Getting Started - 9/01/01
I did like the instructions said and read the instructions. I highly recommend that part.
My plans arrived on Monday, and immediately I read the instructions and was itchin' to get started. Not having the time after work to start cutting wood, I decided that I would first make a scale model of the boat.
What a great idea! I highly recommend building a small model first - it gives you time to think about the process and will familiarize you with the plans. Plus, you have a really cool model of your boat when you're done. I used common material found at a local craft store - balsa wood, basswood, and an Architect's scale, and wood glue. Bending the basswood was not easy, balsa worked much better.
Cutting
the sides
Based on recommendations from Boat
Plans OnLine at bateau.com, I decided that I would make the panels
based on the measurements from the plans, and only use the full sized
patterns for accuracy. I found some discrepencies between the full sized
plans and the measurements, but I believe the most important thing here
is symmetry. A quarter of an inch here or there aren't going to make as
much difference as having both sides of your boat identical. Starting
with the side panels, I measured, plotted, drew, and cut. I used a strip
of MDF that I bought for a couple of bucks as a guide to draw my curves,
and another as a guide for my cuts. I tried free-handing the cuts on a
sample piece of wood, and couldn't get the accuracy I wanted. With a guide
I was able to get terrific results! So far so good!
>> Next Step: Time to butt-block the
side panels together... >>
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