Jim Davey
R H Davey Welding Supplies Ltd
- Messages
- 5,736
- Location
- Southampton
For some time I've had it in the back of my mind that one day I'd like to make myself a boat. There is a marina out the back of my work and I've been surrounded by boats all my life but I've never owned one.
I spend all day fixing, renting or selling welders but never really get to use them to create something I can stand back and be proud of, so at some point im going to buy the CNC cutting files and plans and knock up a boat to use for towing donuts, water skiers and maybe the odd bit of fishing.
Ok, it would be cheaper and less hassle to buy a fibreglass boat but where's the sense of achievement in that?
So I've bought a very comprehensive book on aluminium boat building for the home builder or small shop and I'm learning about lofting and designing for developable plate hull shapes which is quite tricky. You don't need to know this stuff to build from a kit with plans but I find it interesting and my Dad was a shipwright so he's giving me pointers.
It's going to be a while before I get around to making this thing, I've got a lot of projects at work and home clamouring for my time but this is an itch I've wanted to scratch for years.
Just as a thing to do to keep my hand in (I don't actually get to weld that much on a daily basis) I've started messing around drawing out a few hull shapes and cutting bits of old sheet out and sticking them together to get a feel for the curves and shapes and see how they all fit by making a small scale version.
And here it is after welding and cleaning up a bit.
And here's the transom, I may alter it and make provision for a delta pad but this is it for now, might make a nice model when it's done, it's just nice to be making something for a change rather than fixing other people's sets so they can.
I spend all day fixing, renting or selling welders but never really get to use them to create something I can stand back and be proud of, so at some point im going to buy the CNC cutting files and plans and knock up a boat to use for towing donuts, water skiers and maybe the odd bit of fishing.
Ok, it would be cheaper and less hassle to buy a fibreglass boat but where's the sense of achievement in that?
So I've bought a very comprehensive book on aluminium boat building for the home builder or small shop and I'm learning about lofting and designing for developable plate hull shapes which is quite tricky. You don't need to know this stuff to build from a kit with plans but I find it interesting and my Dad was a shipwright so he's giving me pointers.
It's going to be a while before I get around to making this thing, I've got a lot of projects at work and home clamouring for my time but this is an itch I've wanted to scratch for years.
Just as a thing to do to keep my hand in (I don't actually get to weld that much on a daily basis) I've started messing around drawing out a few hull shapes and cutting bits of old sheet out and sticking them together to get a feel for the curves and shapes and see how they all fit by making a small scale version.
And here it is after welding and cleaning up a bit.
And here's the transom, I may alter it and make provision for a delta pad but this is it for now, might make a nice model when it's done, it's just nice to be making something for a change rather than fixing other people's sets so they can.