OB15 coming together in Central Texas

[wadeg]

I have been working on this OB15 for about 6 months now and am just finishing her up. This is another OB15 in the style of a flats skiff. The bottom is painted with the epoxy and graphite mix outlined in this forum (about 40% by volume). This extends to just above the chin and from the chine to the sheer it is painted using Sterling's Ice Blue. The decks and cockpit are painted using System Three Orcas White and the non-skid in the cockpit will be done using the non skid additive sold here mixed with System Three paint. Kiwigrip in light blue will be used for the upper decks.

Currently, I am working on finishing paint, non skid and rigging but I do not have any recent pictures that reflect this yet (I don't like to take pictures with it all taped up for painting). Here are some of the pictures of the build and if you want to follow the link at the bottom, you will find more pictures of the build.


Here she is on the molds just after I taped in all of the seams.



Applying primer to the bottom in preparation for the epoxy/graphite application



My three year old boy decides he needs to leave his mark on the boat too



He decided that one hand print was not enough


Got her flipped and in the cradle. The bottom looks pretty good and is finished at this point.


Had to find enough weight to hold the stringers flat against the hull while they dried


Glassing the vertical stringers in as I raised the sole to the level of the inside chine


I should have taken more pictures of applying the sole and pouring the foam under. This is the finished product.


This is a good shot at the shear curve of the bow. I trimmed it down due to my plan to apply decks level with the shear.


I missed a lot of photo ops before this stage also. At this point, all of the decks are installed and glassed


Here is a good shot of her in the light. I washing with soap and water preparing to apply primer


The outside is now painted with Sterling Ice Blue. That stuff is awesome

Now only the sides of the cockpit lack paint and I have the rubrail, hawse pipes, rod holders and hatches installed. I will get more pictures and post them another day. Enjoy the boat porn and here is the link to more pictures I promised.

http://picasaweb.google.com/atxsyndicat ... directlink

I built her to take a tiller motor as I think a full size console just gets in the way. I have included a very small box to put the electronics in and to connect a grab bar like Shine did on his FS17. Also, if any of you are in Texas, I am looking for a good 1995 - 2005 40 hp two stroke motor for my OB15. In texas, it is pretty hard to find good tiller model engines of this size. If I have to I will purchase a tiller kit and add it to the right motor. Please let me know if you have any tips on where I could find one. I don't really want to spend the 6000 on the new etec 30 or 5500 on a new yamaha 4stroke 40.

-Adam

[sitandfish]

I love the idea of the 40hp 2-stroke tiller drive. A LOT fewer potential mechanical problems.

Really nice looking boat. Love the gunnel rod racks, the finger hold under the rub rail, the ice blue color, etc... ALL the details look great.

I haven't been back to Texas since my "higher education" days. Do all my fishing on the SC coast, now.

[Cracka]

G'day Adam,

I had a look at your album, mate that looks very nice........was this your first time building a boat or not.

A few questions, I hope you don't mind, no doubt if I don't ask, somebody else will

With your sheer line, did you lower it or is that standard, if it is lowered how much did you take off.

I like the look of the deck extended outside the line of the rub rails, did you do this for that little bit extra deck, for looks or to stop spray coming up and over.

The deck layout looks good are you going with a portable fuel tanks in the open rear compartments or something else.

The box you have built into the rear of the sole, is that the box your refer to for your electronics and grab rail.

Your paint on the sides looks awesome, it looks like a mirror finish from that photo, did you roll and tip.

Mate great job, keep the porn coming....

Mick

[wadeg]

Cracka,

was this your first time building a boat or not.

This is my second stitch and glue boat. The first one I built was designed by another designer though. It was well designed and heavily built, but not very sleek and refined so I decided to build another one.

With your sheer line, did you lower it or is that standard, if it is lowered how much did you take off.

The sheer line was not lowered except for at the bow. I had to trim it preparation for the decks. It needed to have less of a flair and I ended up taking about 1.5 inches off at the highest point ( this was tapered in as it went aft). The trim location was from the bow back to about half way between the first and second bulkheads.

