Popular Post Isaac Posted January 30, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 I had planned to be working on a new kitchen sideboard project about now, but my wife distracted me with a request I couldn't exactly turn down. She wants a baby boat crib for our second child (a girl), coming this summer. We picked out some great dark walnut and I purchased a set of plans from a boat builder and I've been moving ahead. So far it has a been a really fun project, though quite challenging. The first thing to note: I'm working from drawings, but not step-by-step instructions. That distinction might be fairly trivial for a squarish cabinet or table where the assembly is straightforward and easily visualized. The plans are detailed, but the author uses a lot of boat lingo and at times leaves things somewhat vague that I'd like more information on, while for many parts, he literally prints full sized drawings of curved pieces that I'm to duplicate exactly. Things started simple enough, with cutting out forms from 1/2" plywood and assembling the frame on which I will build my boat. This was an excuse to purchase a cheap jig saw as I couldn't make that cut on my bandsaw, even if I backed out and started from each end. This might be the first project where a 2'x4' work bench top is well suited to the project, as I'm easily able to get access to all four sides of the project. The forms cut and in place. I cut them to shape with my bandsaw and cleaned up with a little hand planing. First actual boat parts, making the keel and stem Add the knee and attach them together. This was not easy as I couldn't really find a a good way to clamp these together while I screwed and glued, but I managed. The opposite transom end received similar treatment. Oops, turns out I was supposed to miter the stem piece prior to installation. O well, I mitered in place, and pretty happy with how this turned out. Adding the transom (big wide plate at the end). First had to laminate some planks together, get them flat, and miter the edges, 26 degrees and 18 degrees. Next attaching this to the back of the boat frame. A much more straightforward connection using screws and glue. This was the first spot where my grain match screwed up. That light surface was supposed to be on the inside, but I misunderstood the plans and fashioned it backwards, a mistake I didn't realize until I was assembling. I also nearly installed it upside down and had to rip it off and clean the glue before it cured! yikes, that would have been a fatal mistake on this project, I think. Side view of the transom. Pretty happy that the mitered edge matched the slope of the incoming keelson (thin strip board) without adjustment. Looking down the boat: Now things get really interesting, I start adding the planking that will make up the sides. These are 5/32" thick strips that overlap and are secured with screws and glue at the ends and hand pounded rivets along the length. Rivets! That is my progress so far, will try to keep posting as I move ahead. One more side plank to add, and then moving onto the bottom planking. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Impressive ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Really cool! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Wow Isaac. Thats a real different project. It's looking pretty good so fair. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 I like it, don't forget to include a tiller, when she's out grown it, she can go fishing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Grab a wading pool to float that in, she'll be rocked to sleep like nobody's business! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wdwerker Posted January 30, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 I guess she will need a Big Mouth Billy Bass to sing her lullabies. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Really cool Isaac! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan G Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Very cool project! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick S Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Great project, Isaac! She's gonna love it even more when she's about 25. Very impressive. I didn't realize they made TB II Dark. Guess I need to make a run up to Denver to the Rockler store to see what else I've been missing living amongst the tumbleweeds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Posted January 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Thanks for the support guys, its been fun, I've learned a lot already. Depending on how I feel when it is all finished up, I might even save the forms and make another one sometime. 24 minutes ago, Mick S said: Great project, Isaac! She's gonna love it even more when she's about 25. Very impressive. I didn't realize they made TB II Dark. Guess I need to make a run up to Denver to the Rockler store to see what else I've been missing living amongst the tumbleweeds. This is the first project I've use TB II Dark, and I'm very happy with it. It goes on with a chocolate milk color but cures to a darker chocolate syrup color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Pretty amazing project, Isaac. That is something that will be handed down for generations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeslayer Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Great project Isaac, it’s always good to learn new things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCPDX Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 12 hours ago, Isaac said: We picked out some great dark walnut and I purchased a set of plans from a boat builder and I've been moving ahead. So far it has a been a really fun project, though quite challenging. I like that sentence - "We picked out...." Cute! The only wood my significant other would be interested in picking out would be from West Elm. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnesota Steve Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 55 minutes ago, SCPDX said: I like that sentence - "We picked out...." Cute! The only wood my significant other would be interested in picking out would be from West Elm. For West Elm you'd want to pick out a nice pallet or two. This boat looks pretty cool. