Craft A Craft Boat design, home building, and cruising Boat design, home building, and cruising in a nutshell

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Hotel Water Bed
2007-10-24 04:39:28
And now for something a little different... no, it's not just a water bed... its a bed made in a "boat" that is floating in water... check the link for a picture. ...
Hotel  Water 

Wolstenholme Yacht Design
2007-10-23 03:15:54
Another designer with some neat designs... Andrew Wolstenholme has produced a wide variety of designs ranging from award winning production powerboats to classic launches and traditional craft for sail and oar, with several thousand examples of these boats to be seen around the world. I especially liked the Wheelyboat Mk III - it looks like a miniature landing craft and is designed for use by wheelchair bound fishermen on European rivers and lakes... neat idea and a great way of letting a mobility impared person continue to enjoy the water! His 57-60' Cruising Barge design are some gorgeous craft... I love that European/Dutch Barge look! ...
Design  Yacht 

Sheer clamp layer 2
2007-10-22 05:53:53
Dane and I spent a bit and got the second layer of sheer clamp on port and starboard. Actually went on easier than I expected. Nearly messed up forgetting to clean up some of the epoxy drips from the first layer, but went back over it with the hand planer and a hammer and chisel for a few nooks and crannies. Actually went really fast. It was one of those jobs that I'm glad is done and worked well, but there really isn't much to "show"... just another board running right where one already was. I do have one issue that I will have to deal with somehow later... one of the notches for the sheer clamp on Frame B (at the bow) wasn't deep enough. I didn't notice it and the first layer was all attached and glued in. Now with the second layer on there, the second layer sticks out proud of the hull line. Its fine on one side, but about 1/4" off on the other. Guess I'll have to plane it down fair to keep things symetrical. Dane also got to learn about surface area when he asked an ...
Clamp  Sheer 

Glendinning - Marine and RV products
2007-10-21 02:12:51
Another source of marine and RV stuff... got the pointer from a Ship Shape TV episode (sometimes really interesting... sometimes all fluff).Their marine line is mostly shore power and water line "handlers"... powered devices to neatly stow your cables, etc. and also control boxes/cables for engine/transmission type controls. Look nice on TV, anyhow :-) WELCOME! Glendinning has been bringing you the finest quality, innovative products for both the marine and rv industries since 1972. Our reputation for quality and service is second to none! ...
Marine  Products 

Sheer clamps - part 2
2007-10-19 03:39:52
Got the next layer of sheer clamps scarfed and glued up... another set of long boards running across my garage. Dane is getting to be quite the expert at helping me get them straight... he sits at one end and sights down the board, telling me which way to move things. We find that eyeballs can be just as accurate if not more than trying to use a straightedge. After getting them lined up, he comes and acts as a mobile weight (he stands on them) and we fasten them for gluing. Did wind up getting the epoxy mixed thicker than I normally have used... KB of Tubby Tug fame recommends getting it thick... I hadn't really intended this to be the experiment, but it wound up that way, so we went with it. We'll see how it comes out. Time = 1 hour ...
Sheer 

Humdinger Wind Energy, LLC - Windbelt
2007-10-17 20:02:40
Boat Bits pointed us to the home page of Humdinger Wind Energy, LLC the company behind the Windbelt which we covered the other day. Some good/interesting information. ...
Energy 

Boat Bits
2007-10-17 19:59:54
This is a neat blog with a slogan of "A sailing blog : Random thoughts and rants on boat design, boat building, and other boat bits..."... a bit more of a sailing bent than I have, but lots of alternative energy, etc.Not to mention, he was kind enough to link to Craft A Craft in a recent post. He found the Windbelt post of interest and has found a link to a more detailed web page for Humdinger Wind Energy, LLC. ...
Boat 

Windbelt - Cheap Generator Alternative
2007-10-15 23:51:34
This Popular Mechanics blurb shows a really neat design for getting electricity from wind. It's designed for low wind speed, low cost applications, but looks to me like it could be really nice on a boat. Low cost (always good), low wind requirements, I would expect it to be fairly quiet, and no moving blades to hit you in the head. Third-World Wind Power: First Look ...
Generator 

Tubby Tug - Abby's Lil Tug
2007-10-14 22:56:55
KB's recent comment about his Lil Woody leads us to his new project, a Glen-L designed Tubby Tug for his daughter. These are cute little boats that I looked at in the past... I think it would be a great "father/child" project for those wanting something a little smaller than the project I bit off :-) KB has a nicely detailed set of web sites, and the pictures and commentary are great learning tools. I appreciated his opinions of epoxy thickening... that's a subject that I haven't found enough information on yet :-) A good rule of thumbs when mixing epoxy and silica is that if you wonder if it is thick enough - it isn't. It will run and sag if not thick enough. One website said to mix the epoxy and silica to a consistency of peanut butter. BUT, is that warm peanut butter or peanut butter that you just pulled out of the fridge? Is it the consistency of Skippy or Peter Pan? - October 4, 2007 KB's planning for electric drive, so he's fitting in here more and more. ...

