2025 Devlin Snow Goose Thread

[William Reinicke]

I thought about claiming it was a design change to address porpoising.

Fortunately, it is quite minor, and really only exists at the keel and within an inch or two either side. Frankly, by the time I get it glassed and a keel on it 90%of the problem would likely be covered and solved... but it should be pretty simple to get it right with filler, a long straight-edge, and some longboat sanding. I also have a little to do just in front of the scarf joints in the bottom section - it looks like I was a touch heavy with the sanding there while I still had the panels flat.

Hit the design right on the head then! " The snow goose, the bird that goes full throttle, no porpoising, and wheelies for life... Max speed of 20 mph, even with a 150hp hanging off the back! As frustrating as hunting the species! Specially made just for you!"

 

[RM Anderson]

Henry,
Yes, you could fair the area you are concerned about but you may want to wait and do your fairing after glassing. Microballoons are not a structural filler material and wood flour/epoxy is a bitch to sand. Richard

 

[tod osier]

Got her outside to do some light sanding and rounding of the edges in prep for next steps. Only the front edges from front transom to hull pieces left to do, but had to stop.
View attachment 65468

View attachment 65469

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Tod's eagle eye picked out in previous picture the slight hook I have in the rear planing section, so I have a little building up to do there as well as some light fairing in other areas before I can get tape on. I also need to move my table saw over to the shop so I can get the keel cut and dry fitted before taping over that seam and losing center references.

That is a very clean build, very nice. It looks fantastic.

 

[HenryHawthorne]

Henry,
Yes, you could fair the area you are concerned about but you may want to wait and do your fairing after glassing. Microballoons are not a structural filler material and wood flour/epoxy is a bitch to sand. Richard

Thanks Richard. I've been weighing the alternatives. One is to build up slowly with glass... a small strip in the center then a bit longer, wider piece, then fair. The other is to build up (but intentionally leave low) with a higher density wood flour mix, adding a more sandable thin layer when the first is just tacky. I believe the hollow is small enough that fairing then glass would likely be sufficient, but I think these are simple enough alternatives that there is no reason to take any chances. But open to other ideas/recommendations.

 

[HenryHawthorne]

That is a very clean build, very nice. It looks fantastic.

Thanks Tod!

 

[tod osier]

Thanks Richard. I've been weighing the alternatives. One is to build up slowly with glass... a small strip in the center then a bit longer, wider piece, then fair. The other is to build up (but intentionally leave low) with a higher density wood flour mix, adding a more sandable thin layer when the first is just tacky. I believe the hollow is small enough that fairing then glass would likely be sufficient, but I think these are simple enough alternatives that there is no reason to take any chances. But open to other ideas/recommendations.

I wouldn't sweat it too much. I'd probably do a mix of maple flour and microballoons just because I like the way it behaves, I can move it around really cleanly, much better than plain microballoons, but that is probably just me. It also sands pretty well and is pretty strong. Maybe tape the keel and chines and then fair everything and then glass.

 

[HenryHawthorne]

Thanks. While I'm getting advice... regarding getting the keel centered and straight, my plan is to drill about 12" on center down the center line while I have good reference points - and to cut a centered kerf down the hull side of the keel board once I get it ripped (as a screw guide). I'll dry fit and use the installed keel(screwed from underneath) to measure and mark center lines for the strakes... then dry fit them similarly. Mark all for final length, then remove and set aside. Once glassing and fairing are complete, reinstall with thickened epoxy (screws/washers from underneath for clamping pressure). I'll ultimately remove the screws and fill those holes before adding fillets (once upright). Is there a better way?

I'm also tempted to shape the hull-side of the keel a bit to reduce the amount of thickened epoxy needed for gap-filling. Worthwhile, or waste of time?

 

[RM Anderson]

I can't give you any advice as I have only used UHMW strips and the jury is still out on that one. Richard

 

[tod osier]

Thanks. While I'm getting advice... regarding getting the keel centered and straight, my plan is to drill about 12" on center down the center line while I have good reference points - and to cut a centered kerf down the hull side of the keel board once I get it ripped (as a screw guide). I'll dry fit and use the installed keel(screwed from underneath) to measure and mark center lines for the strakes... then dry fit them similarly. Mark all for final length, then remove and set aside. Once glassing and fairing are complete, reinstall with thickened epoxy (screws/washers from underneath for clamping pressure). I'll ultimately remove the screws and fill those holes before adding fillets (once upright). Is there a better way?

I'm also tempted to shape the hull-side of the keel a bit to reduce the amount of thickened epoxy needed for gap-filling. Worthwhile, or waste of time?

A fair number of people over the years have used straps to hold the keels/strakes on (it helps if the material is a little long to give some purchase to wrestle them). People use a stick projecting up from the strake to generate force at each point using the straps. I, however, screwed mine on and left the screws in. To do it again, I may go fastener-less. My keel and strakes are a lot larger than most (keel is 3"+ wide) and I did remove material on the back with the tablesaw (a "V") to do as you describe to help it fit and index on the keel. If yours are narrower, you can flatten the keel where they sit for most of the material width and that will shrink the gap.

 

[HenryHawthorne]

Got my keel, strakes, and sheer clamps ripped today, then spent a bit of time futzing with ideas for a scarfing jig for the table saw. Hopefully I'll get bits scarfed and glued tomorrow.

Good mail day today - cleats from @TA Smith (Thanks!!) as well as the following:



I'd pretty much decided to go with Tod's interceptor plate idea, but came across these old Step-n-trim tabs for about what SS bar stock would have cost me - and no machining to do! Plus an emergency step for getting in. I have a ultrasonic cleaner I use for cleaning old car parts, should make quick work of cleanup.

 

[tod osier]

Got my keel, strakes, and sheer clamps ripped today, then spent a bit of time futzing with ideas for a scarfing jig for the table saw. Hopefully I'll get bits scarfed and glued tomorrow.

Good mail day today - cleats from @TA Smith (Thanks!!) as well as the following:

View attachment 65531

I'd pretty much decided to go with Tod's interceptor plate idea, but came across these old Step-n-trim tabs for about what SS bar stock would have cost me - and no machining to do! Plus an emergency step for getting in. I have a ultrasonic cleaner I use for cleaning old car parts, should make quick work of cleanup.

Those look great. I'd go with those without a second thought if I knew they existed.

 

[Carl]

Those look great. I'd go with those without a second thought if I knew they existed.

I was just thinking I could really use those for my boat, getting back in over the stern gets a little harder every year!

 

[HenryHawthorne]

I was just thinking I could really use those for my boat, getting back in over the stern gets a little harder every year!

Unfortunately they haven't been made for years, but they periodically pop up on ebay or the various boating forums.