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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Gathering materials



The worse part of any project is picking up the materials, at least it is for me. I'd rather build than shop.

I got the worse of that out of the way for my boat build project. Hifalutin fancy boat builders will look down their noses at my choice of materials. For one thing, it's a plywood boat, not some work of art constructed from rare tropical hardwoods. It's not even marine grade plywood, but regular exterior plywood. The closest supplier of marine grade plywood is about 150 miles away. Even if it was closer, it's just too darn expensive.

I do want the boat to last and be strong enough, so I'm using plenty of good quality epoxy. My experience has been that good epoxy and fiberglass work more than make up for any plywood shortcomings. That's where my money is being spent.

One of the fun things about this build is that the plans are all metric. Living in the land of feet and inches, that's an issue. Sure, I've got all the handy dandy conversion charts and computer programs, but who wants to do a conversion for every measurement? Fortunately, the lumber yard had a tape measure and a metal yardstick that have the metric units also. That will be a time saver.

Anyone who's ever built a boat of any sort knows there's never enough clamps. The lumber yard had a big bin of clamps on sale so I bought ten. Then there's disposable gloves, sanding paper, dust masks, saw blades, screws -all the little odds and ends. That stuff adds up.

The converted ambulance/motor home/materials hauler worked fine. Tables can be removed from the inside, leaving a good long flat area. There was no problem loading up plywood and even 12 foot lumber slide right inside. Materials stayed clean and protected on the drive home. By the time I got home darkness had fallen. No problem, the materials are safe in the van until daylight.

Now that most of the materials have been bought, it's time to do the fun part, actually building the boat.

-Sixbears

25 comments:

  1. Can't wait to see it as it progresses! I know you must be ready to get started!

    Looking forward to some pics!

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    1. It's good to have a project to occupy my time.

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  2. Good luck. I know when I was building a yacht there was never never ever enough clamps...

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    1. Thanks. I'll probably borrow more clamps before the job is done.

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  3. Did I miss it? What boat are you going to build? Unless you're building a gentleman's yacht, I wouldn't get too hang up between metric/ inches. If there are errors, the epoxy will deal with it. There are reams of stuff on boat forums about "accuracy", most ot it is a waste of time and effort. A few mms here and ther will make not a jot of difference! But then I'm a layabout who don't care too much if the boat is (slightly) crooked!
    Oh, and FT is right..never enough clamps.

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    1. Yeah, you missed it: It's an Ooze goose, http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/korhonen/oozegoose/index.htm

      I'm a layabout too then, as I'll happily trade off a pretty finish for using it on the water.

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  4. ever tried yellow glue and popsicle sticks to build a boat?

    Wildflower

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  5. Phyllis (N/W Jersey)March 26, 2013 at 9:37 AM

    Like Mr. Hermit said - would love to see pictures of your progress! Have fun and enjoy!

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    1. I'll try to remember to do so. Easy to get caught up in the actual building and forget to take photos.

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  6. Yes, pictures, we need pictures. You also may want to consider posting the plans. Are you going to modify them any to personalize them?

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    1. I'm already making small changes. Bought thicker plywood for the bottom. It's being beefed up for bouncing off rocks.

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  7. Sixbear i wish you the best of luck with the build.Having built my teardrop camper i can tell you you will end up building 2 boats this one and in a year or two anouther one.It never fails you build the one you think you want then you think i wish i had done this this and that,and you start from scratch again its a labor of love enjoy it.There is nothing like saying i built it when someone is looking at it.Anyone can buy one few can build one.The money saved building can be used for sailing and travel.Isaved 3 to4 grand by building thats alot of places and miles to take it.

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  8. P.S. I will be starting a wander pup /puffin build the end of april.

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    1. I've built boats before, but it has been a long while -too long, really.

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  9. Are you going to give us a running commentary as you go Dizzy?

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  10. We face a building project this summer too...a greenhouse from scratch.

    I am....well, daunted by the prospect. Good luck with the boat!

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    1. Good luck! Don't stress about it or worry that it has to be perfect. I'm sure it'll turn out just fine.

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    2. I hope so, in some ways, I don't know if the Man has fully committed to the project...but either way, my hands are full of shoveling cubic yards of dirt in the ordinary garden.

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  11. Ahah! Just looked at the link. I like that little boat, I've seen it before and thought about it too. I think the guy had a video of the smaller one sailing, darn good little boat. how thick are you making te bottom?

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  12. 3/8, plus a layer of 6 oz glass. I've got a lot of glass left over from an old project.

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  13. heh mr bear
    i have almost completed hull #1: 30' wharram tiki. hull #2 is only lacking glass and decking and hatches to be complete. So i am helluva lot closer than i was 10 yrs ago when i laid the first keel!!
    any way- i am 98% solar powerd and heated here in the colorado high desert .
    just another lettin' ya know its good to hear about ya- interesting lives eh?

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  14. hope this doesnt 2x post...
    in three weeks i will move my completed hull #1 out of shop . wharram 30' tiki. hull #2 lacks glass, deck and hatches- then its on to beams and cockpit [and a trailer mod] anyway, helluva lot closer than 10 yrs back when i laid the keel...
    98% solar powered /heated. high mt desert in Colorado
    good to hear of others leading big , interesting lives!!
    my stuff gets posted now on FB: Curtis Goodnight

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    1. You could live on a 30' Wharram. What's the plan? Sounds cool indeed.

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