Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[MichaelK]

Hi,
I've started a scratch build of a "Wide-A-Wake" open steam launch, to be names "Lady Ess"
It will be steam powered using a Gage TVR1A motor. This my second ever build of a boat, so any comments or suggestions are always more than welcome!
So far I've had the plans resized so that the overall length is 900mm, and made the keel. The keel is made up of two 1/4" ply, glued with epoxy and clamped. The prop tube is glued in at the same time, in a groove cut (cut using the dentists attachment on the dremel) in the two ply pieces.
I have also started to make the Hog, made up of 6 layers of 1.8mm ply.
This is a bit of an experiment, the photo shows it soaked, bent and clamped to dry, using the keel as a former. Hopefully, this will, when dry and glued together, make a length of laminated ply 1/2" with a suitable bend at the foot of the stem.
If it does'nt work, I'll have to go to plan B.
Mick

[boatmadman]

Mick,

Your method of making the hog should work fine, providing, once the wood is dry, you glue up and clamp it up in the former again while it dries. Try and get a clamp in the centre of the curve as well, makes sure all the laminations are glued up ok.

I used this method on a full size sailing dinghy and it came out just right.

Ian

[MichaelK]

Thank you Ian, this gives me confidence!!    Just have to figure out a way to clamp the center of the curve.
Mick
 

[boatmadman]

Mick,

Should have mentioned before, I would suggest using an epoxy adhesive for this job.

Also, you should put the first clamp in the curve and work towards each end bit by bit, this way forces excess glue along the joints as well as out the sides, and makes sure there are no ripples in the job.

While it is drying in the former, mark a line across the side of the laminations and onto the former, then reassemble and glue to the line, that way, it will go back in the shape you hope for.

Ian

[MichaelK]

Hi,
I was tossing up between PVA (easy) and 30min epoxy (messy!)
Once the hog\knee\apron is in one piece, I have to cut the rabet and the bearding line as well!
It will take a bit of time! 
Mick
 

[derekwarner]

Mick....you can find WEST Systems epoxy resin & hardener in OZ.......the best marine gluing system ....for real size vessels & models ....you will not regret using it.....Derek 

[MichaelK]

Thanks Derek,
I'll take that suggestion on board. West System used to have a factory in Brookvale (5 minutes away)
Mick

[MichaelK]

So far I've glued the hog, using West System epoxy. This seems to be heaps easier to use than Areldite, and after the initial expense, close to $500 cheaper than the equivalent quantity!!!!! 
I've also made the building board, however the formers are all 5mm too high. Before I start modifying anything I really want to know why!

[RaaArtyGunner]

Thank you Ian, this gives me confidence!!    Just have to figure out a way to clamp the center of the curve.
Mick
 

Mick you can put a clamp across the centre of the curve which will be 45 degrees to the vertical support and to stop it sliding Down (viewing your posted pix) fix a scrap block up against the clamp. 

[MichaelK]

Hi  Great minds think alike!
 The notch in the keel just in front of the stem holds the clamp, and I made a curved pad out of balsa to go in the center of the curve.
Mick

[RaaArtyGunner]

Pleased to be off assitance  there are many far more knowlegable mayhemers on the forum 

You never stop learning from them  

[MichaelK]

A bit more progress
The hog ended up working out brilliantly!
The formers are now glued to the building board, making sure that they are all vertical and square. The 5mm came from the fact that the keel is a bit out of scale, mainly so that is a bit stronger. The photo shows the keel and hog sitting in the jig, Nothing is glued together yet, I also made a former (#1/2) between the stem and # 1. I was playing with laths and lengths of heavy card to see how they all sat on the formers, and the bow area looked a bit wonky. The lath, taped in place now, shows the sheer line
 Cutting the strakes can soon start, I'm not sure how it will happen, although if I start off using mount-card as templates, I suppose that I'll learn.

[MichaelK]

A Bit more progress.

I've glued the hog into the keel. and shaped it, and the transom, to accept the first strake. At the moment the strakes are  just dry bent to shape.
The twine clamping devices are courtest of Mr Harold Underhill. 
My Question is , if after about a week sitting like this, will the ply strakes have enough permanent bend in them, or will I need to steam them so that they stay bent??
Any comments would be appreciated
Mick