celticguitar

I seem to be having some photo problems this morning will try again

Here It is out and about on first 3 hour cruise. Family enjoyed the homemade boat ride and decided Dad wasn't so crazy after all. The seams held tight there was plenty of freeboard and very stable. I was very pleased with the boats performance. maybe next A sailing dory?

Success! It floats! Seams held perfect. My wife ,son,daughter and I took it for a shake down cruise today at the local pond. We call it Latis godess of water and beer. My three year old son loves it especially after watching and helping me build the boat. He didn't want to get out. I used an old 24lbs thrust trolling motor I repaired to power it which pushed it along nicely. Lots of free board and very stable. We can't wait to go fishing in it. There's nothing like building and using your own boat! I will definitely build another next year maybe a skiff or dory for the bay. I will send pics as soon as I size them for uploading to this site

8) I'll keep that in mind thanks everyone for the info

No it's not a stitch and seam boat. The plans are for a lightweight Jon boat for fishing with the kids something stable. They are about 30 years old the plans I mean not the kids. It does have a frame of sorts. Let me start over again I think I am confusing the issue. I was looking for epoxy for a good price and I believe I omitted the fact that I did use epoxy for the 2" seam tape for joints in plywood in the earlier message. The gallon and tube was for the seal coat to encapsulate the hull because epoxy was so expensive local for a small amount. It's working so far and the price was right. The boat is looking nice dark green hull with natural interior. I just hope it floats and holds together till I can make something I can take my time with. Interesting enough though a couple of neighbors have inquired about it as in a subtle could you build one for me kind of way maybe not Who knows? They all said it's not everyday you see somebody build a boat.

8) Hi All The number on the can is Evercoat 5501 and says for fiberglass work, general boat repairs, boat building, laminating, waxed for tack free finish. The finish in small places finally cured after a coat of primer was applied and the polypaint looks to biting tight also. I had forgotten how much boat paint costs. Was it always this expensive relatively anyway? I don't remember my old runabout that I had about ten years ago being that expensive to paint.

Hello all I managed to find the resin I needed at a local marine hardware store. The product is Evercoat fiberglass resin A gallon and tube of hardner for about $40 My question is resin seems to be taking a long time to harden on boat. The hull is lauan. It cured just fine in mixing container and roller pan etc. I mixed it according to ambient temp chart on container. Is this a reaction with the wood? It's been over 24 hours and it's hard in some places but tacky in others

Boat is going together well I don't know if this how it's suppose to look but it seems right. Dewey

Well just a friendly update boat going together well. All risers ,gunwales, battens, keel etc on and fastened. Aft seat in place mid and fore seats tomorrow. A few more days and it will be ready for sealer and glassing. Then choice of paint color and name. I am terrible with taking pictures of projects I even forget to take pics of my instruments as they take shape. ps maybe when it's done if it looks good anyway

I am looking for a good cheap place to buy epoxy resin and tape for the seams on my boat project. I see alot of places but it seems kind of confusing. Is there a place that offers this as a kit tape and resin together for certain lengths etc.? Dewey

I am building Jon boat for fishing with the kids stable platform for river pond and lake and light weight. It's my first foray into building a boat. I build accoustic instruments violins etc. I hope to, once I get my feet wet ha ha, to build a more adventurous project with REAL plans. I have a friend who sales a Blue Jay and a Lightening. Yes it turns out that I will be able to salvage project. The shape of the bottom bears little resemblance to the actual shape of frame now that I have the sides wrapped around the molds and have the stem and transom attached. the measurements were way off. more like a dory or skiff than a Jon boat I spoke to owner of site and he told me that he would put a warning on page for people to loft the plans first before building the real thing. He is a nice guy. Dewey

:shock: Duhh I know you get what you pay for right? Well I am trying to build a Jon boat from free plans and one of the key measurements the width of the bottom of boat panel is off a bit, transom end. I had already cut bottom and while I did vex myself several times before cutting because this number just didn't seem right I did go ahead and cut. Well it turns out it is wrong. It 's not really a bigy because I can adjust for it I just think this stuff should be checked before it is put out there. The guy whose web site it was was nice enough and did email back but there was not a hint of making correction or what the correct dimension was. Oh well next time measure thrice check twice and measure thrice again before cutting. Hoping to be on the water soon Dewey