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Posted January 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 13 hours ago, SCPDX said: I like that sentence - "We picked out...." Cute! The only wood my significant other would be interested in picking out would be from West Elm. It's true, we were at the lumber yard. She liked the dark color of the walnut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisc Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 What a cool project. Looks like it will be a lot of fun. I visited a boat building workshop last year that was doing some impressive work. It’s a whole other world. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Posted February 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2018 A couple update shots. I added some additional rivets (originally I got mixed up and spaced them at 6", instead of the desired 3". No big deal). Next I shaped and added the chines. The chines are reinforcing pieces added to the bottom side planks to provide some "meat" for the bottom of the boat to be secured to. They also stiffen the side of the boat. They pretty difficult to actually get in place as they are much thick and stiffer than the side planks. Once installed and glued. I hand planed the to create a flat surface. Here I started measuring across to see where I'd need to remove a little more material so the bottom planks will have a flat surface to secure to. Fully planked and Chines installed. Next step is adding the bottom, which will be a number of 3" wide planks with lap joints (the plans actually called for butt joints, but I asked the designer, and he agreed lap joints would be even better). I can't make the planking yet, as I'm waiting on a resaw king blade for the bandsaw. I've determined using a cheaper blade was a real false economy as i'd waste planks due to blade drift. This walnut is expensive enough that the blade is almost justified just for this project, and of course, I'll use it on other projects in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted February 2, 2018 Report Share Posted February 2, 2018 It's coming along and looking nice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted February 3, 2018 Report Share Posted February 3, 2018 This is such a cool project , Isaac! Keep the pics coming. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted February 3, 2018 Report Share Posted February 3, 2018 Really looking great Isaac! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Isaac Posted February 19, 2018 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Been moving along with this project. Next step was adding the bottom planking. The planks called for 3.5" wide planks, but since I had a lot of boards that were between 5.5" and 6" I settled for planks about 2.75" inches wide. It meant a few more planks and screws, but I suppose it helped the hug the taper of the boat even better. Each plank has a tiny rabbet, just to give them some interlock, and to reduce the risk of visible gaps through the bottom during different seasons (though honestly, since this is a winter build, i'm more concerned what will happen when summer comes and things expand a bit). Close up of the rabbet joint. More planks. I cut them smooth with a flush cut saw as a I went along. In some cases the cut offs were long enough to become the new planks towards the end where the boat tapers. And fully planked. Next was time to add the Skeg. Which is the fin at the bottom. Sorry no in progress shots of it, but the big challenge was getting it to match the contour of the bottom, which was a trial and error process. At this point, it was finally time to cut the boat loose from the frame, which was an exciting moment. Next we add the outer stem. Another trial and error fitting process. The holes in the front will be filled and the shape tapered, later. Here I tapered the nose: Next we add the breast-hook. I may need to do some final shaping, and I had an unfortunate blow through when drilling a screw to secure it in place. but I think I can fill it. Similar to the breast hook, I added quarter knees at each of the back corners: A lot of these pieces are probably more difficult to fit and secure than they look. As you can see here, they involve quite a few complex angles and curves: So this is the latest: Up next I will be adding gunwales to reinforce the top edges of the sides. This will have the added benefit of concealing the fastener heads from the breast hook and quarter knees. After that will be the final shaping of the nose, sanding, etc. as well as construction of the supporting davit frame to carry the boat. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted February 20, 2018 Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 Isaac this project is just too cool! really looking nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted February 20, 2018 Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 That's fantastic!! You did a really great job fairing the chine with the hand plane, and it paid off with the fit of the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 5 minutes ago, Tom King said: That's fantastic!! You did a really great job fairing the chine with the hand plane, and it paid off with the fit of the bottom. Thanks Tom, That part actually went pretty smoothly, didn't have to remove too much material, and the bottom planks were forgiving enough that I didn't have much trouble. I've got a couple spots where the chines had some tear-out/splitting at a few of the fasteners, nothing too bad. . Not sure what else I could have done to prevent it, I did pre-drill everything, but locating the holes was tricky, as I was kind of working blind from above and trying to hit a fairly small target. Once I get the gunwales on I'll be switching over to sanding, gluing, epoxying, plugging holes, etc. to clean up the various dings I've picked up along the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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