BBW River Ranger 14

[Iwannagofishin]

Well, I'm finally getting getting around to building a boat. Been looking forward to this project for quite some time. First time boat builder.

The smartest thing I've done so far is start with a good set of plans. Gerald supplied his plans for the River Ranger 14. I plan on making the panels from strips of WRC and Pine. I just love the look.

So the first thing was to gather all my supplies.

Then I started glueing my keel panel together. I have since discovered that I used too much glue and too many staples. This would haunt me later. Here's the keel panel laid out.

Removing all those staples was a nightmare. I used too many and I drove them a little too deep. The staple heads were flush with the wood, so it was difficult to dig them out without tearing up the wood. Live and learn, right? Check out the pile of used staples.

And yes, water does help close staple holes.

[bowgarguide]

Looking good ,
we will be watching and enjoying your build.
Ron

[Iwannagofishin]

Got a few more pics. After getting the staples out, I used a belt sander to rough sand the glue off the keel panel.

Then laid out my cut line using the dimensions from the plans.

So here's the keel panel.........cut out and rough sanded.

Time to do some finish sanding, and then get started on the side panels.

Quick question for you strip panel makers. How fine do you go with your sanding. Is 100 grit far enough, or should I go to 150?

[gerald]

When I'm doing a strip boat I use 60 grit in an ROS. If I want to make it fine I use 80 grit. Sure--I'd go finer for a showboat. This is for boats you use. And you can see at the Roundup that few boats are finished nicer than mine.

[preacher]

Man! Clean work space, organized materials and tools! Good looking work!

OK, OK! I'm gonna clean up my shop and get my stuff organized and . . .

Seriously, looks like you're off to a good build.

[Iwannagofishin]

Man! Clean work space, organized materials and tools! Good looking work!

OK, OK! I'm gonna clean up my shop and get my stuff organized and . . .

Seriously, looks like you're off to a good build.

Thanks Preacher. Don't have a lot of space, so I have to stay organized. Everything has a layer of dust on it now. But all I can think about is paddling my new boat.

Cutting some more cedar strips today. Should have some side panels by the weekend.

[Iwannagofishin]

OK, finally got the side panels completed.

Here's a picture in process

And here are the completed panels

I hope to have the bulkheads and deck panels made by this weekend. Then I could actually start putting my boat together.

I still love the look of these strip panels. But I must admit, I under-estimated the amount of amount of work that it takes to create them. I keep thinking that I could be on the water if I had just used plywood. But I'm too far in to change directions now. And I'm sure that I'll love this boat.

So much for fishing the Sand Bass run. Maybe next season.

[gerald]

Looking great. When you stitch the panels together do it loosely. Then install your bulkheads and forms. Make sure you've cut them back the thickness of your hull material. Once the bulkheads and forms are installed you can start tightening up on the stitches. Fair by eye--in other words make it look good and it will be good.

[Iwannagofishin]

Looking great. When you stitch the panels together do it loosely. Then install your bulkheads and forms. Make sure you've cut them back the thickness of your hull material. Once the bulkheads and forms are installed you can start tightening up on the stitches. Fair by eye--in other words make it look good and it will be good.

Thanks again Gerald. I hadn't thought of stitching loosely to start.

Just can't wait to see what she'll look like.

[gerald]

The first thing you stitch together will be the to side pieces. Probably two stitches on each end. Then spread them apart on the keel. They should just flop out pretty much where they go. Then you can put some spacers or blocks under each end of the keel to raise it up for the rocker and start stitching it. Use a small drill bit for your wire. Put stitches near each end and a couple of feet apart to get started. Then come back and add a few more only where you need them. Use only as many stitches as necessary. Mine usually end up 8" to 12" apart though I sometimes do 4" or 6" if I have to--which is rarely. All these stitches are relatively loose at this time. So...there's the boat just sitting there.
Now's the time you temporarily install the center form and bulkheads. After they're done you start tightening up on the stitches, keeping the boat fair, and watching for any humps or spaces that are not fair. If you get one you can always cut the stitch and redo it.
Once you're happy with what you've got it's time to do some fillets. I'll get into that when you're ready.

[Iwannagofishin]

Thanks again for the stitching tips Gerald. I hope to start stitching it up tomorrow.

Got the bulkheads and deck panels made this week.

I've been very curious about the weight of this boat, so I tried to weigh all the panels dry. Just held them and used a bathroom scale. Probably a little innaccurate, but I got 20 lbs. Don't know if that's heavy? light? normal?

I'm really excited about stitching her up, but a little nervous about laying the resin and fiberglass. Never done it before. All tips are welcome.

[gerald]

Looks like you're doing a great job on all the panels. Don't get locked in that the forms must be exactly what the plan says. Sure, you're working toward a perfect boat, but realistically you might have to fit a bit here and there. You don't need to put any forms in until it's loosely stitched up. Once the forms are in and the boat is stitched tight and fair....then you do fillets between the stitches. Remove all the forms and stitches (the next day!), sand the small fillets, and do the full fillet inside. After the fillet cures, sand it. You might do a pre-coat--in fact I think you should. THEN you're ready to do the cloth on the inside of the boat.
So--you've still got a little work to do. I'm here to help though.

[Light Keeper's Kid]

Great Looking Work

Mike

[Iwannagofishin]

I was able to stitch the hull together today. Now I'm really getting excited.

Here's a pic from the side.

A pic from the top.

And a pic of the interior of one of the bulkheads.

Everything is dry at this point. So now it's time for the resin and fiberglass work. I'm pretty worried about it, because I'm totally new at fiberglass work.

