Turn the Saw Around

It scary when it comes time for this operation (pun!) and a few things had we worried. I wanted a better saw, bought one but the teeth were just too big. The Japanese pullsaw was ok but the cut was in the wrong direction which caused minor tearout and I didn't want any. So I discovered if I take the handle off and run the saw backwards I'd get the cut results I was looking for. Sometime you have to think outside the box or in this case backwards! It's better if there is just no box to begin with.

Dennis

From a 2 x 4

I built this boat for a 2x4 contest. The rules said I can use a real 2x4 , so my 2x4 was 5cm x10cm and 8 feet (240cm) long. The rules said also I can use 10% other material, this is the reason why I covered it with this ugly plastic bag and I used duck tape so I can remove the plastic bag easily after the contest. The design was really bad and I do not recommend it. I made no plan only a little model to get an idea what it should looks like. My biggest mistake was to use a extra board for a seat. Without this seat it should be much more better. The weight of this boat is 6,7kg.

From Instructables.

Stephen

Outrigger Connection Methods

Double outrigger from Madagascar. Interesting connection method. The first mariners to Madagascar were from Indonesia, so the water craft are similar.

I did not get a picture of this double outrigger, but I thought the connection method interesting, and they seem to be a dynamic outrigger, as there is not much buoyancy there.

Michael

A Better Tape Measure

A tape measure with an inbuilt marker.

From Facebook.

Josh

*****

Since chuck isn't selling these yet, here's how to make your own. From Instructables.

Josh

Hiking Seat

Hiking seat close up from early on n the build.

Howard

Tuning a Hand Plane

The No. 5 'Jack' hand plane can be used for a number of tasks (scrubbing, dimensioning, shooting, and smoothing, to name four) but to perform really well at all of these, most planes will need a little tuning. Here I've tuned two jacks to add to my original, allowing me to leave the set up differently in each one. However, you can tune one plane to tackle all jobs, and just keep differently shaped blades to swap in as necessary. More on Instructables.

*****

Hello everyone, want to find out how to rid rust on your tools for cheap, easily and safely? More on Instructables.

Mike John

Wood Stove

Many people have been interested in my wood stove and I mean really interested. I receive emails and comments from sailors who stop by to see the boat - I mean the stove. This is a bit of a mystery to me as I have burned wood for primary heat several times in my life and it seems a normal thing. So heres the skinny. I purchased a small stove about the size of a shoe box and modified it. I painted it with fireproof paint and added a piece of pyro glass for a window (much trickier that I thought it would be). I designed and built a 2 piece hearth with metal cups for the stove legs to set in Since I have a little more time next month I am adding some colorful ties to the hearth. The whole set up goes together with simple wing nuts and ss bolts. The stove has to be stable yet not affixed to the boat thus enabling me to sweep it out the tent door with one gloved hand should I have an issue. My friend Dave Mergener and I collaborated on the stove support legs and he fabricated two steel hearth supports, thanks Dave! For storage the stove packs into itself (water tank, legs, shelf), the 2 piece hearth straps against the folded galley and both are attached inside the port seat storage area strapped against the cockpit longitudinal, very compact. The steel legs are then tucked into the strap holding galley and hearth parts. I can set it up in about 5 minutes time and can have a fire going in less than ten minutes total time. The glass window will allow me to see the fire, could be a nice feature when alone and cold.

Howard

Checking her Weight

Dave Lucas was estimating the weight of his boat build in his latest post.
Don't know how many of us have seen this method of weighing your boat by just moving it a little when it is on the trailer. Works great.

From Tom Lathrop:

"Here is the method I use to weigh boats on a trailer without hauling the boat to a commercial scale, which requires two trips for boat and trailer.

It's simple, accurate and will cause bystanders to marvel at your engineering whiz.

The boat stays on the trailer the entire time. Put the scale under the tongue near the end. You can even put a block on the scale to lift the tongue so you can see the dial. Record the weight. Now, slide the boat aft on the trailer 12" to 18". You must measure exactly how many inches you moved it, and record that. With the scale in the same location under the tongue, record the new scale reading. Finally, measure the distance in inches between the trailer axle (wheel centerline) and the point on the tongue where it touches the scale. You have then four measurements:

W1 = first (heavier) scale reading in lbs, W2 = second scale reading in lbs, X = the distance you shifted the boat in inches, C = distance between trailer axle and scale point in inches.

The formula is Boat Weight = C (W1-W2)/X

A couple of notes. The result, like any measurement, is sensitive to the accuracy of the input data. In this case, the most critical is the distance you slide the boat. One inch error out of 12 inches will really make a difference in the result. Slide the boat as far as you can and still have a readable load on the scales. Notice, too, that by subtracting the two scale readings, any constant error in the scale is canceled out."

Thomas

My Valentine Creation

Since it is Valentine's Day I thought I would ask the group what happens when a McGregor 21 and a Hobie 18 catamaran falls in love and makes a baby? What would it look like? Take a look below to see. This is my boat building project I have been working on for a while now and it is getting near to being completed. I took a Hobie 18 and a McGregor 21 and made a trimaran out of the two boats. The pulley system you see in the pics is used to fold the outriggers and raise the mast. It's removable. The rigging will be the hobbies 18's rigging modified to fit this boat. I hope you enjoy the pics. I will post more when it is completed.

Travis

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