37 replies to this topic

[Kudzu]

This is a two for one post.. I am going to update you on the boat and do a quick review or first impressions if you will, of the Critter Sprayer.

I believe I mentioned previous that I read somewhere that all/most/some Baidarka frames were dyed red. No idea why and not sure if anyone knows. I would guess they used blood to stain them and it was for religious or superstitious reasons. I always thought it was a neat idea and red will contrast with the painted skin really well, so that is why I wanted to try it.

I asked on a wood working forum I frequent and the overwhelming consensus was to use Aniline dye. It will mix with a lot of different media and water was the one thing I had plenty of. So I heated some water, added the dye till it was dark blood-red and them put it in the fridge to cool.

I set up the frame outside and here you can see the end results. The new wood accepted the color much better and is much brighter. The old wood is darker and looks more like a blood-red color. Once it is skinned I think it will look quite fine. The new wood is mostly hidden and I don't expect the differences to nearly as noticeable.



Now, the Critter sprayer. Just start by saying I am impressed over all. It worked well and clean up took 3, minutes TOPS! It take 30 minutes minimum, to clean my HVLP gun and it is lot messier to clean.



The only thing I didn't like was the vent hold It has a small hole to allow air into the mason jar on top of the lid. Trying to spray inside the boat and I would be holding the gun at odd angles and that allowed a little dye to leak or slosh out the vent hole. So of course I ends up on my hands. With something thicker than water I think it would be much less likely to leak out the vent hole. After realizing what happened I paid more attention to the angles I held the gun and it didn't happen again.

 

It has one spray pattern, a round(ish) smaller spray pattern and you can’t adjust it. It’s much like spraying with a rattle can but larger. It took 3 or 4 times adjusting the siphon nozzle height to get it like I wanted. But again that was easy and quick to adjust.

You find the Critter sprayer online for $40 or less. It looks like a toy but my first impressions say otherwise. It is much like an over sized air brush. I wouldn't want to paint anything really large with it, but as easy as it is to clean…. it might be worth  the extra time it would take. I really hate cleaning a spray gun.

[Kudzu]

Lots of photos today and a good bit of progress too. I have started skinning the boat using the 8 oz polyester as I use on most of my boats.
 
I started sewing the skin around the boat, pulling it snug as I stitch. The one trick I learned when I skinned the first Firefly was to start at the cockpit and sew toward the bow. STOP, before you get to the bow and sew the Bifid bow first! Just trust me on this.
 
Sewing the Bifid is always tricky and my first attempt didn't go to well. I had to remove a lot of my stitches and try again. Second time around looked much better. I ended up with a couple of puckered spots but I expected that and they will (should) pull tight once I shrink the skin.
 

Another thing I am doing different is I am using Heat N Bond tape on the front of the bow to hold the skin in place. It is heat activated adhesive tape and you literally iron it on to the wood. Then peel off the paper backing, stretch the fabric tight and iron the fabric to bond it to the tap. I found it fairly easy to work with has a really good bond in one direction.
 
If I lift the fabric I can peel it off easy enough. But when pulling across the bonded area and not lifting it has a really good grip. So in this application it works really well. But it is not a permanent solution.
 
Once the boat is painted, I will be adding a bronze rub strip, screwed in place over it to finish it off. That will hide the exposed edges of the fabric and provide a very durable rub strip in the most damage prone area of the boat. And I think it will look better than stitching does.



WOOPS! This is the stern and I used the tape there too. When I was trimming the excess fabric I stood on the wrong side of the boat and couldn't see that I was hitting the corner with my hot knife and melting the fabric. If this were a clients boat I would have started over, but since it was mine I decided to repair it instead.

Using a curved needle I ran several stitches close together though the fabric behind the melted edge.



Once it is pulled tight and the thread trimmed close you can barely eve see it. After it is painted and the brass rub strip is in place, I think it will take a sharp eye to ever spot it.



I did something a little different on the sewn seams this time. I usually just do a whip stitch and pull it tight. That makes it resemble 3 braid rope. This time I did 2 whip stitches from opposite sides and I only pulled the thread snug so that it did collapse the rolled fabric. This leaves me with a smooth bead down the center and it will give the boat a cleaner look.


 
Here is the stern after I shrunk the fabric a little. If you remember I really struggled with the design for the stern and now I couldn't be happier with this. It still looks traditional but it has a little flair and is not just squared off like many were. I never liked  the squared off corners but I love this!



Check out those straight seams! Yea, I am bragging just a little bit.  I need to install the coaming and finish the seam around the Bifid bow, which I am not looking forward too! That is going to be hardest part of the sewing.

The white coaming is a first for me, I usually varnish them but this will has a 'special' paint job so I decided to paint it to match. And that's the only hint you going to get on paint job.

[P Douglass (WA)]

Really looking nice, Jeff.  I'm thinking this is going to be pretty spectacular!

[Hirilonde]

Did you baste the seem with a running stitch first Jeff and just used a different whip?  I like it.   Gonna have to try that on my next one.

