What’s the ONE Thing

Professional Boat Builders

DON’T Want YOU to Know?

It’s that with easy-to-understand plans and

instructions,

YOU can make a boat that’s better and costs

a LOT LESS than any “store-bought” boat and

is customized to YOUR needs…

A boat that will give you pride &

satisfaction you

never imagined possible…

Give me the next 4½ minutes and I’ll clue you in to a mind-

boggling new experience of adventure, exploration and

fulfillment that can be your own.

Fair enough?

First, a little background… My family has been (just about

“forever”) in the business of making possible the dreams of

countless numbers of families and individuals who desire to

escape the day-to-day humdrum by enjoying the boat of their

dreams.

Since the early 1950’s my

family has had the

privilege of being a part

of lives changed,

relationships enhanced and

families creating memories

together as they explore

the vast expanse of rivers,

lakes and seas in boats

which, with our guidance, they’ve crafted themselves, bringing

them a new world of enjoyment and enormous personal fulfillment.

Consumer Tip: Buy Plans From a Company

with A Solid Reputation

Because of the quality of our plans and service, an entire

community of boat builders has formed through our online

Boatbuilder Forum. This friendly group helps others who are

putting together our boats, and answers questions along the way.

They even get together once a year to play on the water and get

to know each other better at our Boatbuilder Gatherings in

Tennessee.

This Guide will introduce you to this wonderful world

and (hopefully) entice you to become part of it…

What Kind of Person Builds Their Own Boat?

There actually IS a “type” of person who enjoys creating their

own boat. Since you requested this guide you are probably one of

them. Maybe you’re the type of person who enjoys planning and

thinking about the best way to do things to arrive at the best

result...

You’re probably independent, responsible, and not looking for a

bail-out from the government, but would rather make your own

way...

You enjoy the outdoors and take care to preserve its beauty so

that your children and grand-children can enjoy it too...

You’re not really concerned with what everyone else thinks, but

when it comes to creating something with your own two hands it

sure feels good when you hear all the complements...

You may like to be left alone for the most part, but if a crowd

forms around the beautiful boat you built you won’t mind too

much.

That’s the type of person who is drawn to the idea of creating

their own boat, and the memories it will bring that will last a

lifetime.

A 9th Grade Wood Shop Class is All You Need... (and

honestly, most builders don’t even have that!)

Bob Maskel is one guy as

described above. As a

State Trooper and family

man, Bob didn’t have a

lot of free time, but he

had a love for wood

boats.

Bob has fond memories of a friend who had a wooden boat when he

was a kid. Because of those enjoyable memories, he started

looking at Glen-L catalogs and remembered seeing articles in

Popular Mechanics magazine; this enticed him into this new and

exciting adventure...

Consumer Tip: Involve Your Kids—-

The Rewards are Endless

Bob and his 12-year old son were at a local

boat show and he commented to his son,

“Before I die, I want to build a wood boat.”

His son responded bluntly, “well Dad, why

don’t cha?” Good point, eh? Why put off

doing the things on your bucket list? Right

away, Bob got out his dog-eared Glen-L catalog and let himself

start dreaming once again...

Bob decided on the Sea Knight, a 17-foot cabin cruiser as his

very first project. What a wonderful opportunity it was for Bob

and his son Jer to build this boat together. The memories of

together creating something so special will be ones they both

treasure for as long as they live.

Bob’s daughter helped with the

build as well and often would

bring her homework into his

garage and hang out with Dad

while he worked. She even asked

if they could camp out in the

boat before it ever hit the

water and they had a great

time! We all know that kids

grow up so fast, and time spent with them like this will surely

make a positive impact on them that they won’t forget.

You don’t need a ton of time or money

In all, Bob’s boat took 600 hours to build and he estimates

about $6,000 total. The memories created with his kids...

priceless. Bob comments, “I'm proof that with a 9th grade wood

shop class, a messy garage, and a little time and patience,

anybody can build a great boat!”

Bob is now retired and enjoying exploring the rivers of

Minnesota, Tennessee, Mississippi and St. Croix. Also, he’s

currently completing a 16-foot Malahini classic runabout. He’s

got the boat building bug!

Another guy with the “bug” is Ray

Macke who owns a successful

insurance agency and enjoys

helping people find the best

means to protect their family and

assets. He works hard and though

it’s satisfying to earn a living

and provide for his family, he

still had a dream unfulfilled.

Ray had a desire to explore the US Intracoastal Waterways and

experience the adventures that would captivate his imagination

and take him away from the daily confines of life. The best way

to do this was by boat. He longed to rely only on his internal

clock to wake him rather than the shocking squall of the alarm

clock.

So, Ray decided to build a small boat specifically for river

cruising. He chose the 16-foot Cabin Skiff, choosing to lengthen

it to 18-feet. It’s built of plywood and has a berth that will

sleep two and an enclosed cockpit for protection from the

elements.

