Knees: Welcome to the site. I would like to hear more about your project. Got your plans yet? A place to build?
If its your first boat, there are some good books that can be helpful.
Also you can learn alot from the more boat building specific websites with photos of the entire process.

I have built a few kayaks before and a couple of smaller flat bottom boats, but this build is alot more involved than any of those. Learned the basics of epoxy and fiberglassing on those. I have many years of woodworking experience, having worked as a carpenter for almost forty years. That and a large shop to work in.

Building a boat has been a dream of mine for many years . I'm not in a rush to finish and am enjoying the journey.

And thanks to all for the encouragement and good wishes.

Dude :kewl:

I almost never look in this forum as im not a boat guy and havent fished in one in the salt for a few years now, but glad i did.

what an amazing project! really blown away by it all.

The work looks top notch, cool design, well thought out.

awesome that you and your son are doing it together.

my pops and I rebuild a 66 caddy coupe deville a few summers ago, did it all outside under a 10x10 canopy tent, learned as we went, something i wont soon forget.

I find it gets harder and harder as I grow older to keep doing things with my dad, just based on time, work, seperate lives, etc, but that car is always a great memory.

love to see more pics.

and again great stuff man. :uhuh:

Hi Bob.....:claps::claps::claps: GREAT JOB!!!

Been a while since I've seen you on the sand. Does this mean no more long walks or runs for you? :D

As others have said, keep the pictures coming. It's great seeing it all come together.


This is a shot of a stand I built for my motor. Basic design, all aluminum with composite decking across the top....just make sure you build it high enough to comfortably work on. My stand (which is collapsable during the summer) stands at 46". Perfect height for performing maintenance on my motor.

Good Luck. Can't wait to see the finish work!!!

Hi Gil... I figure we'll meet up eventually, probably late some night during the drop.

I was out there last night during the incoming.... got two small stripers.

That is a great idea for the motor stand.... I had to get it off the floor right away so I just slapped together something temporary out of scrap wood.

Second picture is the pvc chases for the controls ,fuel, and electrical, that run under the floor from the console to the stern. I poured two part floatation foam in the space before the floor went down.

Chris...Thanks for checking it out. My son and I have spent more time together because of this project, and that has been a good thing.

Thanks Rmarsh, Im glad to be a part of the site. I do have my plans I have had them for several weeks now. I do not have nearly the experience you have as this is my first real wood building project. I have however read a few books and have spent any time on the computer searching through blogs and boat building sites reviewing pictures and comments. I have been getting more and more excited about it the more i research.
My plan is to start in the basment cutting the frames and building the transom then to move into a carport canopy (havent bought yet).
I am waiting for my fasteners and epoxy to arrive in the mail today and the fun begins :-)

Thats great Knees...I understand your exitement.
I think you will find that it isn't at all difficult to build, just one step at a time.

Basic tools are all you need.

As far as the designers estimated number of hours to build, and the amount of epoxy..... not even close.

What design are you going with?

I'm heading out to my shop soon to mix some epoxy and glue the coaming on the gunwales.

I sent you a PM not sure if it worked.. I am finding it very difficult to cut this white oak.. damn this stuff is hard

Yea white oak is pretty hard, you will need alot of good sharp blades. Are you cutting those frames with a jigsaw? Maybe going with a more aggressive blade, something with less than 10 teeth per inch. Also some jigsaws have a control knob that you can adjust for a more aggresive cut.

I just checked out the Kingfisher 18 and noticed it has alot of similarities, as far as the hull shape and interior layout, with the Bateau Classic 17 I'm building. The construction methods differ though, stitch and glue for the Bateau designs, and plywood on frame for the Glen-L boats.



Good Luck with your build and maybe start a thread with pictures if you can.

I am tring to cut the frames with a bandsaw as weill as a jigsaw. I am in search of blades for my bandsaw with 6 tpi. However, every place I have been either doesn't even carry bandsaw blades or none in my size; I may have to order online and hold off on cutting.

Glen-L does have some stitch and glue boats but the Kingfisher doesnt have that option.

I will start to post pictures as soon as I have something worth showing

FYI Knees is son of Got Stripers and he can catch, I saw this thread and knowing he's about to take the boat building plunge suggested he join and do some research. Not sure what the board name stands for, probably due to the fact that every time he fishes with the old man he is brought to his knees struggling yet again to outfish me:).

