Wooden Boat People
By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
Dorf's Wooden Drift Boat
I just found this Forum the past week and was pleased to see all the interesting discussions. I have previously (2006) built and launched a 16 ft. Peterborough Stripper from Tom Moore's original Canoecraft. The Bear Mountain Boats Forum was a wealth of information, as I had not built anything from wood that was expected to float, in water. The stripper was a lot of fun to build.
About a year later I discovered/purchased Roger Fletcher's book and decided to make a go of it and build a drift boat. Last April I laid out all the framing on poster board full scale. I am a retired Mfg. Engineer with 41 yrs in the Machine tool and Automotive Industry with lots of hrs. Hanging over a drafting table. After making the decision to build I spent many hours deciding materials, features etc.
I have 210 BF of White Ash from a couple of trees infected with the Emerald Ash Bore (big issue in Mid-Mich). So the framing is Ash (3/4" x 3.00"). I finished the last one in December. I just need to coat them with epoxy (been waiting for 60 degree temps). The frames are constructed using Half-lap joints. I discussed this in 2011 with Jim Watson of Gougeon Brothers and he offered their services in testing the joint strength (they have a MTS Tensile Test Machine w/ 100K Load Cell). I just received the results and test pieces a couple of weeks ago and will post them soon in this discussion. (I need to figure out how to post pictures here.)
The Stem blank is solid Ash. I just finished the transom a couple of weeks ago. It was made from African mahogany. The sides are going to be 1/4 x 7/8" WRC w/bead & cove. I have a couple of planks left over from the canoe. The sides will be encapsulated in 6 oz. glass and West System 105-207 Epoxy prior to being fastened to the frame. The bottom of the boat will be "cold molded" ash at 1/4 x 2 1/4" in two layers one oriented Fore Aft and the other 90 degrees to the first. Planning to add graphite to epoxy on the bottom.
Next work is to build a strong back and begin assembling the framing. Am looking foreword to your comments and assistance.
Thanks for being here.
phil w. (Dorf)
Views: 36148
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Josh Wieschowski on
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Yeah, I planned on using 4/4 stock as well, I wasnt sure if 1/2" would be better, due to the more laminations?
I plan to model the sawyer shoal cut blade, its dimensions are on their website. I think the blade is 30" by 8 1/2" at the belly. The overall length will be 9' or 9.5'
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Permalink Reply by Phillip Westendorf on
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Today was the third day in a row we had sunshine and temp in the 50's. I spent the last two days finishing cleaning & putting away the Ice Fishing stuff, catching up on some necessary repair work on the Garage Door and finalizing the design for the Oars & Trailer.Today, I finally got the boat out and worked on it. It felt good to work outside. I had the boat in the driveway and spent 4 1/2 hours sanding the epoxy on both sides and transom. Still too cool to do some epoxy work, so the remainder of the bottom planks will have to wait a couple of weeks or so. I have decided not to work in the garage in cool weather. Temps are forecast for next week with the Highs in the 30's.
Here's a couple of pics as she sits.
Here's a pic showing the front section of the bottom that's lacking the second layer. You can see the 60 degree orientation to the first layer.
So Monday I go to Alro Steel and pick up the steel tubing and start fabrication of the trailer frame. The frame is going to be 52" wide and 72" Long with an eight ft. tonge. If I am fortunate it might look like Mike Rosso's as shown at the top of the home page. His trailer is the benchmark I am aiming for.
So far I haven't been able to find decent wood to make the Oars. I am expecting to hear from some of the Quotes I sent out Friday. So far Sitka Spruce, if I can find it will kill me with shipping and handling from the West Coast (if I can find some). So my second choice is Doug Fir or maybe Yellow Cedar. Thanks Rick for the contact info the other day. It put me onto some possibles.
More to come,
Happy Easter to ALL!
Dorf.
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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on
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Dorf, here's some wonderful looking Doug Fir. I could be talked into selecting a piece or two, cutting it to length packaging and shipping if you pay for materials and motor freight.http://spokane.craigslist.org/mat/3713882349.html
Rick
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Thanks Rick,
I appreciate your help. Monday I expect a couple of Quotes for some wood. I'll contact you if I decide to go this way.
