New guy building Squirt, looking for advice

Hi guys I am new to the forum and was looking for some advice in setting up with tooling.

I have decided to build a Nelson Zimmer Palm Beach 22' however as the department of war and finances denied funding for "such a ridiculous project", I have managed to acquire approval to build a smaller boat first, hence the Glen L Squirt. Hope my "master craftsmanship" will inspire confidence in the department to allow project #2 to commence. This should work out well because by all accounts I will have to build my first boat second. (I sound like one of you guys already, planning #2, not even started the first)

I have ordered the plans and await their arrival, feel like a kid waiting for Christmas to arrive, and was looking for some advice from other people who have built squirts or similar in regards to setting up with tooling.
I have ordered a #4 record professional plane, Japanese hand saw, Rasping file, Bacho chisel set. Have an electric drill, circular saw, belt sander, jigsaw, router, am acquiring g-clamps wherever I can get them and also have an assortment of hand tools as I am a Mechanic by trade.

Thanks in advance
Nikko

Good work!! It's always nice when someone makes a start!

Unless you're going to be able to buy all your timber in dressed timber sizes, or the entire plan works with standard lumber dimensions available in dressed form locally, a cheap thicknesser is a good investment. Speeds up the milling of stock immesurably.

It was the first thing i bought, after a circular saw.

Thanks for the reply. Any and all help is appreciated.

I have a mate that works at Gregorys Machinery Warehouse who should be able to hook me up with one.

Nikko,

NIce looking Boat you have chosen , have you thought about resale value when the TREASURER give the OK for a larger project:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:.

The design is fairly dated , however that will not be an issue if you build well. Classic style boats will sell.

Be aware that all the plans will be in imperial, and you will have to convert to metric.

As for fastenings , do not use Gal or brass screws or fastenings, use Silicon bronze or monel nails, alternately stainless screws, for glue you cannot beat EPOXY glues & resins .

I am north of Bne in Kallangur and am happy to give any advice I can,.

I have built 3 complete boats and modified 1or 2 .

Jeff

Nikko, sounds like you have more tools than I have dreamt of. The thicknesser is good advice. Look around for a Triton saw bench and then you can build jigs and stuff for it.
I borrowed the brother-in-laws about 3 years ago and now he has the cheek to ask for it back.
Ian L
"Wavedancer"

some people are funny about wanting tools back they have lent out ,aren't they:D:D:D

Three years , that's not bad going , did you ask what he wants it for:rolleyes::rolleyes::wink:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vk4

some people are funny about wanting tools back... did you ask what he wants it for

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Remember too, it's 3 years older now and has been used. Shouldn't be worth HALF what it was when he lent it to you! :q

Nikko,
I'll second the "use bronze fastenings" advice, though on a boat like squirt, stainless would probably be as good so long as you use 316 grade, and keep em outta the water. Permenantly submerged stainless still gets issues. I'm guessing a runabout like this has a fibreglassed bottom anyway, so there shouldn't be too many issues provided you do a good job of it!

Also! You don't necissarily need to convert imperial to metric. Just build in imperial! I'm building a Hartley Ts16 - a plan from the 50's with both metric and imperial details, and I'm just using the imperial - They're more accurate.

Did I say I owned all those tools, hmmm, some of them are currently just residing in my shed. I figure unlimited use of the tools should cover storage fees.

In regards to the fasteners I ordered the glen l sil bronze kit with the plans, seemed to make sense, paying for freight anyway.

I always seem to work in both metric and imperial daily so I reckon that shouldn't be an issue.

Gregorys do a thicknesser for around 500 has a 150mm height & 300mm width, should be more than sufficient to do what I need.

Was also looking at a drum sander at hare & forbes for about 700 or a bobbin sander for under 200. Thought these might be worthy additions to the shop.

I wouldn't mind doing a sail boat like the hartley but didn't want to attack that kind of a project first up. Do you have a thread on your build I would like to see your progress?

Resale value or practicality didn't really come into it more just looking for an outlet and something to do with the kids. Thought if I'm going to do it I'm going to make something that looks cool, classy and similar to the Palm Beach.

I'll probably will only put it in the water a couple of times to set it up and then flick it. Or keep it and start another, how many toys can you keep in the front yard before the neighbours think you're a show off?

Holy crap I might have to get a boat licence!!

Cheers
Nikko

Hey Nikko, The drum sander and spindle/bobbin sander will be completely useless for the project, but fun for having anyway. You'd be better off spending that cash on fit-out of the boat, or beer.

There's simply no area of large flat sanding to do on a boat that can't be better done either A) by hand or B) with something like a Random Orbit sander, especially on a 10ft plywood on chine runabout. The belt-sander is about as industrial as you need to go for sanding in a boat project, I'd think. The thicknesser will be plenty, and get a few chisels, a block plane and some sandpaper and you'll be right.

I've got a build-thread called "Part Way" - https://www.woodworkforums.com/f32/part-way-140014/

I've not updated for a month or a bit more, just cos not much has been happening! Will get to it soon.

:)

Hi Asrainox,

I found your thread last night and turned out I had already viewed it about 3-4 weeks ago, the rig looks like a good bit of gear, should be good when she's done.(or close enough to sail)

Your probably right about the sanders but I got into a bit of a tooling frenzy. Thanks for bringing me back to earth. You know how it is though, you'll probably never use it but you know you need it. Beer sounds like a solid investment though.

Cheers
Nikko