Wooden Boat People
By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
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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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Guy Fredrickson on
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This shows the inside surfaces of the bottom panels after the initial wet-out of the fiberglass cloth, plus four coats of epoxy applied with a foam roller (about 2 hr between coats). After it dries, I will sand the surface with 220-grit.
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Permalink Reply by Andrés Ramos on
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Guy, the fiber cloth is 10 oz?
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6 oz. for the inside surfaces of the side panels, bottom panels, and transom plate.
10 oz. for the outside surfaces of the side panels and transom plate.
22 oz. tri-axial for the very bottom.
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is pretty much the same that i had thought for my drift boat.
How much epoxy did you use for the inside surface of the bottom panel?Thanks Guy. This is very useful information to me.
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I think I used roughly 1/2 gallon to complete the job. Probably close to 4000 g of resin and 1080 g of hardener. I applied five coats; the initial wet-out of the fabric and wood, and four coats with a foam brush.
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DUDE, your trying too hard-0-just get'er done
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Slow and steady, Tom. Slow and steady.
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I did not expect the epoxy to cure well enough for sanding today, but it did. Must be the warm weather. Here are the panels sanded to 220-grit. I am now in the process of laying out the locations for the wood screws.
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I got one of the bottom panels fitted and drilled. Now to start the next one.
I made sure that the bottom panel fitted tight and flush to the chine logs and backer-board before I started drilling holes.
This is one of the tapered counter-sink bits I'm using to drill the holes for the wood screws.
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Tonight I attached the first side panel. I applied a "thin" coat of 3M 5200 to the mating surfaces on the boat and then lowered the panel onto the boat. I ran a bead of the 3M 5200 and spread it out with gloved fingers. The stuff is pretty thick. I meant to take a picture after the 3M 5200 was applied, but I forgot. Maybe next time.
I pitty the fool that trys to take that bottom off...
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The bottom is on!
This picture shows the 3M 5200 on the mating surfaces of the boat.
These pictures show the bottom fully attached.
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Permalink Reply by Greg Jensen on
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Looking good Guy,
Keep up the good work.
Greg
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