Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Phillip Westendorf on October 4, 2012 at 6:48pm

Epoxyworks is free, just give them you address and it comes twice a year.  Lot's of interesting stuff related to Boats.

http://www.epoxyworks.com/subscribe.html

Dorf

 

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Permalink Reply by Greg Hatten on October 8, 2012 at 7:55am

ha - Thanks man.  Those guys are GREAT - so are their products.

GH

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Permalink Reply by Jason Knight on October 8, 2012 at 4:55pm

Michigan epoxy baby! Good stuff!

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Permalink Reply by Scott Mitchell on November 6, 2012 at 10:32am

 

Greg,

I just read the article in EpoxyWorks yesterday, and was looking all over the Internet to learn more about your trip and the building of the Portola. I'm fairly new to the Wooden Boat People site, and should have known you would be here with the other pros from the Northwest. Man! That trip sets the benchmark for supreme backcountry whitewater adventure! Did you do a blog or have a link to a more in-depth article chronicling the trip? I have just added the Grand Canyon in a wooden boat to my bucket list!

Now, your opinion (and anyone else that may read this, please feel free to chime in, as well. I really respect the experience and wisdom you guys have.): I am getting ready to build two boats-both from Roger Fletcher’s book. One will be a traditional 16’ double ender /w/ transom for fly fishing.

The other will be a 14' double-ender (sans transom) that I want to cover, but instead of the traditional compartmentalized flat decking I see on the trip boats, I want to do something more light-weight, styled basically like you did on the bow and stern of the Portola. Something with curvature, rather than flat, with the sole purpose of keeping water out of the boat forward and aft. This is only an idea at the moment, but I am also picturing the oarsman (the only occupant in this boat) having something similar to a kayaker’s spray skirt (with reinforcement to prevent collapse) in his immediate torso area to keep water out in that area. I am envisioning a boat that could run whitewater on the New and Gauley Rivers over in West Virginia, along with any other tailwaters that do whitewater releases. Have you ever seen anything out your way and on the Colorado River like I am describing? Basically, a drift boat covered like a kayak. Thanks! 

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Permalink Reply by Randy Dersham on November 6, 2012 at 11:40am

Scott, I'm sure that Greg will respond when he get's a chance. 

Until then, the link for the blog from the Grand Canyon trip is http://www.historicriverboatsafloat.org/home2/blogs/2012-river-trip

Then click on this link to view Brad Dimock's rebuild of Betty Boop, a 1970's standard sized Keith Steele boat built on the McKenzie with curved decks for and aft.  Keith built a number of these smaller personal boats for big water. http://www.woodenboatpeople.com/profiles/blogs/river-season-draws-t...   They are very close to your project you describe above.  Betty Boop is a standard 16ft at the gunnel with a transom. 

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Permalink Reply by Scott Mitchell on November 6, 2012 at 11:53am

Thanks, Randy! I really appreciate it! I'll start a blog on the build as soon as I get materials and the project underway.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Mitchell on November 6, 2012 at 4:50pm

Just got a thorough look at Historicriverboatsafloat.org blog of the 2012 River Trip and photo gallery... very impressive. And I believe I saw you in the photos, too, Randy. Definitely an amazing adventure you folks had on that trip. And the photos of the boats reflect what I was trying to picture in my mind for contoured deck covers.

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Permalink Reply by Greg Hatten on November 7, 2012 at 7:32am

Hey Scott....  just got your message through this string.  Sounds like an ambitious undertaking - two boats at once - yikes.  Randy is sending you to all the right places.  Brad's blog will help you a lot - it does sound like you are building something similar to his Betty Boop restore.  Keep us posted through the blog you are putting up - lots of guys on this site will be very interested in your progress.

Thanks man.

GH

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Permalink Reply by Scott Mitchell on November 7, 2012 at 10:59am

Hey Greg,

Going to build one boat at a time, but already know that those are the two I'm going to do. I will probably build the 16' for fishing first, and then start the second build as I begin the painting, etc. on the first. In the meantime, I've been doing a lot of research on materials, finishes, etc. and getting ready to order ply and framing wood to start the first build. Many thanks to you guys for sharing your trips and technical expertise with those of us new to building the boats! You guys definitely make this an enjoyable adventure for everyone here.

Thanks!

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