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AK XF20

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:28 am
by Ankle Deep
I posted a photo of my XF20 and a canoe I built on another member's thread and several members asked some follow-up questions. Out of respect for the author of original thread I thought it best that I start a new thread.

Here are a couple of photos:

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I completed the canoe in June 2004 and the XF20 in June of 2009.

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:55 am
by Ankle Deep
what are the stats on that canoe? interesting boat. - fishin
I love that canoe as well! More info please! - welyjr
The canoe was a custom design. The plans consisted of the station forms and the bow form. No information on strips, weight of cloth, gunwales, transom, seats etc. It was my first build and I didn't have clue. I read several books and searched the internet and gave it a go. I'm sure it's overbuilt, probably heavier than needed. I wish I had built the XF20 first as the bateau techniques would have been helpful.

24 feet long, 57 inches wide, mid-ship depth is 29 inches. The designer says "if you load 4000 lbs in this boat it will draft 13 inches. If you load 1000 pounds in this boat you will draw less than 5 inches". I once carried a pick-up load of dimensional lumber in the canoe and it did fine.
Image

Strips are 3/8" local white spruce. Gunwales, seats, keelson, keel and bilge keels are ash (keel and bilge keels are covered with UHMW). With overlaps the outside bottom has 4 layers of 6 oz cloth, remainder has 2 layers of 6 oz cloth plus lots of epoxy.

I wished I had at least painted the outside of the hull. The bright finish is not very practical and I do my best to protect the finish from UV when out of the water

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:49 am
by gstanfield
Did you use a pray in bedliner in that XF20? I always thought that would be a good workboat finish for a fishing boat. Either way she's hot, don't see girls painted that color much, but I like it a lot :D

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 5:18 am
by gstanfield
Ok, just a couple more questions:

What size motor are you using and how fast will she go?

Thanks,
George :D

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:02 am
by cape man
The canoe reminds me of boats in the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.

Image

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:12 am
by Ankle Deep
Did you use a pray in bedliner in that XF20? I always thought that would be a good workboat finish for a fishing boat. Either way she's hot, don't see girls painted that color much, but I like it a lot
Thanks!....The product is Zolotone (http://www.zolatoneaim.com/palette.php). I used their two part epoxy primer followed the #20-72 silver gray. A couple of boat shops in the area use this product on the interior of the aluminum river boats and it has a good local reputation. I was tired of sanding and fairing the interior and was looking for a product that would cover the remaining imperfections. It did the job. BTW... I'm really impressed with the quality of the boats I see on this forum....better finishes than production boats. I just didn't have the patience for that kind of work.
What size motor are you using and how fast will she go?
35 hp, 17 mph on GPS.....I'm spoiled by my 30 HP Honda and I really hate that old smokey , noisy, 35 hp 2 stroke, and boy does it guzzle the fuel. I have not spent much time or effort to obtain the optimum prop combo so it may be possible to get more speed out of that outboard. Kids and life ( and ice) have got in the way and I have not been able to use the boat as much as I originally planned. It's my goal to upgrade to a larger 4 stroke someday.
The canoe reminds me of boats in the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.
....not sure the canoe is a match for that boat, the bow tends to punch through the big waves.....

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:19 am
by gstanfield
Thanks for the info, I always see guys on here throwing huge engines on their XF20's and the study plans call for 25+ so I always wondered how it would do with an engine that's closer to the low side.

George

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:34 am
by Ankle Deep
...the 17 mph is lightly loaded, 17 doesn't cut it when fighting a 5-7 mile an hour river current.....hoping for a 20 - 25 cruise...someday

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:00 am
by gstanfield
Yeah, I was actually expecting it to get around 20+ with that small motor. Makes me wonder just what it would do with the recommended 25hp. I'd bet a good Evinrude 40 or anyone's 4 stroke 40 would be nice on the back of that boat. :D

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:34 am
by stickystuff
The original plans as described was for a bare minimal description as shown.The very first Xf20 built had a 25HP Johnson on it.I saw the boat run at our second Rendezvois in jacksonville. It was not fast but did the job. The owner wasn't satisfied with the speed and up graded to I think a 40HP. This design was for a tiller steered engine. No extreme decks, no flooring and only two stringers. It was extremely light and had a 1" draft. You can't get much shallower than that. Next came people wanting more rear deck, longer front deck and add a floor so their wouldnt be any tripping over stringers. Thus two more stringers were added, center consols were added, chase tubes , live wells etc,etc. So, Now we have fully rigged XF20's with bigger engines, bigger fuel tanks, towers, dual steering ,lots of toys, power poles and more horsepower to push the extra weight.The biggest engine that I know of was an old Evinrude V4 with 110 HP. Oh yeah, I forgot trolling motors. So here we have it, All the weight starting to add up. They still run as designed even with all the weight but not as shallow as the original design.Its your call to add whatever you like. Modifications are one mans dream over others. The best thing about custom boats is just that, Custom. You cando all you want within reason but the designer will not take responsibility for foolish designs and reduce the safety of the craft.

Life is good. Just be careful with your decisions. :)

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 2:56 am
by Ankle Deep
...point well taken, I understand that anything I do as I move forward (to a larger outboard) is experimental

I remember the guy with the 110 hp...Hunch...correct?...he described his XF20 as "scary fast"

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:05 am
by stickystuff
Yep. thats him. I got to know him personally. Good guy.

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:20 am
by Ankle Deep
...shouldn't you be in bed...or eating breakfast?...what time is it in FL? ....should be 4 hours later than AK...I think you should be in bed :)

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:33 am
by gstanfield
Some of us refuse to sleep :wink:

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:12 am
by stickystuff
I am retired. i can sleep any time I want. Its 4:10 am EST I should be on the water. Will be fishing on Thursday.dctor appt today, my partner has to take his neighbor to airport tomorrow, so thurs. is the day.

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:14 am
by gstanfield
Its 4:10 am EST I should be on the water
This man has his priorities straight 8)

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:35 pm
by Uncle D
AD, I'm checking into the zolatone for my interior since it'll be a work boat anyway. BTW, I like scary fast too.

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:48 am
by Ankle Deep
...great! please post a photo after the paint job

my only advice... be sure to buy a recently stocked product, Zolotone begins to coagulate after a time

I used an HVLP conversion gun with a 1 qt. pot (pressurized)...worked fine

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 7:07 am
by stickystuff
For those of you who don't know where to find this product it is usually sold in an automotive paint supply house.

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 11:29 am
by Uncle D
Roger, thanks guys. I'm working towards a compressor so I can make use of air tools and sprayers. I'll check into the local auto paint stores.

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:05 pm
by Uncle D
Ankle Deep, I talked to the Zolatone rep today and will use their finish paints for my topcoat too. They have a teal color that I want to use. One thing I forgot to ask you is, does your interior paint finish act as a non-skid. Thanks, Don

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:30 am
by Ankle Deep
Hi Don:

I would rate the Zolotone as a non-skid surface (better than regular paint only) but I don't think is matches a true non-skid product.

In other words..... I'm happy with the zolotone as is, I have no slippery surface issues. I'm looking forward to seeing the final product. Make sure you post a photo.

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 12:58 pm
by Steven
That makes a very nice finish. I really like the speckled look.

Re: AK XF20

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:11 pm
by Uncle D
AD, I'll post when I get there. Gotta find a dealer here in CC. If not then on the net. A buddy of mine that builds poly's has been using sugar on the areas he want's to be grippy, while the paint is still wet. Don