Hagar's OD18

[hagar]

Great, I think I will be ok! Joel, in the area that concered you I have 7 layers in those corners as I overlap everything around the corner, i.e., transom seam tape (3), longintudinal seam tape (2), transom sheet (1), and full sheet (1). I knew I could grind down a little there to fair the transitions. I will also lighten up a little on the large flat areas, gladly as the sanding time will be greatly reduced! Thanks to all of ya'.

Hagar

[hagar]

Ok, need a logic check again!

I am working on the skegs, I plan on using two. The plans call for a single 2"x2" skeg, but I plan on using 1"x2" as I could not find any 2"x2" at the big box store yesterday. So, I will have two skegs that are 7/8" tall (3/4" from the wood and another 1/8" from the aluminum runner I will use) instead of one skeg that is 1-5/8" tall. My logic says that there is still plenty of vertical surface to provide tracking, anyone see any issues with this? The lumber is poplar by the way, assumed that was ok also?

Oh, and happy Memorial Day to all.

Hagar

[Cracker Larry]

I plan on using two. The plans call for a single 2"x2" skeg, but I plan on using 1"x2" as I could not find any 2"x2" at the big box store yesterday.

No offense, but why would you do that The designer really does know what he's doing and the boat needs a good skeg to track properly. Mine tracks like its on rails. If you can't find the lumber size you need, laminate a few pieces together, that will make it stronger anyway. You can laminate plywood, solid lumber or both. I wouldn't use poplar, you should be able to get good pine in Alabama? I made mine with 2 layers of 1X4 yellow pine, sandwiching 1 layer of 1/4 ply.





Then cut that to a taper and shape it up.





Glue it, fillet it, 2 layers of biax, then an aluminum shoe. This works. I don't think your small runners will.





Happy Memorial Day to you It's pouring rain here

[Larry B]

Yep agree with CL on the skeg. I went to my big box store and went to the Cracker isle, found this right next to the steering cables Had to look hard as it was the last one. They were having a sale on them that weekend Had to tweak it a bit for it to fit perfect, but it's on now and looking good.

[hagar]

No offense, but why would you do that The designer really does know what he's doing and the boat needs a good skeg to track properly.

No intent on questioning the designer, much respect there. I did see in another post at one point where Jaques supported having two skegs so wanted to go that route as I will beach the boat a lot and drag it over sandbars when floundering. Wanted it to kinda' "sit level" and not wear so much as on a single point. Guess I better make them taller though.

As far as the poplar, I mostly chose that because what pine they did have at the big box store was low grade. Full of knots, bent, skewed, etc. the poplar they had was pretty nice grain and straight. Is the poplar realy a big problem? I am not so concerned for the skeg, easy fix there, just go get the pine, but...I have already cut my spray rail stack-up from poplar also. Same issue, the pine looked like crap at the bbs. Is the poplar such a low grade of hardwood that I need to go with pine?

Ok, thanks for keeping me straight here!

Hagar

[cape man]

I used poplar on my gunwales and plan on using it for the spray rail. It is not considered a really hard wood, but if you are protecting the skeg with an alluminum shoe (I would if you truly plan on beaching it a lot), I think it will work there as well.

[Larry B]

I used pine for my spray rails with 12oz biax over it. I'm sure it will still ding pretty easy, but such is life I'm going to use it and if it gets a few dings so be it. After the first ding then you can really start using your boat and not worry about it anymore

[Cracker Larry]

Sure it "will work" it's just not the best choice. Craig, your poplar is 100 year old, old growth, heirloom wood, much different from the kiln dried stuff in the big box stores, and you are using it above the water line in a mostly cosmetic manner. And it is beautiful Here's a pic you haven't seen of her



But a skeg needs to be the toughest thing on the boat, it will get the most abuse. Poplar is noted for it's low strength and very low rot resistance, which makes it a poor choice for a skeg. If you use it, glass the heck out of it.

As far as the poplar, I mostly chose that because what pine they did have at the big box store was low grade

Why limit yourself to what they have at the big box stores? There must be some good lumber yards in your area that carry clear YP or douglas fir. If not, take a ride, or mail order? You only want to build that skeg once My opinion anyway, you did ask Your boat, your choice

[Larry B]

Hagar, I used laminated marine ply. Can't remember what I used? 4 pieces of 3/8" or 2 pieces of 3/4" or a combination there of Then glassed it on and used the aluminum flat bar on it, I did it a bit different than CL, I used aluminum 1/4"x 20 screws tapped into the drilled and refilled holes. That way I didn't have two different metals and I didn't use a Anode. All these ways will work, just use what will make you happy and make a strong skeg.

[steve292]

I made mine out of 2 layers of I/2 ply, much easier(not to say cheaper) than trying to find good dimensional stock 7ft long

Steve