I made one sailboat before, it was a carved boat that took about 4 months (on and off construction) to build. Of course it didn't work, but I sure tried to make it. Since then I have wanted to build a sailing vessel that implied an actual working keel (I attempted this on my very first project but it too failed - the hull shape was . . . . . . . .too top heavy for lack of better words). So this brings me to now I don't know how I can make the keel correctly and plank her (this was my intent all along from the beggining). The hull was going to be about 30 inches long and about 6 inches at it's widest. Since this one will be my first correct one I thought it best to make my dream boat - an old style wooden yacht from the mid to early 20th century. I have not decided on a full size original yet.
Thankyou

I have also considered building a top-sail schooner or a bugalet. Any of the three designs will work

brED,
One way to have a keel on a 'planked' boat is to make an attachment point on the bottom of the boat, plank it as you would any boat, then attach the keel (permanently or otherwise). Then forming the keel so that it's faired/flared to the hull. Or, if you enjoy planking compound curves, build the keel into the hull (I'm not too 'keen' on planking so that idea isn't exactly my first choice). I figure the easiest way that works right is the 'best' way (at least for me!). ~Anything~ that works is 'okay', it's the end result that counts, right?
- 'Doc

PS - Built, then plank the hull around a 2x4. Trim 2x4 to desired shape. (Another "not to good" an idea?) The 2x4 acts as a building stand while boat under construction?
Some call that a 'flight of fancy', another name for a stupid idea... maybe.

Those don't sound like stupid ideas. The 2x4 method seems like a sure shot. The reason I'm going with plankage is for a more realistic look. Thats how I made that carved vessel I mentioned. But I guess your right - "~Anything~ that works is 'okay', it's the end result that counts"

Corbin

What kind of wood should I use? Balsa or soft pine.

Corbin,
Your choice of building materials depends on a lot of things, required strength, weight, the right 'look', what you have available, and what you're willing to $pend. (Almost anything will 'work', if you're willing to go to enough trouble.) It also depends on where your 'strong suit' lies. Are you any good at working with wood, got the equipment/tools/knowledge? Or, would you rather work with plastic/fibreglass/whatever? How good is your imagination (how 'nuts' are you)?
I once made a sailboat out of 'Folger's Coffee' plastic jars. It floated, sailed, sort'a worked, but you couldn't ever say it did any of them 'well', or was in any way 'pretty'! Why? I was bored and had the stuff laying around. It also wasn't 'scale' in any way (LOL).
Talking about 'scale', you do any fishing? Save the fish scales and 'plank' with them. (See what I mean about imagination, or being 'nuts'? ...
- 'Doc

(All of which doesn't answer your question, sorry.)

I have the tools, the skill (when it matters to me), and the nolej (). Not too sure on the hard woods though - it seems to disappear everyday, the previous nautical projects of mine used pine so, I didn't actually think it would work (but they all floated) but I still tried to make it as lite as I could so it wouldn't swamp the boat out on a lake or something (YIKES). I found that even 1/16 inch pine will work for planking - it's durability withstood a hammer strike at full force a couple of days ago (that's a coincidence or something) I had to hit it twice to make a pretty big hole - but I don't thing it will be going fast enough to damage it that bad (believe me she was built to last I don't know what I was thinking when I did build it - OH! Yeah, I wasn't.

brED