Glass Bottom Boat: A Free 1972 Plan With Twin Windows
William D. Jackson's 1972 flat-bottom boat has two glass windows, carries three to four adults and runs on a 6 hp outboard.
Most boats keep the water out; this one invites you to look straight through it. William D. Jackson's design is 9 ft 5 in (2.9 m) long and a generous 56 in (1.4 m) wide, with two glass windows set into its flat bottom. Three or four adults can lean over and watch fish, weed beds and stones slide by. On a 6 hp outboard it moves at an easy 8 to 12 mph.
Glass Bottom Boat at a glance
| Detail | Glass Bottom Boat |
|---|---|
| Type | Glass bottom boat |
| Length | 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) |
| Beam | 56 in (1.42 m) |
| Capacity | 3–4 adults |
| Construction | Bent plywood panels over wooden frames; flat bottom with two glass windows; no building form |
| Power | 6 hp outboard; 8–12 mph |
| Designer | William D. Jackson |
| First published | Boat Builder, Fall–Winter 1972, pp. 85–89 |
| Craft Print | No. 306 |
| Plan sheets | 9 |
A window on the underwater world
The flat bottom is what makes the windows practical: it gives a level, stable surface to frame the glass in. The 56 in beam adds steadiness, so passengers can shift around to peer down without the boat feeling tippy. It is also the kind of boat children never want to leave.
Bent plywood panels over wooden frames go together without a building form. A 6 hp outboard is all it needs, and the gentle 8 to 12 mph pace suits a boat built for looking rather than racing. Short and beamy, it fits easily on a small trailer or in a garage bay.
The original plan sheets
These are the 9 original sheets from 1972, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.
Who designed it
William D. Jackson drew the Glass Bottom Boat for Boat Builder, Fall–Winter 1972, pages 85 to 89, and it was issued as Craft Print No. 306. Jackson's name turns up on a large share of the Science and Mechanics craft prints.
Before you build
- Use the glass type and frame details specified on the plan and bed each window carefully; this is the one place you cannot cut corners.
- Test the windows for leaks in shallow water with the boat loaded before heading anywhere deep.
- Run in clear, sheltered water, where the windows actually show something and the 6 hp outboard is all you need.
Download the plan
The full 1972 Glass Bottom Boat plan in one file: all nine sheets, including the window framing details.
Download the complete plan (PDF, 9 sheets, 2.9 MB)
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