New SOF builder - just ordered a Tadpole!

[Abyssdncr]

That is the snazziest strong back I have seen yet!  The frame is looking good too.

 

The strongback is two EAA standard work benches built to the same height stacked end to end and toe nailed together with 3" deck screws.  Not 100% plate glass flat, but far truer than my construction capabilities...

 

Fortunately, the local Tandy leather store stocks some artificial sinew that seems more or less like the same stuff Jeff sells, so I don't have to wait on the mail.  Down side (or bright side?) is that I have enough to build 5 boats now...  Hope to get the gunwales lashed and pop the frame off the strongback tonight to finish the keel lashes.  That'll free up work space to cut the seat slats and...(I dunno if this is a good idea or not, but I bought a little hatch to plug in somewhere for phone storage)...hatch support structure.  Also had some hot pinkish "Coral Reef" wood stain mixed up at Lowes for the coaming, rub strips, & toggles.  Ought to be cute, right?  Well, at least if I can get all the Titebond III drips and oozes sanded off.  

 

Still mulling over the fabric issue.  I wasn't real thrilled with how the economy fabric accepted the paint on the FreeB.  I had lots and lots of pinholes even after three coats with roller, brush, fervent prayer, etc.  Finally ended up sealing the most belligerent offenders with some Rustoleum spray sealing primer, letting it half dry and then more or less squeegeeing it into the pinhole.  Had to use the same technique on a few others with the yellow paint as well.  Needless to say, it's a 30 ft. paint job...  

 

That said, I already bought some of the economy 6 oz. for this boat...  The new 6 oz seems like a no brainer, but the "no shrinkage left" part has me a little apprehensive about how the coaming area would turn out.  The heavy stuff seems to have the tight weave, will shrink, and may be better for the kiddo to drag around the lake this summer and would add what, about 1.5 lbs to the overall finished product? 

[Abyssdncr]

Ok, doesn't really count as today is it's tomorrow now...but stringers completely lashed, frame is off the strongback, and I'm being lazy and just gluing the tips. Tomorrow is footrest supports, hatch support, seat slats, and LOTS of sanding left to do on the coaming, mostly on the inside. Let's just hope I don't get to te point that I bust out the dremel sanding drums...

In the interim, I got the tail and right side striping finished on the FreeB. The 3M "edge" tape worked perfectly! Left side tomorrow too, and then the rest of the deck rigging.

[Abyssdncr]

[Abyssdncr]

Cut the seat slats and got them routed, carved some spare stringer stock to fit and reinforce the chine stringers for the footrests, and made a mounting ring for the little 6" hatch. The hatch is a tight squeeze, but ought to serve its purpose nicely. I will need to stitch a curve in the seam to go around it though - the inner most mounting screw goes right smack in the middle of the aft deck stringer.

Had to go with the premium 6oz, since the heavy stuff is OOS. I'm still concerned about the coaming area since the coaming ring is too stiff to flex and the fabric not shrinking, but I guess time will tell.

[Abyssdncr]

FROG by weekend!

So, uh, Jeff...has my fabric shipped yet...?

[Abyssdncr]

Skin's arrived - thanks Jeff! Now, a more serious question: I see everyone hill-billy hot-knifing it or soldering gun (which I did with the FreeB), but why can't you just cut with scissors and sear with a lighter?

Got all giddy when I found a hot knife in and abandoned drawers in the hangar (original owner built airplanes...), but it went *poof* and started smoking half way through cutting the second side off. Finished it with the soldering iron. Got the double corded started, but need to dig my hemostats out of a tackle box somewhere... Hopefully, tomorrow night is productive!

[Abyssdncr]

It might be low shrink, but it definitely isn't no shrink...fingers tired...

[Abyssdncr]

Slowly, but surely. Coaming left to go...

Pretty happy with how the ends ended up. Jeff was right - this fabric sure sews nicely.

Did my best to go around where the hatch will be. A little epoxy from the S&G kit will seal it to the support ply. I think I created just enough play in the hole for a nice snug fit once the skin wraps around the hole. Hopefully those wrinkles will be covers in the process too.

[scottg]

Looks great! Just ordered the second book, still deciding which one to build. 

[Abyssdncr]

Ready for the base coat! I whip stitched the coaming after sewing on and that really helped snug things up around the compound curves this time, and it looks a little more sophisticated too I think. Worst wrinkles were at the rear coaming corners, and I think I'll just live with them vs. trying the heat gun.

[Abyssdncr]

3rd coat of white drying on the hull, get the deck tomorrow. Night and day difference painting the premium fabric - it's looking awesome and sealing great. Doesn't make for exciting pictures though...

On a hilarious and fortunate side note, I went to Menards to pick up another sheet of special order Baltic to keep the production line going, and the dock worker asked me if I wanted to keep the packaging. It was exterior sheathing sheets last time and I pawned them off on a coworker who was building a chicken coop. Lord knows I didn't want any more of that, so I was like, "Actually, no. I really don't..." So, we go to rip the protective plastic off and find that they used 3/4" A/B marine grade plywood for dunnage! $135 worth of packaging for the $60 order... "On second thought, I will keep the "packaging" - thank you very much." He laughed, "Yeah, I would too!"

[Abyssdncr]

It's raining here all day, so I figured I might as well start with the graphics -Operation "Just a Tad' Pink" is underway!

[Abyssdncr]

Alright, I think we're ready for some water!

[Ehcalum]

Love the tritone.  Thinking of doing something similar but as a modified CG racing stripe.

[Abyssdncr]

Thanks, after looking at it, I'd definitely tweak the design of I were to redo it, but the youngster is happy.

From rough cut cedar to Greenland paddle. Took the really rough blank out last night, and will give the more refined version a whirl in about an hour. Still need to actually finish it, but figured I'd get it wet a few times first.