Starting over --and its OK

[TomMcKinney]

Now the Walter Baron Lumber Yard Skiff is one of the simpelest boats in the world to build as far as I can tell, and I still screwed it up. Now I was thinking about wether to repair my mistakes or just start over and this thought came to me- If someone gave me the skiff for use as "Parts" I would have no problem sawing it up and reusing the usable parts- The transom is fine, the bottom can be reused mostly by shifting it forward to narrower parts and the side panel plywood can be used for bulk heads, seats, etc.

So on Sat. the sawzall will come out and I'll start over. Ijust wanted to pass along the "parts" perspective to others, maybe it will help with some decisions.

[Tar Devil]

OK, Tom, now help us a little more...

Tell us what "screwed up" then the rest of us might avoid the same mistakes! smile.gif

Later,

Phil

[NormMessinger]

Bummer. But you have the correct attitude for sure.

Any pictures?

Making mistakes is no sin. Why, I made one once. Back in '56 I thought I'd done something wrong but it turned out I was mistaken.

[gert]

The sign of a skilled tradesman is how well he hides his mistakes. I wouldn't start over; how bad can it be ? if you built her backwards turn it around; it'll still float won't it?

[Matt Middleton]

:D Norm.

I had a high school math teacher who claimed he only made one mistake every year. After some puzzled looks and comments to the contrary, he explained that since other groups/cultures could have their own calendars with their own basis, so could he, based on his mistakes. A new year began after each one. He must've been pretty old, too.

Matt Middleton

[ 01-08-2003, 01:57 PM: Message edited by: Matt Middleton ]

[On Vacation]

From what I have read in the past posts, one problem sound ed to me to be inferior materials. Please feel free to post a picture or two of you project. Take a deep breath and let others look at what you have before you saw the boat up. If you are not sure how to posts, you can send the pictures to some of us and we would be more than happy to share them with the board.

[videoguy]

Tom so far I have built 6 boats The first ended up in the fireplace.So just keep trying .....Phil

[TomMcKinney]

I'll have to get pictures up later- basically what happend is that the boat was not put together in the right order and the result was that it was not spread aprt far enough when the bottom was put on, which reversed the curve in the front expanded plywood panels--there is a curve on the bottom edge of the panel that slopes "down" from the mid ship point toward the bow (the expanded side panel is wider at the bow than at mid ship and dead staright across the top of the panel)- this curve is taken up and starightend out as it were by the shape of the front floor- spread the panels far enough apart and add the right twist and the down angle becomes an up angle or at least a flat- I forgot that part about needing enough spread then I got confused since the boat was upside down and put the floor on. Now realize that the has a reverse rocker for her first 1/3- combined with a broken chine (not inferior material- wronglly chosen--its a poo r boat wright who insults the wood) its time to start over. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

[On Vacation]

No one has insulted you job. Many have read of your dilemma of the broken chine wood and broken through to the sides. Boat building by many first timers never realize wood will tell you if it hurts by breaking. Lumberyard plywood has many voids with cross grain in it. Stress will cause a lot of problems.

Feel free to post pictures or e-mail them to anyone here. Check your private message for my reply. Regards

[ 01-09-2003, 07:17 AM: Message edited by: Oyster ]

[TomMcKinney]

Something must have been lost in the context of my message because it sounds like I offended Oyster, which was not my intent at all.

I feel the blame is on ME for not choosing the right piece of wood and I appreciate all the help and advice I was given by those on this site.

And Walter doesn't say that anyone can build his boat--any work must be done in the right way and carefully to come out correctly. I don't feel angry at anyone nor mislead by anyone's plans--all the fault was mine.

So Oyster, I'm sorry that my post sounded like I was blaming others or you--mea culpa. My refrence to not blaming the wood was aimed at myself as a way of stating that I should have known better than to use it. I did not mean to imply that you were poor craftsman for citing the use of inferior materials--I have no idea of the quality of your work, but I'm sure it is better than mine.

And if Walter is reading this- I still think your boats rule. Can't wait for round 2--a bit more educated/experienced fighter this time. As GW tried to say- FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU, FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME.
It reminds me of something John Gardner seemed to say often whenever he said that a boat was simple he woul also oftn remark that it was boat for a "woodbutcher" and one had to be careful and accurate.

[wolfietuk]

Oyster, I think Tom was paraphrasing the old adage "Its a poor carpenter that blames his tools". He was blaming himself and not his wood.

Tom, dont worry Oyster is won of the nicest and most informative people on the forum. But (as I recall from previous posts and I could be wrong) he is in the ,if you are building a boat it doesnt pay to use cheap materials, sect. And as you are talking about about using plywood that is not a good marine plywood that could be part of your problem. You should read some of the previous post about materials. You would not believe the difference when using good materials. Especially when it comes to curves.

Rick

[On Vacation]

Thanks RIck. It did seem that you did in fact in your post convey just that. Wood has a way of speaking to you. But I think its not always the builder problem, in way too many cases. I will remove my previous post.

[Figment]

Tom, you're a far better man than I.

Simply having the awareness to admit to yourself that starting over might be an option is HUGE. I know that in your place, I'd most likely convince myself over and over again that I could still work it out if only..... I'm a thickheaded moron like that much of the time.

You shall persevere and overcome!

[Rick Tyler]

I have a Shaker-style end table that I keep as a reminder of why some things should be discarded and redone. I made it out of pine and one of the boards making up the top was a different variety than the others. I *knew* that the board wouldn't look right, but I really didn't want to drive back to the wood store to buy more. After finishing the table, that board stuck out like a sore thumb, and has mocked me for the last 15 years.

It reminds me of the necessity to do the job right, and not slip into denial when I blow something.

- Rick Tyler

[Dave Hadfield]

Sure, why not. Building boats is fun and this way you get to build 2 of them!