Consumer Tip: Stitch & Glue is a Simple

Construction Method for First Time Builders

Ray’s choice of boat was designed for Stitch and Glue

construction which goes together quickly and is a good method

for a first time boat builder. The plywood used to form the hull

is actually folded together and stitched in place with copper

wire. The patterns for this boat are very much like the

“flattened” photos of the earth shown in books, with various

gores and cut-outs.

Maybe not the “fanciest” boat, but like many families, he had

financial constraints and having a boat had to take a back seat

to cracking that monthly “nut”. Some of his friends said the

boat was too small, but he was determined to prove them wrong.

Consumer Tip: Enjoy Your Boat!

Now Ray has gleefully

explored the Tennessee

River and its many

inlets since creating

his adventure-seeking

boat. He’s learned the

lock systems and used

them many times along

with the enormous barges

that also traverse the river.

He’s traveled the Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky and

Tenn-Tom just to name just a few. In all, Ray has travelled over

27,000 miles in his “little” boat.

Experience the Freedom to Explore

On his first voyage, he was on the water for five days and

passed through 10 locks. He covered a total of 883 miles. Ray

reports that “the Cabin Skiff performed flawlessly and has met

all my expectations as a long-range river cruiser. She kept me

dry and provided a comfortable place to sleep. Reasonably fast,

quite comfortable and economical. That’s what I wanted and she

has delivered.”

Ray fondly describes one of his days on the river, “The sky is

overcast and a few raindrops fall now and then. But the ride is

smooth as silk and the sound of the water sizzling off the

chines reminds me of why I love boating so much.”

“I have passed this way several times before by car but today

the view and enjoyment level is greatly exceeding the drone and

boredom of wheeled travels.”

Ray enjoyed building his boat so much that he named her

“Therapy”...

Ray and his wife

decided cruising

would be even more

pleasant with a

shower and private

toilet facilities, so

he has built another

dream boat.

This time, he chose a 25 foot cruiser design called the True-

Grit. Once again, Ray made some changes as he built to get just

the boat for him. He lengthened it a couple of feet and changed

the arrangement of the cabin area.

Consumer Tip: Beware! Boatbuilding

Can Be Addictive

After cruising a while

in his new boat, Ray’s

already made some

changes and upgrades to

make cruising even more

enjoyable. Knowing your

boat as intimately as

you do when it’s built

with your own hands, really enables you to tune it like a fine

instrument to get just what you want.

Ray is a member of the Glen-L Boatbuilder Forum and has attended

all but one of our annual Gathering of Boatbuilder’s events. Bob

is also a member and hasn’t missed one of our Gatherings! These

are two of many builders who are like family to us...

She’s not laughing anymore…

Tom Smitherman is another “dream creator” that I’ve had the

pleasure of meeting at our yearly Gatherings. He and his wife

were considering purchasing a used boat to explore the rivers

near their home in Alabama and were looking at some “for sale”

ads. The prices being asked were pretty steep, so Tom commented

to his wife that he could probably build a boat for them

himself.

Tom said she just about fell off her seat laughing and said, “If

you build a boat, I’ll go anywhere with you in it!” Well, she

isn’t laughing anymore! And, she’s been travelling with Tom

quite a bit as well.

It took Tom about 2 years

to build his Bo-Jest, an

18-foot Pocket Cruiser

which he extended to about

19-feet. As with most

builders, he worked on it

in his spare time. It cost

him about $16,000.

Consumer Tip: Building a Boat Yourself Isn’t

Just About Saving Money

Tom’s not exactly sure on the cost because he’s never taken the

time to add it up. Sure, you will save money by building your

own boat, but that’s not what it’s all about for most builders.

His boat is very economical to run since it’s a semi-

displacement hull. She gets about 13 mpg and runs about 6 mph.

That’s why he named her “Knot-So-Fast”.

Building a boat draws attention!

The creation of Tom’s boat was

truly a community experience.

His grand kids and cousins

pitched in, and, he had a big

“Turn the Tugboat” party when

it was time to flip the boat.

Most all boats are built upside down on a building form because

it’s just easier that way. Then once the hull is finished and

painted, the boat is turned over so the interior work can be

done.

A heartfelt letter says it best

Tom says it best when he

describes what building a

boat means to him and his

family in a recent letter to

my father, Glen:

“We've never met, but I am

one of the many who are in

debt to you for creating an

avenue for my dreams to

become reality. I can

remember, as a very young

child, reading about your boats in Popular Mechanics

magazines that an uncle saved for me, and dreaming about

someday building one myself and sailing to far away

places.”

