Devlin bluebill build thread.
- Thread starter Paul W
- Start date
Cody Williams
Well-known member
I agree with Steve about not wrapping the coamings in glass-I've done that on 2 boats and have had trouble down the road with both of them. It's pretty hard to get the glass to sit perfectly on the rail and I honestly don't think that you gain much by glassing them. Looking great-it's an awesome feeling when you get the decks on and the hull really takes shape!
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Paul~
The shock cord is a fine idea. It allows the thatch to move a bit and so avoid breaking. I took a similar approach on my most recent gunning coffin - with 2 rows of 1/4" shock cord. (see Gallery 6 at http://stevenjaysanford.com/sanford-gunning-box/) I lashed bundles of salt hay to both cords - with jute twine (so it's biodegradable and won't snag anything as zip-ties can). I would install guides every ~24 inches along the decks.
All the best,
SJS
The shock cord is a fine idea. It allows the thatch to move a bit and so avoid breaking. I took a similar approach on my most recent gunning coffin - with 2 rows of 1/4" shock cord. (see Gallery 6 at http://stevenjaysanford.com/sanford-gunning-box/) I lashed bundles of salt hay to both cords - with jute twine (so it's biodegradable and won't snag anything as zip-ties can). I would install guides every ~24 inches along the decks.
All the best,
SJS
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Paul~
I would "just" paint both the coamings and the sheer clamps (I would call them rubrails) - and not seal with resin. Bedding the rails in 3M 5200 will impart all the strength you need. Both will get beat up in use - and paint is designed to allow the movement of water vapor through it - while keeping out liquid water. Three coats of a good duckboat paint will do the trick - and these surfaces can be easily maintained each year - a quick sanding with 80 or 100 grit and some new paint.
re "calendaring" - mostly just joking - is making sure all the slots in screw heads like up, e.g. all vertical or all horizontal. It's a bit "yachty" for duckboats - and should never take the place of fully-driving screws - but I do it where I can see it because of the OCD suffered by most boatbuilders.... Also, most screws now are Philllips heads and not slotted. Smiths calendar the screw heads on fine guns by filing the back (bottom) of each screw head so it snugs up with the slot in the desired orientation.
BTW: That 1" African Mahogany sounds beautiful - but will it take the bend for the side coamings?
All the best,
SJS
I would "just" paint both the coamings and the sheer clamps (I would call them rubrails) - and not seal with resin. Bedding the rails in 3M 5200 will impart all the strength you need. Both will get beat up in use - and paint is designed to allow the movement of water vapor through it - while keeping out liquid water. Three coats of a good duckboat paint will do the trick - and these surfaces can be easily maintained each year - a quick sanding with 80 or 100 grit and some new paint.
re "calendaring" - mostly just joking - is making sure all the slots in screw heads like up, e.g. all vertical or all horizontal. It's a bit "yachty" for duckboats - and should never take the place of fully-driving screws - but I do it where I can see it because of the OCD suffered by most boatbuilders.... Also, most screws now are Philllips heads and not slotted. Smiths calendar the screw heads on fine guns by filing the back (bottom) of each screw head so it snugs up with the slot in the desired orientation.
BTW: That 1" African Mahogany sounds beautiful - but will it take the bend for the side coamings?
All the best,
SJS
Cody Williams
Well-known member
Personally I like wrapping the deck glass down over the sheer clamp and trimming it where it breaks back to the hull, I figure it doesn't hurt to have a little extra abrasion resistance there. Then again I usually use clear fir for my sheer clamps so mahogany would probably wear better. I think either way would work out fine though. It's looking more and more like a boat every day, keep up the awesome work!
Paul, I would not glass wrap areas I know will be damaged (shear clamps/rub rails, keelsons/ice runners, and maybe coaming). The glass may offer a little abrasion protection, but once compromised will inhibit drying and lead to more issues. Areas that will be damaged are more easily maintained or repaired outside the glass envelope in my opinion.
Thanks to all I you, I'm a few k poorer, and one cool duck boat richer. I did a lot of things that would make people like Todd and Eric go into a psych ward, and I learned a LOT.
t
Now it's just piddley stuff her...o let it bake in the sun if it doesn't rain.
t
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Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Mark~
All your efforts have resulted in a fine vessel - and lots of entertainment for us!
