look like it was made for a classy yacht. This I hoped would make it easier to sell. The things I didn't enjoy as much as others was obviously the sanding of fiber glass, but all in all it was very enjoyable. It would be great to be able to build full time, not part time as the stages would be completed faster and certain elements would be cheaper. For the next build I intend to build two boats at the same time as this will save me time and money. I will be ready to build a larger vessel as the build stages of this boat carry on to the next one.
And to my good friend Mark, we haven't yet met face to face, but I'm sure we will one day.  Just so you all know when reading this, Mark is not just someone who you buy the plans from. He is the person you will be able to contact at any time and any day regarding your build. His web page is full of information and each boat has its own build stages of previously built boats. So when you start out building, you are surrounded by photos of each stage of construction and with your plans in your hands, you also have a visual library of the construction stages. If you still need help, you can just call him and he will explain everything so that you understand ! This makes it so easy and stress free!

Thank you Mark for making the dream possible.

Tom Macens. ( See Toms video above )

Making the decision whether or not to build or buy was very easy for me, I found Mark through his web page, rang him and with a great deal of enthusiasm he explained how easy it would be for me to build the Mushulu 12 or 14. The cost of building was also very cheap and you also had the excitement knowing that you will build something with different shapes, sections and curves and once built, it will float! As a carpenter this all gave me much excitement and I was ready to start.

Hi there Mark and Debbie,
I would like to let you know what a pleasure it has been building the Mushulu 12. It was a very simple boat to build and I think if I can build this boat, anyone can, The plans were dead set easy to follow and you don't need to have a degree to be able to read them. Whenever I needed any questions answered, you were always there to help out with any questions I had, even weekends!
So a big thankyou for your endless support while building my Mushulu 12.
Now that I have finally finished building, it was time to launch it at my local boat ramp. What a cracker ! It was so easy to launch on your own, unlike the big boats can be. I put it in the water and took off. The bow came up and I was on the plane, smooth and fast and she handled like a dream. With the strakes on the bottom of the boat, she turned like a falcon chasing it's prey. There was no doubt that this boat is by far my all time favourite and would recommend this to anyone if they never have built a boat before or, even if they have, it's a boat you just got to try out to believe. I can't wait to get back out there on the water ...Oh what a feeling.    ( See Wazza's Video above )

Mark,
Well "Salt Peter" is finished, launched and has done 9 hours of cruising. Everything went well. The craft performed beautifully. Have had the 9.9 Hp motor up to full throttle and the boat planed with 2 people (90 kg each), but couldn't make it with a 3rd person. A very dry boat, running straight and steady and took turns like a champion. Congratulations!
regards Peter

Well despite the weather we launched the Mushulu 12 today. The weather was 15 - 20 knots wind with scattered showers. The photos look nice and calm but as soon as we were outside the breakwater it was .5 + swells with a steep chop created by wind against the tide with white horses everywhere.
As it is a brand new motor we were unable to give it too much power to start with but even with only quarter throttle and two adults (big fellers) and two kids the boat was lifting up onto the plane, it just wanted to go. We all got very wet from the spray but we shipped very little water and only had a tiny amount to bail out every now and again. We launched at Pelican Park on the Redcliffe Peninsular and after a bit of running around in the heavy chop we decided to take a run up the Pine river and find some smooth water. By this time we had been running over an hour so were able to give a few burst of full throttle. The boat leapt out of the water and was straight on the plane before we knew it. I would estimate we were easily doing 20 Knots.
In all we were on the water for two and a half hours with the motor running the whole time.
I must say the boat handled extremely well even in the rough conditions, can't wait to get the motor fully run in and give her a real work out.
Regards
Alan & Kyle

Hi all,
After making the big move from the UK to New Zealand, I'm finally getting my chance to build a boat, or maybe two.
After spending a lot of time looking through websites etc, at loads of different boat designs and plan sets, I decided to go with one of Marks designs. The idea of a straight forward and quick build time, yet still a great looking boat, plus the fact that I would quite like to build one of his bigger designs at a later date, really appealed to me. This is my first boat build though I did build a stitch and glue kayak many, many moons ago while still at school.
Regards
Simon (New Zealand)

                      With the best technical support: we will help you succeed!
All our plans come with full technical support and are Australian Builders plate compliant.

We will respond immediately. At the same please visit our Boat Building forum site, to share ideas about our boats and thousands of pictures - see completed boats and many of the building steps done by builders like you.
Also, all the fiberglass supplies required to build our boats are available at Bowdidge marine Designs, delivered to your door.

Required Skills:
All our stitch and glue boats are easy to build. No woodworking skills or special tools are required. The plans include all dimensions and patterns to cut all the hull parts flat on the shop floor.

