Craft A Craft Details

Hudson Folding Boat
2008-02-07 04:25:03
Gavin Atkin over at InTheBoatShed.net has an interesting post on the Hudson folding boat. A folding dinghy from the 1930's, it kind of shows that the various folding and Origami Dinghy designs aren't as newfangled as we might think. ...
Boat Folding Hudson

Another Folding Bike for your Boat - now available in the U.S.
2008-02-06 02:56:49
We've had some bicycle notes before... an electric bike, and some other good folding bike links. The bicycle is a popular transport method for when you go ashore, providing a compact method of transport that doesn't have much if any ongoing cost, doesn't require insurance, is always available (unlike borrowing the marina car) and even provides exercise. Of course hauling heavy items and foul weather are downsides, but you can't have everything :-)This Business Week article details another new entry into the U.S. market in the folding bike scene. The Strida 5.0 sounds like a nice rig. ...
Boat Folding

Glue strength
2008-02-05 04:04:54
Probably my biggest concern with my entire build revolves around glue strength. Early on I had some issues with epoxy bonds not being good. Since then, I've gotten better, but...More recently, I've been using PL Premium (construction adhesive) for much of my skin to frame joints. I feel that the glue will not be exposed to immersion, the entire thing will be encapsulated in epoxy and cloth and that I should be getting a good (if not better than my epoxy skills) bond.But... there is still that doubt.The most common failure I was seeing with my early epoxy work involved the fact that the MDO I am using is pre-primed. The paint they used is really tough... it stands water just great, doesn't scratch... it's just like a rock. But there were times it seemed to let go from the underlying rosin impregnated paper that is the facing on MDO.In my recent skinning work I've been sanding off the primer with a quick pass with an angle grinder with a 36 grit sanding wheel on it. That removes most of ...

Trimming the sides
2008-02-03 23:55:55
Got another couple of hours in this afternoon. Trimmed the rear "quarter panels" that I got mounted yesterday (that's the rear sides of a car, and the hull sides I did yesterday fulfill that role). Just a rough cut, but got them in the general shape.Added another 8' section of hull sides on the port side. Now I'm out of MDO for full sheet work. I still have plenty to work on at the bow for small stuff, and can be filling some cracks, etc. for a while. As soon as I get the money together, we'll do another 10 sheet MDO order.Time = 2 hours ...

Icebreaker picture
2008-02-03 05:09:21
A while back we had a view of this Stuck In Customs picture from a different angle. Since he has published this view, I wanted to point it out. The same series also includes this nice shot: If you are like me, nearly any boat is interesting, and military style ships always hold a certain fascination to me. (click the pictures to see full size versions). ...
Picture

Hull sides
2008-02-03 04:40:31
Picked up another PVC 'T' to fix a broken fitting on the shed and a couple of boxes of screws. Putting the hull skin pieces on really eats the screws, even when removing at least some of them once the glue dries. Got some more of the bow finished. Had one problem where a piece of the chine log decided to split under the load. The 'tortured' ply has some of those forward pieces under pretty good torque. I got it glued and clamped (you can see the clamp holding things back in place in the picture) and I think we'll be fine. The piece on the other side went pretty well. Note that the two sides are not getting planked totally symetrical (due to available wood pieces and convenience). This is why it looks a bit "warped" and uneven. Hopefully it will be all nice and square when I get done :-) Next big task was getting some of the hull side planking in place. By the end of the day I got the rear 8' (one piece) on each side. This wound up being fairly easy on one side, but the other ...

