Thread: Redbird: a strip-built canoe ... the Journey

Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

1mtr glass instead of 1.4mtr glass? geez mate what are they tryin to do slow you down or somethin?!

So you ordered the new replacement glass or what?? Come on been a couple of days now!! You launched yet? Come on mate pull the flamin finger out

I think they are ... do you have shares in the Co. ?

I'm poking it in the post today and tracking down some 1.4m stuff ... might have to come out of Duck Flat as the closest supplier?? as the woman at boating hardware was telling me they only stock the 1m stuff in 195gsm... hmm

What I can't get over is that I looked at the roll half a dozen times and not once did it click that it was only 1m wide

I look at it this way Dingo, at least we'll be able to launch on the same date. won't we??? when's your estimated date of launch (EDOL)?

ROFL!! EDL? me? gawd strewth mate Ive no flamin idea!!

Okay... I could say in 1 month from today... but that would be a lie... I could say in a couple of months... that may be possible... or I could just say... WHENEVER!!

Honest truth of the matter is I have no idea!... I think I would have made a start when you arced up IF I had a dry area large enough to build it in which I dont... my tools taking up all the room in the shed and the missus's crap and stuff cluttering up the seatainer along with the humpyhoochy falling to bits has caused a bit of a covered spacial area problem So Im presently only able to do stuff that doesnt take up more than a 3ft sq area or can be done on the benches

Now... IF!!! Summer would hurry up and flamin well get here so I had more than a days fine sunshine and fine nights Id definantly have a go... maybe I should buy another one of those carport things from supacheep? I bougth 2 last year but both are nackered cause they dont like wind much sorta got a blown around a tad they did and now theyre stuffed... but now the weather should be improving maybe I should get anothery?

mmm potentials potentials

No I dont think I will be starting for at least a month now... I have several "to dos" I have to get done before I buggar of back to the mine and as yet Im unsure when thats going to be but probably in the next week or two three at the most... so that bein the case probably wont start for a month

Mind you... everything bar the glass and epoxy is here... the moulds are ready the building boards in the loft waiting patiently and the timbers stacked and waiting... just me thats not ready... as usual

But its definantly SOON!... had the nipper in the shed with me today rain an all sittin cogitatin without power as always when it rains and the little fella looks contemplatively up at me an says "Oy dad?" Yeah? "when you gonna build another boat dad?" gawd son no bloody idea yer mums got all these other things she wants me to make first... he went quiet again then said "Well... sigh" well what I says "well I really want another boat dad it was fun you know? when you me an Aaron went paddling that time in the estuary in Mandurah" yeah mate it was fun "yeah... sigh... an memba when we went with Brie an a crab got me on the foot? WHAAHOO! that was fun too eh" sure was mate "sigh... yeah Id like another boat I reckon dad" well mate Chrissys not far away what about we wait an see eh? "yeah... sigh" nah dont sigh see I got this mate called Ramps... no dont laugh yer galah! Anyway this fella hes knocked up a canoe in a few weeks so I reckon we will try an beat him eh whaddayareckon sport? "YEAH!!"... so could be closer than either of us think if little Josh has anything to do with it

And since Aaron made the original moulds and helped on the original Tuart canoe build... yeah Tuart what can I say we had a pair of blonde moments hes gonna want to be in on it... so between the three of us it may yet happen before Chrissy this year

So yer reckon I should order the glass an epoxy now or what mate?

Go Josh ... put that pressure on before you're too old or too big to fit in the canoe with your dad.

Dingo I'd hold off on the purchase off the epoxy and glass for now as the epoxy only has a shelf life of 5 years no really let me give you an excuse ... hmmm ... let me find the cheapest supplier of 1.4m glass so you don't make the same mistake as me (how's that?).

I'm very impressed with the speed your canoe has been progressing at. It's given me a lot of encouragement to start building as soon as my shed is up. I would love to have a look at it when you finish.

Have you tried this place in Welshpool for the cloth http://www.fibreglass-resin-sales.com.au/home.html
I don't know if they will have what you want but I've found them very helpful in the past. I have no affiliation with them, just a happy customer.

Kelvin

Thanks Kelvin
I had forgotten about those guys.

Just called them but they don't stock any over 1 m wide as well (except in the 285 gsm :eek: cloth where they stock up to 1.25m) looks like to Duck flat in SA.