Designed Boat Plans

MATERIALS LIST FOR THE MUSHULU 12

MDF OR PARTICLE BOARD
8ft by 4ft (2.44 x1.22m) 12mm (5/8") - 2 sheets

MARINE PLYWOOD
8'x4' (2.44x 1.22m
6mm (1/4") - 5 sheets
9mm (3/8") - 1 sheet

RESIN & GLASS (for coatings and reinforced areas)
Epoxy resins & Hardener - 18kg
200g/sq.m Cloth fabric - 21 sq.m
Glue powder 2 kg
Fairing powder 3 kg

Construction Method:
Built from marine or boatbuilding plywood and completely fibreglassed in an epoxy matrix both inside and outside, the Mushulu 12 was designed for very easy building: no compound curves, no unnecessary complications, ease of construction, easy maintenance and a long life.

The 1/4" (6mm) panels, cut flat from our expanded plates dimensioned drawings, are bent around the frames and fastened to the transom and bow with stitches.
 
The plans show all dimensions needed for each method: accurate expanded plates dimensions and all bulkheads and transom dimensions with spacing for building on strongbacks if desired.

With no lofting, beveling or scarfing required, the sides and bottom panels are cut from standard 8x4 plywood (1.2m x2.4m) and joined with a simple fiberglass butt block. All seams are then taped with fiberglass and epoxy (see our "Boatbuilding Forum " section for details.) As these epoxy joins are much stronger than the plywood, the assembled hull is then completely fibreglassed for extra strength and easy maintenance, resulting in a boat with less maintenance and a better finish than a production fiberglass hull.

     The Mushulu 12 is a simple open plan design, with the priority being for easy planing at low speeds, great stability whilst at rest, .

     The interior itself is clean and simple, with a loads of room and storage. Emphasis was given to having higher than normal sides and comfortable seating arangements, without having your knees in your face. Within the seats there are 2 large sealed lockers, for all those items you may want locked away, while still retaining the foam filled buoyancy compartments in the outer seat sections, as required to comply with the standards. The bow seat also doubles as an anchor locker. 
    
Overall, the design had to be kept simple, clean and functionable, for a great days fishing or simply out and about with the family.

The Mushulu 12, (a composite/ plywood design) is lightweight, easily carried or handled by 2 people, quick and simple in it's construction and without costing an arm and a leg to build.
Designed not only as a lightweight timber tinnie, it also meant it had to be a performer. Not only in recreational use, whether it be fishing or just plain exploring, but also a tough and rugged tender if required as well. With higher than normal topsides of 457mm (18") instead of the typical 300mm (12"), it had to be designed to be used as a carrier of people and stores, water and fuel runs, or just plain recreational fishing.
Overall, the Mushulu 12 offers a great opportunity for those weekend fishing & camping adventures, reliable and seaworthy for those who live near the water, without spending everything you have.

LOA...........12' 0" (3.65m)

   The Mushulu 12 Specifications

I really like how easy the boat pops up on plane. It really does feel like a feather on the water after our big heavy aluminum boat. It is also much easier to pull up and launch off the boat ramp. Since it is such a small boat it feels tender at first, however as with most water craft, rock solid stability usually comes at the expense of  performance and ability to handle rough water.
 
My oldest son and I are already talking about how we can modify the interior to fit our needs. We would like to add a live well, put in a flat false bottom, as well as add more storage, possibly in the false bottom and add a place to store the paddles along the side
 
Since we made the boat it is nice to know we can modify it to suit our needs. Our new little boat should see almost daily use this summer, but it was built it with work in mind. It has 2 layers of fiberglass on the bottom, a kevlar felt wear strip down the middle and up the end for abrasion resistance, fiberglass inside and out, 2 layers of 12 oz tape on the outside joints. Not the lightest (200 lbs) Mushulu 12 out there, I am sure, but it will handle the normal wear and tear of life in remote Canadian shield country.

Thanks much for a light little portable boat that will see lots of daily use. I am already considering building the Mushulu 14 and a friend of mine the Rogue Wave.

Thanks so much for a very fine handling little boat.
Regards
Arthur (Canada)

Mark,
Here are a few pictures of the boat which we just launched this PM.

I really like the little boat. It will be much more pleasant to launch and pull up then our 17' aluminum boat. I was very pleased with how it handled. I noticed that there is hardly a hump to climb over when you transition to planing. Handles very nice. Feels like a feather on the water. Turns beautifully. Just as solid and stable as our 17' aluminum boat when at rest. A very nice little boat.

The weather cleared this PM and we went out and caught enough walleye for supper. It is taking us some adjustment getting used to having a small boat, after a much larger
boat.

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