I've saved some fine cedar dust to use a filler for the filets.

So here's what I THINK my next steps are. Please let me know if I'm going wrong.

1) Filet between the stitches
2) Remove stitches, bulkheads and center form
3) Finish filets on side and end seams (Should I fiberglass the seams?)
4) Coat inner hull with resin
5) Fiberglass entire inner hull
6) Fiberglass bulkheads
7) Re-install bulkheads (with filets)


BTW - Thanks for helping a newb.

Ken

[gerald]

Man...ain't this a blast! Looks great. Look at it carefully to make sure it's fair. Look for humps in the bottom, or keel chine. If it's fair you're ready to go.


1) Filet between the stitches
Correct
2) Remove stitches, bulkheads and center form
Correct
3) Finish filets on side and end seams (Should I fiberglass the seams?)
Correct....but end seams (stems) will get fiberglass tape at a later time--after the interior cloth is done. Don't make too big a fillet. A craft stick about like a tongue depressor (1/2" or so) down to 1/4 is ok. I prefer about 1/2" even though that big is not necessary.
4) Coat inner hull with resin
Correct--this is called a precoat
5) Fiberglass entire inner hull
Correct--this is called the saturation coat. You can run cloth lengthwise or crosswise with small overlaps--which is easier. Rub the wrinkles out, then apply the epoxy. Don't worry much about the stems. Just get the stems close. You'll add a couple of strips there after the interior cloth is cured and you sand.
6) Fiberglass bulkheads
Correct--you can do them any time after you have removed them.
7) Re-install bulkheads (with filets)
Correct

Ok...I'm telling you the basic steps I would use. You need to be flexible though. Adapt to problems. Think. You may change things a little bit. Maybe not. You just do what works. If you take too long and the epoxy starts to gel (thicken) throw it away and mix up another batch. No biggie. It will start to gel in the cup much faster. If you can get it out on the boat you have more time to spread it out.

[Iwannagofishin]

Thanks again Gerald.

So the stem only gets a filet on the inside for now? Glass later?

I never thought about running the fiberglass cross-ways. It does sound easier to handle. Will it provide the same strength as laying it long-ways?

Hopefully, I'll filet between the stitches tonight.

[gerald]

So the stem only gets a filet on the inside for now? Glass later?
Yes...only a fillet right now. The tape on the inside stems is much easier later. You don't have to worry about cloth ends moving around, flopping over, and making a mess. Remember that a "fillet", by definition, is on inside corners only.

I never thought about running the fiberglass cross-ways. It does sound easier to handle. Will it provide the same strength as laying it long-ways?
Yes...plus I believe the overlap of each layer gives additional strength. Either way is strong enough. I use 5' wide cloth, but it will be ok with narrower. Running it lengthwise is fine. Whatever you want to do.

Hopefully, I'll filet between the stitches tonight.

[neon14]

Looking really good!

I believe this boat is my next build, just haven't decided between the 12 or the 14 foot.

[Iwannagofishin]

Looking really good!

I believe this boat is my next build, just haven't decided between the 12 or the 14 foot.

Thanks Neon. I'm getting really excited about it.

I had a hard time deciding between the 12 and 14 myself. My son is already talking about having his own boat. He'll probably get a 12 footer of this same design.

You'll be very happy with these plans. And you can't beat Geralds support.

[preacher]

What a beautiful layout. Matching stripes and all. This boat is going to be awesome.

I am concerned, though, that you have 50 years experience at doing this and didn't tell us . . .

[Iwannagofishin]

What a beautiful layout. Matching stripes and all. This boat is going to be awesome.

I am concerned, though, that you have 50 years experience at doing this and didn't tell us . . .

Thanks Preacher, but I don't have 50 years experience with anything. My only woodworking experience before this was dog houses, bird feeders and a Cargo Style Trundle Bed for my son.

Put some filets between the stitches last night. I have no idea if I did it right. I guess I'll find out when I pull the stitches.

[gerald]

Observe.

[Iwannagofishin]

Wow, my filets are a lot fatter and messier than that. They're also pretty rough. I think I might have put a little too much filler (sawdust) in my goop.

Oh, well. That's what I have sandpaper for.

[gerald]

That is no problem. This is just the initial fillet. Once you remove everything you'll do the final fillet. True--you first have to sand even the initial fillet to knock off the rough stuff. Then do the final fillet. You can make it generally the same size as the first fillet if it's big. Meaning that you basically just fill in between what you've already got. You will run the craft stick all the way to make it flow nicely. Use sanding dust (wood flour)--not sawdust. Sawdust will work but it's messy, doesn't work as nicely, and doesn't look as good. I use sanding dust for most everything, but there are other products as well.

[Iwannagofishin]

Well, it would have been a beautiful day to be kayaking, but mine's not done. So I went to the garage and worked on my side panel filets.

I had done my goopy filet earlier in the week, and messed it up pretty well. I used saw dust as a filler instead of sanding dust. I also made them too large in general. So they were rough and fat.

So after grinding with a fiber cleaning wheel and hand sanding with 60 grit, I got them about the right size.

They're still not pretty, but they're not embarassing. Like Gerald says "We're not building furniture here".

Got up this morning and put in the fiberglass filets. I have a feeling that I'm being a little liberal with the resin, but I'm worried I will starve the cloth. Hopefully, I won't end up with an 80 pound yak.

Tomorrow I plan on pre-coating the inside. Sure is frustrating waiting on the resin to dry.

More to come.

Ken