FAQs: Construction & Supplies
Q: Do I need special lumber? Where do I get it?
A: The lumber is not necessarily "special" but there are some woods to avoid. The dimensional lumber in most stores has a very loose grain and isn't suitable for our boats. Kiln dried poplar and spruce with a tight grain and few knots works very well for the stringers, keelson and gunwales. Some fir has a tight enough grain but is heavy.
The bent ribs should not be kiln dried if possible. The preferred green wood would be ash, oak or juniper. Try to get this wood at a sawmill. Most lumber stores have a premium wood section with excellent substitutes but they are kiln dried. Using a combination of soaking and steaming, I have built many boats with kiln dried rib blanks without problems.
Q: Why can't I buy the lumber from you?
A: We cannot provide you with lumber for our boats due to the length of the material. It's very impractical to try and ship anything that is longer than four feet. You should be able to obtain the necessary supplies from a local lumber store.
Q: Do I have to steam bend the wood/ribs?
A: No...BUT it makes the process much easier. When you soak wood without steaming, it goes from "bendable" to "brittle" at some point and that point changes unpredictably. If you try steam bending. you will be glad that you did. First of all, only the ribs need this treatment not the longitudinal members. After you procure your straight grain clear green wood, an over-night water soak will soften the small section wood. It can then be carefully nursed into shape to make the bends. You can take the same soaked piece of wood from a 15-minute steam bath and tie it into a knot. It makes the process much simpler and the end result is stronger. The instruction manual details the procedure and you can watch our YouTube video on Steam Bending Ribs (link) for more information.
Q: What kind of glue will I need and where can I get it?
A: Supplied in the partial kits is a 1:1 low toxicity epoxy mix with a viscosity similar to Vaseline that will be used for the structural parts of the assembly.
Q: What tools are required?
A: The first step in the process is to cut out the components, so you will need access to a table saw equipped with a thin kerf blade. Regular household tools will get you through most tasks. It would be helpful to have a jigsaw and a drill. A small Japanese Pull Saw is very handy for some of the fine cuts. If you haven't used one before you'll wonder how you ever got by without it. You need a bunch of clamps. I use a combination of spring clamps and Clamp Its. The Clamp-Its that we sell are specifically designed for these builds and cheaper than regular clamps but spring clamps work better for some tasks. You can use wire to attach the components to the station molds but I prefer 11" Zip Ties, usually under $5 for 100.