I am making a wooden jon boat like this. The bottom will be 4' long and 2 feet wide. It will have a flat back and an 8" slanted board at the front. It will have one regular fishing seat. I just want to know how to make it sea worthy.

2 feet wide and 4 ft long,...you can't.

Why not. I will photo graph my work if you want.

Is this "decorative" or for real use??  I mean,...2x4?????  I know I would never let my kid in something like that personally.

LBH is right.  It will have serious stability isues.

But at 2 x 4 ft it probably won't take long to build.  Wear a life vest at all times and don't take any exspensive gear with you.

A flat-bottomed, rectangular shaped, 2' by 4' boat.  That's an accident waiting to happen.  Even if you plan on using it in only in your swimming pool, make sure you always wear a life vest.  You're going to need it.

It will actually come to about five feet since the front is like a jon boat. I expect to work for about 3-4 days on completion. If you guys know how to make it more water tight please let me know.

Dude I've built wooden Pirogues & 4' x 2' bottom is too small regardless of how much slant you put in the front or sides.

Well than what do you suggest. I have 2 4'x4' boards to make the floor.

Materials List (to build it like I did)

1. 11/2 sheets of 1/4 inch Luan plywood.

2. 1 gallon of fiberglass resin either polyester or epoxy.

3. 50 ft of fiberglass tape.

4. 1 quart of automotive body filler, OR

5. 1 quart of wood flour.

6. Sandpaper or sanding discs (if you have an angle grinder).

7. 1 pc. 1x4x16ft Spruce board.

8. 30 Brass screws #6 Square head x 1/2" .

9. Several more brass screws, nuts and bolts of various sizes.

10. Several scraps of plywood, and 1x4 boards.

11. 1 quart of urethane spar varnish (if you want a bright interior like me).

12. More sandpaper or discs

13. 1quart of red plasticoat paint (for the exterior hull)

Tools you will need

1. Jigsaw (you could cut the pieces with a hand saw if you had to).

2. Table saw (for ripping the 16ft gunwales - although if you do not have one, a cabinet shop will do this inexpensively if you promise to show them the canoe when it's done).

3. Drill (for drilling wire stitch holes and driving screws). OR

4. A screwdriver & antique hand drill.

5. A 4" angle grinder with a sanding disc attachment (I actually used my 1/4" power drill and an adapter kit that let me use 5" sanding discs). OR

6. ANY sort of sander that you might have. My old orbital sander packed it in just after the first coat of resin was finished. I spent MANY HOURS sanding by hand until I got fed up (see #5).

7. "C" clamps - the more the better.

8. An angle finder tool (helps to make a tight joint at the thwarts/sides and the seats/sides.

9. A 2" scraper - good for cleaning up resin/filler messes before they cure.

10.      A razor knife.

11. Disposable paint brushes.

12. Rubber gloves.

13. A GOOD QUALITY respirator.

14. A roll of wax paper (under everything that you don't want resin to stick to).

15. Tin cans for mixing resin.

Finished Pirogue

-11 feet 6 inches long

- 32 inches wide

- 12 inches deep

- About 45 pounds when built with 1/4 inch luan plywood

Are you sure he doesn't mean 2' deep, 4' wide?... :-? Are you sure you don't mean 2' deep, 4' wide? :-?.... lol. Seriously though... What is going to be the LENGTH of this boat.... seriously...

KBK- We are not trying to put you down,...not at all.  In fact, I think it's really cool that someone your age is looking to himself to solve his problems,...with your own 2 hands and some hard work.  Kudos.

BUT

This vessel you are aiming to build will not work for you and we'd hate to see you waste your time, effort and resources, let alone, possibly get hurt.

Look around, collect more wood, get "enough" material for something we feel you'll be safer in.

We want to guide you but it would be irresponsible of us to encourage you in this particular endeavor.

You have a few real good resources here to help you when you do.  i.e. Catt.  That boat he showed takes craftsmanship and patience,....2 things neccessary for a quality build.

Keep the faith,...go find more wood

Well I don't have a lot of wood so I looked on craigslist and found a nice jon boat for 250 half the price of the bass hunter.

Well I don't have a lot of wood so I looked on craigslist and found a nice jon boat for 250 half the price of the bass hunter.

1/2 the price and twice the boat

Now you're thinking...

Well I don't have a lot of wood so I looked on craigslist and found a nice jon boat for 250 half the price of the bass hunter.

Now your talking.

Nice boat Catt.  How many hours did that take you?

It only took me 4 hours construction time & 8 hours for ever thing to dry but then I've been a carpenter since age 12.