Minggu, 09 Oktober 2016

Transom Build




The transom is built from 3/4" Okoume plywood. The layout lines were transferred to the plywood with carbon paper to show outer contours and added inside frame locations. For some of the curved areas, the added frames allowed using them as a template for final cut of the transom plywood with a router and trimming bit. I angled the motorboard just because I thought it looked better. I also raised the height of the transom at the motorboard to 16.5" from the plans 15". The "Mustang" boat plans show different dimensions up to 17" depending on make of old outboards and Im told that performance can be enhanced by tuning the height upwards and the transom can always be cut down if too high. Since I dont have a motor yet, I moved it up, but 17" didnt look good, so I settled on 16.5". The Okoume 3/4" plywood is very dense and heavy and after bending a couple of silicon bronze nails when trying to glue and nail the transom knee together, I increased the diameter of the pre-drilled holes. Bent nails were broke off and another hole drilled adjacent for another nail. Close inspection shows a couple of curious bronze spots in the transom knee....


The bottom of the transom has a shallow "V" cut at a 12 degree bevel. I used the method in the "Boatbuilding with Plywood" book by Glen L. Witt. I added an auxilliary fence suspended about 1/8" higher than the transom thickness off the table saw surface, and then screwed down a straight board to the transom along the line to be cut (one side of the "V" at a time). With the blade angled 12 degrees and the outside of the blade set just below the edge of the aux fence, the cut turned out super. I think the above mentioned book is a "must read" for a new boat builder like me as it answered many questions that I had and hopefully prevented me from making poor choices for materials, assembly and building techniques. I also enjoyed learning about something I knew little about and gave me the confidence to begin and avoid many mistakes that would have happened otherwise.
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Kamis, 06 Oktober 2016

The Decision to Build a Boat

"The desire to build a boat is one of those that cannot be resisted. It begins as a little cloud on a serene horizon. It ends by covering the whole sky, so that you can think of nothing else. You must build to regain your freedom." 
-Arthur Ransome, 1923


If your goal is to sail the world on a limited budget (in my case, very limited), it really makes no sense to build a boat yourself. The materials for the bare hull are often far more expensive than a turn-key secondhand boat. Most would-be backyard boat builders dont want believe this-- they think, "Well, those people must be using expensive, exotic hardwoods for their boat. Im going to build mine to workboat standards." or "I can buy un-milled lumber and do the milling myself" or some variety of, "Well, Im different." I know people think this because I thought it, and Ive heard it from many armchair boat builders. I now know that it is not true-- I got some amazing deals on materials, found salvaged hardware on eBay, Im using roofing tar as my bedding compound, galvanized iron fastenings, and white porch paint to finish her off. Luna is not just a workboat, she is a down home workboat. And I have still spent way more than I would have on a used boat. In fact, had I purchased a used boat, I might already be out on the water like these awesome folks. Sometimes in life you have to do what you want, even if it doesnt make sense.


I really just wanted to build a wooden boat. I knew it was impractical, nonsensical, and that I didnt have the skills or know-how, but I was taken by the romance and beauty of wooden boat building. Funny enough, Ive found you dont need to know much about wooden boats to begin building one. Lucky for me, I came across George Buehlers designs and book. This guy is really extraordinary. Hes pared down the beautifully complex combination of art and science of boat building for those of us who just want a safe boat to go to sea in. No treatises on hydrodynamic theory, no hand waving, no boat building mysticism. Just practical, lay instructions on how to build a boat. Simple. 

down home boat building fun
(17 bucks on Amazon)

Granted, due to my lack of experience, I will be churning out a vessel more akin to a swamp boat than a fine New England yacht, but Id be willing to bet the Clampetts had a helluva lot more fun than the Vanderbilts.
Lastly, this documentary perfectly captures the essence of wooden boat building (click below to watch it for free!):





"Building Charlotte"-- A beautiful documentary about the Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway, an extraordinary boatyard located on Marthas Vineyard.




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Rabu, 05 Oktober 2016

New Video Live Video Stream

In anticipation of the upcoming boat lift  on 16th March I have been asked buy a few people abroad to put a video up of it.  This of course I will do and in time lapse as well, but I will also attempt to stream it live as well.

Over the next week or so I will be testing the stream by broadcasting at various time on GMT between 10.00 and 17.30.

I would appreciate as much feedback to my email address kwade.01(at)gmail.com.  I will try to answer but not in real time if the chat box is open.


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Itll Float

The bottom plywood has been trimmed, planed, filed and sanded. So the planking is now completed. Screw holes have been filled, sanded, filled, sanded, filled...you get the idea. A coat of clear epoxy has been applied to seal the plywood and get ready for fiberglassing the hull. One of the sheets of plywood used for most of the bottom is significantly lighter in color than the others, but since the bottom will get painted, it will not matter.
Now the beauty of the Okoume wood is evident and it looks like a boat! (capsized). I suppose it would float if pressed into service now, but there is a lot more work to do before I can play.
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Selasa, 04 Oktober 2016

Launch Tomorrow

Sorry I havent blogged much this week but Ive been very busy doing at least a thousand last minute pre launch jobs.

I have loads of photos and will get them up ASAP.

The loading from home will be streamed live all being well at the top of the blog.

The direct link should be HERE   or copy and paste  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nivek-test

See you on the water.
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Senin, 03 Oktober 2016

The frames are built




During early November 2009, frame construction took place. Frame pictures show surfaces that have been encapsulated with clear epoxy and sanded to receive subsequent coats or gluing. While plans call for nailing of gussets, I used a couple of drywall screws at each gusset to prelocate parts so glue up would repeat the dry fit. One side was done at a time and let set over night. Then the frames were flipped, and reset into blocks and the second set of gussets were located and screwed, then disassembled, glued, screwed, and nailed. The flipping of the parts indicated the accuracy of the initial tracing of frame halves. In some cases, in minor tweaks of the assembly blocks were required. At final glue-up, silicone-bronze screws were used to replace any drywall screws used for pre-fit. Pre-drilling was required on the nails as the Okoume plywood is very dense and the mohogany frame pieces showed a slight split on the first gusset installation if nailed near an edge without pre-drilling.
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Minggu, 02 Oktober 2016

Launch Date Is Confirmed

After several phone calls too and fro with all parties I can confirm the launch date will be:-

Friday 16th March 2012
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