First sailboat?

by Bob
(Huntington, WV)

First time build for my grandsons to learn sailing.

Ideas welcome!

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Nov 22, 2015
 Optimist
by: Mike

The Optimist is one of the most popular sailing dinghies used the world over to instruct children up to the age of 15.

It is also an internationally registered class.

The "Bannock" (see free sailboat plans) is very similar.

As is the "Graefin-10".

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Caulking mallot repair

by Tim Quinn
(Homer Alaska)

Looking for info on replacing metal rings on old caulking mallots.

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Aug 25, 2015
 Calking mallet repair
by: Tim

Thanks,rings would probably be brought to just a black heat, not too hot.

My friend has one of the old mallets that appear to have forge welded rings.
Aug 25, 2015
 Shrink Fit
by: Mike

I'm assuming that you mean the rings on the ends of the head.

I would imagine that they have a dual purpose, to prevent the wood from splitting and to help with balance.

As most shipwrights made their own tools I suspect that they wold have used a suitable piece of piping and cut a ring from it.

The ring would need to have a slightly smaller diameter than the wood.

It would then have been heated, so that the metal expanded, knocked on to the wood and then immediately plunged into cold water, to prevent the wood from burning and so the metal would contract, much as an iron tyre would be shrunk onto a wooden cart wheel.

Those were the days, when shipwrights not only made their own tools but also would take great pride in them.

A good mallet, property cared for, would not only make work easier, but would be a pleasure to listen to.

Shipwrights would even adjust the slots to try and get a better sound from the mallet than that of their workmates.

"The old shipwrights liked to hear the mallet sing; the slots caused the singing. All these things were done for a good reason – If several men are caulking on deck together and they used ordinary mallets, they would deafen one another." (Dictionary of Woodworking Tools, R. A Salman, 1989).

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Putty and Red Lead

I am looking for the best alternative to the use of the traditional linseed oil putty with red lead powder and why it may be a better option.

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Jul 11, 2015
 putty
by: cal

Think poison, the lead in paint putty has to be removed from all the things you may have done in the past, not sure why we are still alive.

Every summer paint the hull but still like wood.

A young man showed me a boat last year that the whole boat inside hull was coated with red lead?

Will it kill you well I would not put my sandwich on it.

Yes it needs putty and with all the new products out there less work comes in a gun and stand behind their products.

Old school lasts but time to think out side the box new paint that does not crack and you can apply it with a brush got my attention.

Looked like a spray job to me.

So if you do use putty, a paint that seals stretches and does not crack, well that would do it for me.
Jul 10, 2015
 Seam Compound
by: Mike

Interlux and Pettit both do a Seam Compound.

Their main advantage is that they are more readily available than red lead powder.

But they are specifically designed to fill seams of wooden boats and will remain flexible longer than traditional putty.


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Source for Boat Building Mechanical Items?

by J Wright
(St Petersburg FL)

I am building a wood runabout and need to know a source for things such as steering wheels, hydraulics for the wheel, and other mechanical items.

Thanks.

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Jun 25, 2015
 Source
by: Cal

The word marine means three times as much as you can have it made at a machine shop.

There are manual pumps you can pick up real cheap on eby or from a car wrecker.

A lady I know has a forty ft. lunch, she got a broncs wheel from a combine and a seat to match from old tractor.

It's all shafts and gears, this was all junk.

So before you spend that hard cash do a walk about.

Even bronze parts I have made for friend coast little to make, sand casting you can see on YouTube hope that helps.

Cal

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coat it vs skid plate

Built a 16 foot mohogany driftboat, will Coat It work as good as a skid plate?

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Jul 04, 2015
 Sacrificial
by: Mike

Skid plates, skid rails, worm shoes, rubbing strakes etc. are meant as 'sacrificial' components.

The idea is that they take the kind of treatment that would damage the hull but are easier to replace than having to do an expensive hull repair.

"Coat It" is not a substitute for that.

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toe rail

by julian gonzales
(holland,mi)

I need to buy toe rail bow for chris craft commarder 1972 42feet

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Snekke Rope Fenders

by Jeff Strong
(Deerfield Beach, FL)

Where can I purchase these fenders?

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Jul 13, 2015
 rope fenders
by: cal

Try navel yard.

There sre still sailors that do the hiving lines.

Macro may railings, we have a few retired boaters that come in for the summer and sell off their boats.

Or try British ropes but sailors need the money its a dying art god luck

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Marinette Cabin Stain

by Tom
(Syracuse IN)

I am rebuilding a 1980 32ft. marinette express.

I need to find out if you know the stain they used on the back deck and cabin and if so do you have it?

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Storage for a 52 foot beauty?

by Lynds
(Devon, UK)

Hi there, I'm based on the south coast of SW england and skipper a 52 foot, 45ton passenger vessel.

We currently keep her a 10 hour (by boat) drive away over the winter and have been getting a few quotes for storage somewhere closer.

Does anyone here know of any tucked away little hideaways.

Thanks in advance.

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