How to Stitch and Glue: Impressive Instructions

[Frank R]

I was reviewing these photos on how to build a stitch and glue boat: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10ftnuthatch/ (I recommend clicking on page 11 at the bottom of the page and then clicking on the first photo in the stream. Then click the next photo in the photostream box to the right of each photo to go to the next step)

I found them to be very thorough and showed some additional steps that other sites do not show. Some steps would have saved me additional work on my first boat, or at least resulted in a neater job.

Here are a few steps I liked:

Use of packing tape to avoid drips: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10ftnuthatch/1053356994/in/photostream/

Marking offsets for tape: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10ftnuthatch/1052706373/

Use of a model: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10ftnuthatch/1053706148/

Using a roller to spread excess epoxy from tape: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10ftnuthatch/1233631847/

Fairing done neatly: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10ftnuthatch/2022140788/

What do you guys think? Are there any steps you like?

[sgosprey]

same guy on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aexxZdv780o
he should get a sponsor deal from his epoxydealer :))
but otherwise I did enjoy his work. And got some tips from the vids/photo's ( as a newby to building that is not hard;)














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[boylesboats]

lot of added work involve.... There are easier steps yet, and get same results..

Look here... Stitch and Glue 101 http://bateau2.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=120&catid=78&Itemid=7
Few pages of it... very detailed I'd say...

[sgosprey]

I know, everybody does thier own thing. I am looking at a number of people who built boats , see what and how they did it and draw my own plan out of that. And I hope that it works out well.

[Frank R]

lot of added work involve.... There are easier steps yet, and get same results..

Look here... Stitch and Glue 101 http://bateau2.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=120&catid=78&Itemid=7
Few pages of it... very detailed I'd say...

These were the primary instructions I followed. They were adequate but I think the links I posted show steps that would have made my build even better.

For example, I used 12 ounce biaxial tape and it required a lot of epoxy to wet out. I brushed out the excess but some ended up pooling on the bottom surface after migrating through the tape through the night as it cured. I think rolling it out would have pressed out some of the excess and resulted in less pooling.

Laying out the guidelines would have resulted in neater tape lines.

The packing tape trick would have saved me tons of time in sanding down drips or sags.

[switters]

Dont forget to turn off the phone, do remember to turn on the timer.

Didn't use a roller until the last boat, used a squeegee, yellow, worthless. The roller is much better for catching drips and curtains.

Now into my 4th boat my standard mode after epoxy /fiberglass is to grab a beer after the goop is on and just walk around the boat with roller in hand for the next half an hour/two (depends on temp) beers admiring my work and thinking out the next step.

Good stuff to post though, I like getting a refresher every once in a while and both sites are very good.

[paul oman]

jem watercraft (they sell kayak/canoe plans) is currently doing an online primer on stitch and glue - documenting the building of a 'sit on top' canoe.

http://www.jemwatercraft.com

[switters]

I've been following the GEM build, still trying to understand the why of the design concept but the build is fun.

I noticed that he beveled the tops of the butt blocks.

Since I have been building with 1/4-inch ply I've started putting in a small thickened fillet around the butt blocks. It does nothing for strength, but helps when you are cleaning out the boat. There is already thickened epoxy on hand for the other jobs, so it seemed pretty reasonable to use a little around the butt blocks.

[Tumzara]

I can't believe anyone still uses copper wire. I would have thought that everyone would be using plastic cable/(zip) ties by now.