A Few Things Weve Learned so Far

As I mentioned in my last post, we took some video of our last work session. The majority of this video footage covers tasks weve completed to date, a quick summary of some of our day-to-day tasks, and a couple of things weve learned along the way. This post is primarily to post links to the videos we made. I apologize in advance for the poor audio quality (we left the TV on in the background, and it is a little distracting), but I am posting this in the hope that youll pick up a couple of tips and tricks that we learned along the way. It will also let you actually see who we are, and what our workshop is like.

Video of the epoxy tray we made
Mixing the epoxy
Applying the epoxy sealer coat
Mixing the thickened epoxy (Peanut Butter)
Be careful after you lay the epoxy

After laying the sealer coat of unthickened epoxy to each surface to be glued, lay the thickened epoxy on one of the sealed surfaces with a trowel. After the thickened epoxy is applied, set the pieces together, weigh them down to ensure a good solid bond between the surfaces, and apply a couple of screws to hold the surfaces together. We specifically recommend the weighting and screwing process, as if you dont weight them down, you may not get a nice tight fit. If you dont screw the pieces together, the epoxy can act as a lubricant between the fitted pieces between when the surfaces are laid together, and when the epoxy sets. The result is that you can end up with the pieces sliding a little, and the fit of the boards is not as precise. You can remove the screws after the epoxy has dried.

Read More..

Group 2 Meets to Begin Boat Building

Akeem does some finishing work (top). One group works together to mix the apoxy in order to glue the scarf joints (bottom).

The very cold air did not deter our 12 participants and 10 volunteers from arriving ready for work. Today group 2 was to replicate what the first group started on their canoe last weekend.
The following comments were made by participants in the second group after their first day at work on Peace Canoe #2:
MJ (age 11) Its fun! I get to help make a boat. My part today was working on the hull and one side of the boat, it is a fun project.
T. Graham (age 14) I like to build with legos, so getting to build something like a canoe is very interesting.
Maurice (age 15) It was exhilarating! We had to lift cinder blocks to brace the scarf joints.
Tammy (age 10) It was fun, because we are treated like an adult. We got to use many tools and supplies that we could not use at home. It was exquisite!
Deion (age 13) It was fun! I got to experience something I never did and never thought Id do. I feel proud to be a part of Boat Building by the Bay.
Keyshawn (age 11) I helped put together the sides of the canoe by nailing. I liked working with the other kids, because we made a good team.
Dalontay (age 9) My group marked the lines for cutting and then we used the glue gun to glue the sides.
Today was another successful day at the McNasby "Boat Shop," we meet again on February 7th and 14th if you are around Eastport, we welcome you to stop in and see our progress between 9am and 1pm.

Read More..

Sanding and Fairing and Building the Edges

Greg and I havent forgotten about you, this blog, or our project. Its just that we havent recently hit any milestones worth blogging about. As I mentioned in some of my recent postings, the part were on now is very long and tedious... not much worthy of a blog entry. Despite my lack of posting though, we have made significant progress, and its very close to the rate that I expected. This is largely due to Gregs work.

My family and I went to California for vacation recently, which prevented me from assisting Greg for two weeks straight. In all honesty, I suspected that very little would be done during my absence. (This is partially because much of what weve done to date is highly expedited by having two people working, and partially because I realize that I help keep Greg motivated.) But when I got back home, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Greg had made significant progress during my absence. While I was gone, Greg enlisted the assistance of our mutual friend Dan. Dan, thanks for your help while I was gone. I appreciate it, and I know Greg appreciates it.

As you can see in the first photo, Greg and Dan made great progress in filling the bottom of the boat. Its very close to being finished.

Greg also made a lot of progress in rebuilding the hard edges of the boat. Remember, this boat is designed to have a planing hull, so a perfectly flat bottom and very hard chines are essential in order to have this boat perform as expected at planing speeds.

In the picture to the right, you will see how we made the chines with relatively little work. Greg screwed thick sheets of plastic to the hull, as shown in this picture. This gave us (when I say "us," Im including Dan, because he was part of this particular process; he also provided us with the plastic.) a fairly straight, and very sturdy platform with which to work. We wedged epoxy thickened with wood flour and fiberglass particles into the space between the plasic, going slightly higher than the bottom of the hull. This way, we were sanding down, instead of requiring a second fill coat.