Thanks for sharing - and many happy years afloat with her,
SJS
All your efforts have resulted in a fine vessel - and lots of entertainment for us!
Thanks for sharing - and many happy years afloat with her,
SJS
Pete McMiller
Well-known member
Very nice Paul. You sure have been on fire with this build but now you have time to rig her before the season starts. Are you going to put in an electrical system, bilge pump, etc.? Also, you may find that everything you stuff under the deck to 'get it out of the way' gravitates eventually to the middle of the floor. To solve that problem you might consider curtains. I just looked and I don't have pics of mine but essentially I sewed a curtain out of 500D Camo Nylon fabric. I slipped a 3/4" (I think) plastic pipe through a sleeve on the bottom and secured it in place along the floor. The top edge of the fabric holds a bungee cord that runs the full length of the cockpit (secured at the knees also). Everything, including long line anchors, loose shells, empty hulls, lunch, thermos, etc. stays behind the curtains. I'll try and get pics for you. It's one of the best mods I did though the idea was originally Eric's with his Scaup in this pic.
Camo looks great! I like it.
Post some pics up when you test it out.
WARNING! do not be surprised if it doesn't ride well on the first run. Motor height may need to be adjusted, you may have to mess with loading/balance, you may get spray from the splashwell into the boat, etc.... It is still a work in progress.
Post some pics up when you test it out.
WARNING! do not be surprised if it doesn't ride well on the first run. Motor height may need to be adjusted, you may have to mess with loading/balance, you may get spray from the splashwell into the boat, etc.... It is still a work in progress.
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Tom Scholberg
Well-known member
Beauty
Martin J. V.
Member
It looks magnificent!
You should be very proud. -and thanks for sharing the experience with the rest of us.
You should be very proud. -and thanks for sharing the experience with the rest of us.
Cody Williams
Well-known member
You're almost ready to launch her! That's a great feeling that you really only get to experience one time-launching your first homebuilt boat. It's a really interesting mixture of excitement, pride, and nervousness. The first time I launched my own boat I purposely picked a time when I knew that the ramp was likely to be deserted so I could take my time and be really careful. When I got there there was only a old feller sitting on the dock by the ramp fishing, and our conversation went like this-
Old guy-Hey, that's a neat looking boat. Where did you get that?
Me-Well, I built it. Been wanting one like this for a while and finally decided to build it myself.
Old guy-You don't say. How does it do in the water?
Me-I don't know-this is actually the first time that I've ever launched it.
Old guy-Well, good luck, let's see how it floats.
I backed the trailer into the water, pushed her off the rails, and guided her over to tie her off to the dock-everything looked fine and I got her tied to the cleats on the floating dock, got back into my truck, and pulled over to the parking area. As soon as I stepped out of the truck the old guy starts hollering-
"Hey, you better get over here quick! She's sprung a leak and it's filling up fast! Hurry!
I went running down to the dock, trying to plan how to bail her out and pull her up onto the bank before she was swamped-as soon as my foot hit the dock the old guy says-
"I'm just pulling your leg, she's dry as a bone. Have fun!"
I almost had a heart attack, but it sure made for a memorable launch. Have a great time with your new boat, and you still have the excitement of shooting your first duck out of her to look forward to. Congratulations!
Old guy-Hey, that's a neat looking boat. Where did you get that?
Me-Well, I built it. Been wanting one like this for a while and finally decided to build it myself.
Old guy-You don't say. How does it do in the water?
Me-I don't know-this is actually the first time that I've ever launched it.
Old guy-Well, good luck, let's see how it floats.
I backed the trailer into the water, pushed her off the rails, and guided her over to tie her off to the dock-everything looked fine and I got her tied to the cleats on the floating dock, got back into my truck, and pulled over to the parking area. As soon as I stepped out of the truck the old guy starts hollering-
"Hey, you better get over here quick! She's sprung a leak and it's filling up fast! Hurry!
I went running down to the dock, trying to plan how to bail her out and pull her up onto the bank before she was swamped-as soon as my foot hit the dock the old guy says-
"I'm just pulling your leg, she's dry as a bone. Have fun!"
I almost had a heart attack, but it sure made for a memorable launch. Have a great time with your new boat, and you still have the excitement of shooting your first duck out of her to look forward to. Congratulations!
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