D15 in Katy TX

[Flat Fish]

Finally started on my D15... 7 years ago I built a cheap canoe. At that time, I bouht D15 plans. Since then, I have had 2 more kids and probably worked 5 years of serious OT. So, fishing for me has become baiting hooks... But, two main things happened recently that prompted me to start my boat. First, I got to go fising without the kids, which hasn't happened in a long time. I had a blast! Then, my oldest (9) asked me why she never catches any big fish when I take her. Ouch! Well, I usually take them from the bank with dead shrimp and small fly tying hooks. The croakers just can't help themselves... It also helps that I mentioned wanting to build the boat to my better half and she said "yeah, you should."

So, I bought plywood and mahogany at Houston Hardwoods 2 weeks ago and got my epoxy kit this week. Last night I started laying out the side panels. This morning I laid out the transom, frames and bow seat. Then, I cut all the pieces I have laid out. This evening, I glued butt blocks on the sides. Hopefully tomorrow I can do a little stitching and she will atleast look like a boat.

The problem: This boat is small! I didn't realize how small until I cut the transom. She was fine 7 years ago, but I can see that 2-3 years is the most she is going to last me. My kids are 3, 6 and 9. I think I can bait hooks for all 3 from this boat for a few years, but don't tell the wife that I am already eyeing someting bigger. Only prolem with a bigger boat is room to build it. 16' is about all the boat I can build in the garage, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there. I plan to use her in the Neches river, abve Sabine Lake. So, short runs in mostly protected water should be all she sees, atleast when the kids are with me.

One note on the plans... The nesting drawing shows 2 sheets 1/2", 2 sheets 3/8" and 3 sheets 1/4"; but the BOM says 2 sheets 1/2", 3 sheets 3/8" and 2 sheets 1/4". I followed the BOM. Not sure if this is just because my plans are so old or not.

I also discovered that the battery on my camera is dead. Will try to gt a new one to post some pics...

[Flat Fish]

Got the sides stitched together and the bottom panels are scribed, cut and glued. Now I just need to stitch it all togeter and lay down some filletts so I can flip her and get serious. Too bad I go back to work tomorrow.

[Mad Dog]

Looking at pics of the D15 makes me concur with you that it's not going to hold your growing family very long. To get your camera fixed invite the kids into the garage to help you build. SWMBO will beside herself trying to get some photos. Then, we get to see the boat building porn.

MD

[Flat Fish]

OK, got the camera to work. Here are a few pictures.

[Jerry-rigged]

Sweet! I love the lines of the D15...

Congrats on finally getting it started!

Jerry

[Flat Fish]

Hey Jerry! When you starting your next build?

Yesterday I got the bottom trimmed. Then I screwed down two 2x4's and stitched it all together. Finally, I put epoxy/woodflour fillets on the seams between tie-wraps.

Probably wont get to do anything else for a week or two. I have to help build a castle for our churches childrens ministy.

Next, I want to flip her and build out the insid. My wife is supposed to go out of town for a week. If so, I should be able to hit it hard and knock out a lot.

[wadestep]

It's looking great! Congrats on finally starting it!
wade

[Flat Fish]

Here are a few pictures. I didn't get to do any more work, due to the castle building. Hopefully this weekend I'll sart glassing.

[Flat Fish]

Well, the castles are built. I'm dieing to get in the shop and do some more work on my boat... I did get the strngers lid out and plan to cut them this weekend. My wife is going out of town in a couple weeks and I hope to make a big leap in progress when she is away. The plan is to get all the glassing of the inside finished, minus the seat tops. Hopefully that will be done i one long wet onwet day. Then I will be ready to glass the outside and start fairing.

Couple of questions: How much Quick Fair and High Build Primer should I need? Also, about how much paint should I need. I'm thinking white inside and blue outside. I'd like to get these on order soon and just don't know how much to get.

[gk108]

Two quarts of primer should be enough. I can't say about the QF. It was just introduced when I built mine, so most of the fairing was done with blended filler, the finished off with QF. I used the smallest size QF kit for that. A quart of each color for the topcoat should be enough. If you are going to coat the whole bottom with graphite, you won't use the full quart.