Project Update: Finally..

[Bob Perkins]

Hi Everyone,

I haven't posted much lately because I've been busy making boat.

I finally finished the first layer of planking on my Biscayne 22. Unlike other repetitious parts of the contruction - planking did not go faster with experience. My goal was to have tight fitting planks so there would be no gaps visible from the inside - also - because I'm going to attempt to vacuum bag the remaining layers. I need to sand the whole thing smooth and run some filler over the seams to plug any small holes.

(Note: I'm going to vacuum bag more because I want to get experience doing it - not because its necessary. However, If it all works out, it should result in a much better bond between laminations.)

Here is a front view. There are optical illusions baked into the pictures - beware smile.gif
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid96/p4b9ea32d86d14eb01aa881851cb79d25/fa1a3645.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid96/p0bee95fc65045c7b63c4b67d4bed7348/fa1a3642.jpg

The next layer will go faster I'm sure.

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Regards,
Bob Perkins

My out of date site is at:
http://robert.perkins.home.comcast.net/

My Current project is at:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4291051329
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[ 01-02-2004, 09:15 AM: Message edited by: Bob Perkins ]

[Aramas]

Nice going. That's a very instructive album. Someone posted a pic of an 'auto-spiler' that he made with a 3 1/2 inch saw, but I haven't been able to find the post again. That might save some time if you're doing it by hand.

Is there any particular reason you're using ply rather than veneer? How thick is each layer and how easily does that thickness bend into the harder curves?

[Dale R. Hamilton]

Bob- the vacuum bagging is a great idea! A couple of tips though, use as big a vacuum pump as you can find- renting one is possible. Also, have as many extra hands as you can round up. Goes without saying that your bag needs to be as tight as possible. I use System 3 epoxy- the SLOW hardener. Good luck

[Wild Dingo]

Aweflaminsome Bob!! :cool:

so were are the "optical illusions baked into the pictures"???

Wheres wally? cant find the pesky fella!! :eek:

[Art Read]

"...The next layer will go faster I'm sure."

Ah, the boatbuilder's "mantra"... SWMBO eventually just rolled her eyes after each "milestone", when I would confidently assert that things will really "go faster NOW!" ;)

(Actually it only SEEMS like whatever it is you're working on at the moment is the hardest part of the whole project... LOL!)

She looks great! Keep it up...

[On Vacation]

Looks great, Bob. By the way, did you make a decission on the vacumn bagging issue, yet? ;)

[warthog5]

Dale's got it right. Your going to need a pump with HIGH volume.
I've use some high dollar Welsh pump's that would really pull alot of vacuum [aprox 29HGin] but they didn't have the volume. I wish I knew the rating on this old pump I have. That way I could shop for a bigger one.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid97/p6ead3c9b4fa5a47f08add8835b17ebe1/fa18ac51.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid97/pfa58774b51ac3cb84d8253d1f9e9eed8/fa18ac4c.jpg

This is a pix of the bag attachment fitting.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid71/p53ceff595ff21beadb3393bb98abc994/fb892de7.jpg

I don't think to much of the vac venturi's that you hook to the air compressor.

I can pull down a 4ft X 4ft area with this pump, no problem. I did have a problem with a area 5X7.

[Bob Perkins]

Hi All,

Aramas: I'm using ply for a few reasons, I *think* it's easier to use than veneer - but have no practical experience. It is 3mm Okume - I used 6" wide strips as per the designer. Up near the bow, I went to 5" and a couple of 4" ones right up at the end. The staples held the curves, but I left the spring clamps on overnight just in case.

I'm guessing that ply layers will be stronger. Each 3mm ply has 3 veneers in it. So I'll have more total veneers once I'm at final thickness (like the difference between cabinet grade baltic birch and regular old plywood). At least that is the logic I'm using..)

Mr. Dingo - (you have some of the funniest posts) The chine up near the stem looks goofy in the pic, but it is really a good line - the awkwardness is due to how the ply faired off. It looks wrong in the pic. smile.gif

As for vacuum bagging - I did decide to go give it a shot. I have a 4.5 CFM rotary vane pump. I have a system set up and ready to go once I'm ready on the boat side. My though is to do small sections at a time (20-30ish square feet?)

I'm going to do the transom all at once and see how it goes - I think there will be a practical limit to how much area I can epoxy, juggle planks into place, cover, check for leaks, etc.. before things really go bad..

Oyster and the rest who helped with that thought path - thanks. Hopefully I'll be posting some pics of the vacuum setup working happily along.

[JimD]

Here is a front view. There are optical illusions baked into the pictures - beware
From the photo it looks like the back bone has a 1/4 inch bend in it!!! :D Nice tiger stripes! smile.gif

[brian.cunningham]

Nice work!

[JimConlin]

I'd be concerned about leaks in the first layer. Do you have a means to get inside when you pull a vacuum and find them?

[fair&fair]

One thing I noticed in the picture is that since you did not start the project with the intent of vacuum bagging, you made no provision for it on the boat itself. Ideally you would have a 2" or so lip running along the sheer where you could put your dum dum. How are you going to seal the bag along the sheer? One of the things about bagging things, particularly with cold molding and the epoxies typically used with this type of construction (ie relatively quick hardening) is that it is quite stressful, and it's a situation where you are really forced to learn from your mistakes!

[Darren McClelland]

Nice looking boat, what are the advantages of vacum bagging over just staples besides the absence of holes. is it worth the extra effort and worry about something going wrong, is time a factor?
Thanks for sharing
Captain Sawdust aka Darren

[Dale R. Hamilton]

A suggestion too late to help Bob- but instead of using staples thru the layers- which must be pulled, and usually leave dimples- consider using Talon nylon nails. These hold just as well, and insted of pulling them out- you sand them off. The little bitty shaft left in the ply is nylon-so won't rust. Can't come up with a source at the moment- do a google on it.

Dale