Model Your Own Dream Boat: A Free 1954 Weston Farmer Guide
Weston Farmer's 1954 article on modelling a boat design, from the Sports Afield Boatbuilding Annual.
Before you commit timber and months to a full-size boat, there is a lot to be said for building it small first. Model Your Own Dream Boat is Weston Farmer's article on exactly that idea, from the 1954 Sports Afield Boatbuilding Annual. Spread over six sheets, it is aimed at readers who want to shape and test their own ideas. It makes a relaxing winter project and a smart first step.
Model Your Own Dream Boat at a glance
| Detail | Model Your Own Dream Boat |
|---|---|
| Type | Model-making guide |
| Designer | Weston Farmer |
| First published | Sports Afield Boatbuilding Annual, 1954, pp. 91–96 |
| Plan sheets | 6 |
Why build small first
A model lets you see a hull's shape in three dimensions, which can reveal things that are hard to spot on paper. It is a cheap way to test ideas before buying a single sheet of plywood. It is also simply enjoyable work. Many builders find it calming.
Model work also builds patience and an eye for fair lines, two skills that pay off in any full-size boat. Six sheets give a solid guide for a rewarding small project. It is a gentle way into the craft for anyone curious about design. There is no pressure and nothing to lose.
The original plan sheets
These are the 6 original sheets from 1954, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.
Who designed it
Weston Farmer wrote Model Your Own Dream Boat for the Sports Afield Boatbuilding Annual of 1954, where it ran on pages 91 to 96. As a naval architect and magazine writer, Farmer drew for both professionals and amateurs.
Before you build
- Work at a simple, round-number scale so measurements transfer easily between model and drawing.
- Use soft, easily carved wood for the model so you can adjust the shape as you learn.
- Keep notes on every change you make, as they become useful if you later build full size.
Download the plan
Weston Farmer's complete 1954 article in one file: all six sheets, ready to print or read on a tablet.
Download the complete plan (PDF, 6 sheets, 9.1 MB)
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