Look at those lines...
2007-10-14 05:41:21
This first picture shows the first sheer clamp to be installed, although its hard to see from this angle. What is very apparent is the inner keel that I got on the other day.   This later picture shows the sheer... a nice curved board closest to the ground.  Started the day cleaning up the notches for the sheer clamp. Biggest hassle here was that some of the frame supports that hold the frames off the stongback were in the way... If you are ever doing this, try to plan that aspect better :-) I was impressed with how easily it went on after we found the best method... start at the point of the lowest freeboard (highest from ground) which happens to be Frame G. Attach there and have Dane use his newfound knowledge of the leverage you get pulling on the end of a long board and I work my way down the boat. Went right along. This was a good example where this has been a good chance to work with my little boy, enjoy the time together, and teach things all at the same time. I enjoy ...

BoaterEd.com - Dedicated to Boater Education
2007-10-14 04:30:59
A very active, diverse forum that covers the gamut of boating, fishing, maintenance, clubs and activities. Worth a check. ...
Dedicated  Education 

EMotion Hybrids
2007-10-13 04:04:00
A company formally known as Electric Marine Propulsion, EMotion Hybrids has recently re-released their web site and company under a new name. Specializing in diesel-electric hybrid propulsion for boats, they have some interesting motors and generators. All runs at 144 VDC. The generators charge directly at that voltage instead of having an AC/DC conversion.Check their page for some interesting technical sheets and information. ...
Hybrids 

TIKI Navigator
2007-10-12 04:18:12
Another PC based navigation software product billed as being "for boaters who don't think like a computer". Might be worth a look... comes in a range of "levels", all for reasonable prices. ...

Folding Urinal
2007-10-10 18:26:26
I know what you're thinking, but this looks legit, and might really have a boating application. Apparently using only 10oz of water per flush, this could help on the water use and holding tank use, and the space saving aspect of being able to fold up is really nice. Sold by Mister Miser. ...
Folding 

Alligator updates
2007-10-10 11:00:00
We've had some coverage and pictures of Greg and Kerry Carlson's Alligator before. Alligator is a Biloxi Lugger and is a really nice looking boat. They have added a few pictures of some interior changes they have made. I like the "pocket door" they added using ballslides. (and from the headings, they have another updating coming soon... we hope :-)).   ...
Alligator 

Water boat
2007-10-09 22:51:23
A neat picture of a slick sculpture. ...
Boat  Water 

Enavigo Yachts
2007-10-09 11:00:00
Some really nice looking, modern build, classic wooden yachts. Also a very nice, colorful web site to drool over. Welcome to the astonishing world of classic wooden sailing boats Enavigo Yachts combine classical design features with high-spec modern equipment to build boats that boast more than the usual range of features. Using the latest production technologies we offer well-made, seaworthy and aesthetically pleasing wooden boats that stand apart from vessels crafted with today’s more modern materials. Our aim is to produce high quality, wooden boats that will satisfy both the hearts and minds of those that sail them.  ...

Kayak hitchhiker
2007-10-09 02:30:18
That seal wants a ride :-)Just a cute little video, but boating related. You won't see wildlife that close from your car. ...

Chine camfers
2007-10-09 02:20:08
Worked for a little while on cutting the edges of the chine logs and beveling them off to match the slope of the hull bottom. Also beveled part of the forward frames. Still have a bit to go, but went much faster for a first pass than I expected. Time = 1 hour ...

The right tools
2007-10-08 03:42:34
You know, as with anything, having the "right" tool sure can make a job easier/faster. It's our anniversary today, and my wife was good enough to let me get a tool for my present :-) It is a small "palm" power planer... a bit smaller than most of the 3.25" power planers that I see out there, it's 2 and 3/8". It is a Task Force brand. Task Force is Lowes (home improvement store chain) house brand, as near as I can tell, and genarlly are low price, plain jane tools, although so far I have been pleased with the ones I have. I have a circular "skil" saw that has done just fine, and now this planer. I was going to give a link to it, but they don't seem to have it on their web site. It says its a magnesium case, comes with a dust collection attachment, a hard case, and a bonus door lock installation kit (hole saws and guide plate for door locks). Also included was a set of spare blades and a spare drive belt... all in all seems nice. Only complaints I ...
Tools 