Originally Posted by Ramps

Go Josh ... put that pressure on before you're too old or too big to fit in the canoe with your dad.

Yeah hes doin that "When we goin out to the shed dad eh? eh? come on dad NOWS GOOD!" bloody larrikin

Originally Posted by Ramps

Dingo I'd hold off on the purchase off the epoxy and glass for now as the epoxy only has a shelf life of 5 years no really let me give you an excuse ... hmmm ... let me find the cheapest supplier of 1.4m glass so you don't make the same mistake as me (how's that?).

yeah have a go yer mug have a go 5 years eh? so when they bringin out one that lasts 10 years cause I may just have to wait for that!

I will await your headsup mate cheers

And Kelvin? He bloody well better post a continuing array of pics of the build AND the launch... shyte as hes just down the road he better bloody invite me to the launch!!

Well good news and bad news

They're out to slow me down ... your fault Dingo, I know it is ... how did you do ... you buy out all the 1.4m wide glass in the state ... yes that's what you did!

Well I sent back the 1m glass today and after being told by them that it doesn't come in anything wider I had to correct them ... and they admitted after looking it up that it did but they didn't have any ... nor do they get it. Rang the locals and they were adament that 1.4m cloth wasn't available ... I said it did, thanked them for nothing and phoned the other mob in Perth. they said they were contemplating stocking the wider cloth but didn't have any in stock at the moment ... might be worth giving them a call for future supplies (dingo ... link above that Kelvin posted). Then rang Duck flat in Adelaide who said they'd send it with a courier today ... that's better service.

Also received the Green Valley seat plans today (as per midge posted on this thread on the 21st Sep) Wow can't wait to get into them as well ... good thing to do while the epoxy cures (or waiting for the glass to arrive).

Amazing that we can get deliveries from Canada faster than we can things across Oz :eek: Think I remember Bob Willson say something similar only in the last week or so.

Had a feeling you would be gettin it ex FlatDucks and I wonder why West Aussie companies are idiots

Ive found that more often than not you can order one thing from both US or Canada and from say Queensland and my normal experience is that I will get the US or Canadian things faster than the Queensland one... not necessarily just Queensland either... Aussie post has some serious delivery issues! :mad:

Generally Ive found its a 10 - 13 day turn around ex US... sometimes less best Ive had was 3 days ex Georgia USA!! :eek: blew my socks of that did!!

When we were in Carnarvon we were waiting for a parcel from said Queensland and after 3 WEEKS we hadnt recieved it we rang them to find out what happened to it... "we will look into it and get back to you"... a week later I rang again (the item had been paid for else I wouldnt have bothered) the girl said to go to "your local post office and pick it up" I asked her to check that it had arrived in Carnarvon post office she said "Oooh Carnarvon? thats near to Midland isnt it?" BLOODY MIDLAND?? geez the steem went through the friggin roof I can tell yer! :mad: So I asked her where she thought Carnarvon was "dont blame me sir it was posted to your Carnarvon address I cant help it if Australia post gets it wrong" Rang Midland PO and "yes theres a parcel here for you sir... hang on a moment this cant be right" and comes back "sorry sir this parcel says Carnarvon is that right?" Yes mate Carnarvon "Weres that sir?" Bloody hell... dimwitted galah didnt even know where it was! Look at the post code mate its north of you "Well would you mind dropping by and picking it up sir? it was about to be returned to the sender" 900 klicks and Im gonna just drop by and pick it up?

aah well... mate can you pm me with the costs etc ex flatducks?

Cheers
Shane

Hey ramps enjoying reading about your strip build.

I know its too late now, but you could have used the 1m wide and run a lap along the keel line, this way you get double glass along the high wear area. thats what I did on my 18 foot Ulua out rigger i built last year, Glassing the outsides nice and easy wait until the inside. With the convex shape the glass just wants to come off the curves whenever you squegee it. I found wetting the timber out with epoxy and then laying the glass on dry was the best way..

Then all the fit out...... good fun I am still doing little bits and pieces like building a crab claw rig to sail it.

cheers

Originally Posted by kiricore

Hey ramps enjoying reading about your strip build.

I know its too late now, but you could have used the 1m wide and run a lap along the keel line, this way you get double glass along the high wear area....

