Frequently Asked Questions

Do you take Credit Cards? How can I pay for my plans?

Plans may be ordered on line using PayPal. PayPal accepts Visa / MC / AmEx / Discover / eCheck / PayPal. Or you can send a check or money order to: D. N. Hylan & Assoc, 53 Benjamin River Drive, Brooklin, ME 04616. We do not wait for personal checks to clear, usually shipping your order within a day or two. We ship by U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, but contact us if other arrangements are necessary.

Do you ship plans outside of the US?

Yes, we will ship plans anywhere where there is postal service. We ship by U.S. Postal Service International Priority Mail, but contact us if other arrangements are necessary.

Before I buy, where can I get more information on your designs?

We offer free online downloadable study plans (in Adobe Acrobat format) for many of our designs. These include specifications, a couple of photos of the boat under construction, photos of the completed boat, and a couple of sample plans. For other designs, a link to a brief downloadable study plan from woodenboat.com is provided. WoodenBoat charges a nominal fee (as little as $0.99) for these downloads. Finally, in special cases we can mail you a printed study plan.

For some designs, a separate CD is also available which often includes photos of the boat under construction. This can be helpful, particularly for amateur builders, in visualizing and planning the construction process.

Can I count on you for help in building a boat to one of your designs?

We want your project to have the best possible outcome, but with nearly 2000 plans sets sold, if we answered every question that came our way, we would never have time to design another boat. We go to great lengths to produce highly detailed plans, hoping to answer most questions that way. If you are a novice builder, consider asking someone to work with you on your project. This person may have more experience than you, and two heads are usually better than one. Our CDs (when available) often provide a more extensive FAQ section addressing builder’s questions, as well as a list of applicable books and sources for materials. Old WoodenBoat Magazines are a great source of information – check out their on-line index. Finally, the WoodenBoat Forum at WoodenBoat.com can be a source of helpful (and sometimes not so helpful) information. If you need to contact me, e-mail me through this web site and include your phone number and best time to call.

What are the pros & cons of traditional construction?

Traditional plank on frame construction is the real thing – just what builders like Herreshoff and Lawley used. Many builders prefer working in real wood and avoiding epoxy. A higher level of skill is required for traditional construction – joints are more complicated and their accuracy more critical. Steam bending is generally required.

What are the pros & cons of glued lapstrake construction?

Glued lapstrake plywood boats are immune to drying out and the problems associated with the natural shrinking and swelling cycle of wood. They don’t leak, and are much better able to withstand life on a trailer. Their maintenance is slightly lower and the skills required to build them are less fussy.

I love one of your designs, but I do not have the time or interest to build my own. How much does it cost to have one built for me?

As designer/builders, we'd be glad to custom-build one of our designs for you. You can also use our plans to consult with other builders.

Can you modify one of your designs for me?

Yes, we can modify an existing design, provided that we feel that the result will be servicable and attractive. However, this can be an expensive undertaking. As any serious modification can take a good deal of time, it can easily cost 5 to 10 times as much as a stock plan set.

What if I want to make some modifications myself?

If you want to make changes that might impact the safety of the boat, please contact me first. I try not to act as a wet blanket, but I don't want anyone to get hurt, or for the rumor to spread that someone had been hurt in one of my designs.

Can I stretch or shrink a design?

The most common questions about modifications generally concern lengthening or shrinking a design. This can be simple or complicated, depending on what is desired and how it is handled. Most designs can be lengthened by a competent builder by simply increasing the spacing of the building molds. Done within reason, this method will almost always result in a good boat, both from the standpoint of appearance and performance.

If changes in all dimensions (not just length) are required, the issue becomes much more complicated. Simply increasing all three dimensions by the same multiplier will generally have a detrimental impact on the appearance of the boat, and, to a lesser extent, on its functionality. In most cases, scantlings (the sizes of structural members in a boat) will need to be increased.

Shrinking a boat, by any method, can have a large impact on safety. Please consult with me before making such changes.

For information on any of our services, you can contact Doug at:

D. N. Hylan & Associates
53 Benjamin River Drive
Brooklin, ME 04616

Phone:     207-359-9807
Fax:          207-359-9807
E-mail:      Doug@DHylanBoats.com