Plywood and Such, Complications, etc.

[mgriffin]

Originally Posted by PAR

There are several assumsions being made, before a design is actually selected.

I think the nesting "freighter" is a poor fit for Michael. It will be heavy, difficult to transport, take considerably more material to build, take considerably more time to build, will have limited maneuverability and limited usefulness.

Yes, you can skip 'glass, 'glass tape and epoxy all together, though you'll need a special design for this.

How long it lasts is subject directly to the care you provide. Given reasonable care, it could last a few decades, of course it will receive minor repairs and upgrades along the way. Given zero care it could last a few years.

Don't jump on a design until you define what the boat's use will be and most importantly, what your desires in the boat are.

You've switched from a mini tug boat to a camp cruiser to a houseboat to a weird contrivance of a freighter/push boat. This level of indecision suggests you're still trying to figure out what you want and need. In other words, keep looking and defining your goals and needs. You can just as easily build a boat that you'll hate to use as one you just love. This research now, will pay off huge come time to launch this puppy, so don't short change yourself, just to say you've selected a design.

You have made a very good point PAR, and ever since I decided to try and build a boat, I have searched for a certain type of boat. It meets all of my requirements which are these:
1. It has to have a shallow draft
2. It has to have a high load capacity (at least 1000 lbs maximum capacity)
3. It has to have some freeboard so it can survive small waves
4. It has to have some rocker (at least 4 inches, which on the TIMS design is in the front half only)
5. It has to be slightly narrow, (4 feet wide)

It meets all of my requirements, and it will only be 16 feet long, so what can go wrong? I might as well tape the seams, I mean ow hard could that be?

[mgriffin]

I understand what you are saying, but I am going to build only TWO sections, which is around 6 sheets of ply if I build a cabin on it, and it will only be 16 feet long if I build TWO sections like I said above. Front half and back half. It's that simple.

[Wayne Grabow]

This was my first build which I used on the Platte River.

[mgriffin]

How old were you when you did your first build Wayne?
I hope to be fourteen when I build my first boat. I turn fourteen this month.

[Wayne Grabow]

Michael, I was 28 when I built that boat. You are definitely starting young. Be careful about boatbuilding; it can be addictive. I am now building my seventh boat.

That 16' boat was built of 1/4" fir AB plywood over a frame, bonded with resorcinal glue, and with fiberglass tape on the seams. It was light enough to car-top; and well-suited to the wide, shallow Platte River.

Good luck with your plans.

[mgriffin]

If I do go inboard, then should I buy this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-5-hp-Briggs-an...item1e5a38f17e

[hoytedow]

Hi, mgriffin,

How old is the engine?
How many hours has it been run?
Was it maintained?
Can it be fitted with a backfire flame arrester?

Ask these questions. Price is not bad. You will need the flame arrester for safety, especially if the hull is enclosed where gas fumes can accumulate.

[troy2000]

You know, I have a bigger version of that engine buried in a shed at the back of my property, on an old power reel mower. Unless some thieving little scumbag has stolen it, of course. They've been vacuuming up anything they find in the neighborhood lately, and selling it to a new scrap dealer who opened up down the road.

I haven't looked at it for a while, but I think it's about a 5-hp motor. Would it be feasible to do some sort of inboard power on a sharpie with it?

[hoytedow]

I have seen a similar engine run a paddle wheel. Why not a prop shaft?

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by hoytedow

I have seen a similar engine run a paddle wheel. Why not a prop shaft?

Maybe I could do a paddlewheel Sharpie.

Or not.....

[hoytedow]

Originally Posted by troy2000

Maybe I could do a paddlewheel Sharpie.

Or not.....

You will grab attention, and a lot of laughter, most of it good-natured.

[mgriffin]

I wouldn't laugh, I would be in my boat blowing past your boat, laughing my ass off as I pass you multiple times!
(Good natured humor eh? )

Hey look what I found! talk about THUNK...THUNK..THUNK..THUNKTHUNK at 1:34!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn5PA...eature=related
wish you had one now? well it would be good for stationary, IDK about an inboard...

[hoytedow]

Originally Posted by mgriffin

I wouldn't laugh, I would be in my boat blowing past your boat, laughing my ass off as I pass you multiple times!
(Good natured humor eh? )

Slight contradiction, but I get your drift.

[mgriffin]

yeah, I wouldn't want a paddle wheeler unless I had a steam engine and a perfectly flat bottomed hull! The advantage of paddle wheelers is they can go where no other boat can go. Well, that and they're pretty awesome looking.
BTW, my hull will not be enclosed.

If I remembered my evil-bay account, I would ask those questions. I'll have to ask my mom if she remembers my account username and passcode. I guess it's a good thing that the guy selling it has 100% positive feedback at least!

[rasorinc]

A simple light weight layer of fiberglass assures you the bottom and sides are waterproof. I would never omit this simple process on a boat such as you posted. An all mahogony boat, yes but not yours. Why risk the beginning of an instant rotting process after you worked so hard to make it.