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Classic wooden speedboat build , sink, search for, recovery and rebuild.

1235721

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,404 ✭✭✭✭vicwatson


    Well done Fergal. I've been reading this thread all morning.

    Super job, what's the revised launch date (aprx)

    Also, may I congratulate you on a very, very tidy work area and superb craftmanship. Great to see.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    Thanks for your comments :) I was planning to do a test run this month to mark out the water line and check for any leaks :eek: but with all the bad weather in March & April I'm way behind I still hope to get her wet this summer if we get one :D




    .
    vicwatson wrote: »
    Well done Fergal. I've been reading this thread all morning.

    Super job, what's the revised launch date (aprx)

    Also, may I congratulate you on a very, very tidy work area and superb craftmanship. Great to see.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    The start of the kingplank, I tried my best to match up the wood grain to form into a V on the bow. I'm in two minds on weather to stain this a bit darker than the rest hmmmm.

    20130529_130639_zps56200c32.jpg


    Rounded off the kingplank to 6" back as far as the cockpit then it's tapers down to 2". I was going to cut up plywood squares to use as washers to hold down the planks but then I saw a bag of these corner blocks in B&Q for €3 handy little things and the epoxy won't stick to them :)

    20130530_195115_zpsaf927f20.jpg

    One half down and one to go.

    20130530_195849_zps835333da.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 545 ✭✭✭Daibheid


    fergal.b wrote: »
    First test run of the engine in the boat to make sure there are no leaks before I do the planking. She still needs to be tuned in and the timing set but I'm happy enough to carry on with closing her up, the alternator belt could also do with a bit of a tighten :D


    Music! What a sweet sounding beast! :D

    I think you may have a HT leak to the starboard cam cover breather? Check out the video at about 30seconds in. Sparking?

    The deck planking looks beautiful. You must be really enjoying working on it now with the end in sight and the weather getting nice.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    Daibheid wrote: »
    Music! What a sweet sounding beast! :D

    I think you may have a HT leak to the starboard cam cover breather? Check out the video at about 30seconds in. Sparking?

    Well spotted it gave me a kick when I went looking for the other day it threw me off the boat on to the sharp pebble dash wall and cut my back and elbows in bits as I slid down it :mad: O the joy :D


  • Registered Users Posts: 40 IreJohn


    I think building a boat is creating a life, and just as wonderful .
    Thanks for sharing the pleasure.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,404 ✭✭✭✭vicwatson


    I'm in two minds on weather to stain this a bit darker than the rest hmmmm.

    I would personally, I think it would look smashing and classy.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    Pointy :D

    20130601_184257_zpse0de8f9e.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 605 ✭✭✭breghall


    looking good, she's coming along nicely ...:)


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  • Registered Users Posts: 40 IreJohn


    I'm in two minds on weather to stain this a bit darker than the rest hmmmm.

    I think some contrast might be good, but its your baby :D
    I have found that staining wood, kills something in the wood :confused:
    not sure what you might call it, but do you know when you are working
    on a piece of wood, it takes on or has a life of its own, (people who work
    with wood will understand, I hope :eek: ) well I think stain kills that.
    But that's just my opinion :D .
    Have you done any inlaid work ? I think that would crown it, narrow strip
    down the kingplank and out each side , black , I have seen sawdust from
    bog oak mixed with glue, Im sure epoxy would do the same, spread in a recess
    made with a router, when finished it looks excellent , like marble, try it on a
    piece of waste timber. If you want to transfer a pattern or a drawing to timber,
    great with curves etc, is to use carbon paper, I use it for carving


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    It certainly does have a life of it's own and changes day to day, I would be happy not to varnish it just so I can feel the bear wood, nothing like the feel of very smooth wood :D
    For the caulking I was going to use black graphite power mixed with epoxy like I did with the sides but now I think I'll use sikaflex because when you sand it the wood won't get stained.
    Your pretty handy with the carving nice work. I did think of doing an inlay maybe something like this, I'll wait and see what it looks with the hardware on first.

