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
9 comments so far
Beginningwoodworker
home | projects | blog
4173 posts in 568 days
posted 150 days ago
Looks nice!
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
DaveR
home | projects | blog
1527 posts in 615 days
posted 150 days ago
Good on you. This is a nice documentation of the process.
How will you be making the stem?
-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.
a1Jim
home | projects | blog
16805 posts in 472 days
posted 150 days ago
looks good look forward to more.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
Splinterman
home | projects | blog
4826 posts in 256 days
posted 149 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.
-- I will just keep doing it till I get it right.
JoeC61
home | projects | blog
34 posts in 477 days
posted 149 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
home | projects | blog
131 posts in 839 days
posted 149 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
DaveR
home | projects | blog
1527 posts in 615 days
posted 149 days ago
Stopwater?
I think you should really detail cutting the rabbet. That’s a process that I think a lot of LJs would appreciate seeing. Also when you get to spiling the planks and cutting the bevels and gains. Not your typical cabinet work.
Joe, did you meet my friend Tyler when you were at North House?
-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.
cylis007
home | projects | blog
55 posts in 364 days
posted 147 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
home | projects | blog
3488 posts in 972 days
posted 126 days ago
great stuff…
-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...