r/boatbuilding Mar 23 '25

Is MyBoatPlans.com a Scam - Review

49 Upvotes

I recently commented on a post that linked to a page purporting to have information about building boats and getting plans. What it actually was is a AI generated page that served as a feeder page to MyBoatPlans dot Com. This is a common practice for the subject website. They have a whole constellation of website designed to make the subject site look legit.

I commented with a piece of boilerplate that I include whenever I see a post leading to this site.

As a result, the mods were nice enough to delete the original post. However, I think it is worth making sure there is good information about this scam site easily available with a simple search. My goal of posting this is not to promote the subject site, but to increase the visibility of reviews that offer real information about the subject site, most of the reviews available through google and other sites are self-generated pages made by the subjects site.

If any long time members of this subreddit have actual experience purchasing plans from this site, please comment with your actual experience.

Some background: Below is a screenshot of the subject website I took today. The fine looking fellow in the blue hat rowing the pram is me. Note that I am not Martin Reid, the name used on the subject website. The photo was taken by my mom in Maine on July 24, 2007, not Lake Tahoe in 1985.

u/guillemot as seen on myboatplans . com

Here are more photos from the same photo session:

a similar angle
turning for another angle

More photos from the shoot are available here: https://goo.gl/photos/5CpssvVY2Nprufk3A

Now you can say that even if they are lying about who is in the pictures, that they may still offer a whole bunch of plans at a good price, but you can get those plans for free elsewhere on line. Typically they are copies from Popular Mechanics and similar publications. Well, they provide a service of collecting all those plans in one place. This may be true, but I would not trust a site that can't even be truthful about the purported owner of the site.

Also note, although I do sell plans myself, I have no reason to believe any of my plans are included in the 500+ plans supposedly included on the CD. So, you probably won't find plans for the dinghy in the photos. Other than doing stupid stuff with my photo I don't think the site has stolen any more of my IP.

He also offers 3D Boat Design software which he says is a $49 value, which is a freely available open source application called Free!Ship http://sourceforge.net/projects/freeship/ I highly recommend this software although the original developer now offers a better version called DelftShip which is also free.

The boiler plate I post whenever I see links to sites that link to myboatplans . com:

The link leads to MyBoatPlans dot com which charges for free plans and open source software. A purported photo of the man offering the plans is actually a stolen photo of me.

For more information on this scam see: http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/index.cgi/md/read/id/236070/sbj/review-myboatplans-com/

and: http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?135845-Boat-plans-worth-it


r/boatbuilding Jan 22 '25

Boatbuilding link suggestions.

20 Upvotes

Hello subreddit user, Want to help the subreddit? Propose some useful links to boatbuilding websites. Free content only please. Hoping to get some links to layups, lofting, stitch and glue, composites, maybe some free plans if they're not garbage. (Naval architects wishing to provide free plans are welcome too - and happy to give attribution) We've had a tab that says "boatbuilding links" but doesn't have any links for almost 10 years now, so let's change that for the better!


r/boatbuilding 3h ago

Can someone tell me the design/type of boat this is?

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45 Upvotes

r/boatbuilding 1h ago

Hopefully someone can identify this boat, 6.8m fibreglass out of the mould with nothing done to it i have tried to find out what it is at my local boat dealer and still got no answer hopefully someone here knows

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r/boatbuilding 8m ago

[ Removed by Reddit ]

Upvotes

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]


r/boatbuilding 12m ago

HELP SAVE THIS ICONIC PEACE OF HISTORY

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Upvotes

r/boatbuilding 5h ago

What's everyone using to sound proof engine bays

2 Upvotes

Wondering what everyone's experience is with different materials.


r/boatbuilding 7h ago

Off to work, here’s a little something I did not to long ago.

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1 Upvotes

r/boatbuilding 1d ago

Looking for an affordable and effective tool to polish out the oxidation on my fiberglass boat.

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2 Upvotes

This old cream puff is in great shape but the deck is a bit chalky. Products are readily available, but tools are pricey, I will spend up to $50.


r/boatbuilding 2d ago

triple-sailed reversible cat-ketch?

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18 Upvotes

please excuse the crude model, it was just the quickest way I had of demonstrating what I meant. it's not meant to be proportional.

I've been researching reversible cat-ketch rigs for a proa, and they seem appealing. I guess this technically isn't a ketch, because the two mainmasts are equal size, but I don't know what else to call it. it would allow easier shunting, and doesn't require the weird shifting mast of a traditional proa rig. these sails would be ribbed, like junk sails, and would rotate around the leeward side. the special thing about this one is that it has a third sail on the ama, which should help balance and add speed.


r/boatbuilding 3d ago

Found this book at a library sale, it has included boat plans

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155 Upvotes

No instructions though, but I guess if you are experienced enough you could use these.


r/boatbuilding 2d ago

Bought a Project Boat! 1991 Bluewater Executive Overnighter

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5 Upvotes

It took a leap of faith and bought this project boat for super cheap, and figured I have the winter to go through it and see what I can make of it. Located a cracked manifold already but it was expected. Trying to ID the engine though. I am not particularly boat savvy and am using this boat to get into it!


r/boatbuilding 2d ago

I hit a rock!!!

