| A wise man said that if you walk with your eyes on | | | | 3. Skipping over the necessary chore of reading |
| the stars, you are at the mercy of the puddles that lie | | | | through the instructions, start to finish, before plunging |
| in the road. We all want to follow our star, but we also | | | | ahead with the first steps. What is involved here is that |
| need to keep an eye out for the puddles in order to | | | | you need to make sure, before you begin what every |
| succeed. | | | | step entails. You need to assure yourself that you |
| In any major project, being aware of what to refrain | | | | understand not only what each phase of the project |
| from doing, and why, is as important as know what to | | | | involves, but also why it is done the way it is done. |
| do. | | | | So, you should be striving to read your houseboat |
| This is certainly true if you're embarking on using DIY | | | | plans through -- and more than once. If you're unclear |
| houseboat plans to build your own "floating palace." | | | | about a particular step, show it to a friend and ask |
| This article then, is to assist you with what to beware | | | | what he (or she) thinks it means. Contact the plans' |
| of when shopping for and using do-it-yourself plans for | | | | publisher for clarification of anything that's hazy. |
| making your waterborne living dreams come true. | | | | Sometimes it's just a matter of learning woodworking |
| O.K. then, here are the 5 things you should avoid when | | | | or marine terminology that might be new to you. |
| buying and following houseboat plans: | | | | When I built my first boat, I was brought up short by |
| 1. Buying plans for a boat building project that is beyond | | | | the instructions telling me to "kerf" a particular piece of |
| your skill level -- biting off more than you can chew, in | | | | wood. I had to look up what this meant before I could |
| other words. There are particular reasons to refrain | | | | proceed. (Do you know what kerfing is?) |
| from doing this. The main one is, you could get | | | | 4. Refusing help; trying to literally "do it (all) yourself.". |
| frustrated, and quit the project before finishing it (but | | | | The reason this can be a bad idea is that four hands |
| after pouring in plenty of sweat and money). | | | | really are better than two when it comes to building a |
| Alternatively, you might want to look for plans that are | | | | boat. Two people can usually complete a project such |
| rated by woodworking skill level. A houseboat can | | | | as this in better than half the time! |
| actually be surprisingly easy to build, but only if you | | | | Instead you actually should invite a friend to help you. |
| choose one that has been tested in the real world by | | | | Better yet, enlist your spouse or your youngster in |
| true novices or people with only basic skills. Of course, | | | | working with you on your dream craft. Besides making |
| if you are an experienced woodworker, or already | | | | the work go easier, you will get family "buy-in" on your |
| have one or two "easy" boats under your belt, then go | | | | crazy nautical dream. |
| ahead and challenge yourself with something more | | | | 5. Listening to doubters and mockers. If someone has |
| elaborate! | | | | constructive criticism or advice to offer, listen. But if |
| 2. Not having the proper tools and work space for | | | | they just seem to want to kill your dream or make you |
| building your houseboat. It is clear that you can buy | | | | second-guess your decision to purchase DIY |
| your materials, such as wood, glue, nails or screws, | | | | houseboat plans and start on such a project, you |
| etc., as you go along and as you need them. But you | | | | should shut your ears -- and your mind -- to them. It is |
| really will frustrate yourself if you don't have the proper | | | | sometimes hard to avoid this but remember, everyone |
| tools on hand from the start. And, although some | | | | has a dream, and if building and living aboard your own |
| vessels can be constructed in amazingly small spaces, | | | | boat is yours, then you have every right to go for it! |
| you will find that having a covered work area of some | | | | Sometimes the critics and doubters are people who've |
| sort -- where you can leave the project standing for | | | | never accomplished much themselves, and they don't |
| as many weeks or months as necessary to see it | | | | like to others succeed. |
| through to completion -- will do wonders for your | | | | Instead, do not forget that with the proper plans in |
| comfort, motivation, and enthusiasm. | | | | hand, you can indeed built a liveaboard craft that will |
| And so, instead, you could get better results by simply | | | | provide many adventures and give you the immense |
| reading through your houseboat plans and making a list | | | | satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself. Many other |
| of all the tools you will need and acquiring them before | | | | people, perhaps some with less skill or experience than |
| you purchase the first piece of plywood. Also, arrange | | | | you possess, have done it. You can too! |
| that space ahead of time. If you don't have a garage | | | | Carefully and conscientiously avoid these 5 common |
| or carport you can devote to your boat building, do | | | | errors, embrace the alternatives offered instead, and |
| you have a friend who would lend you his? Might you | | | | your boatbuilding adventure will be fun and exhilarating |
| need to rent a space, if you can do so inexpensively? | | | | rather than a frustration. |