In this picture, you will notice the applied thickened epoxy. After the epoxy dries, we remove the sheets of plastic, and voila, a sturdy chine, ready for sanding.









This shot will give you a basic picture of what the chines look like after the epoxy sets and the plastic is removed. What youre looking at is the starboard side. You will notice that the chines are not built up throughout the whole starboard side. This is because of the limited plastic available. It will require a second session to finish the side. You will also notice that we (again, "we" includes Dan) have been sanding and fairing along the entire bottom of the hull.

This final picture is taken from the bow, starboard corner. You will notice that Greg has also filled the front transom area, and the front bottom area, to compensate for the three-to-six layers of fiberglass. You will also notice the fair amount of fairing done on the bottom, and the hard chine. Like Ive said, its not that we havent been working, and its not that weve forgotten about you. Its mainly that were at a relatively tedious section of the project, and theres not a lot to report. After all, how many times can I say "Yep, were still sanding" and keep you all interested?

Until next time...

Oh yeah, you may have noticed that the boat has several different colors of filler. This is because Greg is utilizing a combination of whats cheapest and what works best for sanding and fairing in a given area of the boat.

Read More..

Day 3 final panels

I did discover that laying out the panels for the sides involved a more flexible batten than the one I was using, and decided to use a thinner one lying in the back of the garage and redo the curvatures.  All panels are now cut out along with frames and transom. 

My technique is to saw about 1/16" outside the drawn line and then use a block plane and Stanley surform to fair to the line.  I then sand the edges lightly to ease the handling of the panels.  Apart for getting a CNC cutter, there is not much else I can do here. 

Read More..

A Brief Diversion

You may have noticed a lack of recent posts about our boat project, and if you think its because we havent done anything lately, youre right. You see, its almost time for our annual boyz trip pilgrimage. Every year over Memorial Day, Greg, two of our friends from high school and I go on an extended trip. The trips have varied tremendously over the years... sometimes we do long, self-contained downriver canoe trips, sometimes we do whitewater kayaking, occasionally more than the "core four" of us will go. Our trips have varied from three days to a week, and we have hit too many rivers to count. We started out taking these trips over Labor Day weekend, but changed to Memorial Day a few years back when we figured out that the water levels are generally higher this time of year.

This year, we will be travelling to North-Central Wisconsin and doing a self-contained island-hopping lake canoe trip, utilizing the canoes we built a couple of years ago. To add to the adventure, Greg and I are temporarily converting our individual canoes into a catamaran sailing vessle. Were going to a brand new area, doing a variation on our trip that we havent really done before, and trying a new feat of engineering. This should explain the lack of progress on the main project. Weve been planning the trip, and working on the rig that will convert our paddle-powered canoes into a wind-powered catamaran.

If you’re interested in some of the history and stories from our various trips, here are a few links for you to check out…

From earlier posts in this blog:
How it all Began; A Quick Sidenote:
A Well-Deserved Vacation
Pictures of the Canoes

From posts on my other blog:
Commemorating a Practical Joke

Read More..

Boat Building Is it Easy to Build a Boat

Many want to know how hard building a boat is. Well truth of the matter it is can be simple or it could be quite hard. It just matters on what type of boat you want to build. When it comes to the designs and boat building, they can be quite simple or hard. There are a few things that could make your boat design difficult.

If you are new to making boats and all that, when you first begin reading a boat plan you might be a little lost. You might even think that boat building isnt easy. This is because they use shorthand and you will still be getting used to all the terms. However, it gets easier as you go.

Knowing what materials to use could make boat building seem tough. There are many choices and when you choose one material there might be all sorts of things that could fall in that category to use. You just have to know your stuff, but there are plenty of resources out there that can guide you.
The bigger the boat, the harder it will be. That is a given. Also, the more things you add to the boat the harder it will be. There are things like the hull and so forth that have to be calculated just right in order for you to fully finish and have a successful boat that you are proud of. Boat building can be a hobby and those who find it a hobby are the ones who dont find it as challenging to do. There is a lot to consider when building a boat and people learn quickly that it doesnt always have to be as complicated. Using resources and using practice can make it easier than you think. Is it hard or easy? Time will tell.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3000398

Read More..

