Boat Builder Central

I'm trying minimize the expense of tintable boat paint so I'm avoiding products referencing "marine". I think the industrial-grade soya alkyd or urethane alkyd enamels sold by SWP and Ben Moore could be used on the bottom as well as the rest of a CK17 if the boat spends most of its life on...

Thanks. I finished a OT16 in 2007 with Rustoleum flat white over Kilz water-based white primer on the outside of the hull and a Kilz exterior water-based paint over the same Kilz primer on the inside of my boat. After five years, I'm pleased with how the exterior has weathered a trailer life, but bo...

I noted in the archives that Jacques made a comment back in 2002 that Sherwin Williams epoxy paint would be adequate for a workboat finish. I didn't see anything else that approached my concern. I'm considering using Sherwin Williams standard oil-based exterior house paint on the both sides of the h...

I have a few questions for others who have built this design. If you purchased the epoxy and fiberglass kit for the CK17 from E-boat, I assume your package, like mine, included a bag of reddish powder similar to the bags of wood flour – what is that reddish powder? I’m hoping it is a component for a...

I’m about to start a CK17 and have some thoughts about a novel mast material and hope someone might have some related experience or thoughts on the matter. If I go with the specs recommended for aluminum masts, the cost would be about $16 per foot (at Dwyer Aluminum Mast Co.) and that’s beyond my bu...

Need advice on mast construction for a CK17. I'm considering cutting some tall skinny Georgia pines in the winter, then letting them air dry over the next six months before stripping the bark and finishing them. As CK17 masts should be able to bend and twist a little, should I be concerned that soli...