Glen-L.com

I took the plunge and set the circular saw on the boat: https://boatbuilders.glen-l.com/wp-content/gallery/inboard-zip-by-ian-spring-welwyn-garden-city-uk/ply_removed.jpeg?i=292024780 The vertical cuts still visible are through the ply layer only, not through the longitudinals themselves. Next job i...

I've hit a problem. Although the boat is faired I can't get 5.5" wide okoume ply to wrap around it. Not at 45 degrees. I've tried a couple of strips: https://boatbuilders.glen-l.com/wp-content/gallery/inboard-zip-by-ian-spring-welwyn-garden-city-uk/diagonal_moulding_attempt.jpeg?i=145671699 but othe...

First forward, topside ply panel fitted over the Christmas break: https://boatbuilders.glen-l.com/wp-content/gallery/inboard-zip-by-ian-spring-welwyn-garden-city-uk/forward_hull_panel.JPEG?i=1306778099 The clamps are because I decided to use screws only every 6" rather than the 3" recommended - the ...

I would build the frames per the plans too. Not because having wider section side frames is a bad idea if you don't mind losing the interior space but because having full loop frames adds valuable stiffness during the build (like when you're bending the sheers or the ply topsides) and in particular ...

It's a year and a day since I last posted a photo. So probably time for another one. Having spent a very long time fairing (and I'm still not done aft, where I have to work upside down) I reached the point where I was ready to stick some skin on the frame. I expect starting in the middle of the boat...

There's nothing that you are just going to be able to slap on with only minimal prep that's really going to last. Prep is the key to any coating system. I thought that too. But two years ago I painted my rough, oil-stained garage floor with this stuff after nothing more than a good vacuum: https://...

My first thought when I read that was "I don't have the patience"! But using a belt sander with a fairly aggressive grit could do the job in an acceptable amount of time, I guess. And the advantage of sanding ply is that it's quite easy to see how far through you're going. It would be feasible. But ...

It's an interesting idea. And would be more viable if I had a thicknesser! I've got one on my shopping list but for later in the project - I could bring it forward. I would have to test to see whether stripping the outer ply (or two) off caused any cracking issues when bending but it's supposed to b...

This sounds a lot like a confession but it's my first post in 8 months and I've made pretty much zero progress. Lots of reasons (life gets in the way) but I'm trying to get moving again. I was prompted by the offer to get some 3mm (1/8") ply for a third of the regular price due to 'edge damage' caus...

Welcome. Regarding your idea to open up the bow to provide seating you should be aware that the hull was not designed to have people sitting there - it won't have much buoyancy forward and putting people there may make it difficult or impossible to get the boat to plane well depending upon where you...

Welcome, Christophe! I am building a Zip in the UK and realised rather late on that it will not be suited to use on the sea except in very calm conditions. I have increased the freeboard on mine by 75mm but the fairly flat bottom is not suited to rough water. You might want to consider something wit...

I tried ironing my plans - it made little difference. I held the plans down with weights which avoids the risk of the plans tearing away from pins while still allowing some tension to keep them flat. And I used a tracing wheel (like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0028LAX2O/ref=pe_385721_51767431...

It's FSC certified. (whatever that means) Forestry Stewardship Council. They certify timber products (including charcoal, as I discovered last week) as having been sustainably and ethically sourced. Basically it means you can sleep easy that you're not killing the planet if you use Joubert ply! Exc...

The subject of 'when do I recoat' my car just doesn't come up in conversation. And for a good reason......... think about it, many cars sit in the open driveway on daily basis. driven in the rain, and at 80mph. But cars have automotive paint underneath their clearcoat. Our boats have epoxy undernea...

Interesting to see that - thanks for sharing.