A Quick Disclaimer

Let it be stated for the record that this blog is NOT designed to be an infallible guideline for how to do a similar project yourself. As I stated at the beginning of this blog, these posts are designed to chronicle our specific journey, and maybe to provide some tips and tricks that may or may not be beneficial to you. If you incorporate any of the recommendations, you do so at your own risk. If you disregard any of our recommendations, you do so at your own risk. If you even view the contents of this blog, you do so at your own risk. Neither Greg nor I will be responsible in any way, shape or form for anything that you do, whether its a stroke of brilliance, or something worthy of a Darwin Award
Its an unfortunate reality that I feel the need to post this disclaimer, but I dont want any of your silly asses filing a lawsuit against us, saying "Greg and Dave made me do it." We didnt make you do anything!

Read More..

February 7th and 14th Boat Building Sessions

Tammy is able to hammer nails into place (top) after Maurice has drilled preparation holes (bottom).

During the February sessions each group worked on getting the chine logs adhered to their canoes. From their original groups they were broken down into 3 task groups. One group had the task of getting the seats ready, while the other two groups each took one side of the canoe to work on. They had to begin by measuring off equidistant spots as to where the holes would be placed in preparation for the hammering of many nails. During this activity many participants were able to use a power drill for the first time. The kids really felt empowered given the use of this tool. The progress they are making will allow for their canoes to take an actual shape during the March sessions.
Looking forward, the public is always invited to our session at the McNasby Building. Our next building dates are Saturdays March 7th and 14th. Also, if you are downtown the first weekend of May for the Annapolis Maritime Heritage Festival, keep an eye out for the participants painting their canoes as part of the Annapolis Maritime Museum booth.

Read More..

Wooden Boat Building What you should find out before you start

Wooden Boat Building – What you should find out before you start

Wooden Boat Building is easy if you know how, have the right place to build your dream boat in, a supportive group of family and friends, enough money to carry on the project without straining the family budget, and you have selected a project within your capabilities. That is, it is easy if you have a decent idea of what you want to use the boat for when you have finished, know where you are going to store it when you are not using it, have decide how you are going to transport it, have decided on what type of boat you are going to build.
Of course you also want to know where you are going to get the plans for the boat, what tools you are going to use, how many hours it will take to build, what you are going to paint it with in order to protect it from the elements and that is before we get down to the details of the actual construction.
Confused, Disheartened, unsure of yourself, well join many thousands of well meaning people like yourself who set out on the great wooden boat building adventure, just as confused as you are.

Some give up before they start, some begin projects they never complete, some begin projects that they complete but wished they had never started.

However many begin and complete projects on time, within budget and without too many hassles. They go on to be boat owners and enjoy thoroughly the fruits of their labour.
Some, a lucky few have so much fun get so much satisfaction out of seeing the beautiful wooden boat take shape beneath their own hands that they fall in love with wooden Boat Building and go on to build not one boat but many.

Which category will you fall into depends very greatly on some decisions you have to make now before the project begins.

I will list out the 10 questions I think are the most important questions you need to answer.

1. Why do you want to Build Your Own Boat?
Make a list of at least 5 reasons, examine them carefully- be truthful. It may be better to hire or charter a boat instead.

2. Do you have the support of family and friends and neighbours in this venture?
You may not need physical help but you certainly need moral support

3. What do you want to use the boat for when you have finished building?
This will determine both type and size of the boat- are you a fisherman, a sailor, a powerboat enthusiast

4. Do you have a place you can build the boat?
Don’t laugh, the place must be suitable for the boat you are going to build – there have been stories of people needing large cranes to lift their boat over the roof of the house; at great expense; because someone didn’t check that the boat would fit down the drive.

5. How much experience do you have, what is your actual skill set, can you brush up on what you don’t know?
There are many institutions that provide wood craft classes if not actual boat building classes. The finish of the boat will depend on the skill level you can develop.

6. How much money can I commit to the project?
Think about it, if you have to downsize your dreams better to do it now. Finished boats sell readily and for good prices, unfinished boats break your heart and don’t sell for much.

7. How much time can you commit to the venture?
Estimates for how long a certain boat design will take to build are available from any place that sells plans. Add a bit for your inexperience and make sure you can commit the time. Be honest, no use starting a project in the fall with the dream of some summer fishing and just end up spending the summer break locked in the shop still sanding down and finishing the boat so you can get you wife’s car in the garage before next winter.

Having come this far thelast Questions are serious.

