Boat Bottom

I finally have gotten to the point where I can attach the bottom of the boat. I had to fiberglass everything from the underside that I wouldn't be able to reach once the bottom was attached. I had traced the shape of the boat on the plywood, and then carefully cut along the marker approx 1/4" outside of the line. I did this in case the line was traced a bit short. Once the bottom was cut out, I sanded some of the fiberglassed seems as this is easier to do now, then on the bottom is attached and trying to sand inside the boat. I screwed the bottom on the bow, transom, and down the center along the hog. Now that the bottom was attatched, I sanded the edge flush with the side board, and used some body fill to smooth out some of the imperfections so when I glass it, it will be smooth and easier to get tot eh final finish.

Getting There

The boat is slowly coming together. The rub rails really gave the boat some shape. The rear and forward gears are pretty much complete. I'm waiting for the angle grinder to be finished that I'm using for the right angle gear box to change the direction of the chain from down the center of the boat to across the transom. I had to add another sprocket in the front so the chain would travel under the main bench seat where my chair and steering controls will be.

My son couldn't resist jumping in the boat with Truffles while it was on the ground and pretending to be out on the water.... I think they're a little anxious to get out on the water....lol

The boat is fiberglassed together like the side boards, and has been marked and ready to cut to be put on. Once the steering has been installed on the main bench, I can close it in and start filling in the gaps, imperfections etc to get ready to install the mechanics and for the final coats of fiberglass and

Construction is underway on the boat

The construction of the boat is underway! I've been using the boat plans I got from Uncle Johns Country Store to use as a guide. I say guide because I'm not building the boat quite to the specifications.... side walls aren't high enough, the plans weren't meant for pedals, chains and other gear I need to install for propulsion.

I've really turned this into a "green" project as I've obtained all the plywood for this from work. The equipment we get come in 1/4" plywood crates which I've broken down, removed all of the hardware, cut and pieced them together for the sides, and bottom. At this point, the only money I've spent was on hardware (screws, nuts, bolts, steel, fiberglass, glue). The pieced together sides isn't perfect, however the boat is taking shape nicely and through some frustrating parts where I had to stop and think for several minutes on the best way to change the plans slightly, my son Hunter was always there with positive thinking. For an 11 year old, he's got a great head on his shoulders!! With words of encouragement ("This is your first boat you've ever built dad...... it looks great! Mom could never had built this!" and "It looks like a boat dad.... you're doing something right!")