    plasdeck-custom-inlay-006.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 40 IreJohn


    I think you should have your own motif Fergal, the work you do is so rare and to such a high standard.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,108 ✭✭✭pedroeibar1


    fergal.b wrote: »
    I did think of doing an inlay maybe something like this, I'll wait and see what it looks with the hardware on first.

    plasdeck-custom-inlay-006.jpg

    Methinks that my choice of white deck inlay still might have a chance! ;)


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    Well thats the planking done except for the engine cover, I bookedmatched the kingplank so the grain will go around the fuel filler cap, I did the same on the bow for the cleat.
    I also bought some BLACK caulking :D and some stain to put on the sides and Kingplank :eek: I only get one shot at the staining and it's hard to know what it will look like till the varnish goes on, I did do some test pieces but some of the planks are coming out in different shades so only time will tell.


    20130605_195816_zpsfc7ff982.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 40 IreJohn


    Loving it!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 605 ✭✭✭breghall


    sweeeeet !!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 748 ✭✭✭Yawlboy


    This is a work of art.


  • Registered Users Posts: 373 ✭✭mufflets2


    This is fabulous ,
    Looks even better in reality


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    All taped up ready for caulking.


    20130607_111807_zpsdc1dd562.jpg


    6 tubes later and a cramped hand :D


    20130607_144804_zps87605093.jpg


    I let it set for a few hours and then removed the tape, it will be next week before it's set enough to sand so back to removing the fiberglass with a heatgun under a clear plastic roof on one of the hottest days of the year :mad: and then some beer :D


    20130607_155836_zps6d62f8b8.jpg


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,108 ✭✭✭pedroeibar1


    As the French say, "Chapeau!"


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  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    Back to the wood, the fiberglass was easy enough to remove but the resin that was left behind was a real pain to sand down but 50 sanding discs later it's done :) I hope I don't have to do this again so next time I'm going to go with 207 west system special hardener.

    20130615_131737_zpse6fadf93.jpg



    I'm also going to give peel ply a go on the transom first this will protect it from any dirt or dampness in the air and when removed should leave a smooth finish ready for varnish, if it works out I will do the whole boat with it if not I'll take it off and sand it back down :eek:

    20130615_131208_zps69fbcf81.jpg


    20130615_130707_zps82022a50.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 482 ✭✭airsoftone


    now that,s what i call a project . can,t wait to see the finished product keep me posted . already looks like it,s going to be a looker .


  • Registered Users Posts: 373 ✭✭mufflets2


    This looks cooler than a classic Ferrari


  • Registered Users Posts: 158 ✭✭Talent


    Terrific work - wish I had the patience for it!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 482 ✭✭airsoftone


    we will have to see the finished product when it,s finished be nice to see how she turns out . going to be a cracker .


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 236 ✭✭davlacey


    looking good. how did u get the bend on the side planks up to the bow im capping mine in the next few days. its a simular radius


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    davlacey wrote: »
    looking good. how did u get the bend on the side planks up to the bow im capping mine in the next few days. its a simular radius

    The bow was easy enough as it's just one bend, the transom was a bit tricker as I had to bend, twist and cup :eek: to do this I soaked them in hot towels pouring boiling water over them every half hour and clamped them in a bit at a time over the day till they were happy to sit in place.


    20130615_131208_zps69fbcf81.jpg


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 236 ✭✭davlacey


    ill give that a go my little genny wont power a kettle so ill draw the radius on cardboard and try bend it at home first.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    Make sure you have plenty of clamps :D Depending on how the boat was designed You might have to do spiling on each plank to get them to fit there is a bit of info on it here http://www.duck-trap.com/building.html and a few videos on youtube if you do a search.



    .


