New Joel White Pooduck Build

[JCR1]

First time posting on the Wooden Boat Forum, been reading it for about two years. Long time wood worker, long time sailor, never build a boat before. Made many harps, dulcimers, thumb pianos and UKEs, but never a boat.

I have had my plans about two weeks. I have the plywood frames mounted on the latter frame. The molds for the midship frame and the stem are done. All of the DF strips are cut. I have done a dry run laminating them both. Waiting for my epoxy, should be here tomorrow!

Anyone know how much I will need for the Pooduck? Should have asked this before I ordered.

Thinking of using 3/8 and 1/2 Okoume instead of 1/2 and 3/4. Trying to keep it from getting to heavy.

I have been taking pictures from the start, and will attempt to post them soon. Looks like a few people have had some problems posting pictures.

Thanks

[JCR1]

I think that would be ladder frame!

[Dave Gray]

I thought it called for 3/8" and 3/4"? It's been a while. I used System 3 epoxy and ordered two gallons of resin, one of hardener, and if I remember right, it was more than adequate for everything. And I overdid it as a newbie, resulting in a lot of scraping with a heat gun and sanding.

[JCR1]

Thanks for the epoxy info. Yes, it does call for 3/8 and 3/4 plywood. I will be using 1/2 for the bottom, along with floor boards. Should be OK?

[Dave Gray]

Actually, I think I got the epoxy wrong as System 3 calls for 2 parts resin to 1 part hardener. At least that is what I remember for the product at the time. I bought both the slow and fast hardeners. You could probably get by with 1/2" on the bottom and the transom - I think the shellback, the second iteration of the design and slightly smaller, uses 1/4" and 3/8" but I am not a naval architect.

[Rich Jones]

3/4 ply for that boat seems awfully heavy, but Joel White was no dummy. Had to be a reason. Perhaps the heavy stresses put on the boat while under sail?

[T.Bird]

Excellent! I have sort of been obsessing over the Pooduck for a while now, and I look forward to following your build. I have Eric Dow's book on how to build the Shellback Dinghy, but I am not allowing myself to go any father then that until I one day have the time, money, and space to ACTUALLY build one (although I have been thinking about building a model).

Please shower us with pictures!

[Dave Gray]

The Shellback monograph is a good resource if you don't know what you are doing. I sure didn't.

edited to add: another good resource full of good tips is "How to Build Glued Lapstrake Wooden Boats"

by John Brooks, Ruth Ann Hill

[JCR1]

Thanks for the info. Got my epoxy today! Going to try my first picture posting.26470847122_4640f2cf2b_m.jpg
My first mold.

[JCR1]

Looks a little small.26470847122_4640f2cf2b_m.jpg
Still small.

[JCR1]

Getting bigger

[JCR1]

I think I have it. The first mold.

[JCR1]

Stem mold, dry run.

First laminate.

[JCR1]

This picture thing is tricky!

[JCR1]

Midship frame dry run. Have to hold up the lamination of frame, all the clamps are on the stem.

[JCR1]

I have the frame leveled up and the stations mounted.







This is my setup for cutting the DFir. Yes we are a little out of order. Once we get caught up I think I can keep it straight.

[JCR1]

Forgot to put this picture in

[JCR1]

Thorne, thanks for the info on posting pictures. Read your thread on posting about 100 times. I think I have it. Not sure if I will still have tomorrow.

Yes I can still do it today!

[rbgarr]

I've got plans for a Pooduck and will be interested to see how your lighter construction suits the design. Where and how do you think you'll be using the boat?

[JCR1]

We live in upstate New York. I plan on using the Pooduck in the Finger Lakes and local bays and ponds.

[JCR1]

I just took the stem off the mold, zero spring back. This picture is the stem released from the mold, taken off the mold and set back on it.

I only did the inner stem, first time laminating. Today I did the outer stem.

[JCR1]

The epoxy is Hawk brand. I 'am using the slow cure catalyst. It has a 20-25 minute pot live. I got a gallon of resin, a quart of catalyst, three pumps and two fillers. All delivered for $106.00 with free shipping.

[Falcon1]

Great deal on the epoxy, and great choice of boat! That slow catalyst will come in handy with the warmer weather coming up.

Looks like you're off to a nice start. Keep the photos coming please.

Mike

[JCR1]

Today I finally worked on a piece that actually is part of the boat. I finished and mounted the stem.

[JCR1]

I also started the solid wood transom.





I have now have both inner and outer stems off the mold.



And out of the planner.

[JCR1]

Today I finally worked on a piece that actually is part of the boat. I finished and mounted the stem.

[JCR1]

The midship frame all laminated and setting up nicely.








A little more work was done on the transom.

[JCR1]

Ordered all the plywood today. Four sheets of 3/8 (9MM) Okoume for the strakes, one of 1/2 (12 MM) Meranti for the bottom. A little pricey. It should be here next Thursday.

Did some work on the midship frame today. Got it off the mold and in to the planer. Yes, you can get that frame in and out off a 15 in. planer!

[JCR1]

Finished and mounted the midship frame today.



Starting to look a little bit like a boat.

[JCR1]

I got a great deal on two Douglas Fir 2 x 4 x 10s for the boom and yard. Straight, with straight tight grain, no knots, eight bucks and change for the two of them. I only had to move about fifty 2 x 4 at the big box store to find them. Sure beats the $22.00 each ( times three ) for stem and frame wood. It was nicer wood, but not that much nicer.

Not sure if you can read the small print in the box, DOUG FIR.

Had to go to the other big box store to get two twelve footers for the mast. Same deal, moved a lot of wood to find two with no knots.

I got the transom mounted today. Hated to put the two drywall screws in my solid cherry transom, but that's what Joel wants.



Put the bevel on the stem today.

[JCR1]

Started the mast today. Ripped the two 2 x 4s down the middle. Knocked a 5/8s in. forty five bevel on the inside edge and epoxied them back together. The forty five starts about a foot above the partners and ends about a foot from the end of the mast. Epoxied both 2/4s to each other. This gives me a 5/8s in. square hollow in side the mast.









The boom and yard, just waiting for me.

[JCR1]

My new WEN electric hand planer came yesterday. It is a cheap China one, $45.00. Works fantastic! The mast is almost done. A little more sanding and its a mast.





My pictures are big again, its a beyond me.

[JCR1]

I picked up my plywood Friday. Four sheets of 3/8s Okoume and one of 1/2 Meranti.


My first scarf.







Cut out and mounted the bottom (dry run). Everything looks OK, all lines and marks good.

[JCR1]

Time to put the bottom for good.

[MattL]

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing.