Glen-L.com

I am building a 20' Barrel Back and have progressed as far as the battens. All seems to be going well. I have been looking ahead and planning on where to acquire stuff that I need. Does anyone know where one can find a Bow protector for the Barrel Back? I didn't know if others were fabricating this item or what. Not sure I could do justice to that many compound curves. While I have your attention, has anyone out there used brass rub rail before Thanks for your input in advance.

rm-
that is not such far ahead thinking as you would imagine as it is easier to fit the wood to the cutwater (bow protector) than the other way around-final finished surface- which is what i did... pretty much most welding shops that do ss can help you. i made cardboard patterns then marked off the width at 2" intervals along the mating surface so when the seam was welded it was close to the width of the bow in that area. the metal will give a little too and if you are in the raw wood stage sanding to match your metal would make it even better.
here is a picture of mine with the measurements marked

....a few more pics are on my website below
-Billy

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(insert witty phrase here)
Billy's Belle Isle website

Thanks for the info Bill. Looks like I have just added another small project to this rather large one. Forgive my lack of terminology on the cutwater( Bow protector). I'm a land lubber so I must learn the words. Thanks again.

Bill: What thickness of SS did you use to fabricate your brake water? I think I have a plan. Thanks

18 gauge
what is your idea?
you are not alone!
a few of us on this site have tried a number of ways including using alternate metals and plating
we can share that with you...
-Billy

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(insert witty phrase here)
Billy's Belle Isle website

What I was thinking was that I could make a mock up of the Stem and bow to make a jig for the Stailess Steel welding. First I was thinking of using the Full scale plans for a profile of the Stem. Then I was going to use small Triangular shaped pieces of plywood to represent the exact profile of the Bow & stem at that particular location. This would have to be repeated every so many inches along the stem to get a good respresentation of the angle that a person would weld the Stainless Steel. To make the triangular templates one would have to measure the actual angle at the Stem of the planked and sanded finished bow. I could then make two sheets of Stainless Steel the proper size and shape to clam shell up against the jig. The stainless would have to be attached to the jig so it could be spot welded to hold its shape. I was going to make the Brake water about two inches wide on each side. This would make the little triangular templates two inches on each side. These would be attached to the mock stem at regular intervals up and down the stem to correspond to the lenght and width of the brake water. This is a concept. I can not do it until I reach the point where I have the sides Planked. What do you think? Could it work? I would then be able to take the jig and the pieces of SS to my welder and have him, or her weld along the seam. Clear as mud?

did you find the Glen-L Webletter on the topic of building a Cutwater?

the process is similar to what you have described.

Once your boat is planked, take cardboard templates off either side of the stem, then cut the steel based on the templates.

Use a bevel gauge to take "sections" every six inches or so. Use those sections to make triangle-shaped molds from wood. screw the metal pieces to the mold to create the shape.

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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 am now in the process of making my own stainless cutwater for my 23ft KH Belle Isle. I was wondering if there was a concensus on the proper grade of Stainless...? Do most people just go with regular old 304 or is it better to go with the better more corrosion resistant 316 L? .... which is much more expensive and harder to get.....

If some of you can weigh in on this it would be greatly appreciated

Dick W

Dick W

304 is probably OK. But, if the boat will ever sea saltwater go with 316L. Water will get behind it.

I'd just go with 316L and be done with it.

Bill

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Mini -Tug, KH Tahoe 19 & Bartender 24 - There can be no miracle recoveries without first screwing up.
Tahoe 19 Build

I bought mine for a 19ft from the folks at A&A marine, they did a great job, the builder is a guy named Chet who used to build these for Century marine