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Started:
Completed:
Type: 16'-4" x 7'-0"
Power Cruiser
Location:
Built By: Jim Booker
Link to the Dipper Page
in the Design Catalog |
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I
have built a few wooden canoes and wanted to build a
bigger boat. So I chose the "Dipper".
I ordered the plans to build the Dipper from Devlin
through Hankinson & Asso. After getting the plans, I
ordered Devlin's video on Boatbuilding with Stitch
and Glue. It gave me the confidence I needed to move
on. I ordered several books on epoxy, fiberglassing
and of course, Devlin's boatbuilding book. With the
basic material list in hand, and limited funds, I
ordered the marine plywood through a local supplier.
Next I ordered from Hankinson ,the System 3 Resin
Epoxy system. When it arrived I was ready to learn
to scarf. I scarfed my plywood into several 18' X 4'
lengths. I then marked and cut my pieces out. Being
skeptical about scarfed joints, I had a narrow strip
left in my cut out plywood sheet. It was about 6"
wide at its narrowest point and about the middle of
the sheet. I thought I'd break the scarf joint and
see how strong it really was. Well the wood broke
about 18" away from the scarf at a width of about
12" inside of the scarfed 6" area. The wood just
splintered apart and the scarf held. Assured I was
doing something right, I went on to stitching and
gluing. I used baling wire and Devlin's trick to
heat them up after gluing to remove them. Slick
Trick! They slid right out! I didn't get the full
width of the boat that the plans showed, because I
could not locate any 3/8" plywood within 1,000 miles
of me. So I had to use 1/2" instead, which when
laminated with the 1/4" for the hull made it stiffer
and I could not get the stretch I needed to meet the
plans specs. So I had a few small alterations to
make in width. About 4" across the top was all I
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I
had left the cabin walls up above the sides, just
enough to cut and level them off and then turn the
boat hull upside down and rest level on the cabins
walls. With the cabin walls to stabilize the upside
down hull, I began the fiberglassing process. I then
put on a mahogany keel. When I had completed the
bottom outside of the boat's hull. Paint and all, we
had a "Boat Turning Party. We had 38 people turn
out. They helped us lift up the hull and flip it
over and place it on the cradle in the upright
position. I also placed a stainless steel strip on
the edge of the keel for gouge protection. With the
hull upright, I now began working on the inside of
the hull. I made water drainage holes throughout the
timbers and the bulkheads, so as to put a bilge pump
at the lowest point of the boat later. Every pocket
has a drain hole and a hatch. Storage everywhere!
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After building the
cabin. I carpeted the floor with a high grade bunk
carpet and then cut the hatches free and that left
the hatches virtually undetectable. After the wiring
was done, I then carpeted the painted walls on the
interior of the cabin and this hid the wires and
soundproofed the cabin better. I chose to use full
glass in the cabin area for better viewing. The
sides and the back windows open as do the ports. I
made an ash & walnut veneer back door and used ash
on the top rails, which I sealed in resin and then
marine varnish. I painted the boat with a marine 2
part paint system and added a splatter texture paint
to the deck area. I did use both the System 3 epoxy
resin system as well as the West System resins. Both
seemed to work just fine for me. I also used a
polymer nail and staple for construction under
fiberglass and the staples for the fiberglass cloth.
Which allowed me to leave them in the wood and cover
them with the fiberglass/ resin. I then added the
trim works, pin stripping, bump rails and decals. I
was lucky enough to locate the perfect trailer for
my boat, an EZ Loader, which adjusted quite easily.
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I chose to put a 25 HP
Johnson outboard engine. The Specs call for a 10 -
15 hp engine. But I opted for a larger one. And
found one used, to give it as try. I may buy a new
engine for it if finances allow me to. The 25 Hp is
Great! But, I'd like a 4 stroke engine. The mermaid
was an internet find item. Couldn't pass it up. I
made it fit onto the boat as I built it. So it is a
permanent feature. I then put on a bow rail, to tie
it all together! Inside the cabin I have a large
cabinet, Head and plenty of room for 2 persons to
sleep comfortably. It has been a great experience.
It took 5 months to build, with myself and my wife
working evenings and weekends. The boat will be
trailered to water. Mostly inland lakes in Oklahoma.
We are planning a Gulf of Mexico fishing trip now.
The boat is very stable and smooth. When we started
the project it was in the beginnings of winter. We
used our garage/shop at home and knew that the boat
would outgrow the garage door. But we thought it
would be easier to remove and replace the garage
door and header when the time came, than to build a
weather proof building to work in. So when the boat
was complete, we had a "Barn Raising". And a crane
came and lifted the boat onto its trailer. I am glad
I took on the project."
Contact Jim
Booker |
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