Robb White Sport Boat

[kurtloup]

Over the weekend, I started working on the transom for Robb White's version of the Sport Boat. So far, I have the transom cut out and one layer of 4 oz. fiberglass added. I made the transom out of salvaged redwood that I have on hand. It will likely be a few weeks before I get any more work done on the project as I need to complete another woodworking project, mill strips for the boat and make the forms. I'll add more photos as I go.

Kurt

[Spokaloo]

Very cool, looking forward to some build threads of interesting boats like this.

E

[Jimmy W]

I am interested in watching this one also, Kurt.

[trefor]

me too! having recently finished reading robb white's "how to build a tin canoe".

trevor

[kurtloup]

I finally got back to working on the boat after getting a few home repair projects out of the way. I ripped the strips yesterday and milled the bead and cove today. Glad that is over as it took hours working alone. Tonight, I picked up two sheets of 3/4" sheathing plywood for the forms. If I get time tomorrow, I will start working on the forms.

I had a pile of sawdust after ripping the strips.


This is my router set up for milling the beads and coves.


The end result.

[rbgarr]

You might consider 'padding' the transom with a harder wood (or something) where your outboard mounts. The redwood is soft and may crush, especially under the screw pads. Good luck!

[kurtloup]

You might consider 'padding' the transom with a harder wood (or something) where your outboard mounts. The redwood is soft and may crush, especially under the screw pads. Good luck!

Thanks. I plan to do that with ash and I have a piece of stainless plate I may add too. Not sure about the stainless yet.

[SScoville]

Great! I've been wondering what happened to this build. What kind of wood are you using for the strips?

[kurtloup]

I'm using salvaged redwood. The dark ends will be trimmed once I start stripping. I also cut some extra cypress strips in case I run out of redwood. I'll likely use ash for the gunwales, deck and seats.

[kurtloup]

I cut out a few forms this afternoon. I thought I had more photocopies of the plans, but I will have to go have more made before I can finish the forms. I also added two more layers of 4 oz. fiberglass cloth to the inside of the transom. It will be easier to do now before I start construction.

[kurtloup]

I got the forms mounted to the strongback around noon today. So far, I have 6 strips on one side and 4 on the other. I am already worried that I did not mill enough strips. I barely have enough room to squeeze around the bow to work on the opposite side.

[John Meachen]

Nice start to the job.I do have some concerns from the visual evidence about the rigidity of the sections-there doesn't seem to be too much bracing.I do hope you have enough reference points to be certain that the stresses from the planking do not lead to any twisting or distortion.

[kurtloup]

Nice start to the job.I do have some concerns from the visual evidence about the rigidity of the sections-there doesn't seem to be too much bracing.I do hope you have enough reference points to be certain that the stresses from the planking do not lead to any twisting or distortion.

Thanks. It is hard to tell, but I have a 1/2" thick strip nailed to the top of the forms along the centerline and there is a string line run underneath the forms along the centerline. I now have 6 strips per side installed. It seems fair and rigid at this time. I'm more concerned when I have to flip the hull over to strip the keel area. I tried to align the forms keel up, but I couldn't get them aligned to my satisfaction. Robb built the boat keel down and the instructions that accompanied the plans gives instructions for aligning the forms taking measurements off of the transom. I wanted to build it keel up like the other boats I have built, but taking measurements from the inverted, angled transom was too difficult. One problem is I don't have enough room in my shop to eyeball anything. Standing on a ladder is the best I can do.

[aprophet]

Thanks. It is hard to tell, but I have a 1/2" thick strip nailed to the top of the forms along the centerline and there is a string line run underneath the forms along the centerline. I now have 6 strips per side installed. It seems fair and rigid at this time. I'm more concerned when I have to flip the hull over to strip the keel area. I tried to align the forms keel up, but I couldn't get them aligned to my satisfaction. Robb built the boat keel down and the instructions that accompanied the plans gives instructions for aligning the forms taking measurements off of the transom. I wanted to build it keel up like the other boats I have built, but taking measurements from the inverted, angled transom was too difficult. One problem is I don't have enough room in my shop to eyeball anything. Standing on a ladder is the best I can do.

are the plans still available if so where from thanks

[kurtloup]

are the plans still available if so where from thanks

I assume so. Check here http://www.robbwhite.com/sportboat.html

[kurtloup]

I have about 5 strips left. Once that is finished, I will start laminating the bow stem.

[simonmags]

Great Looking Build so far, I like your storage setup in the shed too. What will it look like when it's finished? Do you have ideas for colours?

Keep up the great work.

[SScoville]

How long do the strips need to be to make the boat 16'?

[peter radclyffe]

and a pink carnation
http://youtu.be/wYIIzEOI7Kg

[kurtloup]

Great Looking Build so far, I like your storage setup in the shed too. What will it look like when it's finished? Do you have ideas for colours?

Keep up the great work.

Thanks. At this time, the plan is to paint the hull red and varnish the interior like the boat below. The gunwales, seats and deck will be ash. I came across that photo on the web. I like the look.

[kurtloup]

How long do the strips need to be to make the boat 16'?

The longest strips I used were 12-13'. It would have been nice to have full length strips, but it isn't necessary. I beveled the ends of the strips at 45 degrees on a belt sander for a "scarf" joined while stripping.