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    Not too sure now :confused: but it's on now and on to stay :eek: I won't get to see what it truly looks like till the varnish is on, so fingers crossed :D

    20130620_124704_zps78a4efa4.jpg


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 605 ✭✭✭breghall


    it looks amazing Fergal ! class A work as usual


  • Registered Users Posts: 40 IreJohn


    Looks very well Fergal, and really defines the grain.
    What stain are you using ?.
    Thanks


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    IreJohn wrote: »
    Looks very well Fergal, and really defines the grain.
    What stain are you using ?.
    Thanks

    Because I will be coating it in epoxy I had to go with a water based wood dye so I went with Rustins Dark oak, I tried brown mahogany on a test piece but it just didn't bring it up enough I also would have like to try Ebony but I couldn't find any, probably just as well in the poll most people went against the black :D



    .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,217 ✭✭✭moonshadow


    fergal.b wrote: »
    Because I will be coating it in epoxy I had to go with a water based wood dye so I went with Rustins Dark oak, I tried brown mahogany on a test piece but it just didn't bring it up enough I also would have like to try Ebony but I couldn't find any, probably just as well in the poll most people went against the black :D



    .

    Well I think it's smashing, and on inspection today I can only say that when she is finished it will truly be a spectacular build.... I can still hear her singing :)


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    3 coats of epoxy and a bit of an idea how it will turn, I'm not happy how it's reacting with the caulking it doesn't seem to want to stick to it so I might have to sand it back down and remove it and try a different one, I should have done a test before hand but as it was sikaflex I thought it would be fine I'm also using 207 special hardener for the first time so that might also have something to do with it :mad: I'll see how it looks in the morning and try and come up with a plan, all in all I'm happy with the look of it except for the bloody flies that keep sticking to it :)

    20130625_154010_zps610c4eb7.jpg

    20130625_153957_zps8c488a8b.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 40 IreJohn


    Looking excellent Fergal.

    In the first image, the transom, is that regular marine ply or a veneer ?

    Thanks


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    IreJohn wrote: »
    Looking excellent Fergal.

    In the first image, the transom, is that regular marine ply or a veneer ?

    Thanks

    Thanks :) The transom is also mahogany planks over marine ply, You can see the full build in the link below "My crackerbox build"


  • Registered Users Posts: 40 IreJohn


    It was the finish on the marine ply.
    I need to replace mahogany veneer ply as water damage has penetrated
    the veneer. I have a lot of timber to replace approx 6 8x4 sheets.
    Question; Could I use marine ply instead of the veneer and still get an
    acceptable finish ?

    Thanks Fergal


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    Yep my other boat was built with just marine ply stained to look like mahogany :)


    007-1.jpg


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  • Registered Users Posts: 40 IreJohn


    Thanks Fergal, thats great news, mahogany veneer was going to delay me.
    and thanks again, as always, for your help.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 605 ✭✭✭breghall


    fergal.b wrote: »
    so I might have to sand it back down and remove it and try a different one,

    Oh lord i feel sorry for you.....I am so happy I'm not a perfectionist!! :D:D i'd have looked at it and said " ah it'll be fine, it looks ok"......

    Hopefully it'll turn out ok once it cures overnight...it'd nearly break my heart just thinking of you sanding it all back to bare wood.:P


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 236 ✭✭davlacey


    where is the link? looks like a very sticky boat alright.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    davlacey wrote: »
    where is the link? looks like a very sticky boat alright.

    This one My crackerbox build, :D
    http://s753.photobucket.com/albums/x...view=slideshow


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    Fiberglassing round two :( lets hope this one comes out ok:) I'm using 4 oz cloth stopping just short of the deck were the rub rail is going.
    The right side has it' first coat on for a few hours and this is when I trim the cloth and remove the tape before the next coat of epoxy.

    20130626_151844_zps34abb2e0.jpg

    Both sides done and the place is a bit of a mess, no time to stop while epoxying :) The next coat is to fill the weave and I'm putting this on good and thick as I will be laying peel ply over it.

