Info on "odd" building method wanted

[TomMcKinney]

I recall once reading an article in which a boat had been built out of multiple short pieces of wood, almost like bricks, with epoxy as a mortar. (2x4's with the 4 sides glued together) The pices were set up in a basket frame that was a rough guide for the shape and then once glued up, the hull was shaped with a planner. Does anyone have any information, expereince, or even jsut comments?

Would be interesting to recyle off-cuts from construction sites into a boat. And one would end up with a very very thick hull

[epoxyboy]

Gosh, that would use rather a "lot" of epoxy!! I guess it would come out like a chunky versionof the icecream stick boat.

[Bob Smalser]

The shorts would benefit from fingerjointing, as end grain isn't a reliable gluing surface.

Without a good bond between the butts, I'd surmise the hull would stay together but leak as the end grain glue joints failed.

[ 01-17-2006, 01:53 AM: Message edited by: Bob Smalser ]

[nedL]

I have heard of some boats built that way. I know there is a guy around Buffalo NY who built a steam launch that way. (Personally I can't see it but to each their own)

[ 01-17-2006, 07:47 AM: Message edited by: nedL ]

[Uncle Duke]

I can't find the reference, but wasn't there some guy recently who built a boat using staves from whiskey barrels?

[Thad Van Gilder]

there is an article in the "boatbuilding journal" about that from a guy in florida (I think) who did it. It was a very old article.. 8 years ago, maybe?

You would end up using epoxy by the drum full...

I am pretty sure under no circumstances would I ever build one that way.

-Thad

[Ruaridh]

Originally posted by TomMcKinney:
And one would end up with a very very thick hullThat would depend on how big you made it! ;)

[Andrew]

The NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort NC built a Periauger, an 18th century work boat, using the glued block method. The vessel is basically a hollowed out Cypress tree log, which has been split in half and a plank keel added between the two halves. Planking strakes are added to increase the freeboard. Trees large enough weren't available (economically) so this ingenius method was chosen to approximate the original method. Here is the website for the Periauger:

Home page
http://newboldwhitehouse.org/periauger_info.html
Contruction page
http://newboldwhitehouse.org/html/construction_photos.ht ml (http://newboldwhitehouse.org/html/construction_photos.html)

[ 01-17-2006, 01:28 PM: Message edited by: Andrew ]

[TomMcKinney]

Thanks all!!

Epoxyboy is right, it would be like the ice cream stick boat, but with bigger and thicker sticks. I bet a goold 6 oz glass overlay would solve any endgrain leaks. just a thought

[ahp]

In the Ancient World boat were built out of short pieces. You might do a bit of research at the library if you have some time on your hands, but I don't know how germaine this is to a modern builder.

The ancient Egyptian boats, even large ones, were built up with short planks, or blocks. I recall that adjacent planks were dovetailed together. The internal framework was incredably complex. It must have been very time consuming.

I read that the "modern" method of boat building was invented by Christian slaves when the Christians and the Moslems were competing for control of the Mediterranian, and were destroying each other's war ships at a great pace. The Moslems ordered their Christian slaves, who may not have had any boat building skills, "Build a war galley by the end of next week, or else." Talk about motivation!

[Caleb Chia]

You wouldnt use too much epoxy if you made good joints.You could plane the bits of wood to fit exactly.