Glen L Vera Cruise Build

Discussion in 'Wooden Boat Building and Restoration' started by mrintense, Jan 3, 2014.

  1. mrintense
    Joined: Jul 2012
    Posts: 23
    Likes: 2, Points: 3, Legacy Rep: 20
    Location: Austin, Texas

    mrintense "Clipper"

    Hello everyone,

    I've been building a Glen L Vera Cruise for the last 18 months. It's going slower than I would like, primarily because of funding, but I continue to progress.

    Here's a sampler of the current state of the build.

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    You can find out more in my builder blog (as well a link to all my build photos) at

    Clipper's Wooden Boat Build
     
    1 person likes this.
  2. mrintense
    Joined: Jul 2012
    Posts: 23
    Likes: 2, Points: 3, Legacy Rep: 20
    Location: Austin, Texas

    mrintense "Clipper"

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    The transom is in work now. As soon as the weather warms up again, I'll be assembling this components and re-installing on the building form.
     
  3. rasorinc
    Joined: Nov 2007
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    Location: OREGON

    rasorinc Senior Member

    Looks like your doing a fine job on those frames and transom. I built the Glen-L Flying Saucer in high school woodshop a few years back when mohogony was 10 cents a LF.
    the year was 1958/9. I'm getting old now. Keep up the good work.
     
  4. mrintense
    Joined: Jul 2012
    Posts: 23
    Likes: 2, Points: 3, Legacy Rep: 20
    Location: Austin, Texas

    mrintense "Clipper"


    It's funny, but I never even heard of Glen L until 2010 when I happened to accidentally find them in a web search. I've wanted to build a houseboat since the early 90's and I was looking for information on that when I happened across Glen L Marine.

    Thanks for the compliments. I wish mahogany was 10 cents a LF now.
     
  5. LP
    Joined: Jul 2005
    Posts: 1,418
    Likes: 58, Points: 58, Legacy Rep: 584
    Location: 26 36.9 N, 82 07.3 W

    LP Flying Boatman

    All right..... What's the avatar nonsense? :p

    Are you using plywood for your gussets? It kind of looks like you are using solid wood which concerns me because the gain orientation appears to be wrong for solid wood. The grain should span both members that it is holding together.

    If they are plywood, disregard my comments.


    Welcome to the forum.
     
  6. mrintense
    Joined: Jul 2012
    Posts: 23
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    Location: Austin, Texas

    mrintense "Clipper"

    The gussets are 3/8" plywood. You might be thinking of the one's that have a mahogany veneer. This is for decorative purposes only as these are visible in the cabin. The veneer is protected by epoxy along with the rest of the frame / gusset assembly. Thanks for the concern.

    Yeah, the avatar was because for the longest time I didn't have a decent picture to use. Still not happy with the current one, but it's the least objectionable :)
     
  7. mrintense
    Joined: Jul 2012
    Posts: 23
    Likes: 2, Points: 3, Legacy Rep: 20
    Location: Austin, Texas

    mrintense "Clipper"

    Transom has been epoxied and screwed together. I have a bit of clean up to do and I want to install two gussets on the inside corners. Then some encapsulation. Weather supposed to be nice this weekend so I should be able to get the gussets installed.

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  8. mrintense
    Joined: Jul 2012
    Posts: 23
    Likes: 2, Points: 3, Legacy Rep: 20
    Location: Austin, Texas

    mrintense "Clipper"

    More Transom work

    well, I've been very busy outside of boat work, then it got cold, and then I got sick. But, progress has begun again and I've started more assembly work on the transom.

    Here's the latest

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    Transom Motorwell Plan.jpg
     
  9. Poida
    Joined: Apr 2006
    Posts: 1,188
    Likes: 51, Points: 48, Legacy Rep: 497
    Location: Australia

    Poida Senior Member

    Looks like the boat is coming along fine. The Vera Cruise looks like a classy craft.
    I often visit the Glen-l site and I got the plans for a dingy but haven't started yet. the idea was to see how good their plans were before I bought the plans for a larger boat.

    I like the Eagle because it would suit what I like to do.

    I reckon that boat will turn a few heads when it's launched.

    Keep us posted on your progress.

    Poida
     
  10. mrintense
    Joined: Jul 2012
    Posts: 23
    Likes: 2, Points: 3, Legacy Rep: 20
    Location: Austin, Texas

    mrintense "Clipper"

    Thanks for the compliments on the boat.

    Progress has been fairly slow for the last month primarily due to the cold weather we are getting this winter. I'm hoping to do some work tomorrow on the transom.

    The designs from Glen L are great for builders because they are geared towards people who want to build at home and who have no previous boat building experience. However, there is sufficient complexity in many of the designs that careful consideration should be given to the plan you choose based upon your evaluation of your own abilities.

    The Glen L builders forum is a great resource, in fact I think it is what gives Glen L their advantage. The number of successful builders of Glen L craft is a testament to the resources available.

    I love the Vera Cruise design for the most part. It satisfies the desire to have a retro looking boat. The biggest drawback to retro is that often the designs can stand to be updated because of changes (technical, legal, etc) that have occurred since the design was originally created.

    For example, most of these designs were created for lower power and lighter weight engines so they tend to be a bit on the small side in some cases. On the other hand, when building the boat you have some leeway in what you can change. In my case, I will be extending the roofline up a bit (not too much) and changing the profile of the cabin walls to blend in the extra height.

    Good luck with whatever design you eventually choose.
     
  11. mrintense
    Joined: Jul 2012
    Posts: 23
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    Location: Austin, Texas

    mrintense "Clipper"

    Made a fair bit of progress over the last week. I'll be ready to encapsulate the interior surface of the transom tomorrow. Exterior is going to be planked with mahogany at some future point and finished bright so I won't be doing anything with that for now.

    I got the cutout for the outboard completed. Eventually the edge will be capped with a piece of mahogany and the motor board side edges will tie into motorwell side panels and other structure.

    The knee has been attached since this photo was taken. So once the encapsulation is done, I am going to finally attach the transom to the boat permanently. I'll be starting on the keel after that.

    IMG_20140209_122754 (1).jpg

    There's an update to the blog with many more pictures.
     
  12. mrintense
    Joined: Jul 2012
    Posts: 23
    Likes: 2, Points: 3, Legacy Rep: 20
    Location: Austin, Texas

    mrintense "Clipper"

    Since the last time I posted to this thread, I have completed the transom, installed the keel, and am now working on the chines. You can see all of this in my blog and the link to my construction photos, but here are a few samples

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  13. mrintense
    Joined: Jul 2012
    Posts: 23
    Likes: 2, Points: 3, Legacy Rep: 20
    Location: Austin, Texas

    mrintense "Clipper"

    The longitudinals (sheers and chines) are completed and I have begun the fairing process. The boat really looks like a boat now and it's very satisfying to see it in this state.

    I suspect the fairing is going to take quite some time. More details in the blog at the link below including a great method for steaming parts while on the boat.

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  14. Poida
    Joined: Apr 2006
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    Location: Australia

    Poida Senior Member

    I was thinking of building a timber boat, but I'm buggered if I could afford all those f*#king clamps.

    Builds going good.

    Poida
     

  15. rasorinc
    Joined: Nov 2007
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    Location: OREGON

    rasorinc Senior Member

    Poida, you can get by with very few clamps. get a few heavy bricks or a couple of old sealed batteries and use weights with clamps.
     
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