    20130626_174110_zps6876047a.jpg

    I used a squeegee to put another coat over the peel ply forcing it in till it's gone clear and moving any bubbles out to the edge. I finished up at about 11 last night and it started raining this morning so I just hope it had enough time to cure before any dampness got in and the peel ply is doing it's job only time will tell. As I'm using a slow hardener the deck was still a bit soft to sand so I'll leave it a bit longer before I get to work on it.


    20130627_111441_zps5d67df72.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 373 ✭✭mufflets2


    Looks great , I want one , in the sitting room where I can look at it all day.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 40 IreJohn


    Following your work is an education Fergal.
    I feel like a student again :D
    If you could see me I have my hand up, please sir, whats peel ply ?


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    IreJohn wrote: »
    Following your work is an education Fergal.
    I feel like a student again :D
    If you could see me I have my hand up, please sir, whats peel ply ?

    Peel ply is a non stick fabric that you can put over wet epoxy to level it out it also keeps out dampness,dirt and bugs and when you peel it off it leaves the epoxy ready for another coat or with a light sanding varnish as it also removes the amine blush the wax like stuff that forms on epoxy when it sets normally you would have wash this off with soapy water before you sand or add another coat. This is my first time using it so not sure how well it works yet :D


    .


  • Registered Users Posts: 158 ✭✭Talent


    I recall once getting mahogany veneer faced marine ply - more expensive but took a far better finish than say birch finished ply. An alternative, if you've got infinite patience, is to buy sheets of veneer on its own. Alastair Duffin, a tremendous boatbuilder in Belfast (his GP14s are famous) is marvellous at veneering ply decks.

    He can apply it so meticulously that it looks as if it is the original wood and, if my memory served me right, matches the figuring in the veneer on both sides of a deck.

    A word of caution, however, if you are drawn to the seductive siren song of a veneer. Don't do what I once did doing up a 17 foot clinker dinghy and apply veneer using a West Epoxy mixture lathered on the base plywood of the deck. In my innocence (and I'm very innocent) I assumed that veneer impregnated with epoxy (and veneer really soaks it up) would last longer. What a fool I was! The veneer soaked it up all right but it also buckled and curled and I was left with a miserable currogated surface. I had to take a belt sander to it to get rid of it.

    Moral of story: use a contact adhesive like Evo Stick when applying a veneer (apply to deck and underside of veneer, let dry, then bring two sides into contact). While it sticks instantly and needs little more than the gentle touch of a roller to ensure good adhesion, it can be tricky when lining it up with, say, a kingplank (runs down the middle of the foredeck). You can't just lift it and adjust it. When it's stuck it's really stuck! The edges are less of a problem although bear in mind that veneer splits very easily. Leave a little overlapping the edge of a deck (all trim like gunwhales, etc, need to be off) and carefully trim with the grain using the sharpest blade you can find. Read in a magazine somewhere of a guy who uses a cutthroat razor which he constantly strops. Then sand the edge gently with the grain until everything lines up. No power tools for this process.


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    As I said I'm not happy with the way the epoxy is forming on the caulking so I sanded down the deck again :( to see if I could find a way of solving the problem with anything I had in the shed, I started with clear nail varnish :D and painted it on to one line of the caulking then I did one in thinned down yacht varnish, one in PVA wood glue and one in watered down PVA. I then coated half of them in resin and half with resin and peel ply. They all came out ok with the watered down PVA giving the best finish and the nail varnish a close second :) so now I'm going to coat all the caulking in PVA and have another go with the resin "anyone want to buy a bag of epoxy dust it's like star dust only itchier" :D

    This is the test piece, you can see on the bottom right caulking how the epoxy didn't sit right with nothing on it.

    20130629_094106_zps2d3b6ca3.jpg


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    Three coats of varnish down with about another three to go, boy do I hate sanding but it's getting there :) I'm much happier with the finish in the epoxy and fiberglass cloth totally transparent thank God I didn't fancy stripping it down again.

    20130720_154611_zps316c2345.jpg

    20130720_154517_zps6881da0f.jpg


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