Thread: Yet Another Putt Putt

It's been a while, so probably time to update things a little.
The outside of the hull was undercoated with Aquacoat primer. It's helpful being very high build but it has zero self levelling so every brush mark is evident. As a result a lot of sanding is required to get it back level and it's a very hard product. I haven't used it since!
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Then 4 or 5 topcoats of Aquacote, sand colour. It's an unusual product - water based, so no smelly solvents, and quite thin so self levels very well. As soon as a coat is dry the next coat can be put on. By the time I had worked around the hull - about 40 minutes, I could do the next coat. So all coats were completed in an afternoon. And it's exceptionally tough.
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And then it was back over again of course, hopefully for the last time.I steamed a Spotted Gum coaming using a technique I saw on Youtube. The timber is steamed in a plastic bag, which allows the timber to be bent while the steaming is still happening. In theory I guess, you could pause part way through if the timber was being stressed, and steam a little longer.
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The exterior painting was finished next. The maroon rubbing strip, like the internal stringer took 11 coats of Aquacote to cover but again, all of these were completed in an afternoon as each coat could be applied as soon as the previous one was dry.
The old stainless steel rudder wasn't going to cut it so I built a new one with spotted gum cheeks. I was fortunate to find a set of bronze gudgeons and pintles.
The laminated jarrah and kauri tiller looks lovely but will have to be redesigned as it binds against the coaming as it swings to the side.
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I decided on a curved seating arrangement fore and aft. The aft cladding is redgum, spotted gum at the fore. The seats are oregon with meranti strips. Some seat sections will be fixed with others removable to access the storage space underneath. A drawer fridge hides under the forward seat.
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I've installed the Albin O21 engine. It's a Swedish 4 stroke twin cylinder petrol engine from 1956 rated at 10/12 HP.
And she has a name - Jennifer May, for my wife.
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Looking good. I especially like the way you've concealed the modern drawer behind the timber hatch.
How long will it be until we see the deck varnished?

Originally Posted by labr@

How long will it be until we see the deck varnished?

Working on engine box and sole currently. Then I have to lay the deck. What you see currently is a ply sub-deck. I will epoxy timber strips to it with (probably) white epoxy 'seams'. Early in the new year I suspect.

Terrific work there Mark.

It has certainly come a long way since the first article.

Would like to hear how the Aquacote stands up long term. I personally have not had a lot of experience with this product, but like the idea of multiple coatings in the same day...

Hope also there is minimal impact from the flooding your way there in lovely Morgan.

This boat will look an absolute treat on the water!- Thanks for sharing.

C.R.

It seems I have been a little lazy at the laptop again, so I'll try to finish the updates.
The sole was made from spotted gum. A fairly tricky arrangement to first lay out the basic shape in the boat and then remove the panel, infill as required.
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Each board is epoxied in place initially and then secured with copper nails and roves once the layout looks correct. Finished with a few coats of tung oil.
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The engine box is strips of kauri with red cedar for a bit of character. The main box has an upper and lower section for ease of accessing the engine. The lower box forward of the engine box will probably house a porta potti.
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And then, onto the deck. Kauri and meranti strips about 8mm thick are epoxied in place with 6mm spacers.
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Jen got involved with the epoxy 'seams'. Her piping bags were a lot quicker and neater than my previous attempts at pouring. The epoxy is thickened with silica and coloured with a white pigment - both from BoteCote.
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Fairleads were fashioned from Jarrah as are the bitts.
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And then with everything sanded a few coats of of epoxy were rolled over the deck. 4 coats of AquaCote clear followed (but no photos)
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A few bits of bling added (the stainless screws were temporary only!)
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And with a bit of wiring and plumbing, she is finished (for now)
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I plan to put a full length roof / awning on her, similar to the little steam boats. Maybe in time for the 2025 SAWBF.

We had a few test runs but her first real outing was at the South Australian Wooden Boat Festival back in April.

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Amazing transformation.
I'm a wordworker who loves seeing boats kept alive.
I take my hat off to you both.

Like the piping bag idea. Brilliant.

I'm not boat oriented and this isn't a piece of land based furniture, but I'm curious if this was one of those "basket cases" many, most would scoff at and suggest a fire? Or was it just in need of long overdue maintenance?

Again, great work. That would no doubt turn some heads.

Originally Posted by Avondale

I'm not boat oriented and this isn't a piece of land based furniture, but I'm curious if this was one of those "basket cases" many, most would scoff at and suggest a fire? Or was it just in need of long overdue maintenance?

Probably a fire pit to most. None of the superstructure or deck were usable. Mechanicals unknown but in poor visual condition. The hull was badly out of shape but sort of 'sound'. For what I had planned it was fine, but a lot of work. Without epoxy and fibreglass it would have been difficult to justify.