Bud Hauschild, from Hastings, Michigan, sent us this idea for a drill guide used to accurately drill holes through irregularly shaped surfaces. Additionally, you can use this guide to drill from both sides of a thick beam and have the holes line up. Orthopedic surgeons use a similar device to drill holes in bone for screws or pins. Continue reading
Editor’s note: This article was originally written in 1994, long before we developed G/flex epoxies which offer vastly superior performance in bonding to plastics including PVC. A much more current article on this subject is Gluing Plastic with G/flex Epoxy by Tom Pawlak and Jeff Wright. If you’re interested in gluing PVC with epoxy, we suggest you start there. The following article is published at Epoxyworks.com for historical purposes only.
by Captain James R. Watson
You may have read my articles about how to build mail boxes, canoe paddles, wheels, tillers, how to get glue off clothing and so on. Somebody called the other day and asked, “You ever build a boat?” Well, it so happens I’m building one right now and it’s a good example for describing the latest stitch and glue techniques. Continue reading
by Captain James R. Watson
A deck crown tram is a device used to describe a specifc curve or crown of a deck regardless of the deck’s width. To make a deck crown tram, begin by laying out a baseline on a piece of plywood. Make the line the length of the largest (widest) deck beam. Drive a nail at either end of the baseline to represent the beam ends (points A and B). Draw a centerline between points A and B. Continue reading
Most woodworkers, at one time or another, have to scribe a piece of wood to fit closely to an irregular surface. Here is an old boat builder’s method to scribe a line to a gently curved surface. The only equipment necessary is a collection of different size flat washers and a sharp pencil. Continue reading
Our 403 Microfibers and 405 Filleting Blend are excellent structural fillers but they’re fibrous and leave a rough surface when used to make fillets. To end up with a surface that is ready for coating or re-bonding without having to remove amine blush or sand smooth, apply a narrow strip of 879 Release Fabric after the fillet is made. Continue reading
Boat Design Quarterly (BDQ) is a publication and website offering boat plans from top designers. In it, readers will find boat plans for paddle, oar, power, and sail, from well-known designers like Bolger, Chapelle, and Stephens. Continue reading
Cover Photo: Inspired by designs from the 1890s, this settee is built with modern techniques by Weatherend Estate Furniture in Rockland, Maine.
Weatherend® Estate Furniture has developed an innovative collection inspired by the seven original designs of Hans Heistad, a noted landscape architect. In the early 1890’s, owners of the Weatherend estate commissioned Heistad to create these special furnishings for their summer residence on the coast of Maine. Continue reading
Polyester laminates have been with us since the mid-1940s. They are bright, strong, easily molded to useful shapes, and from all appearances (and advertising) maintenance-free. Contrary to our conditioned distrust of wood, we have come to expect these easy features when we think about Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics (FRP). The waxing and occasional polishing required to keep our FRP bright is not very demanding. FRP structures epitomize easy living. Continue reading
There are many benefits of building boats of strong, lightweight epoxy composites. Let’s look at how both custom and production sailboats are performing on the race circuits.
TRADER, an Andrews 70 built by AKE Ltd. in Tallinn, Estonia, won the 1993 Chicago to Mackinac, and Port Huron to Mackinac offshore races on corrected time. In the 300-mile Chicago race on July 17, racers experienced mostly reaching conditions. The first boat to finish was WINDQUEST, a Reichel/Pugh 70. Continue reading