Boat Building Projects Underway

[themanshed]

Thanks Nurb

[Chikokishi]

I know my boats wont mean anything compared to all the amazing ones on here, But my girlfirend and i have decided to build a couple small (<8ft) sailboats so that we can roam around on a small lake with. Iv been getting a lot of help from a few forum members because i would like these little boats to actually work (as opposed to my last attempt which has so much lee helm that i couldnt steer it!).

If anyone is interested, i will post pics as they are getting built. They are still sheets of plywood at the moment. =)

Chiko

[hoytedow]

Please do show the build as you go.

[FMS]

Yes please do post photos as you build Chiko. Small boats are often the most fun!

[Chikokishi]

Just updating.

We started this project 3 days ago and have only been working about 3 hours a night on it. We are making two identical boats. As you can see we already have the sides cut and the frame built. At the moment im trying to figure out how im going to cut a 3/4" by 1/4" slot into the gunnels. All i have is a drill press and a jigsaw. So today im going to look for a little blade i can put onto the drill press thatll do the job. Any ideas on that?

We thought about making sailboats about a week ago. Its too bad we didnt think of it earlier in the summer because we have to go back to school in 3 weeks or so and then the weather turns colds. Hopefully well have these boats done in the next week or so.

Chiko

[viking north]

You must have a friend with a table saw, if not rent one from Home Depo. Set your blade 1/4 dept of cut and make multiple passes by moving your fence 1/8 in. at at time. Forget the blade on the drill press, it most likely will not turn fast enought to give you a clean cut-- Good for you, building a boat---Geo.

A yacht is not defined by the vessel but buy the care and love of her owner--

[Chikokishi]

Yeah, i figured out the drill press idea was futile. And i dont know many people in this town so i found a skill saw today. At my budget thats about all i can afford, so ill use that to cut it down. Its like a portable table saw... right?

Chiko

[viking north]

Actually with a little work you can convert a skill saw(circular saw) into a half descent table saw fairely easily and with effort you can build the Cadillac of a table saw. See drawing, Basically you start out with say a 2x3 ft. or larger piece of square cut 3/4 ply. This becomes your table saw top. Make a 1/4 in.wide saw cut about 1 1/2 ft. across the 2 ft. dimension. Modify your circular saw base by drilling 4 holes to accomidate fastening the saw to the 3/4 ply table top. Fasten the saw to the 3/4 ply table top making sure the 1/4 countersink bolt heads are sunk even with the tops surface. Also make sure to screw a piece of 3/4 ply strip on the underside of the table tops saw cut to secure the two parts of the origional 1/4 in.saw cut together. Once the whole set up is constructed you can simply attach legs or better yet build a box and mount the table top/saw on it using a hinge. That way you simply lift the top to adjust the saw blade height and angle. A couple of C clamps and a piece of 2x4 will make a good adjustable fence. I built and used this arrangement for years as my contractors portable saw. DISCLAMER & CAUTION-- You build and use this at your own risk, one being this home built table saw will not have a blade guard so always use push sticks . If you have not used a table saw before read up on proper use. Cutting a grove in a piece of wood requires it to be held down and against the fence. Use a long push stick operated by a friend to hold the piece down and a dual fence set up to hold the piece in place over the blade. Be very careful when at the end of the cut as the blade will be exposed before the piece is thru the cut. Use a push stick to complete the run thru. Experiment on a spare piece of wood of the same dimensions you need first. Any questions E mail--Geo.

P.S. For some reason I am having trouble scanning the drawing and attaching it to this post. So if you could e mail me thru the forum giving me you e mail I will e mail the drawing to you direct.--

[sailingdaniel]

Nice tread..

Maine B : Your "favorite" is on his way from Kinsale to Madeira. And the weather in the bay of biscay looks ok now , but its getting late.. Follow this "big ship" on : http://www.yrvind.com/ - he sends "spot" positions on his way..

I met a sailor who had built one of his Sofia boats (like bris i think) .. belive it ore not, he invited three of us for a drink IN to his big ship one day. Cosy...

does all good links here end up some where...?

Nice thread everyone

[rwatson]

For your next boat, you should try a 'real' design, that has a double chine.

The hull there seems to be very flat at the stern, and with the rocker, it will be more difficult than it needs to be to row,

I am not sure what you are attempting to do when you say 'cutting a slot in the gunells'

Are you trying to make a groove in the curved timber to slot the plywood sides into ?

The easiest and most effective way is to screw or bolt and epoxy two thinner 'planks' inside and outside of the top of the plywood.

That will be 100% easier to do than trying to bend a thicker piece with a groove.

If you are worried about the raw edge of plywood showing, place both planks ~1/4" higher than the plywood edge, and mix some wood dust with epoxy and fill in the gap between the two. It makes a nice decorative stripe.

[hoytedow]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Conv...o-a-table-saw/

If you are not extremely careful you will come away with missing parts=of you. Wear eye protection and a push stick.

[viking north]

Good man Hoyte--I knew it was on the net somewhere but it was after midnight and I worked hard construction all day, (Too grumpy and tired to look for it Only a couple of years short of 70 got to give that up but one needs funds to build a boat. ---Geo.

[Chikokishi]

That table saw idea is great. I took multiple strips of 1x2 and clamped them together, drew a 1/4' line and went after it with the skill. i only did a couple feet to see how well it worked. It worked fine although when i first started i was a bit cricked, so the first like 2 inches is messed up a bit. Ill post a picture when i get them done. =)

Thanks for the ideas!

Chiko

[hoytedow]

Thanks, Geo. I worked light construction several hours(7) today. You have 7-8 years on me.

[Chikokishi]

We have the first boat basically finished, Tomorrow we will complete the other up to this point. Afterward we will add decks and airboxes to them.




Chiko