Boat Forum / Building / January 2006

I must cover my plywood with epoxy (of course) in a stitch and glue boat.
I'm thinking adding a dark green pigment would make for a durable camo job.
Right?  Wrong?  "Am I an idiot"?

I'm looking to build an 18' long wooden boat, and for that purpose I'm
thinking of renting space to do this.  I figure I need an area around
30x30'.
Does anyone have any advice on how to go about finding such space?

The only meters I can find are by FloScan, Lowrance and Navman. Does anyone
know of any others?
Some info I have come across talk about back pressure in the fuel line
causing fuel starvation. How can one determine whether the sensor in the

Not having made any significant displays of ignorance lately that I
know of, thought I'd give it a try:
Is there any way to measure compression without removing injectors or
other major components on DD671s?

I don't know how the previous coating was applied nor what was used.
1-HOW2 prepare ?
2-Must it be taken back to bare metal for durable results ?
3-Easiest and least expensive [mutually exclusive ?] method of old

I am looking for a fabricator to make a stainless port water tank for
my Morgan OI 41.  It is a fairly large tank so ideally the maker would
be on the east coast of Florida since shipping could be costly.  Any
suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I have several dolly's that I've been told would be perfect for boat
restoration. Each dolly weighs 700 lbs. It has Faultless casters and
Joyce leveling jacks. The frame is made of 1/4in thick steel tubing
with an 8in x 6.5in I beam. The beam is 76in long and measures 40in

I was looking at an old boat that had a plywood cabin.  The owner/builder
had covered the plywood with fiberglass cloth.  Long time ago.  He said that
a surveyor who looked at the boat for insurance needs said that their was
too much water density in the plywood.  The surveyor ...

I am finally making progress again on the Tolman skiff.  For two weeks,
it came to a halt as temps here in N. FL stayed below 55 degrees in the
day and epoxy wouldnt flow, adhere or cure.  Finally were getting
normal temps to mid 70s in the day so I have started up again.  Got the

I've got an idea for a houseboat to maximize space, by putting in an
overhead berth.  I want standing headroom under the berth and am
wondering if I've got enough room to do it.  This isn't a commercial
houseboat, but it's a conversion from  generator barge that I built and

I was wondering.....
If you design a boat (glue and stitch in this case), how do you develop the
shapes to cut out of plywood?
I realize that there is software to do this, but...how was it done before

Hope this helps someone...found it today....seems to have good detail
http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/DOCREP/003/W7260E/W7260E00.HTM

I am thinking about to build a Bruce Roberts 340 because I like some
details of it and I am close to order his plans (but not the cutting files).
Before taking any decision I would like to get some more information of
others because BR makes a lot of advertising and  he is talking ...

OK.  I have hung the water heater hose from the engine room ceiling. I am
still worried about trapped air but just discovered Grainger part # 4A820.
It is a float type automatic air vent made specifically for removing air
from hot water heating systems.  It vents air until if ...

I'm starting to give some thought to my power source on the house boat I am
refitting. I am leaning towards using isolators to seperate the battery
banks. I would like some experienced feedback on what type of isolator to
use; diode, FET or solid state? All I know at this point is ...