Willy's Boat Building Project Update...

[Willy Landham]

The first picture is before the arduous task of scraping and sanding off all the epoxy squeeze out... the second picture is the after shot. The third picture is the detail of laying out the centerboard slot according to the drawing. Next I'll be routing out the centerboard slot as soon as I get a hold of a big enough router bit.

[Patti Puzo]

You are an artist! That is absolutely beautiful Willy!

[Abacoparrott]

is a REAL boat! Way to go Willy. An artesan still lives! Ken:D

[Jerry S]

That is fantastic :) After witnessing first hand the refinishing of Eldredge Pinder's Abaco dinghy, Milo and Edmond's dad on Guana in 1988, this is a thing of beauty. I will try and find the old photos of his boat to post on the Forum.

[Willy Landham]

For the on-line album showing the entire process to date:

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4291501381

[DrRalph]

Willy, you are wasting your time being an engineer. Why don't you just move to MOW, rent a little space from Edwin, and start cranking those things out, maybe one each month, sell them for maybe $20K. Live in paradise, work three days/week, bonefish three days/week...

[SamFamAustin]

Isn't this guy remarkable?

Well, I have a request for Willy to design me a surf boat for launching into the ocean-side. Just the consultation and psychotherapy ought to be 20 grand, and you wouldn't have to scrape or sand glass or poly! ;)

No but I'm serious, nobody has a good surf boat for sail. I've got a date with some hot tarpon ladies out on the 4th sandbar to test my flyfishing abilities ... will pay top $ for take-offs.
/sammie

[Shelby]

That's gorgeous! And what a fun project to share with your little helpers! Can't wait to see the finished result.

Shelby

[Willy Landham]

Sam,

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]I

[Spagna]

Willy, how much money do you need to 'make a living' in paradise? I'll put in my order for a 10', transom, sailing dinghy as tender to my cruising boat if that'll help. Delivery would have to be sooner than 13 years though. I built a Phil Bolger 12' plywood flat bottom double ender and that convinced me that I'd rather sail than build 'em. Beautiful work and I know what you put into it to get it that way!

[Willy Landham]

Spagna,

This is a pretty little 10 foot sailing dinghy...

For details on the design check this out... http://www.jordanboats.co.uk/JB/IainO_Catalogue/Auk%20&%20Puffin.pdf

[Spagna]

:) V-e-r-y n-i-c-e! I've heard it said by New England builders of dories that 'if it looks right it probably is' and she looks right to me. All those designs in the pdf look good. I assume the one in the picture is the Puffin? Cold moulded with a natural finish would be 'orgasmic!' I've never done cold moulding but it seems to me it would be faster than carvel or lapstrake, no? I also like the designs in the links to duck flat. So, when do you move to Aboco and start building them?

[Spagna]

Willy, I just looked at all the progress pics. Is the entire craft glued? how did you turn it over?

Lou

[Willy Landham]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Yes, the boat that I

[Patti Puzo]

A friend of ours works here, and explained to us how they are in the process of patenting a new technology for welding polymer for boat building applications. I know this is a river boat, but thought you might find it interesting anyway. I asked one of my favorite forum members if he thought I could possibly be tarred and feathered for posting this....

http://www.boulderboatworks.com/bbw_home.html

[Spagna]

Patti, that drift boat does sound interesting and practical. I'll have to look into that type of construction more. As I get older gravity becomes more important to me and a lighter dinghy has great appeal. Lifting it onto and off of the deck of our sailboat on inter island trips needs to be as easy as possible. I'll start with that link, thanks for posting it.

Willy, when I realized that the boat was bonded not fastened it made my comment about cold moulding irrelevent. I understand your explaination of the process using 2 part epoxy since I have done a fair amount myself. I have had some fast cure kick off while I was still mixing it and it smoldered on the dock for a good 20 minutes! Live and learn :- ) Regarding the natural finish it's definately impractical for a boat that would get regular use but she shur wud be purdy!

[Willy Landham]

Summer's here and it's time to get back to some boat building. I made a run to the lumberyard yesterday and picked up another 20 board feet of mahogany (first picture). I've got one more half-frame to complete (second picture) and then I'll start to work on the floors and inwales. I'd like to get most of the interior fit out done before winter.

[Patti Puzo]

Willy, I think I've run out of adjectives. I never tire of looking at the details.

[SamFamAustin]

Wow, that one by twelve by 20 foot long of clear mahogany must have been a pretty penny.

Myself, I'm not a big fan of floor boards, although it's not my boat. Very hard to clean and the scoop up any bilge water. I like nice seats and if I have to row, some nice wood to push with my bare feet. Extra points for having a stinger so you can hike out and brace your feet to windward in a nice strong wind, sitting on the railing. Other used a canvas strap, just as good. I used to race dinghies and sometimes I'd be horizontal to the water, steering with a rope or push-stick. I've surfed such boats as fast as 15 knots on a broad reach (no offense gals, that's what it's called). Just my opinion sir! :D
-sammie

[Willy Landham]

Wow, that one by twelve by 20 foot long of clear mahogany must have been a pretty penny.

Myself, I'm not a big fan of floor boards, although it's not my boat. Very hard to clean and the scoop up any bilge water. I like nice seats and if I have to row, some nice wood to push with my bare feet. Extra points for having a stinger so you can hike out and brace your feet to windward in a nice strong wind, sitting on the railing. Other used a canvas strap, just as good. I used to race dinghies and sometimes I'd be horizontal to the water, steering with a rope or push-stick. I've surfed such boats as fast as 15 knots on a broad reach (no offense gals, that's what it's called). Just my opinion sir! :D
-sammie

Good stuff. I'll keep it in mind.

Oh, by the way... it's not a 20' board. There are two 6/4 pieces of lumber that are 12' long. One board is about 8" wide and the other a little over 5". Altogether there's 20 board feet. And you're right... they're mighty proud of that stuff. But it's a dream to work with and well worth it.

[Reef House]

OOOOOOOH Willy

This makes my little sailboat look like a toy. It is a work of art.

Bill Rawls