Inner keel attached
2007-10-06 23:00:00
Got up and was going to do a quick seal of the inner keel notches and see how it was going to fit. Make a few adjustments to the frames, etc. Wound up that it was falling together nicely and I had about an hour longer to work than I expected, so was able to install both layers of the inner keel! I've got one frame where the notch for the inner keel (or the entire frame, I can't tell which yet, is a little low (high, whatever)... causes a bit of a dip in the keel, but I didn't see it until things were too far along to really change. I'll have to fair that area a bit more somehow when I'm putting the hull bottom on. I've also got one frame side piece that isn't vertically true. I thought I could adjust it easily, but that glue at the chine point really holds on :-) I'll have to fiddle with that a bit more when the sheer clamps go on, but even if its leaning as is, I think it will be ok. A bit of fairing and trimming will make it work out ok, I believe. All-in-all, a good day's work in a ...
Attached 

Adventures of Greg
2007-10-06 11:00:00
This site is a link from our previous entry on Pedal the Ocean... Greg is going for the Human Powered Trans-Atlantic Speed Record. Sounds just about impossible to me, but I hope he succeeds :-)Anyway, this is his blog site and covers his boat building in more detail and other human powered endeavors. ...
Adventures 

Pedal the Ocean
2007-10-06 03:37:18
An interesting site dealing with various human powered boating issues and events. Photo gallery, videos, news articles, etc. ...
Ocean 

River Rage
2007-10-05 15:22:01
Interesting article by Warren and Robin on their recent encounter with a rude boater... Can't really say that racing in ahead of the guy is the best solution, but I probably would have done it too :-) I find the boat type of the "offender" to be interesting, since it seems like this type of attitude usually goes with the PWC's or various "go fasts" instead of a lobster boat, but I guess you get all kinds. If you are reading this, Lobster Man, let's practice some courtesy!   ...
River 

Inner keel glueup
2007-10-05 03:52:06
Had the chance to finish cutting the scarfs for the inner keels and since the epoxy showed up today, got them then got them glued up. This lets them be ready to be installed Saturday when I expect to get to spend a couple of hours on the boat again.   Time = 1.5 hours   ...

New Low Cost Solar Panels Ready for Mass Production
2007-10-04 04:27:55
A poster on the electric boats mailing list pointed out this Industry Week article... if it really comes to pass, then it would be really nice for us electric boating types :-) Of course I'm a bit leary, since it seems like there are constant predictions and announcements concerning lowering cost and greater efficiency of solar power, and then we stay about the same. Maybe this will be a good byproduct of the higher cost of oil... we'll finally have to devote more time and money to solar and other alternative energy sources. Hit the link for the entire article. New Low Cost Solar Panels Ready for Mass Production Colorado's State Univ.'s panels will cost less than $1 per watt. Compiled By Adrienne Selko Sept. 10, 2007 -- Colorado State University's method for manufacturing low-cost, high-efficiency solar panels is nearing mass production. AVA Solar Inc. will start production by the end of next year on the technology developed by mechanical engineering Professor W.S. Sampat ...
Production 

Scarfing
2007-10-04 03:30:16
A scarfing we will go, a scarfing we will go, hi ho... Ah, never mind... Got part of the boards for the inner keel scarfed tonight. Didn't have long, but was able to get going. Tried to lay up 2-3 at a time and scarf down them all, but that didn't work so hot. They tried to slip and wouldn't stay aligned. Wound up being easier to just do one at a time... when all was said and done, that was faster than combining them. Time = 1 hour ...

Quick notch cleanup
2007-10-03 02:35:25
Had just a few minutes (and didn't feel very well anyhow) and took the router out to even up where I cut the keel notches. For some reason my jigsaw base doesn't want to stay square with the blade and a couple of them were "sloped" more than I wanted. Figured I could set the plunge on the router to the right depth and trim out the part that needed it. Two surprises here: It worked, easily. Stepped right through the 10 frames  They weren't as bad as I thought to begin with... I think this is one of those things that "grew" in my mind the more I thought about it. All but a couple of them probably would have been okay without anything, but they should be good to go now. One frame may have to have its notch cut deeper... visually it doesn't look right, but I'll have to get the plans out and check that one in more detail. Time = .5 hours ...
Notch 

Hundred-year old yacht racing photos
2007-10-02 04:43:01
Our friends over at InTheBoatShed.net have another great entry with some spectacular, turn of the century yacht racing photos... worth a look if you are into boats, art and/or photography. ...
Hundred  Photos  Racing  Yacht 

Lumber
2007-10-02 04:26:45
Had to work late and couldn't really work on the boat, but did get by the lumberyard and get boards to make the inner keel and first layer of the sheer clamp. 7 1x4's and 8 1x3's should get me that far. This is one of those advantages of home building... you can buy stuff paycheck to paycheck and in small amounts. Not always the most efficient, but I should end up with a mostly paid for boat. Money  = $68.36 + 4.79 tax = $73.15 Time = .5 hours ...