I put Charlie Jones and some others on to this years ago, but ladies use rotary cutters that look like a pizza cutter wheel, but have round razor blades to cut cloth for quilting etc. Any fabric store has them. Probably walmart too in the hobby and fabric section. Dritz is one brand name. Just put the cloth on a lauan or cardboard surface to protect the blade edge, and roll right along a straight edge. the fiberglass cloth cuts into strips like buttah. If you value your life, buy your own. the blades are replaceable, but your wife will never forgive you if you dull hers... and she'll be holding a sharp instrument when she finds out.
John Weigandt, Boatbuilder and Quilters Husband.
I’ve had fair luck cutting tape out of cloth using a circular carbide cutter (looks like a small pizza wheel, about 2-3 “ in diameter). I picked one up at a Harbor Freight 10 or 12 years ago and I think a fabric store might be a source. I cut my tapes on the bias which reduced unraveling—mostly. It worked, and it eliminated the ridge along the sides of the tape (selvage), but it also created a lot of sticky fuzzys which were an irritation. Since that experiment, I’ve built several other boats using store bought tape….
To quote Crocodile Dundee, you can eat it, but it tastes like…
JohnT
Cut the strips on the bias. This makes a better tape than the prefinished type because:
It conforms better to curves
It's stronger because the you have more fibers crossing the joint
Several years ago in either a web watch or treasure chest (I believe) there was an older video of a an elderly gentleman living in somewhere in Britain who built wonderful little lapstrake rowing craft entirely by hand. I have not been able to find it since and was wondering if you remembered anything of that nature and could point me in the right direction?
Thanks,
Keegan
If anyone has a possible answer for Keegan, please let me know - Chuck
New Boat
hello chuck.
I wanted to share a pic of my new boat that i am almost finished with.
It is my version of a cambridge punt.
My large breed dogs love to go with my wife and myself to the lake but being the rambunctious pooches they are you can imagine how hard it is to Handle them in a canoe. That being said may I present to you.......
THE BARRK BARRGE
With 2 Rs each!
How piratety right!?
14' LOA
4' mid
40" bow and stern.
with 8" of rocker.
The under 14 was by accident but that's fine with me. As usual I didn't use blueprints but I figure I have built enough box boats to know what works and what won't.
thanks
Jason nabors
thanks
What Mom said
Remember how mom always said not to pick a scab? OK. I never paid much attention to that one, either.
In the course of the past several months, Miss Kathleen has been bumped, scraped, and jostled against simply scads of docks, pilings, anchors and chains. She’s been showing some sorta’ unbecoming gashes and gouges. So, I figured that I’d just smooth out some of those dings and spread another 30-yard paint job on to, you know, get us through the rest of the season.
In the process of investigating, I just sort of stuck the tip of my knife under one of the wounds, up forward, and discovered a whole new dimension of “OOPS!!!´ My guess is that the half-dozen—or more--layers of paint that accumulated during our building phase back last winter have had a period to “gestate,” as it were. Those layers are of both latex and oil-based genetics. They were spread in differing moments of humidity, ambient temperature, and, most importantly, LEVELS OF PATIENCE. Yep. Some of those layers were put on without the regulation wait-period between ‘em. You probably know somebody like that, eh?
And, of particular significance, our outdoor temperatures have been pretty steadily in the 90’s for the past week or more. That shell of paint-layers was not only pretty soft; it basically came away from the base gel coat like the shell from a hardboiled egg.
I kept thinking that either it would stop and I could just feather the open patch with a sander, or I’d have to chip the whole boat. Don’t get me wrong. I have actually “peeled” quite a few boats under similar conditions. But, with the advance of arthritis and post-trauma joint stuff to both hands and wrists; it’s getting harder to hold onto a razor blade to strip a 22 foot hull. Like that pesky scab we all (well, most of us, anyway) feel compelled to pick at; I just didn’t seem to find a convenient stopping point. That is, until Kate came out looking for the dog. The Boss was out there with me, in the woods, supervising this particular round of madness.
She took one look at what I was doing. Rescued her dog. And, walked back toward the house. Later, at dinner, she asked, “Well. Whatr’ ya’ gonna’ do?” I said, “Fix it.”
I’m not real proud of how this little diversion came out. But, there’s always some solace in the regular refrain here, in Almostcanada: “I can always fix it RIGHT, this winter…”
In the meantime, there’s always the power of squinting-from-a-distance.
I guess it’s time to go out and see if it’s dry enough, for a second coat. Probably been an hour. Maybe a bit more…
Y'all Come
The Ol’ Swimmin’ Hole
A leap. A splash.
A flood of memories.
Same spot.
Same time of year.
When I was a kid.
Yes, even I, was a kid.
Once.
And, again today.
Today, alone.
Then, never alone.
Today, just to be there, enough.
Then, to be the fastest, the strongest.
Today, for all those old men,
who raced, who dove for the biggest rock.