80% efficient solar panel?
2008-02-02 04:40:55
No, it's not there yet, but its another step toward a more highly efficient solar panel that is lower cost. No idea if this will pan out, but I'm sure glad to see more and more work in the solar power arena. ...
Efficient

Navigator Stove Works, Inc.
2008-01-31 17:25:17
Our friend Klaus Hafner (make sure and check out his aluminum river boat build) pointed out a book that might be of interest: Bruce, found and already read this book.The Warm Dry Boat, by Roger McAfeeSome very good informations to deal with venting and heating boats,discussing different techniques and efforts.Maybe you are interested to offer, was not possible to get it from Amazon,just a used one for more 100$I paid incl shipping to Frankfurt ca. 50$Br, klaus This is the contactNavigator Stove Works LLC [marinest@marinestove.com]Andrew MooreNavigator Stove Works LLC509 Double Hill RoadEastsound, Washington.98245 USAPh. 360 376 5161 The Navigator Stove Works, Inc. web site referenced looks quite interesting and detailed. Keeping a boat warm and dry always seems to be a challenge. New/good ideas for maintaining your living spaces is something to keep abreast of. ...
Inc Navigator

Lego's 50th Anniversary
2008-01-29 03:32:43
Today is Lego's 50th Anniversary (see the link for a nice history and background page). I'm sure many of you have played (or still play) with Lego blocks... great toys. My son loves to play with them, as I always (and still do) love them. Many people have gotten into the celebration. Google's logo for the day is an example. Gizmodo has a slick timeline/history chart of the Lego world. The article on that page has a bunch of neat facts about Lego's over the years. To make sure we have a boating tie-in here, check out Sunday's, Mad Mariner™ slideshow, which is a great collection of lego boats from various Legoland venues. The detail these builders achieve is incredible to me. The page also has some downloadable wallpaper selections if you want to have one as your screen background. For full disclosure, I write some paid articles for Mad Mariner™. ...
Anniversary Lego

C-Dory Factory Tour
2008-01-28 05:52:51
This article over Navagear has a brief writeup with a lot of "insider" pictures from the C-Dory factory. Some neat views of a boat that I keep coming back to. Hadn't heard of the new C-Dory Venture series... something else to research! ...
Factory

Tortured ply and a trim
2008-01-27 03:02:14
Ready to work after some errands earlier in the day (including picking up a little more construction adhesive). Get the tools out and find out I'm out of screws. I knew there was something else I was supposed to get at the store. Another quick trip and then we can start. Why can you never do any project with hitting Home Depot multiple times??? Anyway, got a few more strips on the hull bottom at the bow. The designer specifies that these will need to be narrower to take the twist. He's right, they are under a pretty good load there. Doesn't show as well in the picture, but there is actually a curve to the bow now. Of course the other thing that doesn't show is the gap in one spot that will have to be dealt with... otherwise, I think we'll sink :-) A little of the strain of putting those in place goes a long way for me. Putting wood under a bunch of tension and getting it fastened is a bit nerveracking to me, for whatever reason, so after getting a few sections in place, I moved to an ...

The Adventures of the Vessel Condesa
2008-01-26 18:11:02
Mad Mariner™ and Panbo point us toward this great cruse log/blog site. Set some time aside and enjoy reading Clark Beek’s blog. ...
Adventures

Salty's Marine
2008-01-25 02:58:37
I would like to welcome our newest advertiser on Craft A Craft - Salty's Marine. This is a neat storefront with all kinds of toys for us boating types. Discount Marine Electronics Shop Salty's Marine for all your Marine Electronics needs. We feature deep discounts on our marine products. Here at Salty's Marine, we are boaters just like you. We also love to save money, just like you. You won't find bloated retail prices. Our prices on marine electronics are among the lowest you will find. We feature brands such as: Cannon, Eagle, Furuno, Garmin, Guest, Humminbird, Icom, Lowrance, Magellan, Raymarine, and others. ...
Marine

Cargo Ship with supplemental Kite Power
2008-01-23 02:47:04
Launching today (Tuesday, the 22nd) on a voyage from Germany to Venezuela, the 462' MS Beluga will be using a SkySail to provide an expected 20% fuel use savings. Pretty slick as we come full circle from sail to power moving back to sail. Wonder when we'll see more "personal" versions of this type of sail. Check out the Telegraph's article for details. ...
Power Ship

