Aussie Trapper

Builder show and discuss their progress.
ColCollyer
Posts: 50
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 5:59 pm
Type of boat I like: trapper

Re: Aussie Trapper

Post by ColCollyer »

Thanks for all the tip's.... An aeromoddeller mate with a triton did the job.... I told you I was out of my comfort zone.. you guys sure help !
Tonight I fitted the first gunnel strip, 10 sq hoop pine( the outer will have 6 strips , 20 X 30 finished, the inner 3, 10 X 30 finished ) They went on OK, not sure I'd like to handle any bigger. The hoop pine sure is nice wood. Very straight grain, no knotts, cuts good. May try a highlight strip of darker wood. I plan on tapering the ends. You will notice in the photo's http://s1010.photobucket.com/albums/af223/ColCollyer/ that I glued some tabs on the gunnel. That made it quite easy to locate things, as all I had to do is push in and up.
Back to the dying questions, the ply has come out quite a nice colour, but it certainly isn't "yellow". Sane with the paddles, I vac bagged them, with a layer of 80grm cloth, and they have come out quite pale.... not sure if it was worth the trouble. A paint friend of mine was telling me of a method he used years ago, to good affect. He rubbed paint into the grain, then ragged it off again. Says it gave a good subtle affect. Off course, the paint would need to be compatable with the epoxy
Just saw a photo of Hairymick... poor bugga is doing it tough !!
ColCollyer
Posts: 50
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 5:59 pm
Type of boat I like: trapper

Re: Aussie Trapper

Post by ColCollyer »

I did the next lamination last night, much easier than the first layer, another to go tonight. I can see a problem coming up. The bulldog clips won't reach, have to go on a clamp hunt.
RobRassy
Posts: 55
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2010 4:55 am
Type of boat I like: canoe and sailing dinghy
Location: Brisbane, Australia

Re: Aussie Trapper

Post by RobRassy »

Nice glass work Col 8)

Bet you're looking forward to turning it over!
The strong back looks like a good way to go

Rob
preacher
Posts: 213
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:37 am
Type of boat I like: Cape Fear SOT
Location: Balch Springs, Texas

Re: Aussie Trapper

Post by preacher »

Those Trappers are really sweet looking boats and yours is a real looker. Building is fun, paddling is great, and if you fish, catching something in your new boat is awesome.
ColCollyer
Posts: 50
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 5:59 pm
Type of boat I like: trapper

Re: Aussie Trapper

Post by ColCollyer »

Plodding along...
Hey Rob, you put the moz on me, the forms came off the bench and I had to turn the canoe over to do a fix. Finished up having to put tempary cross peices in, with scews ino the gunnells, then re clamped to the bench. I was surprized, the inside is fairly clean, not to many dags to grind down
A few more photo's, showing the last lamination going on, and then the result of a bit of plane work, I think it's starting to come together. The laminations come to about 20mm wide and 30mm tall,Hoop pine, and Hairymick is right, they wouldn't want to be any smaller. The darker wood is a floor board, no where near as nice to work with.
The other photo shows my brushes on acetone. Pull a glove over them when I take them off, acetone doesn't evaporate. Care taken when brush is next used, making sure all acetone is removed.
Still got plenty to do, but I'm having a ball
Col
http://s1010.photobucket.com/albums/af223/ColCollyer/
hairymick
Design Reviewer
Posts: 1965
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:54 am
Type of boat I like: <-- Please read instructions to the left and delete this text. Then, tell us what type boat you like! :-)
Location: Queensland, Australia
Contact:

Re: Aussie Trapper

Post by hairymick »

Geez Col, I like your idea re the laminating the gunwhales like that. A great way to overcome the strong edge bend required in this design.

Beautifuly thought out and executed build mate.

respectfully,

Mick
ColCollyer
Posts: 50
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 5:59 pm
Type of boat I like: trapper

Re: Aussie Trapper

Post by ColCollyer »

Thanks Mick.... Quite a compliment coming from you. Spose you should take some credit, as I've studied yours and others build on here
The next trick I came across, was using a hack saw blade to trim the bottom edge if the gunwhale. A plane wouldn't reach the plywood face, and sandpaper was not affective, so I tried the hack saw blade, used like a scraper, and it did the trick in under an hour.
Now I'm looking for a trick to sand the epoxy down. an orbital sander seems best so far, but the paper cloggs quite quickly. Also tried a scraper, worked good at first, but seem to have lost their edge now( question, do they need to be sharp, like a knife, or square with crisp edges ?)
Cheers
Col
RobRassy
Posts: 55
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2010 4:55 am
Type of boat I like: canoe and sailing dinghy
Location: Brisbane, Australia

Re: Aussie Trapper

Post by RobRassy »

Col - How's the trapper coming along?
Not sure I understand what epoxy you're sanding, but if it's clogging sandpaper you just need more curing time. If it's blobs of resin or glue you can use a heat gun to soften it before using the scraper.
I have been looking at your photos again! You sure work neat! Can't imagine you have to much resin to clean up :mrgreen:

Rob
ColCollyer
Posts: 50
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 5:59 pm
Type of boat I like: trapper

Re: Aussie Trapper

Post by ColCollyer »

Hi Rob
Thanks for the nice words. The fact that I applied resin to the bare wood makes it stay nice.
After I had glassed the out side, I applied 2 coats of resin, a day apart ( in 15 - 20 deg), and a combination of trying to get it on thick in 1 go, and a roller that dropped some fur, I made myself some work. It's nearly all smooth again, not sure when or how I will lay the final coat of e-poxy on
I have a few other questions coming up
1/ I'd like to put a rubbing strip along the bottom.... some would call it a keel. thinking of 10mmsq. Is that a good idea or not as far as paddling goes ?
2/ thwarts.... I read somewhere that rope can be used as thwarts. I wish to laminate out of some 10mm sq to about 100mm. Is that enough ?
3/ finishing.... varnish. what exactly is varnish, and why wouldn't I 2 pack it.
Kind of hoping Hairymick or some one else can offer some views on these ideas.
My social life seems to be slowing things at present... still like to be in the water by Christmas. Watching Rob's, I recon he's on about the same pace
Cheers
Col
hairymick
Design Reviewer
Posts: 1965
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:54 am
Type of boat I like: <-- Please read instructions to the left and delete this text. Then, tell us what type boat you like! :-)
Location: Queensland, Australia
Contact:

Re: Aussie Trapper

Post by hairymick »

Heya Col.

Thwartes are no less important than the gunwhales. you will need at least one of them. I like hoop pine on my canoes, a single piece formed from a 42X19 clear stick is what i use.

sanding. Get yourself a good random orbital sander. 5 or 6 inch. a few 120 and 240 grit pads.

Re a scraper, a specialist paint supplier should have the carbide blade pull scrapers. I have used the same one now on about 6 or 7 builds. Still is sharp enough. they cost about 20 bucks and are worth every cent.

Varnish, I use marine grade with UV inhibitors. I forget the band but is pretty deer but well worth it. if you can get quality 2 pack WITH UV INHIBITORS in it, go for it mate. I am still looking.

Hope this helps a bit.
Regards,
Mick

JEMWATERCRAFT Swampgirl; Wadefish;Touring Pirogue;South Wind; P5 ;
Laker X 2, Sasquatch 16.5 T-V 15 Okwata 15:
Cobia 15 (under construction)
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