u/Ok_Gur1669

Quick demo: 9 stations on the ladder — including Stations 5.5, 6, and 7 — and how we use a simple laser level to get perfect frame alignment. No fancy tools, no guesswork.

This is a short technique video. Don't confuse it with the big cockpit sole video coming soon — that one will cover the full layout separately.

🛠️ Wooden Shoe Boat Build Playlist:
https://studio.youtube.com/playlist/PL7QoZ0Wv5Rm_X6EvXHs66xBrogrH4CabH/videos

📐 Nexus Marine Design: https://www.nexusmarine.com/wooden_shoe.html

The keel is the heart of the boat — and in this episode, the Wooden Shoe keel finally begins to take shape.

We explain why we laminate the keel instead of using one solid piece of wood, and show how we glue the laminated layers together with epoxy. This is an important part of the wooden boat building process because the keel forms the foundation of the hull and must be strong, accurately aligned, and properly bonded.

At the end of the episode, we set up Station 12, the bow, and the first five stations on the build ladder. The shape of the boat is becoming visible, and this DIY wooden boat is starting to look like a real vessel.

The stations are piling up! In this episode, we mount FIVE stations onto the build ladder at once — and for the first time, the Wooden Shoe actually looks like a boat. From the transom forward, every frame locks into place and the hull's backbone finally reveals itself.

Building a wooden boat from scratch in the Mexican jungle means every station is a battle — Chechen hardwood doesn't give easy wins. But seeing five of them standing together? That's a milestone worth celebrating.

🔨 In this video:

• Making the ladder
• Mounting Stations 1 through 5 onto the ladder

This is what wooden boat building looks like when the plans meet reality. Drop your questions below — always happy to share what's working and what we'd do differently.

The Bow Challenge continues! In Part 2, we take on the seemingly impossible — bending a 40mm Chechen hardwood core bow with absolutely NO springback. Using an ammonia soak technique in the Mexican jungle workshop, we finally cracked it. No fancy tools, just stubborn wood and a plan.

🔨 Watch Part 1 here: Bow Challenge Part 1; https://youtu.be/MpCUtrzKNuY
🪵 This build: 40mm Chechen hardwood core bow
🌿 Location: Mexican Jungle
🛠️ Wooden Shoe Boat Build Series

200 days. 20+ frames. One wooden boat built from scratch in the Mexican jungle.

This is the full recap of my DIY wooden boat build so far — from making my own marine plywood to finishing the Cumaru wood transom. Every station, every frame, every struggle — in one video.

This is the Wooden Shoe — a 25-foot powerboat design by Nexus Marine, built with Brazilian Cumaru hardwood and Chechen wood in the Mexican jungle. No fancy workshop. No shortcuts.

Building a wooden boat in the Mexican jungle — and this Chechen wood did NOT want to bend. Full build video 👉 [link to Part 1]

Building the bow of our DIY wooden boat in the Mexican jungle — and it fights back! 🌴🚤
In Part 1 of this bow build, we tackle cold molding the Wooden Shoe's bow using Chechen wood strips. From lofting the curves to the first glue-up, nothing goes as planned. The wood springs back, the gaps won't close, and we discover why this bow is the hardest part of the entire build.

🪵 Wood used: Chechen (Mexican hardwood) + Cumaru framing
📐 Design: Nexus Marine "Wooden Shoe"
🌎 Location: Mexican jungle workshop
Part 2 coming soon — where we finish the bow!
🔔 Subscribe to follow the full build!

Related videos:
▶️ Lofting Guide: https://youtu.be/x_5HqN7jefo

The bulkheads are massive! In this episode of our wooden boat building journey, we return to Station 7 — the station we previously skipped due to a lack of quality Chechen wood. Now with Chechen marine triplay in hand, we tackle the largest bulkheads on the entire build, made extra tall by our 25cm cabin height raise. These aren't standard frames — each one is reinforced with an additional 20mm of glued wood on the inside for maximum strength where it matters most. Building a wood boat from scratch means every decision has consequences — and raising the cabin changed everything about how these bulkheads were designed and constructed. Whether you're planning your own DIY boat build or just love watching traditional woodworking in an unconventional setting, this one delivers. 🔨

In this video:
• Station 7 — why we skipped it and why we're back
• Extra-large bulkheads explained (25cm raised cabin impact)
• 14mm Chechen marine triplay — material selection & cutting
• Frame reinforcement — 20mm glued interior supports
• What raising the cabin height really means for your build

If you're following along with how to build a wooden boat, drop your questions below — happy to share what's working and what we'd do differently!

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell to follow the full build from keel to launch.

The stations are coming together! In this episode of our wooden boat building journey, we tackle three critical milestones — the transom (loaded with cutouts for the chine and stringers), Station 12 built with gorgeous Brazilian Cumaru hardwood, and the motor Station 13 reinforced with extra filler wood and double gussets for maximum strength.
Every cut, every joint, every decision matters when you're building a wood boat from scratch — and this stage is where the backbone of the hull truly takes shape. Whether you're dreaming of building your own small boat or just love watching skilled craftsmanship, this one's for you.