These photos are of a strip plank Eclipse being built in Puerto Rico. You start by making some simple frames and begin stripping the hull bottom with western red cedar. The topsides can be made in sheet plywood (as will be done on this boat which is why the frames only extend to just past the knuckle) or also in cedar strip, when full height frames will be required)

after stripping the outside is glassed, sanded and primed

and the hull is then ready to turn over

After both hulls shells are finished they are set up and the main structural bulkheads fitted

It can be easier to fit the (ply) topsides later so you can easily access the hull interior. Or you can build the complete hull before turning it over

 

The photo below is of a UK built boat, the builder used the same system. You can see his excellent blog HERE. Note the bridgedeck can be fitted at a later date, which means a big shed is not needed for the whole build

Then the fitting of the hull interior can be started

The above (poor) photo shows the forward bunk area with stowage lockers under and the decking completed. The photo below shows the aft double bunk and the structural aft beam

This Italian Eclipse was built mainly outside (as I did when building mine)

Eclipse's have also been built in very small spaces, this in a garage in the middle of an English town, the boat is nearly ready to take to a waterside boatyard for final assembly. There will still a lot of work to do but doing as much as possible at home makes a lot of sense

The Eclipse can have either daggerboards or LAR keels. Please see the Information Pages (both FAQs and Unpublished Articles) for more details

To reduce slamming the front of the bridgedeck starts well back and also has a gently curved front

You can use two outboard engines, as shown here. Or a single central one, seen below on my own Eclipse

Note the uphaul rope and also a downhaul, led forward. That saves opening the engine box when lowering/raising the engine. This is a 9.9hp high thrust Yamaha, the minimum requirement. Gives a cruising speed around 5.5 knots. The two ropes going sideways are attached to the tillers so the engine turns with the rudders. A refinement that is not strictly necessary

After fitting the interior the cabin roof is made. This is in strip cedar so can be made off the boat and then lifted in place

 

And then bonded in place, painted and deck gear added

Finally launch day!

Another excellent builders website is HERE