Thread: 12-16' Multipurpose Boat

Originally Posted by mcchaddy

I have just started mine. Cut the Stem out the other night.

Are you fellas going to keep us entertained with pictures as you progress?

Hi All,

I will have photo's soon. A patern of the stem is not much to show at the moment. When I have the moulds cut out I will post pictures of them and building frame.

Howdy Ken,

Thanks for following up to tell us about your decision.

I (and lots of others will be looking forward to another interesting thread on this forum.

One thing I like about this forum is not only the pearls of wisdom about methods and how to do bits, but the pics and words about getting the whole thing done - whether Daddles, ScottyK, Midge, Ramps, OntheBeachAlone, Meerkat and all the others.

There are plenty of places on the net where more abstract notions are discussed, but I think this little boatbuilding - and boatworshipping (Dingo and many others) - has a nice mix of practicality with all the other great stuff.

Cheers to all of youse.

MIK

Originally Posted by onthebeachalone

Are you fellas going to keep us entertained with pictures as you progress?

Of course. I won't be starting until some time in March though. I have to wait until we after we move into the new house. Hopefully the new shed will be finished at the same time. Until then I'll be devouring the plans and sourcing material.

Thanks MIK for your encouragement.

Glad youre leading the way Mcchaddy. Look forward to the collaberation.

Thanks
Ken

Originally Posted by KRH

Until then I'll be devouring the plans and sourcing material.

Yep! I reckon there's a lot to be said for building it (many times) in your head before starting the real thing.

Originally Posted by onthebeachalone

Yep! I reckon there's a lot to be said for building it (many times) in your head before starting the real thing.

Nah, dive in and have a go, then work out how to fix the screw ups is far more satisfying, and you've got an excuse. There is nothing worse than making a carefully planned and considered stuffup (guess how I know this).

Actually, you'll be surprised at how many small bits there are than can be made in the meantime. A pair of oars. A rudder. The centreboard. Cleats. That funnything you can see on the plans but can't identify but assume you have to make in the hope it fits into the boat somewhere when eventually you know all about this boat building caper Don't be scared to start on them now - there is nothing more frustating than being ready for the next bit ... apart from a heap of stupid little bits.

Buy some Kapur decking. Run it through the thicknesser to get rid of the ridges, and you not only have some very good hardwood, it looks stunning under varnish. Now think cleats and other small fittings. Think of the fun you'll have making them and sanding them and how stunning she'll look with them instead of plastic bits bought in a rush because you wanted to launch her this weekend.

Richard

Good advice this.

Generally over lots of boats I've been involved in - the people who build all the little bits first find the boatbuilding process a bit more fun.

That's what I've noticed anyhow.

Just because all the bits are ready to put into/onto the finished hull - rather than finishing the hull and then find that half the building is left.

Of course the best order to build things in is the way that you WANT to do it - but it's worth considering doing the little bits first.

MIK

I for one am looking forward to plenty of pics and commentary.

Hi All,

I have taken the approach of building the little bits first to build and refine my wood working skills before I tackle the more difficult tasks. I have started by making templates of the inner stem, centre board, rudder, tiller and a few other bits that can be done before I make the building frame.

This also gives me some experience working with epoxy and gluing things together in much easier situations. The inner stem is made from 5 x 6mm laminations of ply or similar material. So the template will be used to cut and then flush trim the 5 pieces. Like wise with the centre board and rudder, which are built by laminating pieces together. I am also toying with the idea of vaccuum bagging these pieces to get some experience in using this technique for a future project which requires this process.

Anyway, thats where I have started. Will have some pictures soon.

Michael.