Progress-Little Wittholz catboat

[Felix]

Though intimidated by the many large and beautiful projects I have seen on this forum,here's what's happening with my little one.
Started with plan 50 from WB folks, an 11' dinghy with catboat lines by Charles Wittholz. I chose it because that's as big as I have room for and--I have an irrational love of curvy, suppository-shaped catboats. Also I live on a little six-acre residential lake. It will be just right tied up to my little shoreline, ready to go.
I elected strip building over the specified cold molding cuz you can't get that stuff (veneer)around here (Phoenix).
Can't get good Western Red Cedar either it turned out but I finally ripped and routed and scarfed enough from bad stock to do the job.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid122/p8ae04178a624dba4f0a949eb63f069de/f831d1d7.jpg
Used particle board molds generated from lofting drawn on door skins. I elected to pre-assemble a complete sub-assy of keel, stem, centerboard case, transom knee and transom. This was possible because keel is a straight run from stem aft. This worked out very well. A slot in the center mold accepted the case and held it perfectly straight.

Got pretty tired of stripping (three or four a day) but finally stuck in the last one and faired her out. 6-oz glass in epoxy with three layers on the bottom seems to be very strong.
Rolled on bottom paint, varnished above the WL and put on a black waterline. (Hint) a little laser level on a slide-around stand makes this easy (if your setup is level to the floor).
Gathered up the healthiest of my neighbors and we popped it off the mold. Very light. Two of us old guys could have done it.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid122/p5ca219fe5a3fc8c6ca0077d4780e6b8c/f82de84d.jpg

Started on seat framing, floor boards and deck framing. Used a lot of Cypress light,strong and available here. Floor boards and seats will be African Mahogony.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid143/pe3dc178f5b23b9cfec40f2bb6a308fd3/f68e7473.jpg
I am decking now and veneering that all-around coaming which is laminated from the lofting skin.
final veneer will be Afr. Mahogoney. All the decking, coaming is different from Charles W's plans and was inspired by the "Tomcat" version of the Beatle cat shown a couple of issues ago.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid143/p69e40664234d5a0803557b712a27d9c3/f68e7495.j

Well, that's my story so far. Now back to work.

[Billy Bones]

Wow! That is beautiful work, Felix!

Thanks you for posting your pics and update.

[landlocked sailor]

Fabulous Felix! I LOVE it: "suppository shaped boats". :D Rick

[JimD]

Looking too good, Felix :cool:

[NormMessinger]

You have my permission to be proud. Be very proud.

[Felix]

Thanks guys, for the kind words. Sorry that one image didn't show up (so far). Wonder what that means "temporarily unavailable". Will try another. Norm M. your step-by-step through photo posting a big help, also Big Red thanx.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid143/p69e40664234d5a0803557b712a27d9c3/f68e7495.jpg

[Norm Bernstein]

Fabulous work, Felix... I hope my own project comes out half as well!

I'm curious about the coamings.... what material? Steam bent? What thickness? I'd love to teak coamings on my own catboat, but I can't seem to find a reasonably priced source of resawed thin teak... and don't have the requisite bandsaw to resaw it myself.

[Felix]

Norm B.
Happy you like my "Buttercup" so far.
Coamings are laminated strips of luan doorskins which are about 1/8th of an inch. Used four layers laminated one at a time with every clamp in the house in use. Over this I applied a veneer of African Mahogony. This veneer I made on my table saw by ripping 2" into a 4" board at about 1/8th" thickness. Then turning it over to rip the other 2". I planned to run this through the thickness planer but found it unnecessary as a quick clean-up with a block plane was enough.
I might add I tried to have my local Woodworker store do this but they had some equipment down.
It really wasn't too bad but you'll make a lot of sawdust. My veneer turned out a scanty 1/8" just about right. I am currently capping the top edge with some 3/16" A. Mahog. This will be pieced with clothspin scarfs. Hope this helps. It really isn't too hard and is very strong.Oh! I didn't glue in the first lamination (to the boat). Leave it removable to better dress the bottom edge when the basic laminations are complete. Install the final veneer after you glue in the laminations assembly permanently.
Hope that helps. Felix

[Norm Bernstein]

Felix: I have contemplated the notion of trying to resaw my own thin stock by using the trick of flipping it over with my table saw.... except that my table saw is a cheapie, with questionable accuracy, and I'm not sure I have the requisite skill to do it. I might give it a test try, though. Another option is to find someone nearby with a good bandsaw and a willingness to help!

I'd MUCH prefer to be able to buy 1/8" teak, although I have had no success in finding a vendor for it, other than Rockler, whose prices are astronomical, and who doesn't offer long lengths. Years ago, Constantines (in Westchester, NY) used to offer thick veneers, but they apparently don't anymore.

[JimD]

My table saw is a cheapie too, and can accurately cut wafer thin strips if required. The bigger problem is that since the saw blade removes about an eighth of an inch of wood and turns it into sawdust it means for eighth inch strips you are literally turning half your lumber into dust.

[warthog5]

Felix I don't care much for Blow Boat's, but that's a sweet looking little boat. :D

The pix glitch has got to be Imagestation's problem.
You might think about using PhotoBucket.

[Felix]

Thanx Warthog5. I used that same photo in the second post and it went through fine. Go figure?

Mike: great looking project. Amen to the way coamings curve in every direction. Actually couldn't have done mine in one piece even if I had the steam bending capabilities and material.
Guy can certainly learn from this forum by just keeping his eyes open!

[True Love]

Felix,

That's a little beauty. Great work. Glad you posted.

[Concordia..41]

That is a pretty little boat. You have every reason to be proud :cool:

- M