The strip planked boat continues (A steam launch design)

 February's update:

more pieces of Sapele were added to the sides of the boat to build up what will become the finished gunwale. 

Things have a habit of being put inside the boat when there is 'nowhere else' for them,

Then the decks are fitted with a piece of marine plywood which will form part of the finished deck. 

Strips of cedar will be added to this to make this stronger and add to the finished shape of the boat.

A relatively empty boat which has been sanded and painted inside, 
(a light grey)

A further boat update. (A steam launch design)

 January

All of the ribs were fitted end of November and into December. Then the ribs were cut back to accommodate added strengthening pieces (the inwales) and then the outwales were added too. These and the top piece that is yet to be fitted make up the gunwales. 

Then the decks start to take shape and we are fast approaching the stage where we really need to pick what will power it.

Another strip plank Boat update. (A Steam Launch design)

The boat was turned over sometime between July and November. A lot of things were done and few photos were taken,

before being trimmed to the final shape.

Epoxy and fiberglass matting was used on the inside after a lot of sanding. the edges were trimmed to get the right shape where required and then strips of Sapele were made. 

Then we have November:

Ribs of Sapele being fitted.

The ribs are left to rest before being glued and fixed in.

The other side will done the same way before the next stage of fitting out. Eventually we have to decide what will power the launch as this changes how the later stage of the fit out goes.

The strip planked boat update. (A Steam Launch design)

After several sanding and filling sessions to get the shape of the boat right it was time to undercoat the boat. which lead to some more sanding and filling and undercoat before the boat was ready for painting. 

Sky blue was the colour of choice.

A roller made for a cleaner finish. 

The next major stage will be to turn the boat over and tidy up the edges by trimming the fibreglass cloth and then begins fitting out. 

Testing the mini boat

A few days ago we took out the Mini Boat to float it. 

Quite a simple plan, put a person in it, if it doesn't sink and they can paddle it about then everything is good. 

So on a late but still sunny evening we floated the boat. A boat that we still haven't named. 

We were able to steer it, keep it reasonably straight when paddling, and didn't fall in. 

These are all great things when paddling a boat. 

Launching

Paddling

After getting used to paddling it, and before it went dark on us, we tried a small electric outboard. 

The battery helped as ballast for the front. 

Motoring

Couple of short videos too:

The next plans are:

•  to try and get it to sail with a simple rig. 
• to make another version of this kit with the changes we made as we went along
• to build the other kit we have cut out in the meantime
• to finish the other boat that has been a long project. 

Mini Boat 11th post

The seat is in.

It still needs a couple of coats of varnish.

We think it is set to the right height, but until it is in the water who knows?

Next is to make the oar locks, a set of oars and to start thinking about a sail...

The original plan that this is now loosely based on can be found here:

http://flo-mo.weebly.com/one-sheet-boats.html

Mini Boat - tenth post.

The floors and other pieces are now in. 

Still playing with the idea of being able to sail this boat.

Much of the woodwork has now had several coats. 

 Oar locks and rowing seat are next.

The original plan that this is now loosely based on can be found here:

http://flo-mo.weebly.com/one-sheet-boats.html

Mini boat - Ninth Post

The mini boat is coming along nicely.

After faring the hull, it is now ready for the undercoat primer  

We are planning to pick out some of the Sapele afterwards.

Then after leaving the undercoat to dry for more than a day we are ready for the first coat of green.

The first coat is done and is now being left to harden,

Blue/grey undercoat and the top coat of white.

The inside finished with the sapele ready for a protective coat.

The seats and floors are all cut, waiting to go in after the painting is all done.

The original plan that this is now loosely based on can be found here:

http://flo-mo.weebly.com/one-sheet-boats.html

Mini Boat - Eight Post

Both gunwales are now attached.

The next step is to fair the hull.

Hull fairing is a game of patience. Filling and sanding and then filling some more if a smooth finish isn't achieved.

There are many epoxy products available that are all suitable for this process. Fillers of different grades, colours and mixes.

Below are a few pictures of the boat almost ready for painting. 

The gunwales will be masked off and will be picked out with varnish or stain.

The original plan that this is now loosely based on can be found here:

http://flo-mo.weebly.com/one-sheet-boats.html

Mini Boat - Seventh Post

More progress on the mini boat, 

The first Sapele gunwale is being glued in place and two buoyancy tanks have been fitted at the bow and stern. These are filled with expanding foam for added buoyancy in case the boat capsizes.

The gunwale helps give the boat rigidity and structure.

Also added breast hooks (the reinforcing triangles) at the bow and stern to help keep the shape of the boat.

Another sunny day.

The original plan that this is now loosely based on can be found here:

http://flo-mo.weebly.com/one-sheet-boats.html

Why be building two boats when you can start three mini-canoe

For the last couple of  weeks we have also been working on another plywood build a bit at a time,

A plywood canoe.

The main bulk of this boat is again made from a single sheet of 4mm plywood, and was cut out on the CNC machine.

Plywood laid out on the CNC machine bed.

Starts to cut out the pieces

all pieces of the Canoe

The next step is to clean up the edges of the pieces and then epoxy and tape the panels together.

The masking tape helps to make a neater job of the epoxy.

Nearly done

These longer joined pieces are necessary to be able to make a canoe longer than 8ft.

The epoxy was left to go hard over night and then the tape was removed, then more tape was added as below

This is to make taping the seems when the canoe is all together a much easier and less messy job. In theory anyway. The masking tape is stepped in to accommodate for the epoxy and cloth tape that will be used on the seems.

The design of this canoe is from:

http://flo-mo.weebly.com/one-sheet-boats.html

And is the Little Guide. 

Mini boat - sixth post

Both the outer and inner faces of the hull has now been epoxied. Woven fibreglass cloth has been used on the plywood hull inside and out to add strength to the boat and to completely waterproof the plywood. 

The floors and other pieces are being shaped for the boat and we have a feeling that we will be able to get it to row, sail and motor. That is the plan anyway.

This will involve some more pieces than those shown. 

All the hardwood pieces are sapele, 

The original plan that this is now loosely based on can be found here:

http://flo-mo.weebly.com/one-sheet-boats.html

The mini boat - the fifth post

Decided to add some plywood stem and stern shrouds to the mini boat.

These serve two very important purposes, firstly they reinforce and strengthen the stem and stern, and secondly they make the stem and stern look tidy. Improving the lines and general appearance of the boat.

Then, further removing this build from the original plan, a keel has been added. Keels improve the stability of a boat and also make it easier for the boat to be kept in a forwards direction.

And finally, the outer hull of the boat receives its first coat of epoxy.

The next step is to turn the boat over. 

The original plan that this is now loosely based on can be found here:

http://flo-mo.weebly.com/one-sheet-boats.html