Strip Built

Boat built using narrow strips of wood, edge glued together and covered with fiberglass

Hatch cover problem

Submitted byaaronpotter onSun, 05/06/2018 - 22:33

I’m getting close to the end of my Guillemot build and had another problem pop up this weekend. I am using magnets to hold the hatch covers in place like Rob Macks describes in his book and videos. I had to heat one area to loosen the epoxy to correct the orientation of a magnet in the cover ( I’m not sure how I managed to screw that up). Once I got that taken care of and put the cover in place, I realized that the shape of the forward hatch cover does not match the shape of the deck.  The starboard sides sits very close to flush with the deck while the port side is over 1/4” high.

Strip-Built...Lighthouse, Anyone?

Submitted byJumbliah onMon, 04/23/2018 - 10:04

Way off topic, but, I have considered various designs for a 5' lighthouse for the front yard.  My wife wants one to cover an ugly sewer pump.  It just occurred to me the other day that using conventional strip-building techniques for such a project should be straightforward.  In fact, I would think that such a project would be a good start for beginner strip-builders.

Has anyone tried something like this?  How far afield from conventional kayaks has strip-building taken you?

SUP Rails

Submitted byRonPW onSun, 04/22/2018 - 19:51

I am building a SUP, Planking on bottom skin & top skin. The rails are cove & bead. Now that I am shaping the rails I am having some cracks open up. Is there a way to fill these that will look better than seeing dark glue lines under the epoxy. It has been 20 years since I built my kayak. I remember the dark ugly glue lines. I would like to fix it now before glassing.

knot

Submitted byRandy onMon, 04/16/2018 - 13:52

OK, I am down to the last thing I don't know about kayak building :))

I have seen photo's on this forum (can't find them now of course :() of the bow/stern carry straps that are tied together in such a way that they form a handhold 3-4 times the diameter of the rope itself with a rope end sticking out each side of the handhold. I have perused several web sites looking at knot photo's but don't seem to find it. I am sure it would help if I knew the name of the knot, which I don't.

Will someone please point a finger in the direction I need to go :)
Thank you,

seat

Submitted byRandy onSun, 04/08/2018 - 10:17

My sweetie wants her boat launched yesterday. I don't have time to make a seat so I thought I would buy a seat and put a gell pad on it. I already have a backstrap and hip braces installed, I just need the seat. I have searched the web and am finding only seat pads and full seat / backrest units. Where can I get just the seat?

Thank you,

air bubbles in epoxy

Submitted byaaronpotter onMon, 03/26/2018 - 13:02

I'm anxiously awaiting warmer weather so I can complete by Guillemot build.  Hatches, finish sanding and varnish should take care of it.  When I glassed the cockpit coaming lip, I got a few bubbles in the epoxy.  I thought I could live with them, but it bothers me every time I walk past the kayak.  I'm wondering if the following procedure would work:

1.  drill a small hole in the hardened epoxy over the bubble using a drill bit between my fingers.

2.  apply gentle heat to soften up the area.

3.  apply fresh epoxy with a brush or syringe