Friday, January 2, 2009

Boat building or son's wedding? (and other surprises)

This will be the last entry for more than a month. I will be way from January 8 to February 7 to attend my son's wedding in Australia; and NO it was not a problem deciding whether the boat building or the wedding had precedence. 

I started this blog really as record for myself and for my son in Australia to keep up to date with the progress of this project. I never anticipated that other people would actually be interested in following my novice boat building endeavour. I was particularly surprised and some what humbled today when the designer of the Pocketship left a comment on the blog. A fellow Pocketship builder in Sydney, Australia even offered to meet for coffee when I was in Australia this month; unfortunately I am only in Sydney for a couple of hours to catch a connecting flight to the Gold Coast.

I will probably cut out a few more sheets of parts in the next few days but that will be it until returning from our long anticipated visit to Australia.  

I cut out a bulkhead and some smaller parts today.  It is slow work especially cutting out curves. With the jigsaw or circular saw you do not always get exactly on the lines and then have to plane it down with the block plane ( but I am becoming more proficient with the block plane). Cutting out that oblong part was no fun either (it is only 1/2 inch wide) but I cut out 2 at the same time. It is really a good idea to nail or clamp matching parts together and then cut them at the same time.

If I don't post any comments in the next month please be patient, I promise to update the blog soon after I return from my trip down under.

3 comments:

Hendrik said...

Dave,
When you are in Australia go to BUNNINGS and purchase a TAJIMA Rapid Pull Blade Saw. This saw Cost around $20 and make light work of cutting ply it leaves a almost planned finish and cuts very fast on the thin ply. I used one on build the three Kayaks and I highly recommend it an option.
Regards,
Hendrik

Dave C. said...

Thanks for the suggestion, I will have to remember not to pack it in my carry-on luggage :-)

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