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"I wish I had..."

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 5:49 pm
by Christer
I've searched but couldn't find.

This thread is for the things you wish you'd done while building the boat, or things you now wish you'd done differently after the splash.

I'll start with my now somewhat vague recollection of my dinghy build way back when.

I wish I had...

...used epoxy and not polyester resin.
...used better fibreglass cloth, not just stranded chopped mat (though it worked fine).
...faired the hull after glassing.
...glassed the entire inside of the boat, not just the seams.
...built a sturdier transom (but then again, it's a rowing dinghy, not a planing powerboat).

Re: "I wish I had..."

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 6:56 pm
by cape man
Raised the sole 1.5 inches.

Re: "I wish I had..."

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 7:17 pm
by terrulian
I see no reason for glassing the inside of the boat (although I did my seats, breasthook, and transom knees as they will get the most abuse) or reinforcing the transom if you are only rowing. More weight for both with minimal advantages.

Re: "I wish I had..."

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 7:38 pm
by Fuzz
cape man wrote: Sun Dec 23, 2018 6:56 pm Raised the sole 1.5 inches.
This. And I had spent more time fairing. Needed to do like the Cracker said fair until tired of it, walk away for a week, and then come back and do some more.

Re: "I wish I had..."

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 8:06 pm
by Aripeka Angler
Talked my friends into putting spray rails on their OD18’s... :P

Re: "I wish I had..."

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 8:26 pm
by Christer
terrulian wrote: Sun Dec 23, 2018 7:17 pm I see no reason for glassing the inside of the boat (although I did my seats, breasthook, and transom knees as they will get the most abuse) or reinforcing the transom if you are only rowing. More weight for both with minimal advantages.
I never intended to row it, I always intended to put an outboard on it and hopefully not kill myself...

Also, it was built from exterior ply, so the inside of the hull was badly checked last time I saw it (about 6 years ago). Since I used polyester resin it probably would've anyway...

Re: "I wish I had..."

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 8:36 pm
by Jaysen
Tripled my build budget.

It’s not that I ran out of $$ but I started to get ... snarky with the expenses that I hadn’t planned properly. Specifically the things not in the plans... boat dolly, fittings, etc.

Re: "I wish I had..."

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 9:49 pm
by terrulian
I never intended to row it, I always intended to put an outboard on it and hopefully not kill myself...

Also, it was built from exterior ply, so the inside of the hull was badly checked last time I saw it (about 6 years ago). Since I used polyester resin it probably would've anyway...
OK, in that case I see your point on both counts.

Re: "I wish I had..."

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 10:40 pm
by piperdown
Paid more attention to locking down the rear seat frame and stern seat frame to keep from getting the rocker. CL wrote extensively about it, I just didn't pay enough attention.

Re: "I wish I had..."

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 6:53 am
by topwater
Paid an auto body person to fair my hull :!: I had one come look at it and give me a price,
i could have paid him with the money i would have saved in wasted fairing and sandpaper and time :wink: