Pictures of my current project

Discussion in 'Wooden Boat Building and Restoration' started by ucb4ume, Mar 5, 2007.

  1. alan white
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    alan white Senior Member

    Oh, I see. I hadn't thought of thick veneer. Should simulate batten seam then. Should be quite strong and light. Does the fir go on with screws first, or do you add the second layer on the bench? The first would eliminate bungs but be very challenging to glue well. The second would glue easily but would show bungs and require the full thickness be perfectly spiled.

    A.
     
  2. ucb4ume
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    Location: louisiana

    ucb4ume Junior Member

    Alan,

    The first layer, marine plywood, will be gleued and screwed to the topside frame. After that layer has cured and has been faired, I'll apply the mahogany veneer with thickened epoxy and tempory staples, which will be removed later. The staples do leave small holes in the veneere, but I'll fill them with a combination of epoxy and mahogany sanding dust. After fairing, it'll be difficult to find the staple holes.

    This is the same method I used on my previous boat and it does create a very strong, stiff and suprisingly light hull.
     
  3. ucb4ume
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    ucb4ume Junior Member

    More pictures

    I've installed the top side planking and have began the fairing process.

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    Here's my favorite long board and air file. Both are essential for fairing.

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  4. alan white
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    alan white Senior Member

    The trick is to keep the beer from spilling...
     
  5. VKRUE
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    VKRUE Just another boat lover

    Looking great !

    Keep up the good work.
     
  6. VKRUE
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    VKRUE Just another boat lover

    Quote by Ucb4ume: After that layer has cured and has been faired, I'll apply the mahogany veneer...

    Hey Uc, what did you use to fair the surface before applying your veneer ?

    I'm thinking of applying veneer to the topsides (around the cabin) of my boat (when I get that far) to incorporate that "natural wood" look into a boat that will be mostly painted.
     
  7. ucb4ume
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    ucb4ume Junior Member

  8. VKRUE
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    VKRUE Just another boat lover

    Ok Uc...

    Thanks
     
  9. ucb4ume
    Joined: Nov 2006
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    ucb4ume Junior Member

    A change of plans

    Well, after several months of thinking, I decided to go ahead and laminate the bottom with a 1/8 inch mahogany veneer. Originally, my plan was to just glass the plywood bottom and paint it, but I like the way the mahogany looks and it will add strength. On the down side, it takes longer, cost more and will add about 50lbs to the over all weight. The combination of plywood and mahogany will create a half inch thick bottom. In addition, I plan on using 7.5 oz. S-Glass/epoxy over the mahogany.

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    As a side note, I re-saw my own veneer planks using a cheap table saw and a thickness planner. It's not much fun, but I am able to get three 5" wide by 1/8" thick planks from 3/4 stock. The blade on my table saw only sticks up 2.5" inches above the surface of the saw, so I have to run the 5" wide stock through twice. After a couple of passes through the thickness planner, the planks are ready for lamination.

    Here's a couple of pictures of the re-saw process.

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  10. VKRUE
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    VKRUE Just another boat lover

    Looking pretty good Uc
     
  11. ucb4ume
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    ucb4ume Junior Member

    It's been

    ...and it's finally beginning to cool off a little. It was 55 this morning with a high of about 80 with a light north wind.

    I've finally gotten all the veneers glued down, but I still have a lot of sanding left to do. The bottom has one coat of epoxy just for protection, but I'll probably sand most of that off before laying down the S-glass. After the glass comes the lift strakes, spray rail and final finish coat. Then she'll be ready to turn over.
     
  12. ucb4ume
    Joined: Nov 2006
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    ucb4ume Junior Member

    It's been a long hot summer here is South Louisiana...

    ...and it's finally beginning to cool off a little. It was 55 this morning with a high of about 80 and a light north wind.

    I've finally gotten all the veneers glued down, but I still have a lot of sanding left to do. The bottom has one coat of epoxy just for protection, but I'll probably sand most of that off before laying down the S-glass. After the glass comes the lift strakes, spray rail and final finish coat. Then she'll be ready to turn over.

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    OOPS! How'd that picture get in there? That's my youngest son in Tiger Stadium. Geaux Tigers.
     
  13. ucb4ume
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    ucb4ume Junior Member

    Well, it has been a little over a year since I started this project and I'm not as far along as I thought I would be. I thought I would be finished by now, but I'm still working on the bottom.

    I've glassed the bottom and installed the lift strakes and chine strakes. Next I'll install the spray rail and give everything one more coat of epoxy. Then she'll be ready to turn over.

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    In addition to the wood work, I also purchased an outboard motor this week. It's a used 125HP Mercury, year 2000. With a 19" pitch prop, I calculate it will push this boat about 45 mph.

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  14. VKRUE
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    VKRUE Just another boat lover

    Looking really nice :)

    She's looking real good. I've been thinking about you and your boat lately. I've been layed off for the winter now and am starting to work on my boat. I have a long way to go.

    I was wondering about the glass layers.

    Don't have time right now but I'll be in touch.
     

  15. ucb4ume
    Joined: Nov 2006
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    ucb4ume Junior Member

    Hey VKRUE,

    I installed one layer of S-Glass on the bottom with the lift strakes glued and screwed on top of the glass. I'll also cover the lift strakes with S-Glass, but that's the only glass I will put on this boat. The top sides and deck will be epoxied and varnished, but no glass. I don't really like the slightly cloudy finish you get with glass and epoxy. Maybe I just don't know how to wet it out properly.

    Sounds like you will have lots of time to work on your boat this winter. Is it normal to be off work for the season?

    We're at full employment down here in S. Louisiana. With oil at $90 per barrel, everyone is working overtime to pump as much as possible.
     
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