Baby tender II progress

[mpmitche]

Here is the photo of my building mold, if this photo works more will follow soon.

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz192/michaelmbuffalo/Baby%20Tender/BoatCraddle008forinternet.jpg

[mpmitche]

This is the stem almost complete
http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz192/michaelmbuffalo/Baby%20Tender/BoatCraddle002.jpg

and here is the kelson with the knees going on.

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz192/michaelmbuffalo/Baby%20Tender/BoatCraddle005.jpg

[mpmitche]

here is another shot at the molds not sure why the first one is so small.
This is my first "boat" so please let me know if you see problems.
http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz192/michaelmbuffalo/Baby%20Tender/BoatCraddle006.jpg

[essaunders]

I suggest getting a little more bracing to keep the molds square. I fought with mine for a bit before figuring that out.
What wood(s) are you using?

[mpmitche]

I was a little worried about the bracing both at the molds and the stern post but had seen others like this. I'll add some more. For wood i am using white cedar on white oak.

[mpmitche]

I now have the keelson, stem and sternpost put together. The transom is almost ready to go on too. I have started into my planking as well. I first attempted to resaw the 1" boards on an old bandsaw at work. This didn't work at all as the blade was shot and the owner doesn't want to by a new one. After some web research I decided against building a frame saw and took the table saw to my boards. This cost me a lot of material and i no longer have enough for a second boat. At least i have enough for this one though. my table saw couldn't make it halfway even so i have been handsawing the middle out as well.

[mpmitche]

i finally have my planking ready and started laying it on today. my question is do I need to rivet as I go or should i plank it up and then go back and rivet? Anyone know of a good method of riveting? i can't even seem to find the correct tools for the job.

[Jeff Benagh]

I would rivet as you plank -- the planks are structural pieces.

I assume you are using copper nails and roves or washers for rivets. First drill a slightly tight hole for the nail. Insert the nail and place a washer over the pointed end. Using end nippers, cut the remaining nail so that roughly one wire diameter is left past the washer. Then back up the head of the nail with a heavy piece of steel; I use an auto body dolly. Then using a ball peen hammer, tap around the cut end until you have formed a head that holds the rivet and nail tightly in place.

You should be able to find all the tools at a hardware store: end nippers; ball peen hammer; and backup anvil or auto body dolly (like the one at the lower right in this picture http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=31277). If you are countersinking the heads of the rivets (the head of the nail), you need to make your own backup dolly. There is info about that in the archives here of in "Building Small Boats" by Roessel.

[mpmitche]

Thanks for the help Jeff. I am using copper nails and roves as you guessed. Do I need a "rove set"? I have read about them but have not found any to buy. Seems easy enough to make though. As for countersinking I am finishing the boat bright; should I countersink or does it look ok to leave them a little proud? Another silly question does the rove go on the inside or outside of the boat and does it finish smooth enough to be kid safe when peened?

[mpmitche]

Another quesiton about the molds. The instructions didn't say anything about shapping them to match the curves of the planks so i didn't. However when I started planking I noticed they are damaging the planks. Should I fair them or just take the corners off a bit? I don't want to mess up the shape of the hull but also don't want to have to sand the inside a whole bunch when i pull it off.

[Jeff Benagh]

I have to admit, I have never built a baby tender -- when my daughter was an infant I built a Shellback. That said, and being a father and a boatbuilder, the nail heads on the rivets should be fine on the interior for a baby. They are very smooth. The peened ends might also be ok if each one is done well, but any mistakes might be too rough for a baby. If you plan to use countersinks, the nail heads must be on the countersunk side.

[Jeff Benagh]

I noticed I missed two things:

You don't need a rove set. Rock the nippers a bit when you cut the nail to set the rove. If you really mess one up, use a 5mm socket (or English equivalent) to fit around the nail to set the washer.

Also, I would not worry too much about the dented planks. Most will be fine and you can remove most dents with hot, wet towels. The steam and warm water will re-swell the dents in the planks.

[essaunders]

Annoying thing -- I didn't know the swelling the wood trick for BTII (I just learned it for some new trim in my house...) so I've got dents aplenty - but you can't seem them really.
The roves are inside -- I did peen them rather carefully to get a nice round presentation, the spend time with sandpaper to smooth them a bit. However, under 6 coats of varnish they'll be fine. You are using at least 6 coats, right? : )

[mpmitche]

Annoying thing -- I didn't know the swelling the wood trick for BTII (I just learned it for some new trim in my house...) so I've got dents aplenty - but you can't seem them really.
The roves are inside -- I did peen them rather carefully to get a nice round presentation, the spend time with sandpaper to smooth them a bit. However, under 6 coats of varnish they'll be fine. You are using at least 6 coats, right? : )

Actually that was one of my next questions. I was thinking of applying a layer of thin shellac before assembly and then was going to ask if I can varnish over all those nails. Sounds like that is the way to do it. Any comments on shellac as a sealer?

[mpmitche]

Another question; how far apart should the rivets go and how far into the plank?

[kazeai1969]

interested in how the build is going....

[mpmitche]

Sides are all planked up and riveted now. Chines are installed and now I'm working on the bottom planking. I'll post pics soon. Thanks for asking about the project kazeai.

[mpmitche]

All planked up including bottom. All but a few rivets in (some landed on the molds and have to wait)
http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz192/michaelmbuffalo/Baby%20Tender/DSC02384.jpg

[mpmitche]

Here I'm working on planning the lumber for the rockers and skeg
http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz192/michaelmbuffalo/DSC02510.jpg
and here are some with rockers laid out getting close to instaling them
http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz192/michaelmbuffalo/Baby%20Tender/DSC02579.jpg
and here is the outer stem attached
http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz192/michaelmbuffalo/DSC02581.jpg

[chuckt]

Neat--can't wait to see it finished

[Sailor]

Tip your planes over on their sides so the blades aren't resting on the workbench. I almost feel bad about craping on my mother for that. Almost.