Ohio FROG(S) Ravenswood

[sjhBT99]

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I have read on this forum that you can't build just one......................THEY ARE RIGHT!

 

With a family of four, I thought there might be a chance I would want to build one for everyone, So I bought enough ply for Four boats just in case.   After I started cutting the first boat's frames, I decided I would go for 4 frames while all the tools are out and the router set up.  I tied boat #1 last fall. then #2,#3 and #4 this Summer with the help of a 15 year old son who wanted a project over summer break. (He was a huge help!)

 

Benefits/Lessons learned so far:  -It is nice to have a finished frame to look at when tying the next boat.- One time mess when oiling tied frames.  

 

ZIP TIES using zip ties to secure frames/stringers/gunwales when tying.  We found it very beneficial to locate the proper location of the frames bungee'd together, then use Harbor freight (cheap) zip ties to hold all joints together before tying with sinew. We just cut off one zip tie at the joint you are tying at that time.  You end up just throwing them all away but they are really cheap.  and you don't have bungees in your way. 

 

TWO YEARS LATER:

10/01/16

[KStier]

Four at once! Looking real nice...identical?

[Uncle Frosty]

Very nice. You have to tell us the story...why four?

[sjhBT99]

Very nice. You have to tell us the story...why four?

I have edited my original post.

[sjhBT99]

Four at once! Looking real nice...identical?

They are intended to be identical Ravenswood kayaks, although with the way the wood behaved one may have more sinew ties at bow and stern and perhaps a measuring error here or there.   So from ten feet away they are identical in appearance.  However, Up close lets just say they are unique in their own way. 

[sjhBT99]

When stitching up my boat(s). I discovered that a thimble is quite handy for pushing the needle through the four layers of heavy fabric.   I just used what I had a 12 gauge shotgun shell cut down with a small piece of paper towel stuffed in the bottom.  Fit my fingers just fine and works great.  This helps me make real progress without having to reach for a dowel or other devise to push that needle.

 

 

[Wyo George]

Very cool. This winter I'll be building a pair of Cast-Aways and three kids kayaks (still deciding which ones) It'll be interesting to see the individuality when finished, or do you plan on painting them all the same?

[Kudzu]

The ladies in my last class in VA. were are very 'handy and crafty' and were saying I needed thimbles in the class. I agreed but never in my wildest dreams would I ever have thought of using a shot gun casing! Love it!

[Action Tiger]

I concur. Cool thimble!

[andy00]

Shotgun casing... now there's a manly thimble! An equally testosterone-friendly alternative is a sail maker's palm.

[Action Tiger]

My wife would disagree with the implication that shotguns are inherently manly, and deftly show you how to use one, proper like.

[Kudzu]

Yup! I have a neighbor that has a couple of State Records mounted on HER wall. 

[sjhBT99]

I started out using the jewelers twine Jeff sells it worked ok but I had a lot of thread snapping,    Then I tried the sinew, I thought this broke easier than the jewelers twine. I finished my first Kayak with the jewelers twine doubled and it was better, but I still had some snapping.   On my second Kayak tried the mason's twine and even though it appears heavier, I was still snapping as easy as the the jewelers thread when tugging the fabric tight.  Then I tried some 65 lb spiderwire braided  fish line, and decided it is the the way to go.  I had zero breaks and found I was drawing the fabric really really tight. This stuff is thin and strong I use it doubled. over.     This stuff is so strong I noticed that my gunwales were slightly bowed in between the frames because of pulling the double corded method.  (It made for a nice tight finish)

 

 

attached is a picture of ny cheapskate's thimble, It works really really well.  (A 12 ga. shotshell hull cut down)