Another OZ MK2 PDRacer build in Sydney "Wood Duck"
I recently acquired a set of plans for the Mk 2 OZ PDR and the GIS from Duck Flat. To get onto the water as quickly as possible, and allow saving up for the Goat, I decided to build the Duck first.
Michael has very kindly offered to move some related posts that I've made elsewhere into this (more relevant) thread, but as a quick summary (from memory), the following things have - or haven't - occurred to date:
Probably asked Michael far too many questions, as many of his answers were right there on his and BitingMidge's sites already;
Rang up a lot of Sydney plywood merchants in attempt to find a marine plywood that isn't too heavy *and* that I can afford;
Rang up a number of timber merchants in Sydney re "affordable" clear oregon or wrc - it seems that there really isn't, nor hoop pine neiver;
Costs for even such a simple boat as the Duck appear to have almost doubled in two years, even accounting for changes in materials - ouch!;
Changed expectations of cost to be more realistic, revised building starting time estimates;
Found some useful oregon in my wood cache;
Discovered (quite coincidentally - no, really!) that some simple alterations in our house will also "liberate" a large amount of secret-nailed WRC cladding boards, many over 2.1 m in length and knot-free :);
Acquired a bundle of excellent milled-to-size Paulownia timber at a good price, thanks to a suggestion from Nick Pullen;
Will make two rigs: the standard sprit boom and the lug, starting with lug;
Mistake when ordering Paulownia - overlooked inclusion of timber to make up standard mast: oops!
Bacon saved by Michael: suggested glassing the mast to make up the difference in density (stiffness) between paulownia and oregon, plus increase length of long internal block slightly;
Note: will need to alter diameters of mast step & partner accordingly;
Will make lug mast in paulownia as it's over a metre shorter than sprit rig mast;
Ordered BoteCote, powder and other consumables to enable start on mast; "Eurolite" poplar "caravan" plywood recommended by boating materials supplier, may trial 5-ply 6mm if OK on inspection, else back to gaboon hunting;
Quick info-gathering on scarf jointing in wooden spars;
Cutting up timber for spars out of scrounged oregon (will use 6:1 or 8:1 scarf joints and high-strength epoxy);
Marking out staves for lug mast;
Test-coated paulownia with WEST 105/205, suspecting it might be rather like balsa, happily not nearly as thirsty as feared (see MIK's comments);
Toughens up the wood nicely even though part-cured;
Note: chamfer off the 90 degree edges of exposed paulownia cleats, use router for consitency;
Made new shopping list for rest of epoxy, etc., revised hull start further into future;
Reminded self that it's still going to be much cheaper than the cheapest non-PDR boat and to be patient;
Changed mind numerous times about boat's name, settled on short list of two;
Note: check what hold-up with epoxy supplier is;
Started this thread...