Basic build was:
# Lay out the bottom. I've got a pattern drawn on a board that I should scan in for later use. # Set a basic angle from that pattern. # Cut the bottom with a jig saw set at an angle. Jake did this, he's still working on the concentration and attention to task at hand, so his line following skills weren't always the greatest. # Rip strips at an angle to reinforce the chine. I did this. # Drill, screw and glue the reinforcement strips to the bottom. Jake did the drilling and the screwing. # Test fit the sides (a bunch of us worked on this), draw a line for where we wanted to cut off the bottom. # Cut the bottom off the sides. Jake did this. # Plane the chine to even (taking care of the earlier deviation from the line). Jake, his dad and I did this. # Drill and screw the sides on. I think at this point we may have introduced another drill so that Jake was drilling and Mike (a helper on the house) was running in the screws behind him. # Cut the sides to height. Jake started this, his Dad and I helped a lot, and with a detour into sawzall territory, which was fun because that was way too much tool for a 12 year old boy. See also the note about the angle grinder below. # Mark and cut the transom. Jake and his dad did this. # Put on the bow plate. I did this while Jake and his dad were doing the transom. # Add reinforcements to the transom corners. # Install the transom.
And: Voila!
Cool moments:
We were cutting the tips off the screws, 'cause they were a little too long for our reinforcement strips. We did this with an angle grinder. Jake was doing okay with it, but got to a cut or two where he realized that the tool was too much for him to handle. It was good to see his "oooh, bigger more powerful is good!" replaced with a little humility.
Similar with the sawzall.
Jake's layout and cut of the detail on the transom was fun, and I hope this became absolutely his boat with that detail.
And being able to step back and watch Jake and his dad work various parts of the boat was cooler than you can possibly imagine.
Also, as summer wears on, we need to try putting a plexiglass plate in the bottom.
Category: Dan Lyke life Category: Woodworking Category: Boat building