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EAGLE-FG / Ray Kelly / kellyra@lilly.com / Kinsale, Ireland / 1-19-04: Foam core construction, main glassing of hull complete – starting on bulkheads now. I’ll send some pictures in the next week or so.
8-14-08: Took some time out – hadn’t worked the birth of two kids into my original schedule! Back working on the boat now. Fairing the hull at present – hopefully complete in a few weeks and will send photos then. (see Customer Photos)
EAGLE-WD / Craig Kuhn / fon41@pngusa.net / 5-27-04: I started cutting wood for the Eagle boat design on 5/24/04. I have a hud-son bandsaw mill and all of the trees have been cut close by, some dead (cherry,oak,yellow pine). I built a solar kiln and it will take a month before the wood is dry. Most of the boat will be yellow pine, and I am going to extend by 10%. I will just paint the wood and not FG the outside. The pattern for the frames will be started in a few days.
EAGLE-WD / Jose Reis / S. J. Campos, Sao Paulo, Brazil /josereis@directnet.com.br / 7-18-04: I am building my EAGLE since March/2004. All frames and bulkheads are already finished, including the Transom. The next steps will be the building form, set up the frames and bulkheads in place and begin building the hull. I will start working on this building form next week. I decided to modify the Transom: instead of using a flat 3/4″ plywood, as explained on your plans, I decided to build a curved Transom, like the traditional lobsterboat Transoms, much more beautiful. Instead of using 3/4″ plywood, I covered the Transom with the same “strip-planking” method of the hull. The result was very good, as you can check on the attached photos.
EAGLE – WD / Craig Larson / Swan River, Manitoba, Canada /windandwaterfarm@mts.net / 5-15-08: I hope that this is not too premature to register, but I started taking pics for a record as I prep for my build. Then I thought why not just blog it? That way if I’m making a goof someone can say ‘Whoa!’…or a newbie can see what it takes from beginning to end. As you can see, I am learning from the ground up. Thanks for all your help on here so far…there will be more questions in the forum. With spring my work outside is all-consuming…spent the last week solid in my orchard and now my sights turn to forages. But on my breaks I will put in a few mintues here and there in prep for the build this fall.
12-4-08: Yesterday I traveled to a friend’s farm and felled and skidded the tamarack that will constitute my skeg. It gets milled next week. Today with a repaired chop saw I cut the wood for my building form. Maybe even put it together!
NOTE: PLease see my blog: www.indigenora.blogspot.com
EIGHT BALL / Darrell Sisson / desisson@surf-ici.com / 3-5-00: Started 2-4-00… have all parts cut from plywood. Need to plane and rip hardwood. 3-28-00: Have everything put together, next will put on bottom and sides. 5-11-00: Planking installed and coated with resin. 10-9-00: I have completed my eightball it great fun to sail. Thanks
EIGHT BALL / Brad Wiebe / Surrey, B.C.,Canada / crane-op1@shaw.ca / 8-3-00: Bought spruce wood in the form of 2×4’s and 1×6 boards and have just finished cutting to the true sizes asked for. It was alot of work but all my wood is clear now. I also picked up glue and screws. I hope to get the plywood soon! 8-00-00: I bought two 1/4″ sheets of Mahog exterior grade good one side plywood and one 1/2″ sheet of Exterior Fir sanded both sides cost of $18.95 Cnd on the 1/4″ and $29.95 for the 1/2″ total $78.00. With my Lee Valley Tool “Pounce wheels” (pen like tool that has a cowboy type spur on it’s end). It took me about two hours inculding my screw up on part #1 to lay out the two 1/4″ sheets…it’s nice to feel I am on the move. I’m about to go out and cut out the 1/4″ parts.
EIGHT BALL / Michael Syamken / Costa Rica / syamken@hotmail.com / 8-4-00 ready to spring keel. using local rainforest woods of laurel and an unknown type of marine plywood.
EIGHT BALL / Eric Webster / Address not valid: 11-18-02 / 10-6-00: Received plans and fastening kit today. Transom half framed. Intend to shorten dingy to 7 feet for reasons that I don’t really want to explain yet (might later fit on my “DREAM” cruiser, ok!). Contacted Glen-L staff about proposed change in plans, and although they don’t totally agree with the proposed change, they were supportive. Hope to finish Sailing version for spring launching. 12-2-00: All sub-assemblies set up on building form. Ready for keel. As stated earlier, I shortened the dingy ten inches to seven feet. I left the beam the same, so it looks a little boxy so far. We will see. So far, a good design, and fun to build! 12-9-00: Keel installed. Ready for Chines. One other point. I don’t have a table saw so I can’t pre-bevel the keel. It will all have to be done by hand. After the chines are on it might take awhile before I make much more progress with all the hand beveling I have to do. Starting to look like a real boat!
