Thread: Paddlepop - 8ft Mini Mouse new build

We are getting close now - another 6 hours of work over 2 days and she is taking shape well.

• 37 - the bottom and sides are completely sanded, faired (a much as they are going to be) and epoxied up with 3 coats - ready for painting now.
• 38 - I had to re-do the skeg fibreglass - the first lot de-laminated while drying. It is quite a challenge to get the fibreglass to hold such a tight radius curve - but I really did want the extra protection on the skeg. Eventually the peel ply helped again, allowing me to clamp the fibreglass tightly in place while it dried - and still be able to remove them afterwards. It worked well.
• 39 - Time to turn her over and finish the insides. I have cut and glued frames around the inside top of the buoyancy tanks to provide a gluing surface for the decks. I also glued in a backing pad on the bow for a painter cleat.
• 40 - all containers on deck! The decks are now cut out and glued in place. I had prepared the deck timber by coating the inside face with 3 coats of epoxy, and the inside of the boat throughout got the same treatment. The tanks are rough finished, but i put some sanding effort into the cockpit - not enough, but too much at the same time... The white pigment in the epoxy is a great idea and will really help when it comes to painting.
• 41 - the decks are still rough - tomorrow I'll shape them, sand them and give them a few epoxy coats.

So - only the inwhales & gunwhales to go, and then its just painting. Boxing Day launch is looking good.

Lesson to self of the day - really really really do wear protective clothes when sanding fibreglass... my forearms and feet (sandals weren't a great idea) are full of invisible spines and itch like mad.

the boat is coming along nicely, I have been told that if you have a cold shower before you sand glass , it closes the skin pores and the itch is not an issue, ( do not think it does)

next boat a set of disposable overalls, and old sand shoes, will solve most of the problem.
I also suggest a sander with a vacume attached as this will collect most of the dust and glass particles.

I have a BOSCH PEX 400 125mm random orbital sander and an old Black & Decker 1/3 sheet sander , both can be attached to a vacume, for dust extraction.

cheers,

Jeff

PS MERRY CHRISTMAS&A HAPPY NEW YEAR

This is an outdoor build, so no vacuum cleaners - but yes, overall and trainers should be mandatory

Today we finished the build:

• 42 - Max decided to help today, and he was very useful indeed. Here he is learning to use the surform, trimming inwhales to fit the curve of the bulkhead join.
• 43 - Max is sanding the sheer ready for gluing, and I'm trimming the decks flush
• 44 - And the inwhales & gunwhales glued in place. It was quite messy and fiddly and I really needed 4 hands to get everything bent into place and clamped and screwed (temporarily) - so just as well Max was in a helpful mo

od.

And that is basically the end of the build - although plenty of work left to do. Tomorrow is sanding and filling and fairing and the last coats of epoxy, then its painting, which will take a few hours over a couple of days. Glue in the inspection port hatches, screw & glue in a ring for the painter, and chop down a plastic garden seat for easily-adjusted seating, and we are there.

You've done a good job there , the boat looks very good, also glad to see the apprentice helping ,.
I know what you mean about 3 hands and only having 2 available.

Jeff

I rarther underestimated the sanding effort required. How can a little boat like this require 4 solid hours of sanding, plus another two of filling and epoxying!? And its not as if I'm getting a show finish either, this is just to get her to a semi-acceptable state where I won't feel totally ashamed in public. Don't think I'll even be able to leave the decks clear, there are a lot of bodges all too visible that way... Anyway, nearly there:

45 - Max & Jack try her out for size - about right for 2 small boys
46 - Max is tasked with sanding the paddle
47 - Sanders are go!
48 - Sanding sanding sanding...
49 - starting to look good. The gunwhales needed more filling, so still a bit of sanding tomorrow, but I'll be able to start painting after that.

Happy Christmas to you all!

It was a good Christmas for us, and no boatbuilding for me (to give Mrs TG a respite from sawdust and sanding noise).

But back into it:

50: Final coat of coloured epoxy on the bottom
51: and at last, the navy blue topcoat

Probably one more coat of blue, then turn her over and start painting the topsides. I'm using Aquacote, and it is easy to work with, clean up etc, and you can paint new coats every couple of hours - so I should get her painted today.

Looks fantastic -

Great job Alex!

I hope we will see a next episode soon with something bigger and more sailier?
It was fun watching you and the boys with the project and the result is stunning

Well done , you have a neat well built boat,

NOW for something different IE: larger!!!!

Cheers,

Jeff

She is done:

53: detail of aft deck with inspection ports complete. These were my ongoing nightmare after the initial butchery of cutting the holes, and are still the worst mistake I made on the boat. Even now that port is not quite round and I'm not sure how I'm going to screw the hatch in!
54: painter cleat and painter detail
55: the overall boat done.

Launch day tomorrow, and final pics to follow

you are doing a good job , can't wait to see it on the water.

With minimal tools you have done an excellent job.

Jeff

thanks Jeff - its been great having the interest / support - cheers

if the sun is out tomorrow, I'll post launch pics tomorrow night

Originally Posted by vk4

With minimal tools you have done an excellent job.
Jeff

I agree Jeff, although when I first read your post I thought you had written; "With minimal tools you have built a boat"
Probably because that's what I was thinking.
Amazing!
Thank you for taking us along on your journey.
I've learnt heaps.
Cheers
Jim

Thanks guys - appreciated. I agree more with the statement "I have built a boat with minimal tools" - the excellent part might come with later builds (or not...)

Floated her today at Port Hacking - all went well and we had a lovely day on the river. Onwards!

See photos below for the bottom-wetting and fun on the water.

Thanks for all your comments and interest along the way - I hope you enjoyed the thread and perhaps someone may be inspired to try this themselves - its pretty easy even for a non-woodworker like myself, and very satisfying to build something by yourself (or better, with your kids or a friend).

Cheers

Alex