Renovating an old wooden sports boat, am I mad?

Renovating an old wooden sports boat, am I mad?

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maser_spyder

Original Poster:

6,356 posts

183 months

Thursday 9th January 2014
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mickrick said:
"Futtocks!" Now there´s a nice woody word. smile

Looking forward to pictures. We need more pictures.
Aye, skipper. It'll just be a pile of wood and some MDF cut outs though, nothing exciting yet....

maser_spyder

Original Poster:

6,356 posts

183 months

Saturday 11th January 2014
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Exciting day, first frames cut out.

Pics.

The long, larger timbers. Keel, motor stringers, frame blocking, frame and transom timbers, etc.



And the smaller timbers, for carlings, deck clamps, sheer clamps, battens, etc. Also loads of 3mm ply for the cold mould.



My MDF frame cut-outs. This wasn't part of the instructions. The idea is that you trace directly on to the frame timber. But frame timber is heavy, cumbersome, and I figured there would be loads of wasted material doing it that way. With my templates, it's far, far quicker and easier to make the real ones.

The other bonus of this is if/when I make a hash of a trace/cut out, it's just a bit of wasted time and MDF, no problem. I can make the template absolutely perfect before using a tracing bit on the router table to make the real one.



The first frame cut out, routered, and ready for lining up to fit together. A small cock-up, but nothing major. Looks pretty good and only took about 20 minutes to make all three parts.



Gusset next, but I want to cut out all the hull and side timbers first, then I'll start on the ply bits with some clear space.



Next on the list is to complete the frame timbers so they're ready to go.

Then cut out the ply, which includes transom, stem, breasthook and gussets for the frames. Once that's done, I should have the silicon bronze nails/screws so I can make up the frames.

After that, line up and cut the notches on the motor stringers and assembly can finally begin.....

RichB

51,741 posts

285 months

Saturday 11th January 2014
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Futtocks, breasthooks and gussets. Ooo-err missus! biggrin

maser_spyder

Original Poster:

6,356 posts

183 months

Saturday 11th January 2014
quotequote all
RichB said:
Futtocks, breasthooks and gussets. Ooo-err missus! biggrin
Lonely old bearded men, boatbuilders. hehe

BigTom85

1,927 posts

172 months

Sunday 12th January 2014
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This thread has EPIC written all over it.

I'm in.

Best of luck with the build, keep the updates coming smile

maser_spyder

Original Poster:

6,356 posts

183 months

Monday 13th January 2014
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A couple more frames made today, starting to rattle them off fairly quickly now.

Should be all done cutting by the time the silicon bronze fixings arrive, then I'm ready to start epoxying for the first time, to assemble the frames. Will have a practice on some scrap first. I've got the heater set up now, so it's toasty around the workbench.

OneDs

1,628 posts

177 months

Monday 13th January 2014
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Great progress maser, how many frames have you got to make and I assume they then get fixed on to a strong back upside down for forming the hull? Got any thoughts on how you will flip it?

maser_spyder

Original Poster:

6,356 posts

183 months

Monday 13th January 2014
quotequote all
OneDs said:
Great progress maser, how many frames have you got to make and I assume they then get fixed on to a strong back upside down for forming the hull? Got any thoughts on how you will flip it?
Nine frames including the transom. But I've already done the templates, so the hard work is done, it's really just drawing a line, rough cutting, and finishing with the router for each 'real' part now, which isn't taking too long. I should have most of the parts ready by the weekend at the latest.

Two motor stringers, like strongbacks, upside down as you guessed. Immovable during this stage as it's all got to be set up straight, true and square and made strong before you can move it.

I'll probably use the forklift to parbuckle it over on to a jig with big casters (already bought these) so I can move it around the workshop. Shouldn't be too hard actually.

The really big job is getting all the stringers and frames lined up and true before I start fixing things in to place. Get that wrong and it'll cause major issues later, so I have to be incredibly careful on that stage of the build.

I'm working to about 0.5mm accuracy on the frames, about the width of a fine pencil line, and everything is replicated for both sides with the same former, so no reason for anything to be out of true when I start assembly. Fingers crossed.

Huntsman

8,085 posts

251 months

Tuesday 14th January 2014
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I shouldn't worry too much, I haven't seen a wooden boat yet the same down both sides, certainly there's all sorts of differences on my Huntsman.


OldJohnnyYen

1,455 posts

150 months

Tuesday 14th January 2014
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This is brilliant, I've always wanted to do this so will follow the thread with interest.

Eleven

26,455 posts

223 months

Tuesday 14th January 2014
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maser_spyder said:
A couple more frames made today, starting to rattle them off fairly quickly now.

Should be all done cutting by the time the silicon bronze fixings arrive, then I'm ready to start epoxying for the first time, to assemble the frames. Will have a practice on some scrap first. I've got the heater set up now, so it's toasty around the workbench.
I must say Maser, I have genuine admiration for your energy and willingness to have a very good stab at something you fancy doing. I wish I had your levels of get up go (and I don't consider myself to be lazy by any means). Are you one of those people who cannot sit still for a minute?

