Glen-L.com

I'm going to attempt to make my own cutwater. I bought 18-gauge stainless steel like Mike at cutwaters.com uses. It is unpolished and I'll have to buy the polishing bars to do that after it is welded. Do you cutwater pros see anything wrong with what I've done on this template? I still need to make a gauge to measure the widths along the stem. It is about a 99.9% chance that this will not be mounted until the end of summer when I take the boat home from our lake house to prep for G6. So I have lots of time to get it right. The boat will be on a lift, so I could install it at the lake. As you can see there is a bow eye.

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

Looks good, keep the photos coming on how you get on. I guess the biggest problem will be how it's bends as you weld it. I hope to make one myself but I'm glad your doing it first

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Malahini, SEAN-NÓS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd6vkPjEy4U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uDVzcVpdhc
crackerbox build http://s753.photobucket.com/albums/xx17 ... =slideshow

Yes, I am interested in this process as well. Glad you are breaking ground for us.

One thing to watch is that the cardboard will flex easily while the SS will not. You might be able to push the template to fit well but when rendered in the metal it will be off. I think you could transfer these templates to something stiffer (e.g. corrugated cardboard, masonite, etc.) to confirm you will get a decent fit.

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Bob
Completed Malahini (launched 6/24/2012)
http://bobsboatbuild.blogspot.com/

Yes, the card stock that I have in this photo is quite flimsy. I have some thicker cardboard for step 2. Then, I'll transfer that to the stainless.

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

looks ok so far. don't quite understand the gauge to measure along the stem? have u checked my site about using dividers to get the width of the trailing edge opening every other screw hole top to bottom. how are going to cut the halves out? u do know u gotta tig it? stick rod is way to hot. post some pics of the 2 halves when got them cut out and i'll help u along. please feel free to call about any help i can give over the phone. 508 333 9336 cutwaters.com, good luck.

Thanks Mike. You did my transom bands and if I mess these up, you'll be doing my cutwater. The gauge I was talking about is what you mentioned. I'll be taking it to a stainless shop for welding.

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

please call before u take it.

Today, I made my final template and marked the holes. I also made a caliper to measure the spread and measured every other hole. I still need to cut these out, get them welded and then polish them. I'll probably either mount it at the lake or wait until Sept when I take it out of the water to bring it home.

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

That looks like a medieval instrument of torture.

Looking good. Hope it works out.

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Bob
Completed Malahini (launched 6/24/2012)
http://bobsboatbuild.blogspot.com/

Found myself a welder about 3mi from home over the weekend. He used a plasma cutter to cut the shapes and tacked it all together. He even came to my house to do a test fit and will probably have it ready today. Then, I'll polish it to a mirror finish (I hope) and get it mounted. Maybe I'll have some new photos later this evening or tomorrow.

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

Looking very nice! Anxious to learn your polishing process as that is what I had the most trouble with. Stainless is not te easiest to polish. Best of luck.

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

Hello Roberta. I read a couple of how to pages on the internet and then watched a few youtube videos of stainless steel polishing. Then, I ordered one of these kits from Northern Tool. Harbor Freight only had an aluminum polishing kit and did not have the green compound which seems to be the one for stainless. My welder showed me how he can make 2b stainless shine some just by using what looked like a Scotch Brite wheel. I hope this stuff works in my hands

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

I realize that this is a little off topic... But for a paper pusher like me, one of the funnest parts of boat building is finding these unique local craftsmen and tradesmen who can help with specialized tasks like this. Though the jobs we bring them are tiny, they seem to be genuinely interested in contributing to the "work of art" that the wooden boat will become.

Among those that I met are: the stainless welding guy, the shaft straightening guy, the upholstery guy, the prop guy, the alternator rebuilder guy, the lumberyard resawing guy, the plating shop guy, etc. etc.

"Here's to Them!" they are all part of our builds in their own unique ways.

B.

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Bruce.

~~ Do what you love, and love what you do. ~~
~~ To me - only my boat is not yet perfect. Everybody else's is to be admired for I know the path they have walked (Dave Lott, 2010) ~~
Dow's Monaco Project

I know you need a very aggressive compound for stainless. Aluminum is very easy to get to look like chrome. I was getting a pretty good shine on my stainless, but nowhere near like chrome or mirror. I did not have the kit you have, so hopefully you will have better luck. The green may be the ticket.

You got that right, Bruce.

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

McMaster Carr is simply the best. The descriptions they provide are REALLY informative.

try this:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#polishing-compounds/=hjswwh

and for wheels:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#polishing-wheels/=hjsyfx

I'll be making my cutwater later this summer and will be following this post as well.