We interrupt this blog for a short commercial break
A project update, in no particular order:
- We formed a new company for the build: The Montauk Catamaran Company, LLC
- We move into our build-space — a barn in Bridgehampton — at the end of the week.
- We just bought 108 sheets of Hydrotek brand BS1088 rated meranti plywood.
- We’ve hired our core build crew.
- We’ve got a quote from NYSIF for our workmen’s comp policy. An 8 page application and a check and we’re bound.
- We’ve got a quote from our insurance agent for a policy covering the build against fire, theft, etc. A 1 page application and a check and we’re bound.
- I’ve got a pro forma invoice from our epoxy vender for 120 gallons of the stuff, plus fiberglass, rubber gloves, rollers, squeegees and what not.
- It turns out our local lumber yard, Riverhead Building Supply has a great stock and a good price in vertical grained Douglas Fir.
- My sister-in-law’s husband gave us his table saw. (Still looking for a good deal on a bandsaw and a drill press.)
As you can imagine, at this point the money is going out at a fantastic clip, and although I am a cheap-skate when it comes to matters of personal finance and get little pleasure from shopping, I actually enjoy spending money setting up a project. There’s something about the commerce of it that appeals.
For example, our plywood supplier is a family operation. The salesman I worked with also inspects the sheets and builds the crates the panels get shipped in, and I get a feeling of satisfaction in knowing that when we buy plywood from him, we’re helping his family pay the bills; and when he sells plywood to us, he’s helping our family pay our bills, and giving me a good reason to hire people, which helps their families pay their bills.
There is, of course, lots more the buy, and once bought it needs to be turned into a boat. Buying stuff is fun, but building stuff is better! Upcoming post will have pictures.
There is nothing quite like the feel of a project getting into gear.
Also: yes! Pictures!Report
One of the things that’s so different about building a boat verse making docs is that you start building the boat with a plan that has (nearly) every detail down to the 1/16th of an inch. (Or in this case, milimeter; our design/er is English.) The number of panels is specified. The way to lay out all the parts to use the plywood most efficiently is specified. And on and on.
On top of that, this is a USCG Inspected build. That means no freelancing or changing our mind halfway through, or designing we know better than the designer. The plans get approved and we build them. The. End.
Yes. Pictures. Soon!
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David, I like what you’re doing and didn’t want to post this in case it would cause trouble for you. Then thinking further, not knowing and getting blind-sided could be very deleterious to your project. I know of a surf board maker in SoCal who was quite literally driven out of business because of these regulations.Report
1) We use low VOC epoxies. Thinners have their place, but not in the work we’re doing. (I’ll be your surfboard making was using polyester resin. Very high VOCs; very toxic. Nasty nasty stuff.)
2) If you were concerned about “getting me in trouble” you should have used email.
3) This website has all the ear marks of a discount expoxy vender. How do they discount? By cutting epoxy with (low cost) solvents and selling at a lower price per gallon. It doesn’t actually save money, because the VOCs evaporate, leaving the same amount of epoxy as if you’d used the same amount of epoxy. Report
1) Low VOC good. Just keyed on the “epoxy” in your bullets above. Can’t remember the details, was someone who had made money elsewhere, loved surfing, got into the business, hired dozens of people and got shut down for his efforts. The words I remembered were epoxy and fiberglass. Have zero idea how a surfboard is built. I’m guessing they like you have encapsulated polystyrene pellets (Styrofoam) somewhere in the mix. Have also heard EPS off-gasses (primarily if you expand it yourself in a mold).
2) How do I get your email?
3) Yeah, just grabbed the first thing that showed up with Google. Was looking for epoxy, environmental regulations, New York.
You sound like you’re on top of things, was only worried because previous posts seemed to indicate that you were changing professions from film making IIRC. Would have hated to see someone chewed up by the “system” because they were pursuing an avocation and didn’t know where all the shark infested waters lay.
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My legions of female admires have no trouble finding my email address. Clearly you’re not sufficiently motivated.Report