Phil Bolger - Instant Boats

Instant Boats

In the 1970s, Phil Bolger began a long and successful collaboration with Harold 'Dynamite' Payson. It resulted in the design of a series of easy-to-build plywood boats which were named Instant Boats. Unlike traditional boat construction which involves building of jig and full size lofting of the shape of the hull prior to construction, the Instant Boat method uses shaped panels on pre-shaped permanent frames, plywood, and dimensional lumberyard wood. This results in quicker construction and less requirement for skilled craftsmanship, and has proved appealing to amateur boat builders.

Following articles in WoodenBoat magazine, Dynamite Payson published Instant Boats, (1979, 152 pages, 7" × 10", 48 illustrations). Still in print, describes basic techniques (gluing, nailing and screwing with some fiberglass). Six designs: Catfish Beachcruiser, Elegant Punt, Kayak, Light Schooner (Folding), Surf, Teal, Zephyr.

Build the New Instant Boats came out five years later. (1984, 160 pages, 8½" × 11", 110 illustrations). Also still in print. Here are 11 more boats: Diablo, Diablo Grande, Dynamite Sailboard, Gypsy, June Bug, Light Schooner, Madeline, Nymph, Pointy Skiff, Rubens Nymph, Skimmer, Tortoise, Windsprint.

Both books are detailed enough that you can build from the small-scale plans in them, but larger plans are available from instantboats.com.

Many instant boats have simple one-piece plywood sides and use external chine logs for simple construction. The Bolger Bobcat, an easy-to-build take on the Beetle Cat, is a multichine design featured in Build the Instant Catboat, but still "instant" compared to a conventionally-built plank-on-frame catboat.

There are more Bolger designs, such as the 24-foot Birdwatcher, which are intended to be built just like the smaller Instant Boats. These are available as plans: see http://www.instantboats.com/instantboats_cake/boats/index along with plans for the original instant series.