Out of interest, are you running your toy business or just messing about in your man cave whilst someone else does that?

maser_spyder

Original Poster:

6,356 posts

183 months

Tuesday 14th January 2014
quotequote all
Eleven said:
maser_spyder said:
A couple more frames made today, starting to rattle them off fairly quickly now.

Should be all done cutting by the time the silicon bronze fixings arrive, then I'm ready to start epoxying for the first time, to assemble the frames. Will have a practice on some scrap first. I've got the heater set up now, so it's toasty around the workbench.
I must say Maser, I have genuine admiration for your energy and willingness to have a very good stab at something you fancy doing. I wish I had your levels of get up go (and I don't consider myself to be lazy by any means). Are you one of those people who cannot sit still for a minute?

Out of interest, are you running your toy business or just messing about in your man cave whilst someone else does that?
Don't know about that, I'm one of the laziest people I know! But I do love a project.... Always have. I think that's why I don't suit a 'normal' job. I tried a couple when I was younger, but it didn't work out, I need the sort of variety you just don't get by working for somebody else.

Toys are quiet now, but I keep an eye on the day to day, it's just not a full time job at this time of year. Actually, it's part of the reason I plan projects for the quiet times of year, otherwise I'd go crazy staring at a screen waiting for something to happen. At this time of year, I'm over-staffed and under-busy, so I'm best kept out of harms way working on something else.

At the busy times, I work like a crazy man, so I sort of do a year's work in six months and take the rest off. Not many employers would let you do that. wink

Just about to launch the junior ski and snowboard range this week, so I am a bit busy, promise!

Eleven

26,455 posts

223 months

Tuesday 14th January 2014
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maser_spyder said:
Eleven said:
maser_spyder said:
A couple more frames made today, starting to rattle them off fairly quickly now.

Should be all done cutting by the time the silicon bronze fixings arrive, then I'm ready to start epoxying for the first time, to assemble the frames. Will have a practice on some scrap first. I've got the heater set up now, so it's toasty around the workbench.
I must say Maser, I have genuine admiration for your energy and willingness to have a very good stab at something you fancy doing. I wish I had your levels of get up go (and I don't consider myself to be lazy by any means). Are you one of those people who cannot sit still for a minute?

Out of interest, are you running your toy business or just messing about in your man cave whilst someone else does that?
Don't know about that, I'm one of the laziest people I know! But I do love a project.... Always have. I think that's why I don't suit a 'normal' job. I tried a couple when I was younger, but it didn't work out, I need the sort of variety you just don't get by working for somebody else.

Toys are quiet now, but I keep an eye on the day to day, it's just not a full time job at this time of year. Actually, it's part of the reason I plan projects for the quiet times of year, otherwise I'd go crazy staring at a screen waiting for something to happen. At this time of year, I'm over-staffed and under-busy, so I'm best kept out of harms way working on something else.

At the busy times, I work like a crazy man, so I sort of do a year's work in six months and take the rest off. Not many employers would let you do that. wink

Just about to launch the junior ski and snowboard range this week, so I am a bit busy, promise!
I suspect you are less lazy than you think, you certainly don't come across like that.

What ski and snowboard range is that then?

Simpo Two

85,756 posts

266 months

Tuesday 14th January 2014
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Not too late to start a timelapse!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqPBF8WBCLo

maser_spyder

Original Poster:

6,356 posts

183 months

Tuesday 14th January 2014
quotequote all
Eleven said:
I suspect you are less lazy than you think, you certainly don't come across like that.

What ski and snowboard range is that then?
I love my job though, get to play with test all sorts of cool stuff.

Just putting some packages together, boring old job but somebody has to do it. A bit cold for boat building today, might try and get there tomorrow though.

http://www.tigristoys.co.uk/toy-departments/outdoo...

maser_spyder

Original Poster:

6,356 posts

183 months

Tuesday 14th January 2014
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Not too late to start a timelapse!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqPBF8WBCLo
I did a time lapse for my toboggan build, it was rubbish!

I'll dig out my old video camera though, I'm sure that had a time lapse setting on it. I can possibly plug it in permanently and mount it on the wall or something.

Will try to do this before the actual assembly starts, would be good to see it come together.

Excellent idea. smile

Simpo Two

85,756 posts

266 months

Tuesday 14th January 2014
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maser_spyder said:
Excellent idea. smile
Don't forget the Benny Hill music!

maser_spyder

Original Poster:

6,356 posts

183 months

Friday 17th January 2014
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Picked up a mahoosive industrial screw compressor today, good for sanding tools (and the shot blaster cabinet). Silicon bronze screws and nails shipped today too, so I'll have them on Monday. Looks like I need to finish the frames this weekend as I'll have everything I need to start making shapes next week. Scary.

Took the advantage of passing the Alfa Romeo garage to slap down my deposit on a 4C, so I'm in line to get one in about 12 months. Need to clear some space, but that's not exactly a hardship. smile

Huntsman

8,085 posts

251 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
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What engine you going to fit?

Its going to be loud and fast? Right?