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Birmingham RB14

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:34 am
by 94Virago
Hey, everyone! My name is William Wolfe, but my friends just call me Wolfe. I have chosen to build the 14-foot Runabout. I chose it for a number of reasons. I like the style. I'm looking forward to decking it in mahogany and working out a smooth, beautiful finish. I love the type of boat this is. I'm going to want to just get a boat on the water and drive until I run out of gas -- then fill it up and drive some more. I might even want to invite a young lady to join me. Finally, the size of this boat will fit quite neatly in my garage alongside some other woodworking projects I have going on.

I've been woodworking for several years now. My dad taught me from a young age and it's been a great outlet for both my creative side and that geometric part of my brain.

Several months ago, Dad and I were talking about fishing in the Gulf and he asked me once again why I don't have a boat. Then he brought up that he and his father used to build Glen L boats back when it was all purchased out of the backs of magazines. Over his lifetime, Grandfather had built about five boats.

Prior to that conversation, I had never heard of such a thing. But I was hooked immediately. It took me about four months just to decide which plan to buy, but I finally did it. I took a month to pour over the drawings.

I recently made my inaugural cut.
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It's the bowmold, cut from a scrap of birch plywood I had laying around. Being the big kid I am, I took the photo to work on my phone and showed it to absolutely everybody.

Lots of eyerolls.

I'm most looking forward to getting help from friends and family on this build. I think this will be a good opportunity to teach my niece a lot about woodworking. I even bought her a dust mask.
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And, like so many of you, I'm looking forward to the day when I can lean back in my Runabout and say, "What, this? Just got done building it."

Re: Birmingham RB14

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:47 pm
by tobolamr
Ha ha! :lol: Your niece almost looks like she's shocked in that picture!

Keep up the build! And take LOTS of pictures for us picture hungry fools!

Re: Birmingham RB14

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 8:35 pm
by johnnemo
Congratulations on getting started. Posting updates on the forum motivates me to keep going - I can look back and see what I have accomplished and when I find myself on page 4 I know its time to get busy building. Good luck with the build.

Re: Birmingham RB14

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:37 pm
by 94Virago
Got some of the stations cut out. If I feel this large a swell of pride just from that, I'll probably fall over dead once I get the boat finished.
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Re: Birmingham RB14

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 2:16 pm
by cali123
Pride is what you deserve when you cut your own panels rather than buying a pre-cut kit. Nice :!: :D

Re: Birmingham RB14

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 3:16 pm
by gstanfield
Good start and good of you to share with a younger generation. Keep it up and you'll be floating in no time 8)

Re: Birmingham RB14

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 3:18 pm
by 94Virago
gstanfield wrote:Good start and good of you to share with a younger generation. Keep it up and you'll be floating in no time 8)
I'll turn that girl into a tomboy yet. :wink:

Re: Birmingham RB14

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:39 am
by Southern Gent
Wolfe, Welcome. We are neighbors of a sort. I live down S. Shades Crest. Shoot me a P.M.

Re: Birmingham RB14

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:30 am
by 94Virago
Got all of the stations cut out. Still need to do the transom layers and the rest of the stringers.

I'm a little ashamed of my unabashed childish glee, but I took Station A to work to show off.

"That's nice, Wolfe."

Re: Birmingham RB14

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:57 pm
by tobolamr
I'm a little ashamed of my unabashed childish glee, but I took Station A to work to show off.
Why be ashamed? You are doing what 98% of the world is scared to death of doing and will do their best to talk you out of! Be PROUD of what you're doing! And take pride in doing it right!