My Monaco plans arrived late December 09 and by that time I was really fired up at the prospect of building my own Mahogany speed boat. The ensuing internet search for boat plans culminated in the discovery of California based plan and hardware supplier Glen-L Marine Designs and with time spent examining their many plan options the “Monaco” design, a 1950’s style ( Chris-Craft inspired) 6 metre mahogany inboard V8 runabout had immediate appeal. The decision to look at buying an old power boat in need of restoration was about my need for a “wood working” interest outside my daily work routine, driving home from the auction I became more certain of the fact that actually building my own classic style timber speed boat would be an even greater experience than a restoration project.

Neither boat came my way, but the experience stirred my interest and as I looked over these boats again after the auction I thought, I’m sure I could build one of these things. Looking for a wood related project I attended a Sydney auction in early December 2009 that had some wooden boats up for grabs including a 1949 22’ Chris Craft Sportsman utility and a classic 1961 16’ Hammond clinker ski boat, both in need of some attention.

Prior to taking on this project I had no previous experience in boats.

Mahogany runabout