PS Decoy - Hull in the bath 10/5/01

[Derek Warner]

Finally got the bare hull into the test tank (bath) for ballasting trials last night

bare hull = 3.5 kg (nearly 1 kg of this is epoxy resin and glass fibre strengthen the internals)
12V x 7 Ah battery = 2.2 kg (I can always halve this if necessary by going for another 12V x 3 Ah battery = 0.95 kg)
12V x 3 Ah battery = 0.95 kg
motor/gearbox = 0.99 kg
gives me a total of 7.64 kg

She needs another 3 kg approx to bring her to correct waterline - paddles, paddle box's, paddle shaft, pulleys, decking and top structure etc (another eight months)

I found the 4 coats of Cabot's brand polyurethane I had used on the hull planking externals to be too soft (even for the ends of the bath) so after ballasting trials were over it was back to the boat shed for a generous coat of epoxy resin but from waterline down only which is painted black - assumed in 1890 as some form of bituminous goop?

I promised PJ some shots after the hull was complete and hope to have a few jpeg files by next weekend

regards Derek

[Paulrjordan]

So you WET her BOTTOM did you, Derek ?..Congratulations...this is of
course where all the fun begins...but you ARE approaching this in the
right way by taking it all in stages!!!

> 12V x 7 Ah battery = 2.2 kg (I can always halve this if necessary
> by going for another 12V x 3 Ah battery = 0.95 kg)

Have you run the engine(s) yet? I searched through all your previous
posts but couldn't positively confirm if you are using one or TWO
engines. It looks like you're using ONE engine with a gearbox.
Correct me if I'm mistaken. The reason you're using the 12V system
is because of the smoke generator, right?

If you're using one engine, can you describe the gearbox and if this
allows you independant control of the engines... at least so you can
pick up reverse on each paddle and spin the boat on its paddle axis.

> She needs another 3 kg approx to bring her to correct waterline -
>paddles, paddle box's, paddle shaft, pulleys, decking and top
>structure etc (another eight months)

Good...6 pounds is quite a nice "leeway" to have for all this but it
can get "gobbled up rather quickly, so keep your above deck weight
down as much as possible to keep the boat "stiff". I often see 1/8"
ply specified for superstructures..not only is this FAR too heavy for
most models, but it's also far too thick for realistic wall
thicknesses and often makes porthole/window frames look too chunky".
(BUT that's ONLY MY OPINION!)

> I found the 4 coats of Cabot's brand polyurethane I had used on the
> hull planking externals to be too soft (even for the ends of the
> bath)

Umm Derek..you have allow the paint to dry FIRST!!!

> so after ballasting trials were over it was back to the boat shed
> for a generous coat of epoxy resin but from waterline down only
> which is painted black - assumed in 1890 as some form of bituminous
> goop?

So now you have to subtract how much from the 6 lbs you had "spare" ?

> I promised PJ some shots after the hull was complete and hope to
> have a few jpeg files by next weekend

Yes..can't wait to see pics of our first Ozzie paddler!

Keep us posted Derek..this is where it all gets "BERRY INTERESTING"
as the trips to the bathroom become more frequent and you have to
explain to your wife why you were filling up the bath at 3 AM!

PJ