Boat Building Forum

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Re: Materials
By:Paul G. Jacobson
Date: 7/13/2001, 12:18 am
In Response To: Materials, Please Help! (Travis)

A lot depends on the model of boat you wish to build, your location, and the tools you have available. let us know the boat you are planning to make and I'm sure others who have built one like it can offer specific cost-cutting tips.

Most of the parts you'll need you can make yourself, if you have the time, tools, and raw materials. In my town the local hardware store and the larger home center seem to have all I need in the way of tools and materials. Except for resin and glass cloth. Actually, they have those, too, but the prices are awful. Fortunately there is mailorder.

As for padeyes: There are lots of ways of making tiedown points for bungie cords and other rigging. One easy way is to cut a slot in the deck, then cover the slot with a block of wood epoxied to the inside of the boat. Between the inside of the deck and that block of wood you insert a brass rod, or a dowel rod. Of course you have to groove out the block of wood so the dowel fits, and also so the rope or bungee fits under the dowel, but that is a simple matter.

Check the previous posts for many other ways to make fittings. Some have very clear illustrations.

If you are making a stripper, you save the most by making your own strips from common boards. Buying clear wood and turning it into sawdust is a waste of money. Just sort through the stuff and find one or two good boards. Chances are you'll turn half the knots into sawdust, and the others will add character to the boat, just as varied grain swirls do. If you don't have a saw to make these with, frequently you can find a place to rent you one for a day. Or maybe a friend has a saw.

Unless you already have a router and special bits, forget the bead and cove. You can use a hand plane to fit the strips by putting a slight bevel on the edges.

hope this helps.

PGJ

Messages In This Thread

Materials, Please Help!
Travis -- 7/12/2001, 12:30 pm
Re: Materials, Please Help!
Jim Pace -- 7/13/2001, 11:55 pm
Re: Materials, Please Help! *Pic*
Doug -- 7/13/2001, 2:06 pm
Re: Materials, Please Help!
Malcolm Schweizer -- 7/13/2001, 11:23 am
Re: Materials
Paul G. Jacobson -- 7/13/2001, 12:18 am
Re: Custom Boat
Travis -- 7/16/2001, 11:55 am
Re: Custom plans
Paul G. Jacobson -- 7/18/2001, 2:45 am
Re: Custom Boat
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 7/17/2001, 10:02 am
Re: Materials, Please Help!
Rick M -- 7/12/2001, 8:20 pm
Re: Materials, Please Help!
John Monfoe -- 7/13/2001, 5:19 am
Re: Materials, Please Help!
Shawn Baker -- 7/12/2001, 6:40 pm
Re: Materials, Please Help!
Tony -- 7/12/2001, 6:34 pm
Re: prioritize
LeeG -- 7/12/2001, 3:20 pm
Re: Pad Eyes
Chip Sandresky -- 7/12/2001, 1:17 pm