EIGHT BALL / Brian Amato / Traverse City, MI / Brian3647@aol.com / Back in 1974, I built an Eight Ball. I towed that thing behind my Pearson-26 all over the Great Lakes, rowed it out to the mooring, year after year, and sailed it day in and day out. I finally traded it, 15 years later, for a metal lathe and I think it’s still going strong. Now, March, 2001, I’m building two more Eight Balls, at the same time. All frame ups were glued with Weldwood powder glue and the actual construction and planking used West System epoxy (which I really like). I am using an air nailer rather than pounding all those ringed nails. Went to Sears and bought 5/8″ GALVANIZED nails for my nail gun. I’ve soaked some in water for weeks and they have never rusted. Both boats will be in the water by the time the ice is gone. Feel free to e-mail me or call me any time if you want to “talk 8-Balls”. 3-27-03: I finished the eighball. Is a wonderful little boat. …I built my first one back in the mid 70s. I got so good with it I could come up into the wind…….reach out and hold the boom out……..let the wind fill the sail from the front and BACK the boat into the slip along side the Bigger sailboat. People would just stare!! I cut out two of everything so I could build TWO Eight-Balls at the same time. But you really cant cuz you can only use the jig to build one at a time. I’ll start the second one in a week or two. 3-27-03: Email address still ok.
EIGHT BALL / Mike D. / dddmdz1@juno.com / 1-12-03: I am very surprised how inexpensive it has been to build my Eight Ball. When the boat is finished, the total cost will be from $250-$300. I was able to find an old sail that I had been storing for the past 15 years in case I decided to build a sailboat. For those who are on a strict budget, I can recommend a few websites that are selling white tarps (approximately $9) which can be cut down to make a cheap sail. I purchased all my lumber from a local lumber yard and handpicked each piece according to Aircraft/Marine Standards (for more information go to www.eaa.org). The plywood is exterior grade and not of the quality that I would have liked, but it will work fine for my quick n’ dirty boat. I’ve used Glen-l Poxy-Grip exclusively as it is very similar to the T-88 epoxy I’ve used in my feable attempts at homebuilt aircraft construction. Plus it’s hypoallergenic and much safer than other Marine Epoxies, in my opinion. As of 1-12-2003, I have all the seats cut out and beveled, the transom is finished and beveled, the bow is almost complete, and all the other parts have been drawn on the ply and need to be cut out. I’ve performed 95% of all my cutting on my cheap little 10″ Craftsman table saw. There are a number of bevel cuts on this design and the table saw has proven invaluable. One thing that is missing from the Eight Ball plans is the ubiquitous Table Of Offsets!!! I have difficulty getting full-size patterns to transfer accurately, so I prefer to loft my own work. Other than that feeble complaint, I’d recommend the Eight Ball to just about anyone who wants a quick n’ easy sailboat to build. And whoever heard of building a new sailboat for under $300? Anyone who has questions about my Eight Ball or would like to just “talk sailboats”, please feel free to email me. 3-27-03: As my shop is unheated, I haven’t been able to perform much work on my Eight Ball until this week as the weather has warmed somewhat. I am currently varnishing the inside of the centerboard case. This weekend I plan on final assembly of the centerboard case. All the other major parts are assembled, epoxied, and beveled. 4-29-03: The pieces are assembled on the building jig. I installed the keel this morning and will be installing the chine stringers this week. I hope to start planking her up this weekend.
