bwhip Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Love the boat. Love the lake. Is that a hatch behind your cockpit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zibodo Posted October 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Yes. this design has a space behind the cockpit designed to hold a standard milk crate. I didn't use a crate, but it is very handy to store a bag with clothes, lunch, etc. It's a pretty elegant design but you need to be well balanced when accessing the storage to avoid tipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zibodo Posted October 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Another thing I wanted to mention to warn others and maybe get some thoughts on. I used Jeff's 8 oz polyester fabric which has a very loose weave. After initially draping the cloth around the boat and pinning and clamping it, I set it upright on two saw horses I had sitting around the shop since they seemed to put it at the right height. After I had sewed the front and rear seams on the deck using the double cord method, I turned the boat over and discovered that where it had rested on the saw horses, the fabric was quite abraded and a little frayed-just from the sewing induced wiggling. I smoothed the weave as best I could and continued on my death march to painting and completion, but the abrasion still shows and I worry about fabric strength and tearing in those two areas. The boat did not leak at the abraded areas, but now I am very sensitive to abrasion particularly in untreated cloth. So my advice to others is to make sure you protect the cloth while sewing-either put a pad down on the horses, or tape along the keel stringer and possible the chine stringers. As for my completed boat, I am in the process of putting on a 1/2 in sq WRC strip all the way from the bow to the stern along the keel. I laminated the shapes for the bow and stern from 1/2 x1/8th strips. (The 1/8th dimension was probably a little thick for the curve at the stern, but after soaking in water overnight, I was able to make it work). Now I am looking for a way to bond a 1-1/2 strip of dacron along the chine stringer for additional protection. I know I could have used fabric adhesive if I had done this before painting, but its too late for the now. Does anyone have an Idea on what the best way to bond untreated dacron to Rustoleum painted dacron? I will say that once painted, the material seems stable and more resistant to wear and abrasion, but I think for the use I intend which is high mountain lakes with rocky bottoms and lots of fallen trees and snags, some additional protections is warranted. Next time I might go for the heavier material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 This is why I don't really like that fabric and I think it is worth the extra to buy one of the others. I have considered dropping it but it is very popular and the goal of any business is to make money. I doubt you really did anything other than just mess up the weave. It is really easy to do with that loose weave. As for my completed boat, I am in the process of putting on a 1/2 in sq WRC strip all the way from the bow to the stern along the keel. I think you may regret that. I highly advice rub strips but not that big. A 1/2" square the full length will act like a big rudder and really slow down the boats ability to turn. Most wear happens on the bow so you need a rub strip there, but keep it as thin as possible. Maybe use #6 flat head screws and make it just thick enough to countersink the screw heads flush. Bow takes the beating and I highly recommend rub strips on the bow down to the keel. The best stuff I have used is half oval bronze. I no longer stock it but it is what I use on my boats. It should never have to be replaced. Wood works OK but I find it doesn't last as long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zibodo Posted October 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2016 Any comments on my idea to add a reinforcing strip of Dacron or thoughts on how I might attach it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trakka Posted October 5, 2016 Report Share Posted October 5, 2016 Try your local electrical fittings supplier for POLY CABLE FEEDER its 1/2" wide x 3/32" thick x 12ft long usually. Electricians use it for feeding cables along conduit when wiring dwellings. Stiff but flexible and makes an ideal keel rubbing strip fixed with small countersunk head S/S screws. I buy it from my local hardware $3.95 a length. Works for me, hope its of some help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted October 5, 2016 Report Share Posted October 5, 2016 Never heard of this and trying to find it but I can only find a couple of references and they are to sites in Australia. Doesn't look to be available here in the US? Or it goes under another name? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trakka Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 Sorry Jeff, Your right I can only find it on EBay USA from a reseller in Australia its listed as a YELLOW TONGUE WALL SNAKE US$11.48 a length free postage to Americas. Seems to be an exclusive line to one of Australia's big hardware stores BUNNINGS, but they don't sell online. Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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