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)
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Nick Theodoratos on
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Looking real nice Dorf, I especially like the deck. How do you think those pipes will handle the weight of 2 to 3 people? The Chinook will be swimming upstream before you know it. :)
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Permalink Reply by Phillip Westendorf on
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Nick,
Good observation! The length of the pipe (3/4" Sch. 40) is too long to support the two seats when loaded and not cause problems. I have come to the conclusion that I'll either separate the long pipe into two shorter ones or just add a third support in the middle somewhere. That's the easier of the two choices. I placed a stack of wooden blocks on both sides to support the pipe in the middle and with just me in the rowers seat it seemed to be OK.
Here in Michigan the Chinook (King Salmon) are generally fished in the big water (Lake Michigan) using down riggers and large boats (big $$). There are a lot of folks doing it, almost every port on Lake Michigan.
However the Steelhead have begun their Spring Run and are in the rivers now (we have several in Michigan and the Great Lakes) and will be there for a few more weeks. I have yet to get out there but once, darn! It's been too busy here to get away and there are other fishing opportunities here in the Great Lakes.
I appreciate your comments.
Dorf
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The Chinook here in Indiana hit the streams pretty hard in the fall. This spring is turning out to be one for the records they claim for our Steelhead stream fishing, but I have yet to make it out. I think a 3rd. support would be the way to go for your seats. Your boat is looking awesome! Can't wait to start mine.
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Nick,
I generally don't go after the early Fall Salmon Runs. It's always a Zoo out there. When the Salmon Runs begin whether wading or in boats there's just too many people out there.
There are still folks (not fisherman) still trying to snag fish. I usually wait until after the weather turns cold in November and the weekend warriors are gone by then.
The Steelhead are usually still doing good and you can actually fish undisturbed.
Today I added a coat of Varnish to the front section (under the deck) prior to mounting the deck Plate. Tomorrow I'll add a second coat there prior to setting the deck early next week.
Dorf
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Today I pulled the seats and frame from the boat and spent all day, close to eight hours sanding the inside of the hull and preparing it for the varnish. There was lots of little drips and splashes of epoxy to remove which required a sharp chisel to scrape off. I think I took off 4-5 layers of skin off my fingers today sanding. They are real smooth, the wife can't complain now. So tomorrow it'll get the first coat of Varnish, that should be fun, all brush work.
I still need to sand the seat frames and make a couple of shaft supports between the two seats. By the time I finish the varnish work I hope to have the floor boards cut and assembled. They will be oiled finished. I don't need any more varnish work.
More coming,
Dorf
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Well the old one step forward and two backward has bit me in the butt.
I have been doing a lot of sanding and varnishing and scraping, sanding and re-varnishing. I managed last week to add a first coat of varnish to the interior of the hull and it looks pretty good. I'll have to sand it again for the second coat.
But, the seat frames, oars and the front deck have been nothing but trouble (there's a lesson here). After I had assembled the seats I sanded them and added two coats of epoxy, sanded them in preparation for the varnish. That's where the problem began. The varnish (Epifanes Clear Gloss) turned to gum. It didn't dry, just stayed stickey, collecting every thing from finger prints to cottonwood fuzzy stuff. I scraped the stuff off the front deck (not yet assembled to hull) sanded it and added a second first coat. It turned out like the first, a stickey gummey coating. I am in the process of trying to use thinner to cut it and remove it with out scraping it off. I seems like it might work but scraping it with cabinet scrapers might be quicker, but not easier.
I am no chemical engineer but I think the Amine Blush is the reason. I did most of the epoxy work during the colder weather in the last few months in my heated basement. After I got around to doing the varnishing (recent warmer weather) I didn't wash the Amine Blush off the epoxy components. I seemed to have forgotten this factoid in recent time.
Presently I have two stickey oars, and the deck is a mess. The guest's seat is washed & sanded ready to try again. The rowers seat needs washing and sanding for the varnish.
Seems "Old Timers Disease" has shown it's ugly head. Good thing I am retired and have lots of time on my hands.
More to come,
Dorf
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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on
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Dorf, I recently heard a story on National Public Radio so it had to be true! The premise was as we age we acquire lots of knowledge. Our brains, i.e. hard drives fill with lots of information. Retrival of data as from a hard drive as it gets fuller and fuller becomes slower and slower. The article suggested that our brains were similar and that our memories weren't at fault but that it takes more time to sort out and find the information. So my story is my memory isn't bad but my hard drive is just full.
Good luck on the amine blush and the varnishing.
Rick N
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Been busy the last couple of weeks. Here's a couple of pics from earlier today.
Oars are complete, wrapped with paracord and added rubber stops.
Added the anchor pulley bracket on the transom. Still need to make/add the interior pulleys and line holding device.
Guest seat is incomplete, need to finish carvings; Loon on Port Side and Brown Trout on S'Board Side. Still need to add center pipe support.
Started today to cut & plane stock for the interior floor boards. Still need to add a couple more coats of varnish to the interior and exterior. We're going to the Presque Isle Wooden Boat Show in two weeks and show it off. So I have been busting my chops to get it presentable. Starting to see the completion in sight. Won't be long now!
Dorf
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Beautiful Dorf, just beautiful!
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Nick,
Thanks for your comment.
Dorf
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Permalink Reply by Terry E Walsh on
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Damn, are you going to be afraid to scratch it?
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Terry,
After all the troubles making things fit & look good I figure I can replace/fix just about anything that comes my way. My Stripper Canoe has also given me lots of experience in making repairs. What else have I got to do?
I left it outside today and it rained in it, it's a start, eh.
We'll see how it holds up.
Dorf
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