When on Vacation I always enjoyed sharing my Toto with others, but how great it would be to have two watercraft. (I wouldn’t be left on the bank.) With this one I stretched it by adding 2 inches to the plans at every 24 inch intervals, this turned out to be a boat about 14’3’’ long.
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I always enjoyed sharing my Toto with others |
I decided to use Epoxy during the construction, with the “cure” time of epoxy being a lot longer than glue I needed more clamps. I cut some 2 ½ inch PVC pipe into short pieces. These make good clamps for clamping thin wood that doesn’t need a lot of pressure.
| I cut some 2 ½ inch PVC pipe into short pieces. These make good clamps |
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I added artwork to this one by wood-burning images to the front and aft decks. This is not that difficult to do and doesn’t take as much time as one would imagine. You can find you favorite picture, print it out in black and white if it’s a color photo. For the one on the front deck I increased the size to the point it had to be printed out on four sheets of paper. You “tape” down your image over a sheet of graphite paper, then trace and rub the image on the wood. I used a green “grease” pencil to keep up with where I’ve been. This leaves a faint “sketch” of the image you can burn directly over.
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I added artwork to this one by wood-burning images to the front and aft decks |
| This is not that difficult to do and doesn’t take as much time as one would imagine. |
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As you see I moved the deck “hatches” to the inside, I used the clear ones so I can remember what I’ve stored. It’s also a quick way to check for leaks.
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I used the clear hatches so I can remember what I’ve stored. |
Adding a half pound brass handle to a Kayak isn’t too logical when trying to keep the weight down but it sure does look good. The handle is solid brass and doesn’t hurt your hand like the “stamped” metal ones. This one came from Duckworks and I was glad I ordered it. (It may not be that heavy…)
| Adding a half pound brass handle to a Kayak isn’t too logical when trying to keep the weight down |
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This is my fourth “boat-build”, and my third Toto, it gets easier each time.
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This is my fourth “boat-build”, and my third Toto |
| It gets easier each time. |
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I used the Luan from “Lowes” at 12$ per sheet. Its exterior grade and good wood for the price, it works fine especially if you plan to paint it anyway. The outer gunwales and Decks are Poplar; the inner gunwales are Red-Oak strips. The round hatches are sealed with clear silicone and fasten with brass screws. I used Marine “Topside” paint for the Hull and inside. The paint is eleven dollars per quart but a lot tougher than what I’ve used on the previous boats. All exposed wood has 3 coats of “Spar-Urethane”.
………….Can’t wait to build another…….
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