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My Michalak Catbox Named Nice Lives
I began the project by carefully marking out the side panels
using Jim Michalak
plans. One of the measurements towards the front should be 4-3/8
and not 4-1/2 by the way. I got some 1200 x 2400 C D ply from
a hardware store. Good enough for a PDR I thought and at $30 per
sheet economical enough. A lot of my boatbuilding equipment, including
my saw horses, are at my old place, so I had to borrow a strip
of timber to use as a batten. I promised to return it the next
day. My partner was to take it to work, give it to the boatbuiders
wife, who would return it to him. I layed the plywood over a camping
table and cut it with a jig saw only to find it delaminated badly
just cutting it. The store suggested I try another sheet. Needless
to say, I did not trust that plywood much anymore, so I returned
it and they gave me my money back. They wanted the cut bit too
to show to the rep. It was complete with a PDR marked out on it.
I have yet to return that batten.
I ordered some 8' x 4' plywood at $48 per sheet all the way from
Boatcraft
Pacific Brisbane (10 hours from Lake Macquarie near
Newcastle). They were cheaper than Sydney which is just two hours
away. So here I sit plywoodless and wait...
Still waiting...
And some more waiting... (well it is Christmas).
So while waiting I started to think about the design some more.
I think I will have:
Taped chines, not the whole bottom;
1/2" Skids on the bottom to protect it - I might just use
two strips of ply for the job;
I think I will use a tongue and grouve rudder
arrangement like this so the hardware for the rudder does not
get in the way when mounting the outboard. I can't use the stern
plate Jim shows in the plans as I want to use an outboard. I might
also have a outboard mount to the side in case I want to sail
with motor backup;
I might have a removable seat to make rowing easier;
That means I need oarlocks;
I will have a Michalak leeboard
arrangement;
Standing lug sounds good;
I will have small seat backs to stop my butt getting wet;
An aluminium mast sounds good but I will paint it to stop it
staining the sail with rubbing marks;
That's it. Now back to waiting...
And, to be honest, I wasn't waiting very long. Four days all
the way from Brisbane, not bad. A flat trolley helps move heavy
plywood around.
THE AD BELOW
For Sale: Fibreglass Mould Only for Bolger Queen Mab
(7’ x 3’ approx). Make a hull in three hours and
on sell. Attractive mini tender. Great little yacht for one. Sit
facing forward in a comfy seat and steer with your feet. The boat
can be double paddled. Build two and race. The sail area is 30
sq ft. The shape has been modified a little to accommodate fibreglass
construction. Green tooling gelcoat. Water release. See HERE
and HERE
and HERE
for an idea of what the boat is like. $500. Mike John - Lake Macquarie,
Australia email: mikeduckboatman@gmail.com
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