daedaluscan Posted May 1, 2016 Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 I have started to build a Nimrod, and have made the frames and stringers. I had the aluminum and the fir, so went with that. I really don't like plywood, especially any that I can afford. I considered riveting the stringers to the frames, but will lash with artificial sinew. There is no positive location as with the plywood frames so I may need a rivet as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abyssdncr Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 Very interesting approach. Is your aluminum hollow tubing or flat bar? Have you welded or riveted sheet metal caps to the joints? I imagine that for maintaining stringer locations you could run screws from the inside out through your frames into the wood and then lash, particularly for the keel and stringers, but it might be tight spaces in a few locations. For the gunwales, you could use socket head cap screws on the outside to be bottom stops and keep them where they belong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Tiger Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 Isn't George Dyson the aluminum frames guy? I don't like aluminum at all and don't use it ever, anywhere, if I can help it. One thing that can make me spit fire is aluminum fasteners, especially bolts... That said, I'm interested to see how this turns out, because the nimrod is a pretty boat, and I know the medium is viable. Be careful with drilling your stringers. They're smallish to begin with, and holes can create areas more prone to breakage during flexion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daedaluscan Posted May 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 It is flat bar, I cut it from a sheet on my tablesaw. I TIG welded the joints, just working out the bow and stern now. It was what I had in stock, and I thought it might be a fun way to do it. I don't really want to use mechanical fasteners for several reasons if I can avoid it. I don't want to weaken the stringers, I definitely don't want to use a fastener of another metal because of electrolysis, and I like the elegance of lashing. That said there is no "stop" on the frame and I am a little concerned that the stringers might want to slide on the frames. I could weld on a small aluminum stop, but I am hoping to avoid the extra hassle. I'll see how it feels when I start lashing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Tiger Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 Once you lash the frames, the stringers ain't going nowhere. I have built several steamed rib SOF boats, and the stringers are lashed directly to smooth ribs. They don't slide. You'll be fine lashing. Nice work on the welding, by the by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daedaluscan Posted May 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 Started on the bow frame, it will have a 5/8" of fir around the outside to shape and wrap the covering around. Just tack welded here to see how it looks. Unfortunately I wont be doing any more for a couple of months as my son is home for the summer from uni, and we need to finish the kit car that I promised he would drive to graduation but did not! Ill be back:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daedaluscan Posted May 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 Heres the photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daedaluscan Posted June 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2017 Well a hangar and a year later, as well some work on the kit car and a honey do list, I am back to framing the kayak. just a final adjustment to get everything straight and I should start lashing. I wasted a bit of time trying to build an aluminum bow structure but then reread the cunningham book and had these two bits of fir cut in about an hour and a half. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daedaluscan Posted June 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2017 Got it all lashed, and straight I hope:) Need to build a coaming now. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daedaluscan Posted July 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2020 Well the worlds slowest build floats. Covid got me finishing a lot of projects. Launched and delighted. I think I failed to get the correct amount of rocker, it is sloooow to turn, but it tracks great:) Overall delighted. 80efb755-4da9-472e-833c-5f07f99b908a.MP4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy00 Posted July 29, 2020 Report Share Posted July 29, 2020 Daedalus: Nice boat! The rocker isn't necessarily off; saying that it turns slow but tracks great is like saying "It's hot out but not cold." On the kind of big water in your video, you'll find great tracking much more important. For quicker turning, learn to edge your boat and use sweep strokes. There are lots of videos on line showing the techniques. Also, as a former safety manager, I can't sign off without reminding you to always where a PFD. Have fun, Andy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daedaluscan Posted July 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2020 23 hours ago, andy00 said: 23 hours ago, andy00 said: Daedalus: Nice boat! The rocker isn't necessarily off; saying that it turns slow but tracks great is like saying "It's hot out but not cold." On the kind of big water in your video, you'll find great tracking much more important. For quicker turning, learn to edge your boat and use sweep strokes. There are lots of videos on line showing the techniques. Also, as a former safety manager, I can't sign off without reminding you to always where a PFD. Have fun, Andy Thanks, I took it for a longer paddle (with flotation bags and a PFD) and it is great, really easy to paddle and very comfortable in a light chop. I made a greenland paddle and was super impressed with that, I was not a believer until I tried it. The boat is also super easy to roll, I had not been in a kayak for probably 15 years and I rolled it first try. I am a definite convert to SOF, I am going to build a solo canoe next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy00 Posted August 2, 2020 Report Share Posted August 2, 2020 On 7/30/2020 at 11:41 AM, daedaluscan said: I made a greenland paddle and was super impressed with that, I was not a believer until I tried it. Love those native-style paddles! Who wants to use a factory-made paddle with a hand-made boat? They work well, and if it doesn't feel quite right, whittle it some more or make one a bit different. Wood paddles are also good winter projects. The one I've settled on for use with my Ravenswood is the 4th from the top, which is a hybrid West Greenland/Aleut model (8'-7"). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.