EIGHT BALL / Curtis Petruzzelli / Ashland, MA / CurtnWood@hotmail.com / 5-19-05: I decided to start on a small boat to gain experience first before building something big. I must have sent you guys a lot of questions on it, do you remember me? LOL. I have made some modifications to the design, making the boat ridiculously heavy but it can hold more weight and is much more rigid. I started by building the original model I decided I was unhappy with the flat face using it as a sailboat. I remedied that by applying an exo skeleton made with 3/4″ X 1 1/2″ pine strips with angles matching the hull. Instead of ending at the original hull I brought everything to a point at the front and covered it with a skin of 1/4″ AC Plywood with the A side facing out. It came out really good only now having a hull a 1 1/4″ thick. Other modifications include making a larger rudder and getting rid of the kick up rudder option. I thought the rudder size was way too small to make any kind of quick turns. Do you remember me sending you an email about fiberglassing the rudder? Well I decided to try it and it worked really well. I radiused the 1/2″ plywood with a 1/4″ round bit on my router. I cut strips about 3 inches wide and wrapped them around the edges. It took forever because of all the molding and keeping the air bubbles out of it. The rudder right now is the best looking and cosmetically most durable piece of the boat. With the sock type sail that I bought from you it works great but I am having trouble docking it without scratching the heck out of the hull. With the changes I made the length changed for 8 feet to 9′-6″. I will try to send you pictures as soon as possible. Plans for this summer include fiber-glassing the hull, re-trimming and re-painting.
EIGHT BALL / Joe Livingston / Swainsboro, GA / trainman4717@hotmail.com / 1-22-07: I started on the Eight Ball today by ripping the stock on my new table saw (put the saw together yesterday). 4-11-07: Have cut most of the parts out; transom and bow together. Now working on seat supports. I have learned how to use a jigsaw on this project. Have renewed energy after a couple of months away from the project.
EIGHT BALL / Karl Ellshoff / Marshall, IL / ellshoff@abcs.com / 3-16-09: I would like to register my Eight Ball project. The plans were a Christmas present from my Dad in 1980 when I was thirteen. After looking at them for several years I finally decided to start building. I bought some of the lumber and started cutting in December of ’97. I worked on through the winter and in ’98 life took off again and I put the project in the attic. This winter I brought out what I had done and have started back again. My goal is to have in the water this summer. I have attached a picture showing what is done to this point. I also have the center seat and braces done. As you can see from the picture my gluing was not the neatest. I am getting better. I just finished fiberglassing one side of the centerboard trunk. I have really enjoyed building.
6-27-11: I put my boat into the water this past weekend. Next step is painting. I intended to paint it from the start but now I wish I had been neater with my building. After seeing how good it looks with just the epoxy I hate to cover it up now. Powered it with an old Minn Kota 50 trolling motor. Bad thing was I pulled the deep cycle out of my bass boat and it weighed almost 60 pounds. Probably a little too much extra weight. Most of my wood working experience was from Eighth Grade shop class over 30 years ago. (See Customer Photos)
EIGHT BALL / Fletcher DeLap / Maple Valley, WA / delap67@comcast.net / 6-3-09: Nearly all materials are purchased and I am looking forward to starting soon.
EIGHT BALL-SG / John and Becky Knoll (Becky is my 12 year old daughter) / Longmont, CO / jknoll@DynamicMaterials.com / 3-23-99: We have in just one weekend built a construction similar to the one seen in the Glen-L video and cut all of the plywood parts. 4-4-99: Completed stitching 6 main hull panels together, ready to assemble seat uprights and to apply resin putty fillets. So far everything has fit extremely well, the project is going great. 2-25-00: Have rejoined the project; just began filleting the daggerboard trunk in place. All FG lams inside are complete. Next step is to flip and FG the hull. Goal is to have it in water first of April 2000. Everything has gone “by the book”. 4-4-03: The project went very well. My first association with Glen-L was when I was about 9 or ten years old ( I am now 54). My Dad and a friend of his built a ski boat from Glen-L plans called L Dorado. This whole process somehow imprinted on my mind and I have had the bug ever since. In 1974 I built a Glen-L 12 and taught myself how to sail with that boat. This too was a very successful project for me I owned this boat for about 10 years and had many, many compliments on how well it sailed and how great it looked. I now own a Catalina 27(1973 model, hull #902 of about 6600 built) and needed a dinghy as tender. I turned to a trusted resource, Glen-L Marine, and chose the stich and glue Eight Ball. I have had the boat in service for about two years now. The construction concept is great, I tried to do a very good job so I probably had more time invested than some might have used. I would estimate that I have the straight time equivalent of about 100 hours in the boat. I used all Glen-L epoxy and fiberglass supplies as well as the deluxe hardware kit. I cut my own sail from a blown out genoa on the Catalina. The Eight Ball performs well rowing, with 5 horse outboard, or with sail. I will be teaching my 4 year old son to sail this summer with this boat. Thanks again for a great and world class customer service.
