Finally started - Boat shelves and Pirogue

[Earvin]

Happy Australia Day everybody

After talking about building for well over 12 months I have finally started. It probably helps that we have our first born due soon so I am not out on the water as much. We have also moved our television away from the antenna so we cant watch TV without a lot of effort moving it back - boy it is amazing what I have been able to get through when I am not zombieing out in front of the idiot box.

I have very little building expereince and I am really enjoying the process so far. The one thing I have learned is that I cannot be trusted to measure correctly the first time and sometimes the second

I am doing a combined build first up. A set of Mats boat shelves for the baby and the Touring Pirogue which is a suprise for my nephew.

So far everything is drawn up and ready for cutting .

[Oldsparkey]

It is best to read the instructions several times so you know what is going on with the boat building process before you even get to that step of it. I like to tell folks to understand what is necessary about 6 steps down the road when building a boat. Just like the wood ... measure three or four times , step back and think then recheck again before you cut a piece of it. ( Yes .. I have had to get another sheet , panel , or wood to cover my mistake when rushing things )

If you do not understand what will be taking place and then getting to that part ......... Not a lot of fun but it can be corrected.

Remember Murphy's Law ....If something can go wrong it will........ Best to beat Murphy from the start and send him on vacation.

Chuck.

[Earvin]

Hey Chuck,

I am on the right track then as I have read the instructions many times over. Slow and steady for me.

[Earvin]

My Japanese saw arrived today as did my block plane. What a beautiful piece of kit the saw is. I have decided to do most of my work with hand tools so I got an opportunity to get some cutting out done tonight on the Pirogue. It is starting to look like parts of a boat now.

It took me a little while to get used to the Japanese saw but once I relaxed and let the saw do the work rather than forcing it worked really well.

Hopefully more cutting out tomorrow.

[Earvin]

Is this the longest time between posts ?

The boat shelves are done and the Pirogue is almost there. I have learnt a lot and made a number of mistakes ready for my new build - the Merrimac. The Merrimac should be a good boat for the whole family to get out on the water.

The Pirogue just needs some sanding and prepping for painting/varnishing and adding the thwarts. I had some issues with fibreglassing the inside but that doesn't seem unusual . Hopefully I will have it ready in a couple of weeks to see if it floats.


I feel like a real boat builder now - look at those clamps!


One of the reasons this has taken so long, and my best little helper. I can't wait to get her out on the water with me!

[Earvin]

Did some more sanding today and getting close to painting. I intend to put graphite on the bottom but am still unsure whether to varnish or paint the rest. It's not perfect but the imperfections are growing on me . When I first started I used to really worry about the mistakes I made but now I am just happy I have built a boat!

So what do people think varnish or paint?

[goanywhere]

I intend to paint my Sabalo. I like the look of varnished wood but being my first build there will be lots of minor cosmetic damage that would show up in a varnished finish, that won't affect a painted finish. But I like a painted finish anyway, and with a good durable paint it should be easy to maintain.

I think the Sabalo looks good painted, and I intend to paint mine a deep yellow with the black graphite on the hull. Maybe some stensil cut transfers as well later on as well....

[Earvin]

What type of paint are you going to use?

I am leaning towards varnishing the outside and painting the inside.

[goanywhere]

Probably an epoxy enamel single pak. I was thinking a 2 pak polyester. That's extremely tough (they use it to re-coat ceramics) but aparently it's very hard to touch up if it does scratch or chip. Because I am using epoxy/graphite on the lower hull I don't think I really need a super tough paint for the upper decks and cockpit. I want to be able to touch it up if needed. The epoxy enamel is still a very tough paint aparently, and about half the price of the 2 pak. Definitely use a tough marine grade paint either way, there are some cheaper ones that are single polyester or acrylic that are a waste of time if you want scratch resistance.

[Earvin]

Thanks mate. I will check to see what is available locally in an epoxy enamel. I have read elsewhere, on here I think, some people use latex porch paint. Given I am only doing
the inside this might be ok for me as well.