I like the look of the deck extended outside the line of the rub rails, did you do this for that little bit extra deck, for looks or to stop spray coming up and over.

This was done for two of the reasons you mentioned. She should be a very dry boat with enough room on the gunnel decks to walk all the way around. The looks were just a bonus I had not considered.

The deck layout looks good are you going with a portable fuel tanks in the open rear compartments or something else.

I like to have access to the fuel tanks, so one 12 gallon portable is going in the large hatch up front. That is the reason the hatch is so large as I want to be able to remove the 12 gallon tank if needed. The rear compartments have raubud waterproff hatches on them and the compartment in the center of the seat is for my bait well.

The box you have built into the rear of the sole, is that the box your refer to for your electronics and grab rail.

Actually, that box is present mainly to hold my batteries. This serves two purposes. First, this adds weight down low in the boat and acts as a ballast to offset my raising the sole. That is why this box sits between the two vertical stringers as close to the keep as possible. The second reason is to better distribute the weight. Hinged to the top of this "battery box" will be a small console that extends to a little more than the height of the sheer. This will house the electronics and a few drink holders. Mounted to the aft side of this small console will be the grab bar. This will make more sense when I add more recent pictures

Your paint on the sides looks awesome, it looks like a mirror finish from that photo, did you roll and tip.

Yep, roll and tip Sterling. That is some awesome paint. Not near as sensitive as the System Three (being water based, humidity needs to be really high for this one to work right)


I will try to get a few more recent pics since I plan to paint the sides of the cockpit today.

[wadeg]

I love the idea of the 40hp 2-stroke tiller drive. A LOT fewer potential mechanical problems.

Really nice looking boat. Love the gunnel rod racks, the finger hold under the rub rail, the ice blue color, etc... ALL the details look great.

I haven't been back to Texas since my "higher education" days. Do all my fishing on the SC coast, now.

sitandfish,

Thx for the good words. I spent a lot of time pondering on this build. I could have been finished two months ago if not for so much pondering.

[JohnC]

Hey Adam,
There are a couple of builders right here in your area (and one soon to be, me ), look for Dougsters thread on Texas LB22, also ericsil and Davidtx. If we can give you a hand, don't be afraid to ask.
John

[Steven]

Looks nice. How did you deal with the transition from epoxy/graphite to paint? Isn't the epoxy thicker then the paint, and thus standing proud?

[Dougster]

Adam, welcome to the forum. I checked out your pics and you got it goin' on. Kyle is in my neck of the woods (Blanco). Re the pondering thing, two months ain't no time, I'm three years on mine. Heck ponderin' is half the fun. Well, it's some of it. Stay tuned, it's great to hear from a local forum guy.

Glad not to be hisself Dougster

[wadeg]

Hey Adam,
There are a couple of builders right here in your area (and one soon to be, me ), look for Dougsters thread on Texas LB22, also ericsil and Davidtx. If we can give you a hand, don't be afraid to ask.
John

Thank you for the offer JohnC. I have maybe a weeks worth of rigging and the only items left will be the trailer and motor. Had to wait till last on the trailer as once I put it on the trailer, she won't fit in my garage any more. First launch will be at Canyon lake after I get the motor and trailer sorted.

[wadeg]

Looks nice. How did you deal with the transition from epoxy/graphite to paint? Isn't the epoxy thicker then the paint, and thus standing proud?

I did not deal with this transition well at all, but I will just have to go with what I have for now. The graphite/epoxy stopped at the shine. I stopped the side paint, Sterling, about .25 inches above the chine. I then taped about .25 inches above the lower edge of the sterling all the way around the boat. I then sanded and extended the graphite up to the tape. I use some frog tape to tape the line, but wish I have just used the 3M fineline. The green frog did not seal well even though I used a spoon to seal the edges, so I ended up with not having a very sharp line. The epoxy does stand proud a little and, to the best of my knowlege, I can't do much about it without using a clear coat to hide the transition. I also have this problem where the sterling and system three meet on the transom.