Building new timber boat

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colinmi

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Just received my plans for the winter project. A Brookes and Hartley "Vixen 15"

Plan is to build two boats
...One outboard ski boat, timber frames and epoxy covered plywood ( for the lads use )
...One glass fiber, open boat for a fast tender to tow with our old Grand banks woodie (mould taken off the timber boat).

A bit about me.... Im an electrician to trade, fairly experienced with both small fast boats (inboard and outboard) and with larger diesel powered cruisers. I have a fair bit of experience woodworking with both timber and sheet materials and a very limited amount of experience building small glass fiber bits and pieces.

If anyones interested I would like to share the build with them here on the forum and hopefully get some input and advise as I go along.

First decision is what to use for the frames and stringers. Im thinking about pitch pine ( as I have some lying about and can source the rest locally) or maybe mahogany (just what they sell at the local Jewsons or whatever)....Whatdythink

Colin
 
Baot building timber doesnt get much better than Pitch Pine, and is as rare nowadays as hens teeth! If you dont use it, there will be a queue of eager boatbuilders after it now you have told us.

Doubt if you would get real mahogany from Jewsons anyway.
 
Oho I really like the sound of the pitch Pine. Lasts forever, well 150 years and still counting in my case (and that's just me wooden leg).
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I'd do both in wood. Its a lot simpler and more satisfying to fix than GRP, IMHO but then I hate Glassfibre anyway. Sure it doesn't rot, but it leaks, smells awful for years, and can be quite osmotic. They Won't sell mahogany at the Local Jewsons as it costs £90 per cubic foot. If you aren't worried about the longevity of the boat, use local pine and make laminated frames for strength and lightness, and put a nice mahogany faced ply deck on the boat, well varnished and with some choice fittings from classic marine or Davey (other chandlers available), you'll have the makings of a gorgeous classic ski boat.
 
I do have a source in the glasgow area for new pitch pine. I have over the last few years used quite a bit of it refurbishing my Grand Banks. I fact all of the old teak decks were replaced with pitch pine, which so far looks to be wearing OK.

Just checked today and they have the timber available in up to 6 inch width. Unfortunately I need 9 inch with to cut the frames from. Im told they will have new order in January.

Colin
 
If you need 9 inch wide planks to cut your frames from then you would definitely be better off by laminating them up. Far less wastage of valuable timber, and the grain follows the curve all the way, making for a stronger frame.
Peter.
 
I think there are three types of pitched pine. The stuff the Americans call pitch pine was largely used up by their Cival War in the 1860's. The stuff we call pitched pine was imported here in vast quantities from the US, up until the 2nd World War. You can get hold of reclaimed PP, and of course many workboats and yachts were built of it up until 1939, and some after WW2 with stored timber. Then there's Douglas Fir/BC pine, which is also called pitched pine, often by people selling their boats and making the assumption it's pitched pine.

So if there's a source of new, large sized PP it would be interesting to know exactly what species of timber it is.

The US magazine "Wooden Boat" has for many years carried very informative articles on different woods for boat building by Richard Jagels, including sources from many countries outside the US.

IanC
 
Pitch pine is supposed to be good for stringers, shelves, planking and similar. Not so sure about frames and you might need to be careful about the resin if laminating. Nice smell when you work it.
 
Why use GRP for your GB tender? A nicely varnished wooden boat would look great being towed behind it. I do love GB woodies - it's on the list for my next boat ;-)

You could easily laminate up the pitch pine to required thickness with a good structural epoxy.
 
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