Very new to boatbuilding, have some questions!

Discussion in 'Wooden Boat Building and Restoration' started by Joey Bergeron, Jul 1, 2020.

  1. Joey Bergeron
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    Joey Bergeron Junior Member

    I'm happy to hear that! It'd be much easier for me to use directly my white cedar instead of selling maple in order to buy white oak..

    If so, I may try it with this type of wood! Thanks a lot!
     
  2. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    Viking boats and ships are very hard to build. Perhaps you could get a modern design that mimics a viking ship. Vikings didn't know the saw. All parts are made of split logs and carved or planed. Keep in mind that you are building a boat. This is not a ship that will get hauled out once every decade. Maple is fine as are other readily available species.
     
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  3. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    The better you seal it the longer it'll last.
     
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  4. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Keep it out of the weather when you aren't using it.
     
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  5. Yobarnacle
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    Yobarnacle Senior Member holding true course

    Build it inside your house. Live in a tent during construction. You wouldn't be the first! LOL

    As to Gonzo's endorsement of maple. i built a large house for my family, about thirty years ago, and trimmed it in Birdseye maple. Beautiful grained wood though expensive. All cabinet work, door and window interior facings, baseboards, cove moldings, stair banisters, all Birdseye.
    The appraiser devalued the house, because I didn't trim it in traditional crappy red oak!
    I had to laugh! Sure, the notion red oak was more valuable or attractive than maple, was ridiculous!
    But my laughter was because I delighted in lower property taxes after that appraisal! LOL
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2020
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  6. Joey Bergeron
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    Joey Bergeron Junior Member

    I'm very glad to here that maple could do it if I really have nothing else. And you are right, maybe a more modern design would be a better idea.

    Just wondering, I want to chop down the trees that I will use in the building myself and I'd like to know what characteristics a good tree should have. I mean if I go for a fir or pine or even cedar, there will have a lot of branches all along the height of the tree. Are the knots a problem?

    Thanks!
     
  7. Yobarnacle
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    Yobarnacle Senior Member holding true course

    Sometimes, a thick limb at an appropriate angle, allows you to harvest a naturally grown knee or crook, or stem to keel connecting piece, or a breast hook, (vee shaped piece at deck level top of stem).. Natural curves for ribs, straight sections for planking. Takes a good eye to see boat parts in standing trees.
    First, you need to know and be able to visualize what parts you need and their shapes and dimensions.

    A design and plan first. Then full dimension lofting. Then acquire materials.
    Unless you want a steam punk boat, assembled from odd ends found at hand! LOL
     
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  8. Joey Bergeron
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    Joey Bergeron Junior Member

    Are free plans a thing? Should I maybe think of using one of those? Because since I don't know at all how hard is boat building or how long and complicated it could be, I'd like not to "waste" 300 bucks on a plan I'll finally not like that much. I saw a couple of free plans on Plans and Kits for Beginner, Amateur and Professional Boat Builders https://www.duckworks.com/boat-plans-and-kits-s/103.htm and I'd like to know if those could be a good start

    Oh, and by the way, thanks a LOT for all your answers, you are all so nice :) I didn't thought I'd have such good tips and tricks so fast! :)
     
  9. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Nous aimon partager nos connaissances avec ceux qui veulent apprendre. :)
    Happy to help.
     
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  10. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    If you are cutting your own trees there will be a considerable delay to your boat project. You can build a drying kiln and probably get the wood to a low enough level of moisture in a few months (keeping it warm enough). Otherwise, air drying can take a couple of years. If the wood is for steam bending, you should use it green (within a month or so of cutting) for less time steaming.
     
  11. Joey Bergeron
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    Joey Bergeron Junior Member

    Well, I thought I had to steam bend some planks? Adding to that, I don't know at all how to do that. I read that if the wood is green, it's possible to bend it just by putting the wood over a fire (or hot water in order to really steam it)

    And why does the wood have to be dried in order to build the boat in question? Is there a reason?
     
  12. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Wet wood will not allow protective coatings to adhere. Wet wood shrinks as it dries. Cracks will form as this happens.
     
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  13. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Wet wood is heavy and prone to decay.
     
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  14. Rumars
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    Rumars Senior Member

    It does not have to be air dried for years but a boat buildt with green lumber has to stay in the water.
     
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  15. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    ...and if it stays in the water things will start growing in it, including fungi.
     
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