More than just one man’s dream

“But even more important than that, through your work and

encouragement for the amateur boat builder, you have helped

to grow the character of my grandchildren. While they

wouldn't recognize your name, you gave me the tools I used

to teach them that when they combine their dreams with hard

work, the results can be amazing.”

“On our trips on our Bo-Jest in Alabama, Mississippi,

Tennessee and Florida my wife and I have watched as all our

grandchildren gained knowledge in math, history, geography,

weather, science and many other areas. The greatest thing

they've gained though, is self confidence and a sense of

accomplishment.”

“We have especially enjoyed watching Abby, our 9 year old

granddaughter who has been on most of our longer trips. The

knowledge and skills she gained on the boat have helped her

develop into a very confident, assured young lady who has a

great appreciation for the beauty that God created.”

She’s proud of her Papa!

“I can't help but smile when I hear her telling someone

about the animals and birds we've seen, how a lock works,

or how to steer when passing a tug and barge. When someone

asks about the boat, she's always quick to remind them that

"my Papa built it himself". She has even written a book

about our 8 day trip down the Alabama River.”

“While you may not want to take credit for it, your work is

an integral part of the whole chain that has given her, and

many, many others, a part of their personality that will

serve them well throughout life.”

“You may think your life was spent designing boats, but I

assure you that you have done much, much more than that.

Thank you.”

These aren’t isolated stories of builders, I promise you. There

are so many that it boggles my mind sometimes. My father never

imagined the outcome of doing something he loves and the impact

it would have on people’s lives.

Consumer Tip: The Boat You Build Is Part OfYour Legacy

I hope you’ll allow me one more story, this one about our friend

Kevin who has now built three Glen-L boats and I’m sure he’ll

keep building because he’s one of the many who enjoys the

process as much as the product.

Kevin’s first boat was a

little tugboat called

the Tubby Tug. This is a

9 foot Stitch & Glue

boat which is again, a

good first time project.

Kevin built “Abby’s Lil

Tug” for his daughter

who was 4 at the time.

This little boat is

complete with glitterembedded in the floors

and a mermaid flag. Can

you imagine the thrillof giving that to your

little girl?! She loves

it!

Then Kevin built our 10-foot

Squirt runabout which is by

far our most popular design.

He named her “Fastidiots” for

good reason--he altered it to

use a jet drive and that

thing flies! His last boat he

has built (so far!) is a 16-

foot Console Skiff that was

partially built by another builder and he completed it.

Kevin and some of the

other guys at our

Boatbuilder Gathering were

sitting on the dock

talking on Saturday night.

They started talking about

boats and the “real story”

behind building them.

The REAL Benefit of Building a Boat

In Kevin’s case, the “real story” was that building a boat

brought him and his father closer together. His dad wanted to

help even though he didn’t know how. He just wanted to be there.

At visitation after his father passed away, Kevin was astonished

at how many people came up to him and said, “So you’re the boat

builder?!”

In all Kevin had done in his life, building a boat was what his

dad talked about most—he was proud of his son.

Another builder commented on how his father made three trips

each several days long, to be with him working on his boat.

These times together were especially cherished by him, as until

this, he and his father had not spent much time together.

Yet another builder built his boat using the same tools his

grandfather had used, and every time he sharpened his plane he

felt his grandfather’s presence... as if grandpa was watching

over his shoulder with quiet approval.

Once again, Kevin reflects on how happy his daughter is every

time they go out in her boat together. And how creating a boat

has allowed them to build memories that will last both their

lifetimes. For this, he is eternally grateful...

I’m Yearning for the Vast & Endless Sea... Now What???

So, what does it take to get started creating your own boat and

memories to last a lifetime? Having dealt with beginning

builders for over 58 years, we’ve discovered some things you

should look for when choosing boat plans:

A solid guarantee on the plans and products—if the company

doesn’t believe in the quality of what they sell enough to

back it up with a guarantee, why should you?

Full size patterns! It may cost a little more for these,

but the time savings is immense. Plus, they’re done by an

expert, so you know they’re accurate.

Check into the type of support they offer—will they talk by

phone with you, do they have an active and friendly support

Forum? That kind of thing.

Does the designer have a good reputation? There are many

computer programs that will generate plans to build a boat,

but that doesn’t mean the design will perform as expected.

Make sure the boat has been built and used by others

besides the designer.

Well, we can’t directly help with creating your own memories of

building a boat, but we can provide the resources to get you

there.

Glen-L designs are proven, and our reputation is excellent. We

have a wonderful support forum and phone support, a 30-day money

back guarantee and full size patterns on most every design.

We have designs for over 300 boats that you can build yourself

plus books, DVD’s, supplies & hardware to help in our online

store:

http://www.boatdesigns.com/

Don’t hesitate, get started today on building a boat and

memories to last a lifetime...

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

At Your Service,

Gayle BrantukPresident – Glen-L.com562-630-6258Gayle@Glen-L.com