Summer. When boys become men.
When, men become boys. Once, again.
by Dan Rogers
Sandy's Pocket Cruiser on the Braden River
Have Water Will Boat we should get cards printed up except that would be much too much trouble for us.
Dave Lucas
Old Friends
Seems like Beau the Sea Dog and I can’t take Miss Kathleen anyplace…without making new friends.
We met up with one kickass patrol boat in the parking lot behind our local oil change place; here in far-from-the-sea Newport, WA. The military vessel had nearly completed a round trip from her manufacturer in Tacoma, WA to Iowa—of all unlikely places—for weapons systems tests and installation.
As it turned out, the husband and wife driving team, who were hauling this very large patrol boat was as interested in Miss Kathleen as I was in finding out about the 65-footer, soon to be part of the Tunisian navy. I suspect part of it had to do with her name, also, being Kathleen.
Beau and I went on to have a delightful day out on the river. Our new friends were headed west, with the prospect of heavy summer-weekend traffic on the freeway, and about 300 miles to their final destination.
Dan Rogers
Dory Rendezvous In Elk Rapids Michigan
Today there were 3 wooden boats, the same size and type Chesapeake Light Craft (CLC) Northeaster wooden dorys, all handmade, by 3 different craftsmen from various wide spread States. Even though there wasn't much wind today, they all sailed happily together on Bass Lake at Honcho Rest Campground in Elk Rapids, Michigan, and the sailors were happy.
Sailors/builders (left to right) Dave Metcalf (Virginia-white sail sloop), Curt Dennis (Texas-tanbark sail lug), Jim Lagowski (Michigan-white sail lug). It was great that building CLC wooden boats brought 3 builders together to share stores and common interests!
Curt Dennis
Ineluctable
Waves.
The ceaseless march,
Piling up, like snowflakes.
Ripples, bubbles and froth.
Waves.
Where it starts,
And here it ends.
Crash, a splash and gurgle.
Waves.
Easy to look past,
Majestic, grown from benign.
Never fully quiet, ripples to towers of fear.
Waves.
Dan Rogers
Story?
Hi Chuck
made a little hand plane for fun, and a gift. Of course I took pictures. Sound like a how-to you'd like for the future, too? It's a round over plane, got a curved sole under there...
Robert.
Absoutely, Robert, the sooner the better - Chuck
Two boat designs from John Todd
Hi Chuck,
Thought Duckworks readers might like a look at these.
I had a copy of Todd's Ocean Pickup the trimaran Edith Muma on my wall for a 2 year army hitch. It faded completely in the Texas sun. I followed the building of the Nancy Jack, but didn't know the name Phillip Bolger in the early 1980s.
Cheers,
Tim Ferguson
Sail Caledonia
Sail Caledonia Raid 27 May - 3 June 2017
Scotland Great Glen & Caledonian Canal - Coast to Coast
Fort William to Inverness
We would like to introduce you to the Sail Caledonia Raid, a seven day event in May & June 2017.
Sail Caledonia is a friendly, open event for smaller (c. 5m - 9m) sailing boats built in traditional style. Anyone can join providing their boat conforms in general terms to one of the classes. Loch Ness is a large body of water and can, depending on conditions, be as rough and windy as the sea, so this event will suit those up for a serious sail! Until October 2016 you can register for the 2017 Raid and benefit from 2016 prices.
The Sail Caledonia Raid provides an unrivalled opportunity for competitive and demanding sailing and rowing in small boats. Whilst completing the 66 mile navigation from coast to coast the event provides a unique sample of the Scottish Highlands - you will ascend Neptune’s Staircase to the sound of the bagpipes, the longest staircase flight of locks in the UK, then sail/row a series of magnificent lochs ending in the mysterious Loch Ness and passing below the spectacular ramparts of Urquhart Castle. Full details on the www.sailcaledonia.org website.
Many thanks for your time,
Patricia Methven
Marketing for Sail Caledonia
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Driving a Dinghy to its Limits
A BET between mates in 1981 to see who could negotiate a dinghy through the backwaters of the River Murray in South Australia the fastest has developed into a major annual festival now backed by Red Bull.
The heavily modified dinghies race at speeds of up to 90km/h along the River Murray and the narrow creek networks surrounding Renmark, a Riverland town 250km northeast of the capital city Adelaide.
The race is organised by the Riverland Dinghy Club, a group of locals who volunteer their time to bring the event together every year.
Last year the derby gained the sponsorship of Red Bull, which will release Up the Creek – The Story of Red Bull Dinghy Derby on August 26...
Moments ago we launched a new Mystic Seaport video, "The Search for Timber: Wood Sourcing at Mystic Seaport." The massive pieces of wood needed to restore historic ships are hard to come by, so Mystic Seaport shipwrights take what they can get. Sometimes it’s a fallen tree, sometimes it’s a gift from the past.
