58'' Boat Build-- Please comment!
 

Hey Guys! So after some research online about how much a large scale boat would cost, (and after almost falling out of my chair) I decided to take on the challenge of building a boat myself... little did I know this was going to be a MUCH bigger project than I thought.

So after finding blue prints online, going to a print store to get them printed on 5 ft wide paper, going to get wood and epoxy at Lowe's, and heading home to the garage, I calculated my cost at approx. $65. Not bad so far...

I already had the electronics, 26cc engine, and tools.

It took me a while to cut out the ribs and stringers. Lots of cutting with the jig saw. Here are some pics...
http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/p...321001552a.jpg

http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/p...321001552c.jpg

I then cut out the sides/bottom. I ended up ripping one piece of bottom and one whole side off because I wasn't happy with how they matched up. (A LOT harder than you think!)

http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/p...0403000047.jpg

Deconstruction of one side.
http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/p...403000047a.jpg


To make the bow, I had to use a steamer to increase the flexibility of the wood. I used a clothes steamer and it worked suprisingly well.

http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/p...0403001705.jpg

To add interest in the project, I was getting the wood out of my shed and dumped 75-100 baby spiders on myself by accident... Still have no idea where/what the mother was but it has been 3 days now and I'm not dead... hahaha.

http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/p...0403000101.jpg


After fixing the holes with epoxy I sanded it down to make it smooth and decrease the drag. Here are some pics of that.

http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/p...403002349a.jpg

http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/p...0403002349.jpg

The bow tip had to be made with epoxy, as the pieces of wood were not lazer cut and did not match exactly. Here is a photo of the tip.

http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/p...403002349b.jpg

I just finished sanding the bow and have placed the top on. Here's what it looks like now, waiting for the top to be epoxied down...

http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/p...404000210a.jpg


If anyone has any boat rudders, props, or shafts, let me know and I'll happily buy them from you. If not, I'm headed to Ebay. Any comments or suggestions or off the wall ideas would be great! Feel free!

Thanks!:)

that thing looks awesome
 

nice work

thanks

Thanks. Anyone else have a home made boat on here?

58" Boat Build
 

Hi F15pilot, You are doing a fine job with your hull. Hopefully it will not be too
heavy for your 26cc Zenoah. My 34" cat was made out of balsa and ply but
mainly balsa. Try and keep it as light as possible. I buy all my hardware from
Offshore Electrics.com. I strongly suggest you become a member of the Offshore Electrics Forum as it only for Fast Electric and Gas Boats. I live in
a development in Brevard that has four lakes but they only permit Electric. I
hope we can get together sometime and run our boats. I also have a couple
of race Sailing boats. One Americas cup BMW Oracle and the other one a Volvo
Ocean race boat. They are a blast to sail. Let me know if you need help with
your project as far as choosing which hardware, Prop, Etc. Regards
Norman2