[kurtloup]

and a pink carnation
http://youtu.be/wYIIzEOI7Kg

I had no idea where you were going with that until I checked out the link.

[kurtloup]

I added the 3rd layer of fiberglass to the transom this morning. I would have fiberglassed the hull this weekend had the fiberglass and epoxy I ordered last week been delivered. I should finish the exterior of the boat by next weekend. Sanding the inside is the worst part of the build. Not looking forward to that.

[kurtloup]

Over the weekend, I added 4 layers of fiberglass to the hull. Tonight, I added a coat of epoxy to fill the weave of the cloth. I'll add another coat or two before calling it quits on the exterior of the hull. I'll pull it off the forms this coming weekend. Sanding the inside is the worst part of the project, but fiberglassing the inside is the easiest.

[kurtloup]

It's starting to look like a boat. Next up is sanding the interior.

[SScoville]

kurtloup: how do you intend to use the boat? I will be interested to hear how stable she is. Particularly, if 2 adults could stand and pole/fish.

[kurtloup]

Can't have too many clamps. My progress has been slow since I went out of town the last two weekends, but I epoxied the outer gunwales to the boat tonight. Tomorrow night I'll try to start fitting the inner gunwales. The tumblehome in the stern makes it tricky to get the gunwales to fit perpendicular to the sheer line. I have to make a 3.5' long tapering bevel on the inside that fits against the hull. The bevel ends up being around 45* at the stern.

[kurtloup]

kurtloup: how do you intend to use the boat? I will be interested to hear how stable she is. Particularly, if 2 adults could stand and pole/fish.

Sorry, I missed your question. I plan to fish the Louisiana marshes with my 7 year old. I have no doubt one person, even with questionable balance, will be able to stand and paddle/pole/fish in the boat. I can stand and paddle in my solo canoe and this boat is huge by comparison. I hope that I will be able to stand in the rear seat to pole. I'm ready to get the boat on the water. I'll give you a field report as soon as I hit the water.

[simonmags]

How much space would you say you have to move about on either side of the boat now, looks like it's not a great deal, I'm only asking as I keep looking at building the Victor Slocum, and it's about the same size, I think my shed might be smaller than your shop though, hard to tell.

Cheers, nice looking boat too

[kurtloup]

With the boat on a slight diagonal I have just enough room to pass at the bow and stern. The bow is at the door of my shop and I am standing outside taking the picture. There is more room on the sides. The space is just adequate. If you want, I can measure the width of the work area.

[SScoville]

Thanks. Do you have any photos showing the details of the gunnel at the stern?

[kurtloup]

Thanks. Do you have any photos showing the details of the gunnel at the stern?

You can see in the photo how the inside of the outer gunwale required a bevel in the area of tumblehome. Without the bevel, the top of the gunwales will not be flat. In the background, you can see that I am adding additional material to the last 3-4' of the inner gunwale. If I didn't add the additional material, the width of the gunwale will become narrower when shaped to match the tumblehome.

Kurt

[kurtloup]

I'm calling it 90% finished. I've submitted the paperwork to get it registered and I'm waiting for the inspection so that I can obtain registration numbers. A few things remain to be done. I need to make a detachable anchor lock for the bow, add a bow line, mount cleats in the stern and work on some cosmetic issues. The rain/high humidity hasn't been conducive to a good varnish finish. Once I spend some time in it, I may add rod holders and who knows what else. I want to try out a trolling motor mounted just behind the front thwart. If it tracks straight, I will add a small block of wood to the outside of the hull so that the trolling motor will mount properly. The person in the front seat will be able to operate the tm and it will raise up behind the front thwart.

[Jimmy W]

Good job, Kurt. That is a pretty boat.

Jimmy

[kurtloup]

Thanks.

Kurt

[SScoville]

Lovely. Does White recommend using straight grained stern knees? In the pictures of one he built I remember seeing the same thing and wonder why.

[gvcrew]

Wow, that is one beautiful boat.

[kurtloup]

Lovely. Does White recommend using straight grained stern knees? In the pictures of one he built I remember seeing the same thing and wonder why.

Thanks. The building instructions don't recommend anything in particular if I remember correctly.

[Bert Langley]

Great looking boat, I really like the painted interior. I hope you will give us a report on performance once you begin using it.

[kurtloup]

Great looking boat, I really like the painted interior. I hope you will give us a report on performance once you begin using it.

Thanks. I'll give a report. It has rained just about every day for the past two weeks. Hopefully, the rain will hold off this weekend long enough to take it out. I've exchanged emails with two guys who have built the boat and they are both pleased with the performance.

[kurtloup]

Here is a short clip from the maiden voyage.





Other than being a pain to load on my truck rack by myself, I don't have any complaints. I see a trailer in my future. I was able to paddle it from the rear seat with a kayak paddle. I don't think I'd want to go too far or paddle with anything other than minimal wind, but moving short distances won't be a problem. I didn't bring the push pole to try out. Standing won't be a problem. The boat is very stable. The kids were able to walk around. At the launch in shallow water, I stood with one leg in the boat and one leg over the side and the boat didn't feel like it would flip.





The trim of the boat is not bad with just me and a 40 lbs. battery just behind the front thwart.





In this photo, I have the trolling motor mounted on the transom and the battery behind the rear seat. If I were fishing, I'd have an ice chest, gear and anchor in front, so the trim isn't bad.