New - Boat build advice

HenryHawthorne said:
Ordered plans for the Snow Goose this afternoon. Will start a build thread once I get them and get myself organized. I have a few questions for the SG owners out there, but will hold those to open that thread. Appreciate all the guidance so far.
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I haven't followed this thread. I see you are building a snow goose - I built one 25 years ago and have used it hard. I would build one again for sure, but we should talk before you start cutting. Happy to chat anytime. Send me a PM and I'll send my phone number.
 
Are you building your Snowgoose right side up or upside down? Just a helpful hint if you decide to build your boat on sawhorses like I did. Build your own; don't rely on Menards sawhorses. Don't ask me how I know. Richard 20240330_175115.jpg
 
Personally I chose to build my Devlin 13 Poleboat right side up because I feel it is less conducive to builder error since you are laying the panels over the bulkheads. The other reason was I want to build a Cackler one day and wanted my first build to be a primer for the second. Incidentally, the kits Devlin promotes are built right side up. Richard
 
RM Anderson said:
Personally I chose to build my Devlin 13 Poleboat right side up because I feel it is less conducive to builder error since you are laying the panels over the bulkheads. The other reason was I want to build a Cackler one day and wanted my first build to be a primer for the second. Incidentally, the kits Devlin promotes are built right side up. Richard
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I ask because the Devlin book promotes upside down. Will likely be next week before I get my plans from them, so don't know what they'll suggest specifically for the SG. I haven't wrapped my head around doing the initial internal fillets between wires upside down.
 
I'm sorry, I got everything ass backwards. Yes, I built UPSIDE-DOWN and that is what Devlin seemingly promotes. Thank you for correcting my mistake. One too many Crown Royals. Incidentally I am finished with my build and am now concentrating my efforts on putting a carriage style dodger and flapper boards for grassing material. Richard
 
RM Anderson said:
I'm sorry, I got everything ass backwards. Yes, I built UPSIDE-DOWN and that is what Devlin seemingly promotes. Thank you for correcting my mistake. One too many Crown Royals. Incidentally I am finished with my build and am now concentrating my efforts on putting a carriage style dodger and flapper boards for grassing material. Richard
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Did I miss a build thread with pictures?
 
Yes you did along with everyone else. I guess I was a bit camera shy with my build in case it failed horribly. Astonishly, it turned out much better than I'd hoped. About tabbing between the wires, it is quite literally a pain in the neck and is the only downside to building UPSIDE-DOWN that comes to mind. Fillets take time to get the hang of, just dont mix to much to avoid exothermic reactions.A pastry bag really comes in handy. For laying strips of biaxial cloth, I built a shallow rectangular box to pre-wet the fiberglass. Aside from that, piece of cake. Richard 20241022_102517.jpg

PS, OLD PHOTO; EVERYTHING IS PAINTED...
 
Thanks, I didn't take a whole lot of photos but here is a picture taken while tabbing. Devlin is not quite clear on the definition of tabbing in his book so I actually called to ask. As I understand it, tabbing is not just filling the seam with wood flour thickened epoxy, it also includes 1" or so wide strips of fiberglass spaced intermittently along the seams and bulkheads.20240410_130141.jpg
 
To clarify, I did the tabbing when the hull was upside down. The internal fillets and biax tape was accomplished AFTER the hull was flipped right side up. I did not flip the hull until after I had finished painting it. Sorry for any confusion, Richardimage.jpg
 
RM Anderson said:
To clarify, I did the tabbing when the hull was upside down. The internal fillets and biax tape was accomplished AFTER the hull was flipped right side up. I did not flip the hull until after I had finished painting it. Sorry for any confusion, RichardView attachment 63428
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Thanks, and I was following you. I noted in Devlins book that smaller boats could be tabbed on the outside instead. Still thinking about all this.
 
A couple more pieces of advice if I may be so bold. On a larger project such as the Snowgoose, you may want to consider a scale for mixing epoxy. Graduated mixing cups and pump dispensers are not accurate and nothing is more aggravating than epoxy that fails to cure properly. I wish that I'd taken my own advice sooner. I was fortunate that with a heated garage I could crank up the heat when necessary. Also, if you can afford non-blushing epoxy you may want to give it a look. I got by without it by using Peel Ply when taping seams so I wouldn't have to subject the surrounding bare wood to water when eliminating blush. Richard
 
HenryHawthorne said:
Thanks, and I was following you. I noted in Devlins book that smaller boats could be tabbed on the outside instead. Still thinking about all this.
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I do not think I've ever seen one of the Devlin duckboat designs built anything other than right side up to start. You stitch the panels, open them up and then stitch the sides on and then spread with a board (actually several boards) going from sheer to sheer, install bulkheads then flip, finish bottom then flip back, potentially on to the trailer and add the floor and deck. This is on the order of probably 30 (or more) boats over the years.
 
HenryHawthorne said:
I ask because the Devlin book promotes upside down. Will likely be next week before I get my plans from them, so don't know what they'll suggest specifically for the SG. I haven't wrapped my head around doing the initial internal fillets between wires upside down.
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Unless he made a radical change, you just get drawings. I got a set of "blueprints" and you loft the pieces from there. No instructions other than the book.
 
RM Anderson said:
. On a larger project such as the Snowgoose, you may want to consider a scale for mixing epoxy.
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Just so someone says it, you have to make sure you know the correct by weight ratio. Volume ratio and weight ratio are different.

I wish I had done that, I think it would have been a good way to go. Electronic scales have come way down in price in 25 years.
 
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