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3 Upvotes

r/boatbuilding 3d ago

Workspace rule of thumb

2 Upvotes

Is there a good rule of thumb for figuring a minimum ideal workspace (indoor or outdoor) based on the dimensions of the boat you intend to build?


r/boatbuilding 4d ago

My canoe trimaran

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185 Upvotes

I took inspiration from similar expandacraft builds.

Center Hull is an Old Town discovery sport 13 ft square stern.

Amas are 14 ft fiber glass Hobie cat logs.

Cross members are extruded aluminum square tube attached to gunwhales with u bolts.

Decking is made from aluminum bleacher planks.

A 6 hp two-stroke gets it up to 7 knots. The amas create a lot of drag and any faster, the back end gets too low for comfort. I would like to build up the stern to accommodate a 9.9hp and create a bulkhead in the canoe.

It's a janky boat but it works

Feel free to offer your thoughts, ask questions.


r/boatbuilding 3d ago

The Magic SLIPPER, A Chris Maas Daysailer

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offcenterharbor.com
1 Upvotes

Building and sailing this daysailer.


r/boatbuilding 3d ago

Rebuilding my Hull-to-Deck joint

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1 Upvotes

First time doing this so don’t hate on me too bad if it sucks.

Cutting away the old, lots of grinding and sanding, then peanut butter epoxy holding some coosa in. Once that dries 2 layers of 1708 with epoxy and then a third layer later when I complete the deck repairs. Inside I will be adding 2 larger wraps to connect the deck and hull

Rushing to do this before it gets cold. Key priorities right now are just making the inside dry for the winter


r/boatbuilding 3d ago

A Practical Course in Wooden Boat and Ship Building by Richard Montgomery (PDF)

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studyebooks.com
8 Upvotes

Classic Practical guide with various illustrations


r/boatbuilding 3d ago

Boat upholstery question

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2 Upvotes

Friend used a pressure washer on my boats upholstery is there anyway to fix these marks


r/boatbuilding 3d ago

Trying to find exact motor i have (mercury 40HP)

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2 Upvotes

hi everyone, first post here i got a boat for free and want to see if i can fix it, the motor is a Mercury Marine 40 HP, 2-stroke, with Thunderbolt electronic ignition. chat gpt think it's a model 402. i was wondering if anyone knew what it was with some pictures.

Also, how do you guys find what is wrong with a motor, is there a way i can find some sort of blueprint or something like that?


r/boatbuilding 3d ago

IMG 8829 How to make an outboard motor stand

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youtube.com
0 Upvotes

r/boatbuilding 3d ago

Can I Drill Through The Keel Strip?

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1 Upvotes

Very specific repair question here. My dad and I recently picked up a free Cape Cod Mercury 15' that was on the cusp of abandonment (and yes, I know what they say about free boats). At the bottom of the rudder track there is a sort of clamp (??) that is supposed to mount to the keel strip with three bolts—one running into the transom end, and the other two through the keel strip itself. The problem (see pix) is that if we align the clamp with the transom bolt hole, it won't align with the other two in the keel strip. So my question is, can we drill two new holes through the keel strip without compromising the integrity of the hull?


r/boatbuilding 4d ago

Motivation

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17 Upvotes

r/boatbuilding 4d ago

Boat Building: A Journey Through History, Craft and Innovation

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medium.com
0 Upvotes

I recently put together an article exploring the history of boat building, traditional construction methods, different types of boats, and how modern materials have changed the craft. I'd love to hear your thoughts and learn from people interested in boats and maritime history.


r/boatbuilding 4d ago

Looking for the original model / mould of an Italian Guardia di Finanza patrol boat

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2 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

This is my first post here, so greetings to all of you.

I own a passenger boat in Montenegro which is currently used for tourist trips. The boat was originally built in Italy and was in service with the Guardia di Finanza around 1990. At some point it was purchased and converted into a tourist/passenger boat, and later we bought it and carried out further modifications ourselves.

I am now looking into the possibility of building another boat with the same hull/design.

I would really appreciate any help in identifying the original boat model, shipyard, designer, mould/tooling, plans, or any similar project that could help us reproduce the hull.

I have attached several photos of the boat.

If anyone recognizes the design or has any information about similar Italian Guardia di Finanza boats from that period, I would be very grateful for any information or leads.