Hairie's Okwata 15 X 26 LC

[Oldsparkey]

Mick....

I did about the same thing when putting the deck on the Freedom but I did it in reverse from your way. I ran a series of supports along the upper edge of the hull. Marked it out so they would be the same distance from the top as the thickness of the wood I was using.

After they set ( one about every three inches ) then I dry fit the deck to make sure it was right , popped it off and then epoxied the top side of the spacers/supports and the under edge of the deck , put it back on the boat and taped it down. Worked like a charm.
Last thing was to run a bead of epoxy along the seam to make sure it was sealed and then glassed it to the hull.

Chuck.

[hairymick]

G'day Matt,

I think it worked a treat.

The little blocks located the deck nicely for me and made stitching the deck to side real easy. instead of the time consuming practise of zip tying or using lots of wire ties to hold the deck in place, all that was needed is some masking tape.



In hind sight, I think little pieces of let over 4mm ply would have been better.

This is how she looks under the decks.

[jem]

all that was needed is some masking tape.

"some"

[tx river rat]

Mick
hows the boat coming.
Ron

[Oldsparkey]

Mick
hows the boat coming.
Ron

The last pictures were Jan 03 of this year and since it is the 11th , 8 days later. I would say he is out paddling it. Ya know Mick he does not let any moss grow under him when building a boat.

Chuck.

[hairymick]

G'day Ron & Chuck,

Thanks for the interest guys.

there has been a bit of other stuff going on here in recent weeks and this has slowed my progress some.

I found a little time to finish off the deck to hull seam today and firbreglass the decks.

wet out coat.



also a little messing round with the front hatch lid.



If I feel up to it, will put the second fill coat on this afternoon.

[craiggamesh]

Its looking good. I can't wait to see her finished.

[hairymick]

Thanks Craig,

Neither can I mate.

I got 2 fill coats on yesterday and started fitting the hatch combings. Bit of a sand today and top coat of resin goes on Yaaaaaaay!

Gonna make a box insert thingy the will fit into my rear hatch, sort of a removeable tankwell that I can use when fishing. More on this shortly.

Off into town this morning to get some screws and bits & pieces for fit out.

[hairymick]

Miz Robin is away at the moment so there hasn't been too much pressure with the Honey Do things. The weather has turned cooler with south easterlies and a lovely cool 85f. Been able to get some more done today.

Final coat ot resin is on. sorry about the blurred piccies, the reason will be explained shortly.





Probably final build up layer of hatch lips are on





as is the front hatch lid.



Tomorrow, I will probably put the graphite on the bottom and start on my tank well thingy and rear hatch lid.

I deliberately haven't started on the cockpit coamings yet because I am unsure exactly where the optimal seating position will be. i plan to take her for a lil walk to confirm seat location. If it is where I think it will be, there will be room behind the seat back for a small fish and beer cooler to be built in. I don't keep many fish that I catch so it doesn't need to be too big. Just somewhere to keep them fresh until I can get to a bank to place in a proper cooler.

Matt, I have been walking round this boat for some time now and the more I look at her the better I like her. I think she is going to be a superb recreational kayak with genuine tripping and load carrying capability. For my purposes, as a fishing and day tripping kayak, I can't help by compare with my Laker ( and I bloody love that boat) Okwata is sleeker and prettier and should be an even better boat to paddle. (and that, my friend, is a very big call)

Starting to wax lyrical here again, I think i may have had one or 6 too many of these.



Out on the patio,
We sit
And the humidity,
We breath
We watch the lightning
Crash over canefields
Laugh and sing
This is Australia

[craiggamesh]

I find those bottle-shaped tools to be very important in boat building. I've built my first boat without a spokeshave, but I can't think of a single thing I have built without a beer.