Dorf
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Well it's been a while since I have accomplished anything on the boat worth posting but a few things of significance worth reporting have occured. I designed a pair of 8.5' Oars and decided to make them out of Ash and other woods I have available locally. I cut up all the pieces for three Oars and am now waiting for warmer weather to glue them up with Epoxy, I'll post pics as soon as they are looking like an oar rather than just some glued up boards.
More good news is; my wife and her sister went away on a mini-vacation in Northern Michigan for 3-4 days (it's an annual thing). I was alone and able to make lot's of sawdust with no complaints.
Up there the Native Americans run several casinos which my wife and sister-in-law frequent and to my delight last night upon her return I was presented a few pieces of green paper with Ben Franklins picture on them. After 36 years she never ceases to amase me.
it's just enough to purchase the materials for the trailer needed for the boat. kinda made my day, eh.
So now I'll let the boat sit a while while the trailer gets assembled. Sounds like fun to me.
More to come.
Dorf
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Dorf, you're a lucky man. It's hard to build a boat without good support!
Rick
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Rick,
I'll second that. Today we got some 60 degree weather so I pulled the cover from the boat and pulled it into the garage. I added two more 7" wide planks to the bottom, only four more to go and the bottom is ready to fit-up and glass. I had to put a heater under the boat and cover it with the tarp to cure the epoxy as the temps will drop into the fourtys tonight. Hoping to add a couple strips tomorrow and maybe by Friday it'll be 1/2" thickness the whole length.
Handling it to fit it to the framing is going to be a trip, but I have time on my side. I managed to glue up three oars from ash mahogany the last 2-3 days and am contemplating how to make them round. The ash doesn't cut with hand tools as easily as softwoods.
Will post some more pics tomorrow.
Movin' along,
Dorf
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Permalink Reply by chris towles on
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How about a router lathe. Couple good pics on the site here.
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Chris,
The only thing stopping me from making a router lathe is I haven't taken the time to do the research on how to build one. I am ready for that now. However, there's lots happening now. Here's a pic of the first of three.
This one is ready for the Lathe. I have about 2 hours in this so far with Draw Knife, Block Plane, hand chisel and Finish Sander w/ 60 grit paper.
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They look great! I have some good spruce and plenty of ash! I will do the same thing you are. I will make an ash set and a spruce set and then see which ones I like more!
Rain Rain Rain! I fished the Trophy waters on Tuesday and I couldnt believe the water!! 2000 or more cfs. Visibility was 2 feet max. It took us 2 1/2 hours to float from Comins to McKinley! Record timing. Non stop oaring! With this 2-3 inches of rain coming down the waters are going to be disastrous. Probably wont simmer down until the end of the month. This will atleast deter my temptation to fish and allow me more time on the boat though!
Are your oars one solid piece or is the shaft and blade seperate?
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Josh,
How was the fishing? Thanks for the report on the River. I have never fished below Comins, but have fished below Mio down to Comins a lot Wading and from my Canoe one or twice. I don;t have a DB yet but will soon give it a try down to McKinley. Heard lots of good stories about that water.
The Oars are laminated from a total of seven pieces, all epoxied together. The main shaft is Ash 8'-6" long, 1" thick and 3" wide at the blade (24+" lg) and 2" wide the rest of the length. There are two pcs. Ash 1/2" x 2" x 84" Long making up the shaft. The blade has two pcs. African Mahogany 1/2" wide and then two pcs Ash 1" wide.
Not yet in-place is a piece of Ash 1" x 1" x 5 1/2" across the end of the Blade. it will have an additional mass of wood glued to it to mount to the lathe's center and face plate. I have a PDF file of the drawing I made of the Blade End and Handle End if you or anyone is interested. I tried to add it here but for some reason It wouldn't work????? I can E-mail it if necessary. Just send me a memo.
I am currently designing a 10' router lathe and will use it to turn the shafts. The shafts will be 1 3/4" dia the whole length. I hope to have it built in a week or two. If your interested it may be available after I am done with it.
Keep on truckin'
Dorf
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Congrats! A few extra "bennies" will never hurt! The boat looks great and Im eager to see a photo or two of your oars! I havent had much time lately, but I sure am eager to get going again. I made really great progress early and then I had to sacrifice boat time for family and other engagements. Your boat sure is beautiful and it looks like she might be lighter than the average too! Bonus!!
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