Guy's Wooden Drift Boat Project

Hello Everyone,

 

My name is Guy and this is my first post in this forum.  I am here because I want to build a wooden drift boat and, undoubtedly, I will occasionally need advice of the pool of experts and experienced drift boat builders on this forum.

 

In preparation for this project I have read and studied three books: Drift Boats and River Dories by R. L. Fletcher, Boatbuilding with Plywood by G. L. Witt, and Covering Wooden Boats with Fiberglass by A. H. Vaitses.  I have also developed my own set of construction plans based off of the "Original McKenzie Double-Ender with Transom" in Fletcher's book.  I used and MS Excel spreadsheet to calculate all of the dimensions, cut angles, compound angles, and bevel angles of all frame components and I used Pilot3D software to calculate the as-cut dimensions of the plywood sides and bottom.  At this point I am pretty comfortable with the mechanics of construction and I think that I am just about ready to start purchasing lumber.

 

Presently, I plan to use Meranti Hydro-Tek plywood; 1/4-in. on the sides and 1/2-in. on the bottom.  I found plenty of places to purchase these materials, but they are all far away from Idaho Falls, Idaho, and as a result shipping costs more than the materials.  Are any of you aware of a business within a few hundred miles of Idaho Falls that sells this plywood?  I have a few requests in to the local lumber companies, but I have yet to talk with someone who has heard of this material before.

 

I also plan to use Port Orford Cedar (CVG) for the straight frame sections and White Oak (quater sawn) for the bent frame sections (chine logs and sheer rails).

 

Thank you, Guy

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Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on July 11, 2021 at 8:59am

Martinac. The port side fiberglass is epoxied. It took me about 2.5 hours once I started. I mixed small batches of epoxy about 10 oz. at a time in a plastic drink cup. I’d pour out the epoxy and work it into the fiberglass with a small plastic squeegee and my gloved hands. I would apply a generous layer and let it soak into the fabric which takes time. No need to rush. Just don’t let the epoxy stay in the cup too long or it will kick. I used about a gallon of epoxy to saturate the cloth. About half way done in the first picture. Finished in the second picture.  

Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on July 11, 2021 at 9:03am

Martinac. I pulled some of the tape off the bottom to inspect how well the holes filled with epoxy. Many, but not all of them, filled all the way to the tape. Some are only partially filled with epoxy. I’ll have to fill the holes from the bottom too. 

Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on July 13, 2021 at 6:30pm

Martinac. The two outermost bottom stringers have a twist at the bow ends. Not much, but definitely a twist. I’m going to clamp a board for a few days to see if some of the clamping force relaxes. Otherwise I may have to steam some of the boards. The bottom stringers toward the back of the boat lay flat. No problem there. 

Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on July 16, 2021 at 4:27pm

Martinac. I prepared all the bottom stringers for the port and starboard sides. I started installing the stringers on the port side. I decided to attach the stringers with silicon bronze 1/4-20 carriage bolts with the head on the outside hull. (This rather than wood screws driven from the outside of the hull.) I’ll bed the stringers in 3M 5200. And I’ll apply the 5200 to the bolts as they are installed. 

Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on July 18, 2021 at 11:03am

Martinac. I’m waiting on more fasteners for the bottom stringers. The stringers shown on the port side are permanently attached. Today I removed the two remaining old stringers on the starboard side. That should be the last of the major deconstruction. I hope. 

Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on July 19, 2021 at 6:30pm

Martinac. I finished most of the sanding on the starboard side plywood. Soon it will be ready for the penetrating epoxy sealer. 

Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on July 23, 2021 at 10:05am

Martinac. I taped off all the holes from the bottom on the starboard side. And I applied two saturating coats of Smith’s Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer to the inside. 

Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on July 24, 2021 at 10:05am

Martinac. First coat of West System epoxy on the starboard side plywood. Even following the application of the penetrating epoxy sealer, the plywood is still soaking up the epoxy in these warm temperatures. It’s still a challenge getting the epoxy down into the old fastener holes. 

Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on July 25, 2021 at 4:16pm

Martinac. 100F outside the storage unit. I finished sealing the starboard plywood from the inside. I’ll be ready to lay the fiberglass after a light sanding. Slowly installing the stringers on the port side. 

Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on July 30, 2021 at 10:31am

Martinac. Ready to wet out the fiberglass fabric on the starboard side. I’ll probably start tomorrow morning while it’s still cool outside. 

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on July 30, 2021 at 10:54am

What is light sanding, is that less than two or three hours of your time?:<) Your repair is looking good!

Rick

Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on July 30, 2021 at 3:13pm

Martinac. I decided to push through and apply the epoxy today. It’s only about 88F outside. A cool day by the standards of this summer. 

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