Jump to content

Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 05/19/2022 in all areas

  1. Some folks keep logs of their projects including time spent. I can understand the urge to quantify, but I build boats, build model boats, carve decoys, and rebuild bicycles for the fun of it. When I worked as an engineer, I had to keep track of time spent for billing. It was not fun. When people ask me how much time I spent on a project, I usually reply "How much time did you spend watching TV?" Having said that, I agree with Scott that a SOF kayak goes together quicker than a stitch-and-glue kayak, based on my experience. Another difference is that almost all tasks on a SOF boat can be done in small time periods. For example, you can take 15 minutes to cut out one frame. You can mount one frame on the strong back. You can sew one foot of the skin seam. Of course, it's likely that you'll work for much longer periods (time flies when you're having fun), but you can do bits here and there. In contrast, there are major tasks on a stitch-and-glue boat that cannot be interrupted. These require mixing epoxy and applying it all at once. Stitch-and-glue boatbuilding is noisier (lots of sanding), smellier (epoxy), dustier (again sanding), and messier (again epoxy). I find SOF boatbuilding more fun. James, I hope you have fun building (and paddling).
    2 points
  2. Gonna have to borrow this one.
    1 point
  3. Yeah, I'm not cutting the parts for the stringers yet at all. I want to cut my stringers first then use a small piece of stringer to set my marks for cutting, (and as you mentioned, go small and work up to a proper fit) @Scott Pettigrew also... today I learned there are plywood specific jigsaw blades, so I think this weekends cutting will go better. THANK YOU.
    1 point
  4. I've done some woodworking when I had no place to do it but a parking lot...it is a challenge. A good jigsaw and blades designed to cut plywood do make a difference. I would not try and cut them to the finished size, but cut them slightly on the small size and then use a flat file to fine tune once you get your keel and other pieces cut; that way you'll have a nice snug fit. Regarding the edges, using the trim router should be easy to learn, and once the bit is adjusted properly is fairly hard to screw up. Good luck!
    1 point
  5. It's difficult for me to estimate build time because I break it up over many months, sometimes going weeks doing nothing. This is partly due to my work schedule that has me on the road for much of the year. However, one thing I know for sure is that skin on frame using the Kudzu method is faster than strip built, stitch and glue, and "traditional skin on frame kayak building, all of which I've done. I think the other factor that will affect build time is the tools you have. Necessary woodworking skills are rather minimal, but could also slow you down. Why is cutting out the frames taking so long? Are you using a coping saw? For me, I'd say cutting out the frames was a couple of hours, but I have a bandsaw ?. Cutting the keel, gunwales, and stringers about another hour, but I have a table saw and planer ?. Scarfing and gluing up those pieces was maybe another hour. Let them dry for one day. Putting the frame together with bungy cords was quick - < 1 hour Tapering the gunwales and stringers ends with a hand plane was maybe a couple of hours. Lashing took me the longest time. I did it over roughly two weeks, with the the goal of doing one frame per day. This took at most one hour each lashing session. For my coaming, I laminated multiple thin strips of white oak, waiting for the glue to dry between strips; this took about a week. Getting ready to skin now, which I'm guessing will test my sewing skills.
    1 point


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.