Handy Andy Folding Boat

[shakeyj]

I was just going to see if anyone knew a few thing about this boat http://www.svensons.com/boat/?p=RowBoats/HandyAndy . I want to make it but don't know what kind of canvas wil work. Also I don't know what a T- hinge is, or how the transom is kept watertight. Thanks for any help.

[SamSam]

A t-hinge is half regular hinge and half strap hinge. The transom plywood is removable, the canvas covers the whole transom and laps the sides and bottom a few inches and is glued and secured to them but not the transom itself. That keeps the water out. When the boat is to be folded, the transom is unbolted from the sides at the t-hinge, the transom removed and the canvas that covers the whole transom is just folded in amongst the sides and bottom. I would think nowadays there is better stuff than plain canvas, some sort of vynil coated polyester or something. At Home Depot they have some tough, flexible rubber coated stuff for lining shower and tub enclosures (for waterproofing the stud walls) before cement tileboard and ceramic tiles are installed in custom tubs and showers. Some kind of rubber cement goes with it for gluing and sealing lap joints. I would think that would work real well. Sam

[shakeyj]

Thanks, Do you know where I can buy a T-hinge. Also, how do I make the nosepiece?

[SamSam]

Look here to see what a t-hinge looks like...
http://www.sailboatstuff.com/cb_hinges2.html
You can get them at any hardware store or lumberyard, they are real common. You need something fairly rust resistant and then keep them oiled. I think there are 4 nosepieces. 2 are fastened to the front (bow) of the sidepieces on the inside. After the stem piece of canvas is glued to the outside of the sidepieces in the front (bow), the other 2 nose pieces are screwed on to secure the canvas. I think the inside nosepieces make the bow thicker to take the screws from the outside nosepiece. Sam