Blog Entry III: Putting it all Together

We need to play some catch-up. Much work has been done on the boat since we last posted and we need to fill in all the blog viewers on what has happened.
Once this round of entries is complete, we will move to a more effective blog posting method. Each day one student will be assigned to post an entry explaining what went on in class that day. Blog viewers will be updated everyday on our progress and the student will need to finish the entry by the end of class.

We need to finish these entries by Tuesday, so we can catch-up the blog to where we are with the boat.

Mike- plane chine logs to fit the bottom level
James- nail and glue the bottom
Adam- plane sheer clamps level to fit top
Shawn- sealing the inside, tracing the top

Follow the same entry comments from Blog Entry II

Bulkheads

I helped by putting in the bulkheads. The bulkheads are the pieces of wood in the middle of the boat. There are three of them spaced out in the boat's inner hull. They are for support so that the boat doesn't crush. They give the boat a v-shape. To build the bulkheads, you had to trace them on plywood with a stencil. Then we had to cut them out and shape them to the right size.

Scarfing The Sheer Clamp And Chine Logs

The sheer clamp is the thin long piece of pine at the top of the side panel. The chine log is a piece of pine that runs the length of the boat were the bottom. The sheer clamp is the part that you would nail the top to. The chine log is the piece of pine that is used to nail the bottom on. The boat is 15.5' long and you can only buy the pine in 10' long sections and thats why you need to make a joint. The scarf joint is when you cutt to pieces of wood and glue them together. The way ou cut them would be at an angle the angle we used is 6''. Then you would need to glue them together with a special type of wood glue. Then you would need to press them together with clamps to make sure it stays in place...

Doing the Sides

We stared off with 16 foot long pieces of plywood called blanks. Then you want to find your measurements to the side of the kayak, or use a pattern to trace them on the blanks. Then cut it out, but don't cut on the line, cut a little above it on the waste side. After that, grab a plane and shave it down almost to the line and finally use a Surform, which will give it a nice finished look. The picture on the right is the finished side panel we used. The picture on the left is a Edit[handsome] man in a kayak (me)=) !

James Makes Butt Blocks

A Butt Block in Action

We started out with two 8 foot pieces of plywood. I, James had to block the two panels to make 16 foot blanks. Blanks are sections of plywood that you prepare and later cut out a pattern from. We had to butt block the pieces together because you can not buy 16 foot pieces of plywood at a store. Also building a 8 foot kayak would not be good enough for a camping trip. The tools we used for this step were nails, a hammer, glue, and a plane. We first glued the butt blocks to the sides connecting two pieces and then we nailed them together.

Blog Entry II: What Have We Done

We must continue to document our project. Someone should be able to look at our blog and be able to build a kayak by following the steps we have written. For this entry each member of class will have a different step to explain.

James- butt blocking the two panels to make the 16' blanks
Adam- tracing the pattern and roughing out the panels, fairing the boards
Shawn- scarfing the sheer clamps and chine logs
Andy- attaching and fitting the sheer clamps and chine logs
Mike- making bulkheads, putting in bulkhead anchors

Each entry must :
- have an introduction
- what tools are used
- have step by step instructions
- be posted in order
- display at least one relevant picture

kayak progress

We the new found challenge class are making kayaks which is like a canoe but they usually only hold one person and are are skinnier and longer those are lake kayak river ones are a Little shorter and wider.We are making them for the experience and for fun and so we can go kayaking on the lake and some rivers. We are making them by hand with no power tools. We are carving them out of wood using some nails and glue. Man i hope These don't sink when I get in it. We are having fun with it because their is not a lot of reading involved or writing, it is pretty fun. And it is really hands on which is really fun. We should have one dune soon hopefully.