Not really a builder log, more of an update on a five year long saga. 
Bout a coupla weeks to go. some details in questions and comments "lack of active posts" More to follow.
Cheers John.
Five years on
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john the pom
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:12 am
- Type of boat I like: <-- Please read instructions to the left and delete this text. Then, tell us what type boat you like! :-)
- Location: S.E. Queensland
Five years on
Not really a builder log, more of an update on a five year long saga. Bout a coupla weeks to go. some details in questions and comments "lack of active posts" More to follow.
Cheers John.
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jem
- Site Admin
- Posts: 4916
- Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2004 8:14 pm
- Type of boat I like: Wooden
- Location: Greensboro, NC
- Contact:
Re: Five years on
That's the "original" Okwata with rounded deck. I may need to revisit the design and publish.
-Matt. Designer.
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Mick
- Posts: 141
- Joined: Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:26 am
- Type of boat I like: Kayaks and canoes
- Location: Fraser Coast, Queensland, Australia
Re: Five years on
Dam straight!jem wrote:That's the "original" Okwata with rounded deck. I may need to revisit the design and publish.
I also have the plans for the original Occy.
John, your boat is magnificent mate. Bloody well done!
Re: Five years on
John, excellent craftsmanship on the Occy. Very elegant and beautiful boat. Please give us a detailed report when you get her wet.
Phishtech
Phishtech
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john the pom
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:12 am
- Type of boat I like: <-- Please read instructions to the left and delete this text. Then, tell us what type boat you like! :-)
- Location: S.E. Queensland
Re: Five years on
Whilst its nice to be praised, and I do appreciate the gesture, craftmanship is probably a bit of an overstatement. I'm a bit of a hacker I'm afraid and you won't get any closeups of my builds, particularly as they're in progress. 
My sole intention is to end up with a serviceable kayak that pleases me. A few examples:
How many of you real builders use tinsnips to trim parts from ply?
Anyone else use a 4" angle grinder?
My fillets along the centre seam were actually and literally pours. Just poured it in and tipped it back and forth till it was level (ish)
I drew the hull panels and frames as per the plans, cable tied it all together. Marked it with a texta how I wanted it to be. Then cut off one and a half to two inches off everything except in the overall lengths of panels by eye, and didn't look at the plans again. ****In fact, apart from the locations of the hatches I didn't even use a tape measure again! I just bodgie my way along. This probably takes twice as long as a build needs to take because I'll spend as much time taking stuff off as I take putting stuff on. If I don't like the look of what I've done I change it as I go along. I wanted a higher deck in front than the plans, which had them both at the same height. I wanted the whole thing lower in the water by two inches. I wanted rocker, quite a bit. I wanted more vee. I used shop bought moulding for sheer clamps and coaming. I guess I like to "cheat". NO one will ever have a boat that is just like mine.
Example, where I used quad moulding for sheer clamps ( which I believe is worth consideration for anyone) I was able to plane away a nice angle where the deck meets the sides. Rather than have that sharp angle that is easily damaged. Thought I was real smart. It looked crap*** when I added resin! Because of the variation in the middle ply which I had exposed on both pieces, light, dark, light dark. Tonight I found a solution and can fix it up pretty. A $5 bamboo floor mat which I stripped down to make lightweight hatches is also a perfect fit over the angle. Apart from the cover up it will be a sacrificial and quite hard wearing strip that happens to be a nice contrast with wood either side of it. (whew)
I make a lot of work for myself doing stuff. I suppose the alternative would be to take up watching tv and that's not gonna happen.
Again I appreciate the praise but craftmanship its not
Cheers John.
Ps *** You can see what I mean on the bottom pic. You can also see the bamboo stuff as a hatch cover on the deck. The strips fit very nicely along there.
Pps ****
No disrespect to Matt, but I believe this boat was a poor seller because of the blandness of the deck's profile. The hull profile as viewed from the side was awesome though, just a little high for a lightweight paddler. Pics middle of this page at sparkey's.
http://www.southernpaddler.com/phpBB3/v ... 9&start=30
cheers John.
My sole intention is to end up with a serviceable kayak that pleases me. A few examples: How many of you real builders use tinsnips to trim parts from ply?
Anyone else use a 4" angle grinder?
My fillets along the centre seam were actually and literally pours. Just poured it in and tipped it back and forth till it was level (ish)
I drew the hull panels and frames as per the plans, cable tied it all together. Marked it with a texta how I wanted it to be. Then cut off one and a half to two inches off everything except in the overall lengths of panels by eye, and didn't look at the plans again. ****In fact, apart from the locations of the hatches I didn't even use a tape measure again! I just bodgie my way along. This probably takes twice as long as a build needs to take because I'll spend as much time taking stuff off as I take putting stuff on. If I don't like the look of what I've done I change it as I go along. I wanted a higher deck in front than the plans, which had them both at the same height. I wanted the whole thing lower in the water by two inches. I wanted rocker, quite a bit. I wanted more vee. I used shop bought moulding for sheer clamps and coaming. I guess I like to "cheat". NO one will ever have a boat that is just like mine.
Example, where I used quad moulding for sheer clamps ( which I believe is worth consideration for anyone) I was able to plane away a nice angle where the deck meets the sides. Rather than have that sharp angle that is easily damaged. Thought I was real smart. It looked crap*** when I added resin! Because of the variation in the middle ply which I had exposed on both pieces, light, dark, light dark. Tonight I found a solution and can fix it up pretty. A $5 bamboo floor mat which I stripped down to make lightweight hatches is also a perfect fit over the angle. Apart from the cover up it will be a sacrificial and quite hard wearing strip that happens to be a nice contrast with wood either side of it. (whew)
I make a lot of work for myself doing stuff. I suppose the alternative would be to take up watching tv and that's not gonna happen.
Again I appreciate the praise but craftmanship its not
Cheers John.
Ps *** You can see what I mean on the bottom pic. You can also see the bamboo stuff as a hatch cover on the deck. The strips fit very nicely along there.
Pps ****
No disrespect to Matt, but I believe this boat was a poor seller because of the blandness of the deck's profile. The hull profile as viewed from the side was awesome though, just a little high for a lightweight paddler. Pics middle of this page at sparkey's.
http://www.southernpaddler.com/phpBB3/v ... 9&start=30
cheers John.
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goanywhere
- Posts: 374
- Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:20 am
- Type of boat I like: Fishing SOTs.
- Location: Adelaide, South Australia.
Re: Five years on
Hey, to make all those adjustments you have to know something about how to build a boat like that. I wouldn't dare make any substantial changes unless I have a bit of experience under my belt, other than external fittings etc.
Custom designing without plans.... that's craftsmanship in my book!
Custom designing without plans.... that's craftsmanship in my book!
My psychologist reckons I need lots of fishin' therapy!
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john the pom
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:12 am
- Type of boat I like: <-- Please read instructions to the left and delete this text. Then, tell us what type boat you like! :-)
- Location: S.E. Queensland
Re: Five years on
Nah its just like driving in scarey traffic. close yer eyes it'll all work out. 
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goanywhere
- Posts: 374
- Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:20 am
- Type of boat I like: Fishing SOTs.
- Location: Adelaide, South Australia.
Re: Five years on
Okayyy..... now I'm not so sure.... close your eyes in scary traffic.... mmm... 
My psychologist reckons I need lots of fishin' therapy!