Slow Going

     While scratching away at the chopsticks produced a lot of little shavings, it hasn't produced much difference in the taper on the end. I am going to have to take it to the shop and put it to the grinder, or sandpaper or a rasp. In any case, Thanksgiving has put the kibosh on finishing up the model this week. The kids are home from school and we have traveled to the in-laws.
     I have had some inspiration this week. While walking through town, I decided to stop in at a local used book store. It is wall to wall to ceiling books in this place. I was hoping to find a good deal on a boat building book, so I can let the library loan out the ones I've been using. I didn't find anything I couldn't live without, but I did spot a wonderful little book.

The Simplistic Sailboat

     It is written by Dan Hookham and chronicles a summer of sailing he did with his wife and young daughter. As you can see by the cover and the title, this was a modest and economical boat. I am about half way through the book and I really enjoy it. The trip took place in the Puget Sound, around my home town. His philosophy about work and living simply is a little too Walden Pond for me, but I appreciate his sentimental feelings regarding family. He takes note of simple pleasures and shared experiences a family can have while living in close quarters at the constant edge of the wild and outdoor life. That he could make so inexpensive a boat for cruising around the sound, motivates me.

     The other bit of motivation and good fortune occurred while spending Thanksgiving at my in-laws house. My Father-in-law and his other son-in-law replaced the banister on the stairs last year and apparently they had a little SNAFU. This left them with an 8' solid oak stair rail they couldn't use. He was happy to give it to me, so his wife wouldn't have to keep looking at it in the garage. I may make strips out of it for the gunwales or use it to make cleats for my boat. No matter how I slice it, it was a good score.

OAK!

Rear View and Possible name

     Found some inspiration for the rear transom on another website.
Apple Pie Tender

Tracing the Transom

     I started by tracing out the transom. And then made a freehand sketch of the shape I wanted. This shape was inspired by the Apple Pie Tender. It gives my little boat more of a nautical feel and will also strengthen the rear of the boat for a rudder or motor.

Gluing a plate to transom of D5 model

     This part has been difficult to glue. Because I have glued on the rough side, it is absorbing a lot of glue. This will make it a stronger bond, but it causes the piece to swell. I have to keep moving the clips and even added 3 more, to keep all of it held down. It wants to bunch up and pull away from the boat. This is a problem unique to building the model and not the full size boat. Although I am sure that some methods of boat building, like strip canoes, might have something similar happen.

     The shape I drew gave me an idea for the name. My boat has a big rear end and this new piece looks a bit like a tail. I may have to name her after a hippo. Growing up with Hungry Hungry Hippos, it sounds a bit silly, but they are faster than they look in water, and kill a few thousand people a year in Africa. Very manly, I think.

Keep Your Eyes Open

     While I was out for my walk this morning, I spotted something laying by the side of the road.

Old cutting board

     I don't have enough experience to identify the wood, but it is very dense, and quite hard. It looked like someone smashed it over the top of a fire hydrant and it separated at the glue lines, making 3 pieces. I don't know what I'll do with it. Mast step maybe, or cut it into strips for a seat. But considering what wood costs these days, I will continue to keep my eyes open. 

     I washed them up in the sink and put them in the trunk of my car. I'll take it out to the shop this week, so it can dry out. I am sure Dad can tell me what kind of wood it is.

Lumbering toward a boat

     So Mega-hardware store, had crap wood for sale. I decided to try a recycler here in town. They have lots of used building material. If I am going to sand and plane it all anyway, who's the wiser?

Pile of trim boards at local recycler

     I was pretty sure I would be hard pressed to find any full size sheets of plywood, and I was right. They had some tables and furniture with big panels, and lot's of boards. These are comprised of old shelves, flooring and trim. I had hoped to find some inexpensive hardwood for the seats and gunwales on my future boat. Unfortunately the recyclers recognize decent wood when they see it, and it is priced accordingly. 3-5 bucks per foot for oak boards. The grain looks good and they are pretty straight, but they have varnish on them, paint splatters, staples and nails. I'll just have to keep my eyes open, for good deals on wood. Or bite the bullet.
     Leave a comment if you have any tips on where to get good deals on wood.