What a difference a 1/2" makes!

Recording the results of a new project is not only about the success, but also the failures. And sometimes, even small failures have large consequences.

Who ever knew that 1/2" could be so costly? It cost me about 3 days.

I made a mistake when I built my coaming (the oval opening to the kayak). I made it 1/2" too small.

Here you can see that it is only resting on 1/4" of the front deck stringer. Not solid enough!

Here you can see only 1/4" resting on the back deck stringer. Also not good enough!

Here is what it looks like from the top, which seems okay, but it ain't.

So, I had to figure out what to do.

So I built two new stringers. It turns out I didn't have a piece long enough so in the end I had to take the existing stringers, cut them with my scarf jig, and insert some extensions. Then I had to apply the tung oil. So that took time.

I also tried building a new coaming. While the one in the photo seems okay it has a couple of problems, including lots of gaps between the laminates. So I tried building another using thinner strips. Didn't work out very well. So I built a third coaming, this one out of cedar, which is working much better, plus it is lighter too.

I learned my lesson. Little mistakes can have big consequences. Next time, more measuring for sure!

Many updates, much progress

Well, even though there hasn't been an entry in awhile, progress is being made.

Here is a pic of some fabric being stretched over the frame to see how it will look once the skin is sewed on.

This one is from about three weeks ago before the stern and bow were attached, and before the lashing had started.

This is a small frame I built to practice sewing the skin. It is the part I am the most nervous about since I have never even sewn a button, let alone 18' of polyester. 

This is a form I made for the coaming (the hole that you get into the boat with). I am making it using a technique called lamination, where I wrap thin strips of wood around this until I get what I want.

This is a box of stuff I bought, which had some spillage of some citrus solvent. Very lemony smelling, but happily nothing else was damaged.

Here are a couple of shots of the boat today, all lashed up and ready for the coaming and skinning. Looking not bad, eh?

Here is a shot of the coaming being glued. I ended up using every clamp in my shop. Many thanks to my friend DaveZ for the fine maple that is being used to build the coaming.

And finally, here is a picture of the steamer I built to heat up the wood so I could bend it. That was fun.

Lake broke up today. Boats going into the water this week. Hopefully the kayak will be ready in a week or so.