|
|
|
|
Help! Want to build small nesting sailboat.
(sandy) wrote in message . com...
Hubby, with no real boatbuilding experience (if you don't count the
styrofoam liveaboard sailboat we built years ago...aptly named "Holy
Mackeral"!) is thinking of trying his hand at boat building. We want
a very light 2 to 3 person sailboat to carry upright on a cargo
carrier at the rear of our "new" '92 Winnebago and we plan to use it
for fishing/sailing/messing around on small lakes. We're thinking
about a maybe 12' nesting boat thinking that each part of the boat
won't weigh as much and the whole thing won't be too tall at the stern
of the RV. He's thinking of using exterior plywood, stitching it
together and hasn't yet decided on whether to use epoxy or polyester
or how much glassing to do. He's also stubbornly planning on devising
his own plans. We'd like to do it fairly inexpensively but not
stupidly. We'd like to end up with a lightweight boat as I'll be
supplying most the "man"power in loading/unloading (hubby has a really
bad back and can't do much of any lifting).
Really appreciate some comments, pointers and suggestions such as...
1. Is 1/4" exterior plywood (such as you'd find at Home Depot)
adequate? The people at HD said that the glue is NOT the same as with
marine plywood and looked sceptical when we told them what we wanted
it for (their special order marine plywood was ridiculously
expensive).
2. Is the generic epoxy (and/or polyester if we decide to go that way)
from our local fiberglass store adequate or is it really adviseable to
go with West System or ?.
3. Anybody have any experience with "Nesting Dinghys"? Any problems
with them?
4. Outside of glass/caulking the seams...is it adviseable to put a
layer or 2 of glass cloth over the whole exterior?
Any and all comments gratefully appreciated!!!
Thanks!
Sandy
You can use 1/4" luan if you know what you are looking for and what
the problems might be. Not trying to be a wise ass here, but don't ask
me about the problems that could arise, it just takes some experience.
You can use polyester in some cases for toy boats, however epoxy is
easier, and I would prefer it for any kind of stitch and tape working
boat such as a moore, or a dinghy. Glassing the hull, well, I would
suggest you ask the designer. Now I am being a wise ass as I did read
that your husband wants to design the boat. Anyway, think of the glass
as abraision resistance, and if you are going to be in a rocky area,
it might be a good idea. Some boats I just glass the bottom and a few
inches up the side. If you are considering the glass as a structural
component of a stitch and tape boat, you are misguided and need to
make the boat stronger. Fiberglass sheathing is not generally
considered a structural component on S+T boats.
These are all opinions, based on very general circumstances and do not
necessarily apply here or in any other case. Lastly, tell him to spend
25 bucks and buy a plan for this boat, just so you don't do all that
work and end up with a tool that does not work, for then it will sit
in the backyard and rot. Trust me, if he finishes this one, he will
probably build several more, (just ask all of our wives), there will
be plenty of time to design one of his own...
Scotty from SmallBoats.com
|