Then all the fit out...... good fun I am still doing little bits and pieces like building a crab claw rig to sail it.

cheers

Kiri ... hope you built yours out of Kiri as well
Thanks for the suggestion, I had considered that but the thought of buying another 11m of gass to do it didn't inspire me. Apart from that the though of trying to keep two pieces in place on my first glassing job was a bit of a scare. A couple of off cuts run along the keel at the bow and stern was what i had in mind.

If the glass doesn't show up by the end of the day I think I'll get stuck into the seats and find some nice pieces of sheoak to scarf for the gunnels. Can't let a beautiful w/e get by just cos I haven't got the glass.

Day 22 & 23

Well the 1.4m wide glass hasn’t turned up yet. Too much too expect to get it here in 2 days from the dirty end of the Murray.

As the plans for the seat have turned up from Canada I thought I’d get stuck into dressing and chopping up some Sheoak for the seats and the gunnels in between looking in very frequently at my youngest who has a bad case of the flu and with the nurse of nursing the poor second (Dad) has to duck in often to play a game of cards etc.

It was a couple of days of “I wonder how the young un is?” followed by “Now where was I up to?” and only one wrong cut … and not a serious one.

Cut, scarfed and shaped the gunnels … yet to glue these, can wait for a poxy curing day.

Dressed and cut the seat frames. Did some quick and dirty tenons on the Triton with the router. Used the same for some mortises but have to increase the depth on these.

... I do love sheoak...

Well thank goodness for small mercies eh Ramps! At least by the time I get there on Saturday to have a bit of a chinwag and drink yer phiss you will have about done her! So I can sit back an give her the once over smile an give yer the benefit of me brilliant dingo wisdom!!

No seriously mate shes comin along a right treat will bring some "stuff" for you to play with when I come over... thats while I drink yer phiss of course! oh by the by? I drink Crownies mate (actually I dont drink a lot only occasionally imbibe Ive turned into the proverbial 2 pot screamer in me old age! )

CHEERS

Well... havin just returned from spending a delightful few hours with our young Ramps an his missus an two little girls I just want to update his pics of "Shassie"

Movin along at a cracking pace!!

If you think young Josh is lookin real jeolous... then you oughta see my face!!

All the way home its "dad?" "dad?" "when we gonna build our boats eh dad?" "eh DAD?" "DAD?" on an friggin on... cheers mate

And if you ever tell me you got "a little bit" of sheoak again Im gonna swat yer!! if thats little then... well... damnitall young fella!!!

Only took a couple of pics cause I couldnt focus... the tears you know the tears dont yer just love it when a young fella blasts in an puts yer to shame?

Cheers and thanks for the hospitality

Day 24

Saturday (well at least most of one in between visits from 2 forumites and 2 neighbours … none of them arrived in time to mix some epoxy for me )

As you can see above Dingo caught me just after applying the first coat of epoxy. Well you will bring Josh along ... you're your own worse enemy . And yes I did manage to pick up a little more sheoak than I needed for the stems ... and the gunnels ... and the seats ... and maybe enough for most of our furniture in the future

Well it took a lot longer to spread the glass and put the first coat of epoxy on than I would have hoped, but probably not longer than expected. All went quite well, like normal better than expected but not quite the finish I had hoped (you gotta shoot high even if it is your first attempt ).

I forgot that I was meant to bring the resin in overnight so it would be easier to handle in the morning … took about 15 minutes to get the first mixture out of the bottles and mixed, then took me twice as long to spread it as it should have. I whacked it in a cardboard box and put the brewing heat mat under the bottles, bit it still took an hour or so to get really going. It was a matter of a pump her then a bit of pushing some epoxy around the cloth, then another pump there and a bit more spreading, etc

Then my lovely wife and assistant came out and did all the mixing for me while I did the spreading. Things were steaming then. (hey that sounds rude )

After a couple of visitors and a few hours the epoxy was cured enough for another coat. I applied that very quickly with a roller but looking back I should have applied a thicker coat with a brush and squeegeed off again to fill the weave of the cloth. No prob as now I can sand off a couple of my glitches and whack another thicker coat on tomorrow.

Pics:
Fibreglass draped ready for the epoxy
Same again (that sensuous shape again)
Wetting out the glass with epoxy (darth vader mask removed for the purpose of the pic )
After the second coat of epoxy with the glass trimmed up