New Plywood Sidewheeler Building
- fredrosse
- Full Steam Ahead
- Posts: 1906
- Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:34 am
- Boat Name: Margaret S.
- Location: Phila PA USA
- Contact:
Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building
Got the little boat together this last weekend, same Buffalo Rail as on the steam sidewheeler, Carbon Fibre Gunwales, and a spruce floor (1/4 inch plywood hull should not be steped on!). Went out for a trial run, but there were 20 MPH winds, too much for an 11 ft boat, but at least she floats. Next to build the foot pedal sidewheels, then maybe a small steam plant, I don't know.
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- 1x3 spruce floors
- CANOEFLOOR.jpg (42.04 KiB) Viewed 14317 times
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- Bow Rail, same as larger steamer
- Bow.jpg (37.21 KiB) Viewed 14317 times
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- Too Rough for a Small Boat
- FirstWaterA.jpg (44.14 KiB) Viewed 14317 times
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- Stirring the Pot
- Posts: 447
- Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:14 am
- Boat Name: Steam Queen
- Location: Shawnigan Lake B.C. Canada
Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building
Looks like you need the sidewheels to act as pontoons! Looks pretty tippy in that chop! Or do you have to be a liittle tipsy to go out at all? Where do one get carbon fibre from Fred? Den
- fredrosse
- Full Steam Ahead
- Posts: 1906
- Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:34 am
- Boat Name: Margaret S.
- Location: Phila PA USA
- Contact:
Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building
Got a little tipsy after the outing, celebration of survival. The carbon fiber tape I got from "fiberglassuply.com" their price was the best I could find, but still expensive at $52 for 3 inch wide x 25 ft x 5.7oz tape. The stuff wets out just like the ordinary fiberglass cloth I use, and looks good in black.
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- carbon.jpg (58.84 KiB) Viewed 14273 times
- fredrosse
- Full Steam Ahead
- Posts: 1906
- Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:34 am
- Boat Name: Margaret S.
- Location: Phila PA USA
- Contact:
Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building
Got the two canopies onto the boat for this weekend outing, fitted now with Oak turned columns. and Oak seat backrest The rear canopy swings down on its supports to form a weathertight cover on the stern of the boat. The front canopy does the same thing, but does not pivot on the supports to fold down, instead the support columns are firmly attached, then the canopy lifted on, bolted down. This takes about as much time as raising steam, so no real delay with this setup.
The steamer can run with either canopy up or down. On the calm lake usually will have both canopies up, in rough water the forward canopy would typically be down and fixed to the gunwales.
Driving to Lee’s Mills on Friday
The steamer can run with either canopy up or down. On the calm lake usually will have both canopies up, in rough water the forward canopy would typically be down and fixed to the gunwales.
Driving to Lee’s Mills on Friday
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- SW Waterford 2012 close B.jpg (50.32 KiB) Viewed 14206 times
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- CANOPYSTERN1.jpg (28.61 KiB) Viewed 14208 times
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- CANOPY FWD-AFT.jpg (44.74 KiB) Viewed 14208 times
- fredrosse
- Full Steam Ahead
- Posts: 1906
- Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:34 am
- Boat Name: Margaret S.
- Location: Phila PA USA
- Contact:
Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building
Just a shot of the two boats, both the same lines, Margaret S. is 19ft-3in, little sister is 55% size, 10ft-8in. Last month I lifted the Margaret S. on load cells, 2100 Pounds. Somewhat Overweight! I'll have to stop adding stuff, and start on another boat!
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- Sidewheeler and her little sister
- Sidewheeler-ReplicaS2.jpg (111.35 KiB) Viewed 13714 times
- fredrosse
- Full Steam Ahead
- Posts: 1906
- Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:34 am
- Boat Name: Margaret S.
- Location: Phila PA USA
- Contact:
Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building
Found up in the basement floor joist, a 20% (4 ft long) size hull that was the beginning of this project, many years ago. 1/8 thick plywood, fiberglass cloth over the hull, bonded with automotive "fiberglass resin", I believe it is called "Vinyl Resin"
While real epoxy is far better than the vinyl resin in boatbuilding, many more boats are made with it than with epoxy.
The advantages:
Cost is about 20% the cost of real epoxy
Mix ratios can be very sloppy, it uses a catalyst
Hardening time can easily be varied from a few minutes to an hour
Epoxy can be applied over the vinyl coating, but the reverse is not recommended
The bad:
Fumes while curing, obviously toxic, need good ventilation
Not as strong nor as well adhering to wood as epoxy, but many plywood boats use it.
Same chemicals as in automotive "Bondo", and "Bondo Hair" is incredibly strong
Deteriorates with exposure, should be painted if exposed outside.
While real epoxy is far better than the vinyl resin in boatbuilding, many more boats are made with it than with epoxy.
The advantages:
Cost is about 20% the cost of real epoxy
Mix ratios can be very sloppy, it uses a catalyst
Hardening time can easily be varied from a few minutes to an hour
Epoxy can be applied over the vinyl coating, but the reverse is not recommended
The bad:
Fumes while curing, obviously toxic, need good ventilation
Not as strong nor as well adhering to wood as epoxy, but many plywood boats use it.
Same chemicals as in automotive "Bondo", and "Bondo Hair" is incredibly strong
Deteriorates with exposure, should be painted if exposed outside.
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- 20PCT HULL.jpg (23.2 KiB) Viewed 5151 times