My Upstate NY Short Shot (Finally)

[DreadBiscuit]

So I will begin with the end product (well about 90% finished) and then tell the story/build history of this wonderful boat!  

First things first though; thanks to everyone here who indirectly answered questions about this build by posting your own builds, and especially thanks to Jeff for the designs!  

I have not named this boat, but it is a Short Shot coming in at 16' 7" total length with the premium 6oz polyester coated with Rustoleum oil-based paint in blue and silver.  I actually finished it in early August of last year (2016) as my goal was to have it ready for an annual paddle trip with the local boy scout troop I volunteer with.  I did two, 3-4 mile paddles a few days before the 4 day and 50+ mile trip across all of the Saranac Lakes in the Adirondack State Park.  It handled beautifully, and has zero leaks since day one!  

Without further ado, here she is in her current glory (well a year ago, after fresh paint).  I began to paint silver scales down the length of the bottom, but ran out of time before the big paddle trip.  I plan to finish them this year now that it's getting warm again and also do blue scales down the top on the silver base.  

 

This image was taken after I moved from the apartment into a house with a garage.  I got the frame built and skinned before the move and then painted it at the new place.  You will see all of this in later posts.  BTW, I have tons of pictures.  If anyone wants to see anything in particular, just ask and I can upload any others I have or even go take more pictures.  

Edited May 3, 2017 by DreadBiscuit

[DreadBiscuit]

Beginning in March of 2016 I started cutting cedar into stringers.  NOTE: I built this in my townhouse apartment while pursuing my Master's Degree and working part time.  It became a late night unwinding project.  I had a roommate that helped with a lot of it which helped tremendously!  I would not want to build one of these solo without a lot more tools and a shop!  

[DreadBiscuit]

Next was scarfing all the stringers into 18 ft sections.  Then I glued the plans onto the 1/2" baltic birch.  

as you can see, the plan with this boat was to cut the coamings out of the plywood as well.  I would love to build another boat and do laminated coamings on it.  

[DreadBiscuit]

Here we have the coaming being clamped together while the glue dries, me routing some frame pieces after cutting them out, and finally the strongback together with the keel placed into the alignment frames.  She's coming along quickly now!  For reference, this was around May 2016, so approximately two months after first cutting material.  She took up my entire dining room and stuck out over the couch in the living room (behind the lens in the last picture).  There was enough room to walk around the boat to get into the kitchen, but it was a conscience effort not to bump the strongback while stringers and frames were being placed.  

[DreadBiscuit]

The first frames mounted to the alignment frames and screwed in.  Then I bungee'd the gunwales and some stringers.  Once all the stringers were bungee'd it started to look like a boat!  

[DreadBiscuit]

First lashing done!  OOps, it's on the wrong side...this ended up happening a few times throughout the boat, but so far no one has noticed but me!   Pictures follow of the first frame lashed up, and then the bow lashed up (which was a long time in the future after the first frame...really time traveling now!)  We are in early June 2016 at this point.  

[benhardt57]

Very nice! And that paint job is really cool! Are you up in the Adirondacks?

[DreadBiscuit]

I am in Rochester, but I have paddled in the ADK a lot.  I plan to be going there again soon, I just have to get some racks for my new car so I can take the yak up there again.  

 

[DreadBiscuit]

Here are some pictures of the skinning.  I used the...dang I forgot the name of the method.  I ran two lengths of paracord under the fabric and then sewed under them to pull the skin tight.  I really liked this method.  As you can see, I stabbed myself once at the very beginning, hence the blood stain, but that was the only time.  You can see the temporary supports on the inside of the coaming to hold it up, but I changed those later to something a bit smaller.  

[DreadBiscuit]

OH yeah, I almost forgot the notorious FROG photos!  Here they are, and also one or two of the footpegs mounted.  

[DreadBiscuit]

FInally posting this has also motivated me to finish painting scales on the bottom and now I am working on the top and some deck rigging.  I will post pictures of those endeavors as soon as I am finished, hopefully tomorrow.  

[DreadBiscuit]

Sidenote, I finally weighed the boat.  34.6 lbs empty.  Holy moly that's light!  

[NY_Rocking_Chairs]

Nice, I'm in Webster BTW, plan to get out paddling around Ellison with the scouts next weekend with my canoe and kayak.

[NY Dave]

6 hours ago, NY_Rocking_Chairs said:

Nice, I'm in Webster BTW, plan to get out paddling around Ellison with the scouts next weekend with my canoe and kayak.

 

Chairs, will you be paddling down Irondequoit Creek or just around the parking lots and dog park?  Haha  

Sorry, a little "flooding" humor that only those of us that live around Lake Ontario will get.  I'm in Fairport BTW.

[NY_Rocking_Chairs]

On 5/10/2017 at 7:08 PM, NY Dave said:

 

Chairs, will you be paddling down Irondequoit Creek or just around the parking lots and dog park?  Haha  

Sorry, a little "flooding" humor that only those of us that live around Lake Ontario will get.  I'm in Fairport BTW.

Ha, sorry don't log in much, also started a new job in May down in Henrietta so busy there.

 

Bay Creek told us the water level was the highest it's been since the early 1950's, up by about 5'  

[jshaley]

Is your strong back three 2x4's with a centerline?

[DreadBiscuit]

Sorry, i have not been on here in a while.  @jshaley, yes it is. It wasn't the best strongback, but it wasn't bad either.  It was definitely an easy and cheap way to get the boat straight.  

 

@NY_Rocking_Chairs @NY Dave Looks like you're both close.  I'm in Honeoye Falls now but I work in Henrietta.  I have another friend with a kudzu kayak in Chili/Gates.  Once the weather turns, we should all get together for a paddle!  

[DreadBiscuit]

Random picture time...Here was the first float/no leak test.  

Finished deck rigging.  I followed a method I found on youtube that doesn't require any rigging to be mounted.  I drilled holes into the gunwales.  Each section (front and back) is one continuous length of bungee.  

[DreadBiscuit]

Right before putting the deck rigging on. 

[andy00]

Dear Mr. Biscuit:

That's a beautiful boat. The pool picture makes me wonder if you've adjusted things since then to get your knees  inside the boat. That's really important for stability and ergonomic paddling.

Fair winds, Andy