winter project, insight requested

[2182]

so, first the full disclosure: my winter project is not a seacraft. i have been looking for a wooden boat rebuild project for some time now. finally found one and when i started to tear it apart i realized it was a wash. the only thing salvagable is the frame and its cheaply built. i just bought myself a full sized template. the good news is the price was right ($50.00). boat is enclosed like a kayak but shaped more like a rowing skull (sp) so i may reconfigure it as a rowboat. i have never built a boat, but i do custom interior trim and cabinets so it shouldnt be too bad. i am listing "the plan." please poke holes in it and add any ideas that may be helpful. i know this site is for seacrafts but my seacraft is bulletproof and customized to the max, so i need something to keep me from channel surfing every night through the winter. thanks in advance.
1-build bottom out of marine ply (3/4)
2-build vertical bracing around entire boat(maple?)
3-build elevated "slat style" flooring in bottom of hull
4-build top bracing (the long way(maple)
5-wrap sides (1/4 mahogany plywood)
6-fill in top (1x4 mahogany)
7-varnish top, sides, and interior (epiphanes spar varnish)
8-fiberglass bottom

kind of a sucker for mahogany, could change the maple but i know its very hard. also, not dying to glass and paint the bottom but i want to make sure its fully waterproof. also, not sure if the 1/4" ply on the sides will be ok w/ just many many coats of spar varnish. like i said, ive never done this before, let the hole poking begin.

[boatdotbay]

Your project sounds like fun, I could use something to keep me away from the TV during the winter months. I would steer clear of using maple on any boat project other than a half hull. It is prone to rotting faster than many woods. It makes a great cutting board and beautiful furniture but I would go with white oak, ash, mahogany, or sassafras if you can find it. Good luck on the project -- don't forget to post pics!

[2182]

thanks for quick response. i was planning on getting the wood tomorrow. maybe just go all mahogany. i wanted a light wood to contrast w/ the mahogany, but ash is too dark and i dont like oak. did not know about maples tendency to rot. ive built many counters and cutting boards out of it w/ great results. pics coming soon, have to find my photobucket info...

[shana]

dont sit in front of tv! ihave a big project to get going rebuild 25 seafari new transom take engs out and back in rebuild pumps new paint! you name it, dont be afraid? thanks george

[2182]

george, im not afraid. i got ahold of a guy in upstate new york who builds rowing dorys (plug here: adirondack guide boats) and he gave me some good pointers. i think i may glass the whole outside of the hull. even w/ spar urethane and clear 5200 (they do make clear 5200 right?), thin 1/4" plywood can warp easily. also, i have never liked kayaks. they hurt my back and the constant rowing is annoying. then again, i grew up w motorboats...im building it for my father for his 60th bday and he loves dorys. so im going to convert it to a rowing dory while still covering a portion of the top (kayak style). like i said, im a sucker for mahogany, the more the better.

[Fr. Frank]

Try hickory for your lighter contrasting wood. Good rot resistance, a bit harder on your tools when you're working the wood as it's vary hard wood, but not as bad as teak. Steaming helps when bending and shaping. Birch is easier to work, but not as durable unless laminated/encapsulated.

(This advice is from my wife who does woodworking. I do rigging and tuning on boats and bikes, apart from the church)

[Basspond]

I'm partial to white cedar wooden boats:





This is my Barnegat Bay sneakbox, that is unfortunately now painted duck boat brown [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Clear cedar is probably tough to find, but I love the smell.

[2182]

that cedar boat is gorgeous. both hickory and cedar are good ideas. cedar is too light and wont contrast as well w/ mahogany though. i guess it depends what they have at the lumber yard tomorrow. they always have mahogany, walnut, maple, etc. ash and hickory are harder to find. as usual, many quick and intelligent responses from the csc family.

[McGillicuddy]

224466,
Look forward to seeing your project here. Or at least post a link...
Ditto on the compliment to Basspond's BB sneakbox. Beauty.

Ditto boatdotbay's sentiment on the solid maples, I concur - not good choices for boats. Good in a 70 degree kitchen not so good with the elements. Ever seen a maple park bench?

Questions... what type/method of dory are you planning to build (laps-trake ply stitch and glue, planked siding)?

The woods you might use for each may be very different...

Marine grade plys can be incredibly strong even 1/4" to 3/8" when properly supported.

Mahogany is classic, and excellent in every way; strength to weight; decay resistance; joinery, etc.

Regarding your distaste for oak - I understand that in red oak which is a terrible boat-building wood, and has been horribly overused in schlock furnishings and kitchen cabinets all across America. But white oak is perhaps the best boat-building wood for many purposes. Especially ribs, stringers, and knees. Nothing says well built boat quite like steamed white oak ribs on a small skiff. Its golds also contrast nicely with redder mahoganies.

When you speak of light I'm not sure if you speak of color or weight... As far as contrast goes keep in mind mahogany can range from blonde to deep red the - redder the better for boat building. While Honduran mahogany can be very blonde, the African mahoganies like Khaya and Utile can be much redder and have tremendous contrast. Cypress and southern long leaf yellow pine are also an excellent boat building wood that should be available down there.

I personally would dodge hickory and pecan (almost indistinguishable from one another as they offer nothing that white oak doesn't do better and they beat the crap out of tooling). Also white oak and mahoganies take stains very well furthering the contrast battle...

Sorry about my rambling I like wood boats

[2182]

mcgillicuddy, keep on rambling. like the ideas. going very simple, never built a boat before. want to keep as light as possible. 3/4" marine ply bottom, 1x4 vertical supports (rib style, but not U shaped), .25" mahogany plywood around the sides, mahogany 1x4 and ____ on the top, partially enclosed like a kayak but set up as a rowing scull. when i mentioned light, i meant color wise. i was thinking about using one wood for all the supports, and the trim around the gunnels, and the mahogany running the long ways on the top (think, older runabout style). next question: will i have to glass the whole outside, or can i just do the bottom and 6" up? that is how the "template" i got was done, but they also used drywall screws to hold it together and the plywood sides were warped and cracking everywhere...i want to finish the whole inside w/ spar urethane, not fiberglass. also, should i biscuit join the 1x4 or just use a glue joint? ive heard varying opinions on this...lastly, im going to look at white oak today. or i may just go all mahogany, last time i got it surfaced 4/4 for right around $5 a board foot, which is super good price.