The weekly status check

[Ed Harrow]

Been busy making arches for the cover, I guess I have about half of them made at this point, but I don't know if my relationship with "My favorite lumber/hardware store" will stand the strain

[Michael]

Ed, how did you make the arches? Looks fancy!

[Concordia41]

This is truly insperational!

[Wayne Jeffers]

Looking good, Ed!

Are you using the bow-roofed shed plans from Stimson Marine? How's it working?

Wayne

[Ed Harrow]

Well, if you insist. I've been trying to keep it a secret so I don't take the business away from you pros. Phoenix is actually all done and in the water, here she is:



[This message has been edited by Ed Harrow (edited 07-16-2001).]

[Mike Field]

Whew! Quick work, Ed. Who made your mast? (Or did you get it at West Marine?)

[Ed Harrow]

Actually I got PT lumber from Home Despot, and bought the needed hardware from Waste Marine, LOL.

Here's a pic of the jig and tools I used to make the arches.



The jig is different from what Stimson suggests only in that I screwed the shims for the blocking in place rather than have them loose. It saves on set-up time. I set it up on two sheets of 3/4 CDX fastened to three 16' 2x4s.

I've got two drills since I've only got a long bit in 1/4" and going a wee bit oversize gets the bolts in easier. As far as the actual arches, rather than screw the blocking in with deck screws, I'm using carriage bolts, and will attach the horizontals to the arches using those same bolts. The electric impact wrench does a great job tightening the nuts. A broom is useful for sweeping sawdust away from the jig. Only thing else I've used was a hammer and a little flat bar to pull the stubborn ones out of the jig.

I think I've only had one piece of strapping break (I've made about 20 of the arches) in the bending process, but several came out of the buddles pre broken. I don't know if it helped, but I've been keeping the strapping wet.

[This message has not been edited by Custom Skiffs (not edited 07-17-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Ed Harrow (edited 07-17-2001).]

[Andrew]

Are you using glue in the arches or just bolts.?

Could you use 4x4's for the spacers?

Would you recommend the plans over winging it?

[This message has not been edited by Custom Skiffs (not edited 07-17-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Andrew (edited 07-17-2001).]

[Ed Harrow]

Andrew, I'm just bolting. If 1/4" carriage bolts are not sufficient we're both in trouble.

On the face of it, I don't see why one couldn't use 2x4s for the spacer blocks, but I can't imagine a benefit. (maybe you are thinking of two layers with insulation between?)

While the plans are not the as clear as they could be, and leave a bit to the imagination, I suggest that you will find them more than helpful.

[This message has been edited by Ed Harrow (edited 07-17-2001).]

[norske]

Ed---- What harbor was the "Phoenix" launched in?
Oh--- I think I know---Marblehead Haarbor---right?

[This message has been edited by norske (edited 07-19-2001).]

[Bernadette & David Hedger]

Ed, please excuse our ignorance..but what repairs and work are you doing to your boat?

[B. Burnside]

Hi Ed,

You gonna put white tarp over those lovely frames? It makes such a nice light to work in!

Barbara

[Bryan Mehus]

Looks great! Are you in the Med. right now?
Or is that what Mass. really looks like?
BTW you're arches look excellent, don't let anyone tell you pvc would do the job any better.
Keep it up.
Bryan