Tgabe

Howard, I have read about joining plywood in three different books and several websites. Your description here is a better summary of the process than anything else I have read. You should write a book.

I joined two side panels this morning using everyone's suggestions. I will let you know how it turns out.

I will try it. Thanks.

Howard, Thanks for the reponse. So if I do it your way, I don't clamp the joint between two boards while it dries, correct? When you lay down the tape on top of the epoxy, do you add more epoxy? Do you put plastic over it and roll it out? I need to go to epoxy school.

Am I doing something wrong? I have glued up two butt joints using 3" glass tape. I put plastic over the wet seam and used a roller to smooth out the excess. They finished joints have ripples and pockets in the dried epoxy. Is this normal? I want to end up with a smooth hull, will these places get filled with epoxy when I coat the hull (or glass the hull)? How much do I sand off at this point? See pictures. "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobe, you`re my only hope."

As a rookie, I have been nervous about using the epoxy for the first time. I have read as much as I can about using epoxy and decided to do a practice butt join with some scrap plywood. I made the "sandwich" of board, plastic, glass tape, epoxy etc. Used pure epoxy on the wood and glass tape, and filled the joint with a little thickened epoxy. All in all it came out pretty good. The seam is solid as rock. I`m glad I did the practice run. I learned that I use too much epoxy - it was pretty thick on there after hardening. And, I need to do a better job of smoothing out the plastic film. There were quite a few wrinkles in the solidified epoxy. I also think I didn`t use enough pressure on the seam. Instead of clamping, I used some weights (20lbs.) to hold it all down, but there were some voids or divits in the final epoxy - also could be due to using to much of the stuff. So, I think I need less epoxy, and more pressure. Any guidance here would be helpful.

Here are a few pictures of the side and bottom panels stacked. Weighted down just to keep them flat. Ping pong table makes a nice flat surface.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=kp&v=HEL_qqXGjHU

Howard, thanks for the tip. I will order some trammel points. It makes sense. Side and bottom panels have been cut out except for straight edge which will be cut after joining. Bulkheads and transom will be next. Having trouble attaching pictures but I will keep trying.

I've read several things about working with epoxy in cooler temperatures and the need to keep things warm. What about in really hot temperatures? I expect to be working with epoxy this summer where the highs will be over 100 and the overnight low will be upper 70s. Any special considerations for epoxy in these higher temps? Should I buy the slow or fast hardener, or both?

I already have a question about the plans. There are two measurements on the side, aft (p.2) that indicate stringer location. one is 9 1/8 along the aft bulkhead and the other 8 7/8 at the stern. Are these measurements taken perpendicular to the straight edge or are they taken along the angled line of the bulkhead and back edge ?

Here is the new workshop for the build. Plywood arrived and the first lines have been drawn. I am sure I will have questions along the way. Building the boat with my 16yr old son. He is pretty excited, as am I. framing slab poured, partial siding finished.

It turns out you can't build a 17' boat in a 16' workshop. What was I thinking? So I had to build a new workshop and this has taken a few months. The new building is now done, 24'x24' pole barn, concrete slab and galvalume siding/roof. We have been moving tools in to the new shop this week. Plywood has been ordered and will arrive next week. Can't wait to get started. My son (16) plays classical guitar and he started working on a new piece on the same day that I received the CS 17 plans in the mail - thus inspiring the original post.

I have decided to build from the plans and not the kit. But I am the type that would rather hike up Pikes Peak than take the train to the top.

The young musician dreams of playing a masterpiece. He has practiced for years, but has never taken on a piece of music as challenging as this. It will be hard work, but he knows it will be rewarding. He has played his instrument since he was young boy, and he has the required fundamentals necessary to take on this new project. The song was composed by one of the great composers of the ages, a true artist who knows his craft and knows how to create beauty through music. It will take time, many weeks, maybe even months. He will need guidance from his teacher to work through the technically difficult aspects of the song, but there is no doubt that he can do it. He picks up his instrument, studies the first few measures of the music and plays the first note. The journey has begun. The old man dreams of building a boat. He has done woodworking for years, but has never taken on project as challenging as this. It will be hard work, but he knows it will be rewarding. He has worked with tools since he was a young boy, and he has the required fundamentals necessary to take on this new project. The boat was designed by one of the great nautical designers of the current age, a true artist who knows his craft and knows how to meld beautiful form with function. It will take time, many months, maybe even years. He will need guidance from the designer and from others that have done this before, to work through the difficult aspects of the building process, but there is no doubt that he can do it. He picks up his pencil and ruler, studies the first few drawings on the plans and draws a line on a sheet of plywood. The journey has begun.

LennieG Ihave been following your build. I am sure I will be seeking your advice.

He is 16 and he will help. He wants to finish before he graduates high school. I have two and a half years. Maligno, are you allright in the Phillipines? We watch the news reports with sympathy and shock at the destruction.

On Wednesday, I received a large envelope in my mail mailbox. “It must be the boat building book I ordered”, I thought to myself. Then I saw that it was from B&B Yacht Design. The strange thing is, I had not ordered anything from B&B. I had been looking at boat designs for several years, thinking,”someday…” I had developed a short list of four possible designs to build. My 16 year old son looked at them and we decided on the Core Sound 17. “I will order the plans when I get the workshop finished; probably next spring sometime”. So to my surprise, I opened the envelope and there were the complete plans for the CS 17 along with the accompanying CD and a nice handwritten note from the designer. I was both excited and confused. I showed it to my son. He confessed that he had contacted B&B and ordered the plans for me. He doesn’t have a credit card, so he took his own cash, went to the post office and bought a money order and mailed it to B&B. He doesn’t even know what a money order is, but he asked the B&B people how he could use cash to order plans and they told him what to do. Wow! I was blown away. He said he thought I would just keep putting it off and he would help kick-start the build. Now I have to build it, no excuses! It may be a while before I can start, but I will post progress. I’m sure I will be needing help from all the experts out there. CS 17 #375 will be built in Texas.

Thanks for all the advice. I will order some books tomorrow.

What would be the difference in approximate cost between building from the plans or building from the kit? Also, how much difference in time? Would the kit require half the time? less than half? I know it depends on many factors but just wondered if anyone has any thoughts.

I would like to get a good boat building book before beginning my first boat. I want something that includes discussion on scarfing, lofting, working with epoxy and other good information. I am thinking about "Building Small Boats" by Greg Rossel. Any other suggestions? I hope to build a CS 17.