[Sept 4, 2004]
After building several models (it's a cheap way to make mistakes)...

I'm 'ready' to build the real thing. First, the stem and stern. These are made from 3/4" birch plywood and cut out on a cheap ($87) Ryobi bandsaw. This takes a litte 'fi nessing' sometimes since the Ryobi is only a 12" bandsaw. The inner cuts I had to do with a saber saw.

Next I cut 8' stringers and scarphed them together. (As per aircraft specs, the scarph joints are cut at a 1 to 10 ratio). They are glued with marine epoxy that I was able to get at Home Depot for only 1 cent f or pint cans (it definately helps to know people when they are clearing out a shelf!)

They seem to be strong enough. But jeez, it's hard to believe that this is most of what will be a boat!

Here, the stem is being glued to the keel piece. Wax paper keeps them from being glued inadvertantly to t he L-shaped gluing guide.

[Sept 7, 2004]

(top) The gunwale ends are glued to both stem and stern. (left) Pre assembly. Ooh, it kinda sorta looks like a boat!

[Sept 15, 2004]

	The frames are set into place. I'll take them out and do a little more sanding on them (but I had to see how they looked!) and then put them back in - for real(!) This is where it gets really hard.

[Sept 23, 2004]
We now move to the Lashing phase(!) Click on the image below or on the Lashing link on the left to see st ep by step on how the kayak is lashed together. Far superiour to screws and glue, I'm really enjoying wat ching the boat go together, and learning something new.

[Sept 26, 2004]
Yikes! This thing is almost impossible to get into. Luckily it can be fixed without too much trouble.
Well, I guess this is why we test before the skin goes on.

[Oct 4, 2004]
The finished frame. This is my first skin-on-frame boat, and I've tried a lot of 'experiments' while designing and building the frame. Next comes the skinning. But first, a few more pics showing how the frame is - lashed together. »