Its an old nickname.. I almost went with got more stripers :rotf2:

Also love the pic.. we need to get on more of those big boys

here is an excellent source for BS blades in any length you need... fast shipping too...

Band Saw Blades | Bandsaw Superstore

Welcome to the site knees:btu:
we can always use more Patriots fans here :D

Anything I can do to help you out with your project, feel free to ask. Your Dad told me about what you were about to take on. Glad to see it.
I did a stitch and glue boat years ago and my best fiend did one traditionally like you are doing. It's very rewarding.



RMarsh, Your boat is coming along quite nicely :kewl:
if you need a hand with the fairing, I'd help, as long as the fishing is not hot.

Oh he's a Patriots fan, he has a 8" long logo flag tattoo on his back. Son after your fishing this past weekend, your name should be bottom feeder or sea robin.

Fantastic job! I don't have enough confidence in my skills to take on that sort of project.

Thanks everyone. and dad I am the sea robbin! my powers of snaggng scup and skates is unrivaled:fishin:

Hey Knees.....Had some early pictures of my build you might find interesting.

Shows the plywood frames on the building jig.

Burn's Power tools in Fall River may have the bandsaw blades you're looking for.

I feel that I have more control making those type of cuts with a jigsaw.

The band saw is getting packaged and returned. After buying new blades the saw just didnt have what I needed to cut. Im going out to get a top end Boch jigsaw.

Thanks for the offer Slip! Going to start with the fairing compound this weekend. I'm thinking I'd better use the slow hardener in this heat.

My neighbor donated a 4' long piece of 6" x 6" mahogany beam which I sawed into 1/4" thick slats. I will use them to cover the console dashboard area for a natural wood finish.

Finish both sides equally or it will likely curl. Also use a dark pore filler first with mahogany for a better end result.

Thanks Numby That is good advise.

Interlux makes a mahogany filler stain that I have used before. It will keep all the wood a more consistant color, and fill the pores. Then it will get Interlux two-part varnish.

Worked on the console some more ...almost finished
It was too hot yesterday to mix fairing compound.

Always a stones buster :grins: Welcome aboard knees, good luck with your build.

RMarsh you have mad skills... :drool:

Console needs more holes for gauges and switches and door panel below...

Thank you for sharing. I had that dream but never the time.

The console looks great... nice build quality. You are in the home stretch now.

Thanks.
I'm trying to decide on instument gauges and layout.
Theres alot of sanding and fairing to do before priming.

great project, been lurking until now. definitely some real craftsmanship.
one thing to think about is your guages. I saw your guage layout and if you are going with Yamaha digital guages then you only need the tach and speedo. they include the trim and fuel, I forget which does what but with both it covers everything. makes for a super clean install.

Great looking Boat. Congrats to you and your son.

wow!!
 

Very nice build. quality work. can't wait to see the finish project.:buds:
jake

Thanks freebie: When I put up that picture I was hoping someone would notice that and comment. You are correct about the Yamaha multifunction gauges. I was a little taken aback by the price (about $350) but I now agree it would be best for a cleaner look, less holes, less wires, and more space for other things.

Spent the weekend fairing and sanding the interior of the boat. Not much fun, but closer to being ready for primer.

I appreciate the compliments on the craftsman ship, I can tell you that it didn't come naturally. When I first started working as a carpenter helper (1973) I was awful. My first boss, a master carpenter, constantly busted my balls about being a slambanger (hacker), but I stayed with it and learned.

Now almost 40 years later i'm doing work I never dreamed I could do.
The accumulation of knowledge and skill was a slow process, but allows me to take on projects that might intimadate some.

done with primer
 

After weeks and weeks of fairing and sanding it's primed and ready for first coat of finish. All the mechanical stuff (rigging) is here and waiting.
Home stretch now.

Fantastic!

Thats is coming out awesome.......Real nice job!

That is looking mighty fine
won't be long now

Installed the console, shift and throttle cables, and wireing harness.
Painted interior with two coats of oyster white.

WOW!

I get so jealous when I see stuff like this. I can barely drive a nail straight. Looks awesome.

Awesome!