Build design thoughts?
- Thread starter C_Brice
- Start date
I paddle the rivers and swamps in Florida so for the most part rocks are not a worry. Stumps and downed trees are the things I have to avoid. For that reason , plus being light weight , I like the Luann or door skins for my boats. I epoxy saturate the wood then glass both sides. I use butt joints and epoxy saturate and glass each side of them. The joints end up with two layers of glass over each seam after the boat is glassed. I have used heavy glass ( 10 oz ) on the bottom of one boat and my youngest daughter has it in the Canadian waters with lots of rocks and so far it is working quite well for her.
The other boats have the 3.5 oz tight woven glass on and in them. One boat I added extra glass to the mid section on the inside for a little extra strength. One other boat ( Matt's , JEM Watercraft , Swamp Girl ) I used glass all around and then added strips of redwood to the center section in a oval shape covering the middle third of the bottom. Plus on each bulkhead.
You can see a portion of it in this picture Just before the forward Thwart.
The other boats have the 3.5 oz tight woven glass on and in them. One boat I added extra glass to the mid section on the inside for a little extra strength. One other boat ( Matt's , JEM Watercraft , Swamp Girl ) I used glass all around and then added strips of redwood to the center section in a oval shape covering the middle third of the bottom. Plus on each bulkhead.
You can see a portion of it in this picture Just before the forward Thwart.
"Working" is all relative. Although it lasted many trips there are reasons the non-glassed 1/4 ply boat was turned into a couple book shelves. Just as there are reasons the luan boat is piled in an outbuilding covered in dirt. While the old ones worked it's time for a better mousetrap. I've pretty much abandoned trying to use box store plywood for any outdoor project without at least one side and edges glassed.
If you believe adding a layer of glass to a1/4" ply boat will correct the "reasons" that turned your boat into book shelves then choose that way. Most builders using interior grade luan cover both sides and edges to try to keep moisture from the wood. Both choices may give you a serviceable boat I would not consider either the best "mousetrap".
A strip built, or marine grade plywood build could give you the best possible "mousetrap". Each offer positive and negative aspects. You will have to decide which one will best meet your goals.
A strip built, or marine grade plywood build could give you the best possible "mousetrap". Each offer positive and negative aspects. You will have to decide which one will best meet your goals.
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There's better mousetraps and best mousetraps and as I said I'm looking for the former not the later. Every step you take is better.
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OK, let me try to reverse engineer a design. What are the specs of the best of the two boats you've built? Pros and cons of the design? Where do you think it fell short? What did you like about it? Preferred seat height? Preferred weight range......... 55-60 lbs is pretty doable with big box store wood. Below 40 lbs requires careful choice of materials and building style. 30 lbs is big $$$$$$$ and much effort.
Seat height/thwart design: I've seen seats where you can sit normally and when you want to kneel, it's narrow enough that your legs fit comfortably on either side.
Seat height/thwart design: I've seen seats where you can sit normally and when you want to kneel, it's narrow enough that your legs fit comfortably on either side.
Good thoughts. While the advantages and disadvantages of previous builds (along with other boats) is always the consideration and process I have never sat down and put them on paper. Very likely to do that.