The strongback is completed and the molds are in position. Starting to take shape! The strongback is the very flat, level and squared box in the photos below. It is attached to short (2 foot high) sawhorses on each end. The molds are attached and braced to the strongback. The boat will be constructed upside down over the molds. So far, I haven’t built anything that will be an actual piece of the boat when it’s completed! Everything in the pictures below will eventually go to the lumber pile for some future project. Ah well. More exciting stuff is coming up soon.
Next is building the transom (the back of the boat) and attaching that to the strongback. This will be the first “real” piece of the boat.
Thanks for reading!
Photos shows the view facing the front of the boat.
Strongback Materials List:
- (2) 2×8x12, Lowes
- (1) 2×10x10, Lowes
- (2) 2×4x8, Lowes
- Total for above: $33
- Misc nails and scrap lumber
Project Materials Summary:
- Plans and Book: $60
- Lofting Supplies: $47.88
- Mold Supplies: $36
- Strongback Lumber: $33
- Total Project Expenses so far: $176.88
Labor Hours Summary:
- 5/29/09 – 6/8/09: Lofting – 12 Hours
- 6/14/09 – 6/20/09: Building Molds: 5 Hours
- 6/25/09 – 6/27/09: Building Strongback: 7.5 Hours
- Total Project Labor Hours so far: 24.5 Hours
-- Matt - Syracuse, NY
7 comments so far
Beginningwoodworker
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13225 posts in 1845 days
#1 posted 1427 days ago
Looks nice!
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
a1Jim
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87375 posts in 1750 days
#2 posted 1427 days ago
looks good look forward to more.
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
Splinterman
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23060 posts in 1534 days
#3 posted 1427 days ago
Hey Matt,
Looking good…...but…......just a small suggestion….....to reduce lateral deflection in your jig, screw two vertical 4×2 to a 4×4 foot plate and mount it in the center of your jig….......trust me…....it will bend over time…...been there done that.
JoeC61
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34 posts in 1755 days
#4 posted 1427 days ago
This looks like a great project! We recently visited Grand Marais, MN, on the north shore of Lake Superior. There’s a school there called the North House Folk School (http://www.northhouse.org/) where boat building such as this is taught (among other wood working classes, timber frame, log home…).
Seeing your project makes me want to sign up!
-- Joe-Carver, MN
MattD
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149 posts in 2117 days
#5 posted 1427 days ago
Splinterman – Thank you for that suggestion. I’m going to add that center support.
DaveR – To make the stem, I plan to make a pattern picked up from the lofted plans and then cut the stem from the template. The stem will be a single curved piece of white oak with a knee section to join to the keelson and keel. 1.5” thick. I’ll carve out a rabbet for the planks to fit into.
-- Matt - Syracuse, NY
cylis007
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56 posts in 1641 days
#6 posted 1424 days ago
I am really enjoying following your progress. Great work! Thanks for sharing.
-- A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave. ~Benjamin Franklin
Napaman
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5019 posts in 2250 days
#7 posted 1403 days ago
great stuff…
-- Matt--Proud LJ since 2007
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