[Kudzu]

Did you baste the seem with a running stitch first Jeff and just used a different whip?  

 

Yes. Takes more time but I like the look. Will probably start painting in the morning.

[Hirilonde]

Takes more time but I like the look.

Ask me about my opinion on how a boat looks.     It applies to details as well.

[Kudzu]

I got a little behind while I was sick but know now I feel I am making good progress. The (unnamed) boat is now skinned and the base coat is on. At this point it could go to the water actually. But I am not done. I want to work on the rigging and get my holes in place and the lines installed temporarily.

Once I have everything located I am going to remove it and layout the paint the rest of the boat.  These are probably the last photos till I finish it. To you traditionalists, beware.......

[P Douglass (WA)]

Really looking nice, Jeff.  LOVE IT!

[Joe Feager]

Looks good Jeff

[Kudzu]

I did not plan on posting again till it was ready to go to the water, but I hit a little snag and decided to go ahead. I think I am at about 98% finished I just have a few details to take care of and I don't think I will finish today. I hit my head yesterday and I still have a bit of dull  headache, so I am taking it easy and not pushing to get done.  I decided to go ahead with the 'Big Reveal' today anyway.
 

 

 
Like it or not, I love the paint job. I have been thinking of this since I did 'Nemo', the orange and white Curlew. I played around with colors when I painted Nemo and Nemo was almost painted these colors!
 
But I wanted to surprise John Redmond who gave me the idea.  John had posted a photo of a Clown fish and said 'Jeff, why don't you paint one like this?" Had it not been for that I would have used these colors.
 

 
 
I used toggles and polyester rope instead of bungee. Toggles have the advantage of being able to  slide your paddle under them, spread the toggles apart and they will tighten, wedging your paddle across the boat. With the blade in the water it makes a big difference in the stability of the boat. It dampens the boats movements so it doesn't roll nearly as fast on you. It is great for wet entries and much faster to deploy than a paddle float since there is nothing to find nor inflate. I put them front and back on this boat since the rear ones would get in the way during a cowboy scramble style of reentry.
 

 
 
I put a singe white bungee right in front of the cockpit so I have a place to put gloves or a hat or something small and I don't have to fiddle with tightening the toggles. Since I rarely carry anything other than a spare paddle on the deck the  single bungee is perfect for my needs.
 


I am well pleased the way the stern turned out.  I wrapped it with a brass stemband using  #4 bronze screws to anchor it in place. There is a bead of caulking underneath it to bed it and seal the screw holes.
 

 
The bow is my favorite part of the boat. I have always wondered if the Bifid bow wasn't inspired by the mouth of something the Inuits hunted. Maybe a way to pay tribute to the animal or animals.This style of Bifid always made me think of the Salmons appearance once it changes during the breeding run up the rivers. That is a large part of why I wanted eyes on this boat.
 
I am not quite finished painting the eye. I need to add some white highlights to it but the black was still wet when I took this photo. It will be tomorrow before it's dry enough to paint those.
 
I wrapped the bow with stemband too. I let it run about  30" down the bottom of the bow.  That should provide a lot of protection to the most abused part of the a skin boat. I never liked the stitching on very front of a Baidarka and that was a large part of my motivation to try this. Using the Heat-N-bond tape with the stem band turned out very well with only some very minor issues. This method would be perfect on a Stonefly or the Tangerine canoe and it would eliminate all the sewing on those two boats.
 
Now, I just need to tie up a couple of odds and ends and it will be finished. Once I get it on the water, probably next week, I will post launching photos and wrap this up. Thanks for following along!

[P Douglass (WA)]

THAT IS AWESOME!!  When I saw you had added to this thread, I couldn't wait to get it open and hoped to see the paint job.  You certainly didn't disappoint me.  I love it.  I also agree with you, I think the bow resembles a salmon.  Can't wait to see pictures of it in the water.

[Kudzu]

Can't wait to see pictures of it in the water.

 

Anxious to get to the water!! But my paddling buddy and photographer is taking care of his father who just got out of the hospital and obviously that comes first. Not sure when we be able to get together.

[P Douglass (WA)]

Where is everybody!  I sure though that paint job would create a lot of conversation.

[Kudzu]

Maybe every one is being nice. 

[CaptainSparrow]

Slick work and that paint job is inspiring. I think most of us are waiting for warmer and dryer weather to get inspired to work on and discuss boats. :-)

[Kudzu]

I posted it on 3 forums and they are all unusually quite. Not that I am looking for back slapping, I know how good it looks!     

[TArthur7190]

Speaking for all the quiet people out there Jeff....very cool colors!

By the way, did you use the "critter sprayer" to spray it?

[Kudzu]

......did you use the "critter sprayer" to spray it?

 

Just the dye on the frame. I was going to but due to the Chris Craft being in the shop and pieces scattered all over the shop I decided against spraying. I wasn't sure how much overspray I would get so I just rolled it on.