A cardboard boat?

No, I'm not building my boat out of posterboard... but I am laying out the building forms and bulkheads on posterboard.  I can then just trace the cardboard templates out onto my plywood whenever I want and in any arrangement.  In order to most efficiently use the marine ply, the forms are scattered around the main hull panels wherever they fit.

Well, it isn't much progress, but it is something!

Mods

Anyone who knows me, knows that I can't build a boat according to the plans.  What fun would that be?!  Anyway, this is my plan.  

My ultimate goal for the XCR is to use it for the Everglades Challenge.  The Challenge is a small boat "race" down the Gulf coast of Florida, from Tampa Bay to Key Largo, with three checkpoints in between.  There are two primary routes between the second (Chokoloskee) and third (Flamingo) checkpoints.  One can go "outside" and stay in the Gulf, or take the Wilderness Waterway (WW), a twisting route through the rivers of the Everglades.  I think it would be a great experience to paddle this route, and that is where my modifications come into play.  Since the WW can get pretty narrow in places, it would be a lot easier to navigate without the rigid plywood amas (outriggers) that are specified in the design.  So... I am going to build the amas as aluminum and fabric skin-on-frame (like a Yost kayak).  That way, I can take the amas apart and stow them in the boat for paddling the WW.  At least thats the plan for now!

A slow start

Now I have the strongback (mostly) done... I guess its time to start working on "boat" stuff.  Unfortunately, the weather has turned wet and cold again.  My next step is to cut out the three building cradles and attach them to the strongback, making sure they are square, straight, and level.  Then, its too the store for some nice marine plywood!

In the meantime, I am keeping myself busy following the 2009 Everglades Challenge which started two days ago (Saturday morning).  The winners are probably finishing up about now... check it out!

Strongback!

Well, it isn't much to look at, but I finally got around to making a strongback for the XCR build.  I used some 5/8ths chip board I had around, ripped to 1 ft. x 8 ft. for the top.  For the sides, I used some left over 10 ft. 2 x 6s.  Finished size is 1 ft. x 16 ft.  It doesn't have legs yet, but I think I will just screw the whole thing to a set of sawhorses.  Hopefully, more to come soon!

Colors?

Here are some more views of the boat, showing my ideas for a color scheme:

Why does it have to be so cold?!?!?

I really want to get rolling on building my XCR. But then I remember it is March, and I live in Michigan. Boatbuilding and 15 degree air don't seem to work well together. I am hoping to get the strongback put together sometime this week, it is supposed to be in the 30s or 40s later this week. After that, I can probably get started making the small parts inside, like building cradles and bulkheads. As much as I like to plan, I have thought about this too much! I need to get started!!

Slight change of plans

So, after some discussions, it looks like I am going to skip the SOF canoe for now. But not to worry, it is so I can build a bigger and better canoe! About a year ago, I purchased plans for the XCR sailing canoe designed by Chris Ostlind. So the XCR it is! I am excited to get started, but will probably start with a very unexciting strongback. Check back soon!