Skin and curves
2008-01-22 03:31:25
Got to work for a good while this afternoon. Got several more pieces of hull bottom in place. Got up to the bow and we're actually starting to bend some pieces. I think they will come out fairly well. The curve doesn't show up very well in the picture, but it's pretty pronounced. Next piece will have even more twist to it and will have to be cut narrower to deal with it, I think. The rough cut edge is to be trimmed off flush with the chine logs. Right now it was just a quick cut (that broke at the end) to get it clear of the shed. Who said a 28' boat isn't big? Looks bigger and bigger. Time = 3 hours ...
Curves Skin

Waves freezing as they hit shore
2008-01-21 03:07:25
Since we're on a "snow" theme... waves freezing as they hit shore. Amazing (to me) video. Watch them pile up. By the end there is a lot of ice piled up! ...
Waves

Duffy Electric Boat Slideshow - Mad Mariner™
2008-01-21 02:43:46
A couple of years ago (gee, has it been that long) we mentioned Duffy Electric Boats. Seems their use and popularity has continued to grow. Today, Mad Mariner™ has a pictorial/slideshow of some Duffy Electric Boats in Newport Beach, California. Check it out for some nice boat pictures and some downloadable wallpaper for your computer if you like. For full disclosure, I write some paid articles for Mad Mariner™. ...
Boat Electric Electric Boat Slideshow

Flying Boats
2008-01-20 03:09:34
There probably aren't what you are thinking... we're not talking amphibious aircraft, but rather boats in water so clear that it looks like they aren't even floating. Beautiful pictures, and I found the fact that there were multiple "out there" fascinating. Flying Boat in Maldives Fly Away ...
Boats Flying

Snow???!!!
2008-01-20 01:48:44
No, it's not a type of boat (that I know of)... it's this funny white stuff that falls from the sky. I had originally intended to skina lot of the bow today. Then I wound up working all night (28 hour days are a bit much). After that, it decided to snow. Snow is NOT something we get much here in Atlanta. Really pretty, and Dane had a blast. Had to knock snow off the shed a couple of times to save the weight, but otherwise, it's surviving ok. Hopefully I can work on the boat Monday (holiday for me) if not tomorrow afternoon. Yes, ther'eis a boat under there somewhere... ...
Snow

Ocean and sky
2008-01-18 23:06:51
Another great Stuck In Customs picture. Click for the full size. ...
Ocean

Abby's Lil Tug - In the Water!
2008-01-17 15:42:29
Some time back we had a link to KB's web page detailing how he was building a Glen-L designed Tubby Tug for his daughter. We are happy to announce that it has been presented to the lucky (and thrilled!) recepient, and initial on-the-water tests performed. Great looking boat! You can find some more pictures at his page. ...
Water

Powerair Indoor Generator
2008-01-16 04:50:28
An outfit called Powerair is releasing a generator that runs on zinc pellets. It produces no dangerous exhaust (thus can be used indoors). The zinc can be reprocessed out later for recovery and reuse via electrolysis. Sounds like it could be an interesting thing on a boat. Check the gallery for pictures.Powerair representatives told us commercial models will be available in about two to three years for about $1000 a kilowatt, but that price will eventually come down to $600. ...
Generator

African Cats - Green Motion - Fossil Free Electric Propulsion
2008-01-15 04:06:41
African Cats has some nice looking production catamarans. What really interested me was their "Green Motion" line of hybrid drive systems. They seem to really emphasis regeneration of power while under sail with the idea of oversizing the motor so that they can better regenerate. They also have wind generators, RIBs, and several other products that might be worth a look. Their web page is a bit "pdf happy" in my opinion (only use pdf when you really need to, please!), but still has a lot of info. WELCOME ABOARD AFRICAN CATS! We build comfortable lightweight performance leisure catamarans thru epoxy resin infusion for sailing enthusiasts that demand the highest levels of performance, comfort, speed, security and reliability. Our secret? We employ a no-compromise approach to boat design and construction that spans the gamut from materials and techniques to beauty and ergonomics. On our site you can see who we are, what we do, how we do it and why. Enjoy and don ...
Electric Fossil Motion

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