EIGHT BALL-SG / David and Peter Haile / Ft. Collins, Colorado /david.haile@encorp.com / 12-31-99: Plans purchased. Shop all ready to go. Plywood purchased. Just getting ready to make our first cuts, then we’re off and running! I’m supervising my almost-11 year-old son in building the boat. The idea is that he’ll do most of the work. We’ve had a couple of other father/son projects, but I always did the bulk of the work. This project will be different – he’s older now and has some experience with power tools. 1-1-02: After leaving the stitched boat in the shop for 21 months, we’ve just restarted working on it. We are presently filleting and are having trouble getting smooth fillets. I also think we’ll be 20% short on hardener at the present consumption rate. I’ll have to call to get more when we FG the outside. Also may end up postponing to warmer weather. 3-27-03: The boat is stitched together and partially filleted in the basement shop. We have not worked on it in more than 2 years. We still plan to finish someday – maybe this summer.
EIGHT BALL-SG / Garry and Sam Hall / Garryhall@yahoo.com / El Cajon, CA / 08-17-01: Over the past three weekends Sam (age 11) and I have transferred the patterns and cut the main parts from plywood. After sanding and rounding edges, Sam drilled all stitch holes in the main 6 sections. We epoxied all parts and now we are stitching. The video makes the stitching appear much easier than what we are experiencing. A block plane is a must to trim edges on plywood seams for a better fit. We also have Glen L 15 plans. Glad we started small as we are learning lots.
EIGHT BALL-SG / James McLain / Mission Hills, CA / Shakepeare@aol.com / 1-14-02: Well, I’m finally getting down to the wire, (I think). I just completed the external fiberglass covering. This was one of the hardest steps. So far I’ve put about 3 months into the project but it wouldn’t have taken so long if the sun didn’t go down before I even got home from work. I can only work on it on weekends for the time being. Another thing that slow you down is that you have to wait for each layer or fillet of resin to dry before you can sand and go to the next layer. I anticipate that putting the long shear running pieces is going to be the toughest part I have left. In fact I was testing the bendability of one of the sides that I had cut out and SNAP!!! Ooops. I’m still planning to use it but it will have to be in 2 pieces not one. Thank you for the excellent plans. 3-28-03: My Eight ball has been finished for almost a year now. I’m the guy who sent you the video of the chirstening that went oh so bad. Here is a photo of my eight ball tied up at Balboa lake, which is a beautiful man made lake in the middle of the San Fernando Valley. (see Customer Photos)
EIGHT BALL-SG / Jose Reis / S. J. Campos, Sao Paulo, Brazil /josereis@directnet.com.br / 4-12-02: On November-2001: Project finished, boat already sailing. I’m using a sail made by a local sail manufacturer, an outboard motor Johnson of 3.3 Hp, and oars. My boat is sailing very well, quite stable, mainly when using the sail. When using the outboard motor, small amounts of water eventually passes through the empty daggerboard case, into the boat. I will try to fix it by gluing two rubber “lips” at the bottom of the daggerboard opening. 3-27-03: Just purchased Eagle plans and patterns.
EIGHT BALL-SG / Ray Boller / rkboller@prodigy.net / 2-25-04: Transferring patterns to plywood. Built La Chatte in the 1970s. 9-5-04: This project turned out great – have been using it on Lake Michigan, between Milwaukee and Chicago. It is very satisfying to see how thin, floppy pieces of plywood can turn into a strong vessel. This boat attracts attention and smiles everywhere I go. The design is great – the construction went very well – and this boat handles well for its size. (see Customer Photos)
ESCAPADE / Bill Young / billkelli@earthlink.net / 3-8-02: Cutting out frames.
3-27-03: Hi Barry, yes the email address is still good. I have not made a lot of progress, still finishing the frames. With any luck I can finish our house and landscaping this spring and devote all my time to the boat.
ESCORT / Rob Sutherland / Mount Vernon, Iowa / rsutherland@cornellcollege.edu / 8-3-06: Completed frame set-up, laid keel, and attached transom. Immediate task ahead: bending 1×2 strips of mahogany for Sheer Clamps and Chine Log.
8-21-08: Hull completed, except for attaching rails, strakes, and stem cap.
EUREKA / Ray Boller / Old Mill Creek, IL / rkboller@prodigy.net / 6-25-07: Ordered plans Aug, 2005. As of June 2007, Approx. 60% complete. Plan to install engines Aug, 2007. Expected Launch – Spring 08, Lake Michigan.
7-30-09: New launch date is Spring 2010. See progress photos on my website and on the Boatbuilder Forum.
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