JEM Watercraft

In this picture I've tried to show shape of the bottom against the white background, the photo doesn't do it justice, Originally I buggered up the bottom totally. The centre was inverted . Didn't take a lot of fixing though), it's all about paying attention. Matt the more I look at this, from either end on, or at right angles to, the more impressed I become with the shape. You should take a bow.

Sorry 'bout the neck strain but it was the only way I could fit it all in.
I'm not really going as fast as these pictures suggest. It takes me a while to get around to doing the pooter stuff. This is where I'm up to as of now. On Monday of this week I began restitching it together after my initial stuff up.
Thanks Jack, appeciate kind comments from someone thats probly forgotten more than I'll ever know about this stuff

John,

Your boat is looking great mate. for some reason, my email notifications are not working on this forum at the moment.

What thickness ply are you using?

Was told the ply was 4mm thick, actually it measures slightly less than that am thinking closer to 3.6. Felt a bit more comfortable with first attempt being thicker than 3mm and some of that was iffy 3mm. I'm only a little feller at about 5' 6'' and 150lbs on a fat day, so I probly coulda got away with using even that.
Put my final coat on the bottom yesterday... thought about it later and maybe one more. Did turn it over though did a few measures... the deflection measurement we spoke of earlier actually seems closer to 1 7/8ths on this but when I placed frames back in their position it could have taken a bit more angle still to touch everywhere. I spose all wood is gonna be different in how it reacts to being cut and twisted, even gently. Then again the same wood can probly react differently on a day to day basis 'pending on heat, humidity etc. Already discovering lotsa things I'd do differently should I do another...hmmm another one.
Oh here's a question I used six oz glass and wish I'd used 4 would it hurt to use different on inside, or even the deck bits? Not sure but I think the number just refers to how much "goo" it will soak up, therefore how thick/strong it becomes.

Mate,

i don't really understand the weight rating thing either. I think is is how much the cloth weighs per square yard or square metre without the resin.

On my Laker, I used up all my off-cuts from previous builds. most of which was rated by the seller (Whitworths) at 200 grams per square metre. I think that equates to about 3 ounces. and I only used 3mm interior grade "blonde" ply - utter rubbish, and the boat is plenty strong enough for my 200 pounds and the abuse I put it through.

On Robin's boat, I used 4mm Gaboon BS1088 marine ply and cloth I got from Duckworks that was rated at 3.5oz per squre yard. this cloth was even thinner than the stuff I got from Whitworths.

I don't think there is any problem with using the lighter cloth anywhere that you want to.

Got really brave today. I cut the top off the boat! Scarey thing to run a saw round the top of yer boat I was never really happy with the way the cloth had seemingly failed to bond at the very top (last pic if you look closely you can see different shades at the part sitting on the trestles) probly forty % was iffy; tried to stick it down but still not happy. So I cut it off. Carefully mind you. the offcut had the previously perfect edge from the preparation so I seperated it, turned it around and will now use it for the shear clamps.
At least now if I fall out of the boat, I won't have as far to fall

Probly cut 5/8ths off. Nothing at all to do with the design of the thing, just my... inexperience I spose. Hopefully I'll have learned to watch out for this in the future.
A post script edit: Tried to remove the apparently faulty cloth, thought it would just peel off. I was wrong wrong wrong, hard as nails. Still glad I took the time to clear the issue up it would have definitely spoilt the finished appearance.

with the deck, should really affect much of anything.

Sounds to me like you're right up there with the most experienced builders. That's the beauty of these boats. Don't like something??? Just cut it out and start over!!

I split the topic over into the builder log section.