The sheer strips and the cheater strips that help form the bow and stern are in place. I really haven’t given the overall pattern of the strips enough thought, but a little contrast between the red and white cedar seemed like a good idea in both places. Next, more work to do on the hull, and get the keel in place :-)
Kayak: Almost done with the form!
Finished Strongback
Kayak forms lined up along the strongback
Finally have the forms looking good along the strongback. Finally is definitely the right word. In the end, I had four different attempts at the strongback. Serendipitously for the final attempt, I used the plywood material (5-layer) from the kit (yes, I wasn’t aware the kit came with what I initially needed).
The previous plywood attempt wasn’t as true and straight as I wanted, so I bought a rectangular tube of aluminum to use as the strongback. I didn’t use that in the end, but it served as an excellent brace for creating my final attempt out of plywood.
Forms and Internal Stem
Old strongback piece cut up to form spacer.
The forms were all provided by the kit, but I needed to create the internal stems at each end (a strip of wood beveled to a point). I followed Nick Shaede’s video instructions in forming the stem, and used his technique of placing spacer blocks along the strongback to separate the forms (just cut up the previous strongback attempt).
Next, I need to place the sheer strips, which could be quite a ordeal. Knock on wood, of which I have a lot now.
Kayak: Accidents happen
Close-up of the split box beam
Woodworking lesson of the day: things can wait. If you happen to be talking with a friend on the phone, there’s no need to try moving a fragile cumbersome object. Noted.
Quick recap. The strongback I’m building is formed around a box-beam. So, yes, I was hoping to finish gluing the rabbet joins for the box beam today, which I did. But in rushing to move the box-beam back into the garage, the beam split in two. Big sigh. However, I should be able to use a mitre saw to clean up the break and salvage the beam; it’ll just be a little weaker in that spot. Frustrating.
However, the real test is going to be whether or not the forms fit around the box beam. I still need to round the corners of the beam, but I tested the fit out a little today, and it’s going to be tight in places. Cross fingers that they’ll all fit along and I won’t have to start the box beam from scratch. Next time, maybe I’ll use nails instead of glue to fasten the rabbet joints. The box beam doesn’t have to look pretty … just needs to be straight.
Kayak: Building the strongback
Dominic helping to make the rabbet joints needed for the box beam.
The first step of the kayak project has been to build the strongback. The one I’m building is the design that Schade outlines in his book (there are other techniques). He recommends positioning forms along a central beam. The central beam can be a long wooden 2×4, but it’s hard to find a 2×4 of considerable length that is perfectly straight and dimensionally consistent. If the beam is warped then the kayak will be too!
Starting a new project
A finished Night Heron
Finally starting a project that has been a few years in the making! I became interested in building my own kayak when a friend of mine built hers. She and her dad had built the boat together from plans they found in a book. Their kayak turned out beautiful, and any kayak is a lot of fun once you’re in the water!
Pascal’s Memorial
The year of grace 1654,
Monday, 23 November, feast of St. Clement, pope and martyr, and others in the martyrology.
Vigil of St. Chrysogonus, martyr, and others.
From about half past ten at night until about half past midnight,FIRE.
Evangelistic Worship
Found this article on Redeemer’s website as I was preparing for our church retreat: evangelistic worship. It has a lot of sound and practical ideas about running a church service.
Jordan and Robinson
Michael Jordan and David Robinson
This past week the NBA inducted its Hall of Fame Class of 2009. Among the five people inducted were Michael Jordan and David Robinson. Jordan is one of the all-time greats—the upper echelon of the upper echelon, and an automatic entry in any discussion of the best basketball player to have ever played the game. Jordan was a prodigious talent and had the good fortune to land with the Bulls organization. However, as I listen the sound bites and read the reflections on Jordan’s career, the quality that I see that made Jordan into the player he was, was his unrelenting drive and competitiveness. All athletes are competitive, but few ever were as driven as Jordan.
Sarah-Vance
For better or for worse, no friend has impacted my life more than Sarah-Vance. I was anticipating this entry since I started writing about my closest friends, and as Sarah herself said about the eventuality of this one, “I understand. It might be hard to explain our relationship.”
Forgiveness II (16 August 2009)
This is the outline for the second lesson I gave on August 16th. Most of the teaching comes from this sermon from Redeemer Presbyterian Church: Proverbs: True Wisdom for Living: Repairing Relationships.