Hello, all- I have received my plans from Uncle John and will start building a pirogue very soon.
This will be my third plywood boat, and I can see that it will be the simplest that I have built. The ones I've built previously were a Bolger Nymph (8ft long multi-chine stitch and glue dingy) and a Michelak Roar II (14ft multi-chine row boat). So the techniques and skills needed for the pirogue should not be a problem. I was wondering, though, if you folks would share some opinions with me.
First - The boat will be built of 1/4" three ply BC pine, or possibly of 1/4" luan. (needs to be inexpensive, won't be left in the water, probably won't be stored outdoors). Frames and stems will either be mahogany (I have some scraps laying around) or poplar if I decide to save the mahogany. I didn't buy the kit - just the plans.
On the previous two boats, I butt-spliced the plywood, rather that trying a scarf joint. Seems to work fine. I can see a couple of different ways that I could accomplish a scarf joint in the plywood, but I wonder if it is worth the effort on what I intend to be a paint grade boat. Opinions on that?
I figure the boat will get 6oz glass on the outside, a coat or two of Kilz primer, and a coat or two of Gliddon latex porch and floor paint. I've used the porch and floor paint before. Figure if it is meant to be rained on and walked on, it will probably do. Seems to have worked OK on the previous two boats.
On the inside, I am debating whether to epoxy seal and paint, or to skip the sealing and saturate the wood with turpentine/linseed oil/parrafin wax. I've used that mixture on tool handles and wheelbarrow handles, and it seems to do a good job of waterproofing and preserving.
My concern about encapsulating the entire boat is that nicks/scratches/ dings are inevitable, and that if water ever gets past the epoxy, it might be a long time before it got back out. Leaving the interior of the boat with a wax/oil finish might give it a better chance to dry while out of the water. Any thoughts?
Getting back to plywood, I have not used luan before. The stuff at the local home centers is three ply, plus what appear to be VERY thin face veneers. It is light, flat, and smooth. 1/4" BC pine is heavier, probably stronger, a little rougher (not bad if you flip through the stack and pick good sheets). Price is about the same. I think I just talked myself into BC pine. It's what I used before, and it seems to work OK.
Looking forward to participating in the group-
This will be my third plywood boat, and I can see that it will be the simplest that I have built. The ones I've built previously were a Bolger Nymph (8ft long multi-chine stitch and glue dingy) and a Michelak Roar II (14ft multi-chine row boat). So the techniques and skills needed for the pirogue should not be a problem. I was wondering, though, if you folks would share some opinions with me.
First - The boat will be built of 1/4" three ply BC pine, or possibly of 1/4" luan. (needs to be inexpensive, won't be left in the water, probably won't be stored outdoors). Frames and stems will either be mahogany (I have some scraps laying around) or poplar if I decide to save the mahogany. I didn't buy the kit - just the plans.
On the previous two boats, I butt-spliced the plywood, rather that trying a scarf joint. Seems to work fine. I can see a couple of different ways that I could accomplish a scarf joint in the plywood, but I wonder if it is worth the effort on what I intend to be a paint grade boat. Opinions on that?
I figure the boat will get 6oz glass on the outside, a coat or two of Kilz primer, and a coat or two of Gliddon latex porch and floor paint. I've used the porch and floor paint before. Figure if it is meant to be rained on and walked on, it will probably do. Seems to have worked OK on the previous two boats.
On the inside, I am debating whether to epoxy seal and paint, or to skip the sealing and saturate the wood with turpentine/linseed oil/parrafin wax. I've used that mixture on tool handles and wheelbarrow handles, and it seems to do a good job of waterproofing and preserving.
My concern about encapsulating the entire boat is that nicks/scratches/ dings are inevitable, and that if water ever gets past the epoxy, it might be a long time before it got back out. Leaving the interior of the boat with a wax/oil finish might give it a better chance to dry while out of the water. Any thoughts?
Getting back to plywood, I have not used luan before. The stuff at the local home centers is three ply, plus what appear to be VERY thin face veneers. It is light, flat, and smooth. 1/4" BC pine is heavier, probably stronger, a little rougher (not bad if you flip through the stack and pick good sheets). Price is about the same. I think I just talked myself into BC pine. It's what I used before, and it seems to work OK.
Looking forward to participating in the group-