8. What Type of boat are you going to build?
You have the desire, the support, an idea of what you want to do with the finished boat, a place to build, and knowledge of what you are capable of, a budget in both money and time.
Now is the time to decide on a type of boat.

9. What building method are you going to use?
Come on! By now you have haunted the library, pestered friends, bought magazines, been to the local yacht club, and hung around the local boat ramp. You need to decide on a build type.
If you have no idea about build types then - STOP NOW - Go wash your hands and take up another project.

10. Where are you going to get the plans?
Do Not! Repeat Do Not even think you can build a boat without a decent set of plans.
Never start a Wooden Boat Building Project without well drawn plans. Disaster lies in that direction.

Ok ! that should give you something to think about, I’m off to sharpen the old adze and prepare for the comments ?

Wooden Boat Building can be a highly rewarding, satisfying and even profitable undertaking and yes you can build your own boat, but make sure you think before you begin.

Read More..

Group 1 Meets to begin Boat Building

One of the groups learns how to use the glue gun from volunteer Jake (Photo taken by Chris Holmes)
10 volunteers and 12 participants were on hand this morning to begin construction of the first Peace Canoe. Three groups each worked on an important task during this first day of construction.
One group was responsible for gluing the scarf joints, the second group had to nail the hull, and the third group worked on one of the sides. The participants were excited as this was the first project of the kind that these kids have all been involved with. The kids enjoyment and momentum of the volunteers kept the project going and all was completed by noon when the pizza arrived.
All the kids agreed that this was a fun experience and they are excited to come back on February 7th to continue construction.

Read More..

How To Build Your Own Boat Fast

Boat building has been one of the earliest forms of engineering and hobby as well. Most hobbyists prefer to build themselves a boat rather than buy. Why? Above all other reasons, it is simply because they take glory in calling their craft their own. What about you? Why build your own boat?

There can be several reasons why you better opt to build your own boat. First and foremost, you can take pride that you have built your own boat yourself. Seeing your boat from a skeleton state to a finished product is self-rewarding indeed. Of course do not boast. Just feel proud of it. There are things worth the pride, especially when it is something extraordinary.

By building your own boat, you can modify and add whatever customization which you may want. Make prime manifestations of your creativity by incorporating your own design to your own boat. There will be no pressure as to what designs you are to put. Feel free, its yours. Your imagination is the limit. Make your boat show who you really are; apply designs that you really want; and dont just rely on the designs that can be offered by some craftsmen.

Building your own boat is at your advantage when we talk about time. There is no need to be pressured on the time frame. Do things at your own pace at your own time. If you want modifications from time to time, take the liberty of doing such. You dont have to get bothered about racing dues as to completing and moving on the next tasks. The best thing about it is that your boats quality wont be compromised like when it is done in a commercial place. Sometimes, doing boats in a rush makes low output quality.

Build your own boat so you can grow and become an expert of it. Try to learn from the experts and apply it to your own boat. Learn from others and your mistakes. From there, develop your own techniques so you can do it your own way. Modifications are of course for the better. Try to improve the time required in doing some parts, or try to improve mechanisms for improved quality. You can use alternative materials to improve durability of your boat too.

Always remember that building your own boat doesnt encourage building it by yourself alone. Of course youll need help once in a while. Building your own boat means you make the output as you please. You can hire craftsmen to do the labor work. The most important thing in here is that it is done as you pleased, as you designed it to be.

If you would like to get your hands on professional yet easy to follow boat plans, plans 4 boats supply you with over 200 diverse boat plans and designs that are suitable for all levels of boat builder and also the plans cover all the elements you need to have the job done fast.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5850644

Read More..

1st steps in building

laying out the plywood involves a few preliminary measurements so that the hull panels can be transferred from the plans to the wood. Measure very carefully, in this case you will see from the photos that a 4X8 sheet is actually a little bigger.  I like using the imperial/metric tape measure as the plans are in feet-eighths-inches, but the math is easier in centimeters.

From vireo

Start by laying out a 12X12 grid, you will discover the real size of your panel

















transfer the lines from the plan to the panel. Work slowly and carefully, measure and remeasure. if it looks wrong, it is!

From vireo

circle the marks clearly where the brads for the bending batten will be placed.

From vireo

1 hour later - this panel was fully laid out and ready to
cut.

Get a plywood cutting blade for the circular saw. From vireo

 

Read More..