Thread: Building a Waller TS540

Don't worry Rob, there are more than just a few people that have enjoyed your progress, I for one have been keeping a keen eye on the progress and would like to say you have done an awsome job but I can't.........so I will type it instead, you have done an awsome job Rob, so keep it up.

Kev

Originally Posted by rob540

Well, I've only managed to engage a few regulars in this thread, but a lot of people seem to view its progress, so it might be useful to include a link to a more complete set of photos of the build, before I finish the boat and wind up the thread.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waller5...7611386644570/

I hope it makes a build easier for someone.

Rob,
Thanks for the link a fine set of pics.

One question I notice in one of the photos there is a fence across the shed door, was that to keep the crowd and would be helpers out ......I have found boat building is often a lonely business.

Originally Posted by m2c1Iw

....I have found boat building is often a lonely business.

It's only sanding that's a lonely business

Richard

and 'thanks' for the flicka link, I feel even more inadequate now

Very nice to hear from you Kev, thanks, and glad there's been something in it for you.

Mike, the gates across the front of the shed were really a result of building more shed than I could afford roller doors for, but it acts as a sort of playpen for me; I can be left in there without anyone worrying that I'll forget where I am and wander off and get into mischief. I've had an old Fergy tractor since the 1970's and he used to live where I've built this boat. He currently sulks next to the shed. Our land is really too steep for him, but my son doesn't want me to sell him...but there's only so much shed that a bloke can justify having.

Richard, inadequacy is really not a concept that is in any way relevant to a person who can express ideas so succinctly, offer help and encouragement so generously, who obviously loves and cares for his children so warmly and who can make good stuff out of meagre materials.
Inadequate-schmadequate. Your time will come for things that really matter to you. It is inconceivable that they won't.

Some of the following may sound absolutely obvious for the experienced builder or sailer, but I include it because nothing is obvious to the first timer like me.

After a bit of research I found, as you would expect, a wide variety in the advice available regarding the attachment of deck hardware. Gougeon Bros have some very sensible advice, but in the end, the method recommended by my Chandler is what I've used for these first attachments. He suggested Sika between the surfaces, and the screws lubricated with Lanolin grease, rather than set in epoxy. Time will tell I suppose, but I have a good feeling about the lanolin and it is very user-friendly. The fairleads are screwed and the cleat is bolted through the deck and king plank, with lock nuts.
The bow eye took some thinking. Part because the stem is very deep, part because the nut end is in that forward locker and would involve some gymnastics and part because I know enough to realize that these things can make or break your trailer unloading experience. I wanted it as low as possible for good towing on the water, and high enough for the trailer winch to be pulling down as it pulls into the seating bow roller.

The bow cleat is an unimaginative molded plastic type, but I felt modern hardware is appropriate for this type of boat.

I'm still getting around to the non-slip paint on the side and fore decks, but I'm running out of time because we will be away for six weeks from the end of this month, and I haven't touched the boom or mast or any standing rigging type stuff.

My dear wife has spent some good time on the tools to get the cushion covers done, and a couple of extras on the way for curling up with.

The top shot shows one pair of the Merbau floor panels. I forgot to fit the port side ones for the shot. The backrest cushion becomes part of the berth base for sleeping, stretching or sulking inside at length.

The gaps between the boards will be great for collecting Twisties, and loose change from people's swimming trunks.

You are creating a high degree of anticipation here Rob and congratulate the Trimmer again as I'm sure you already have.

ooo very swanky interior Rob, i like the Merbau floor panels you've made for her.

looks like your dear wife has done a very good job of the cushion covers.

when fitting some of my hardware i pre-drilled all the holes bedded the fitting in with sika-flex and also filled the pre-drilled holes with the stuff and screwed them home, on a few of them i drilled a hole a lot larger and made an epoxy plug to screw into, but still used sika in the holes.

what are you going to do for six weeks away from your project you just won't know what to do with yourself

Mike it hasn't been my intention to build anticipation because the awful truth is it won't be until we get back that the boat will be finished and launched. I'm not going to rush it now, I want to enjoy the last bits.

Thanks for including your methods with the deck hardware Richard, those are the sorts of choices a beginner has to make and plenty of build logs magically seem to go from completing the hull to the launch without any discussion of the dozens of details that finish it all off. And there are always choices.
As to six weeks away....mmm..tricky. I don't do relaxing very well...I like to work...but will try to send some pics of wooden boats in Turkey and Greece. The last time they let me out of the country I dragged my wife on what amounted to a violin maker's tour of Italian, German, and other violin making historical centres. I'll be more reasonable this time. Moderate, me. Quite un-obsessive, really!

Impressive !!

I'm sure the Turks & Greeks have stringed instrument makers you take your wife to visit...
She will appreciate the effort you will have gone to in locating said local luthiers.

I look forward to seeing your launch pics. May even have to organise a local gathering
of list members to crack open a bottle of bubbly on your behalf.
And do some boating of course. Wouldn't want to appear to be a drinking club !
cheers
AJ

Originally Posted by b.o.a.t.

I look forward to seeing your launch pics. May even have to organise a local gathering
of list members to crack open a bottle of bubbly on your behalf.
And do some boating of course. Wouldn't want to appear to be a drinking club !
cheers
AJ

Thanks AJ, that's a wonderful idea. Plenty to do first though.

But with regard to travel: you know, seventeen years on and eight years since that trip, feeling a bit professionally 'tired' (and isolated if I'm honest), this time I'd rather talk to wooden boat builders if I have the opportunity.

A bloke on the Yahoo openboat group recently posted about borrowing/hiring a
lateener on the Black Sea whilst in Turkey. Might be something of interest to look
into there. You might come back with a set of plans and a new project !!
cheers
AJ

Yes AJ, I'm sure I'll find something of interest, although I'm told that the Gulets (?) off the coast of Turkey are now very commercial and seldom have sails that are used, and I had hoped for a bit of a trip there, but who knows? I like working boats, particularly rough and ready traditional designs.



This pic illustrates the cushions in the sleeping position. I can stretch out with plenty to spare, and I'm 6'4" in the old language. Mind you, I'm much shorter in metric. The boards that go under the in-fill panels just tuck under the other cushions when not in use.



Above, the deck is masked for non-slip coating. This will be obvious to some, but maybe some people are unfamiliar. There are lots of ways to do this, and Mik has a terrific technique. I'm keeping with the Norglass product range. The gloss paint is 'cut' with flattening agent as per maker's instructions, and then fed with Norglass non-slip granules. They are cheap. I used about $2.50 worth and have some mix left over. Application with a short knap roller (imitation mohair)