Nice! Its the basic shit that gets me sometimes. I had not thought about doing a cardboard template, lol. So much easier to adjust for fit that way. Thanks for uploading!
I'm retired from the hardwood lumber business. Cabinet plywood, like the imported birch that you used, uses a simple starch based glue. The main ingredient, believe it or not is white flour. I've been on a few tours of plywood manufacturing plants, in Oregon, California and Shanghai China. All of then had pallets and pallets of bags of white flour. It really works well, until it gets wet. It might take a few times getting wet, but eventually the glue will fail. An exterior fir plywood would have been better, a marine grade plywood would be even better, though much more expensive. Since you've already put all of that work into what you have, just make sure that you keep it well sealed so that water can't get to the wood.
You have the right tools and you obviously know how to use them. You also seem to know exactly what you need, which speaks of a significant experience on the river. The boat might be perceived as tiny, but it is in no way small. With everything on it, it becomes quite a force on the water, which makes it reliable and safe. Did you build the metal frame yourself as well? How do you keep the wood from getting damaged by water?
I built the frame from Down River components. The other popular option is NRS frame parts, both can be ordered online or, even better, from your local whitewater store, if you have one. I wish I would have filmed how I protected the wood, but I wasn't 100% sure that I was doing it right. What I was told from a commercial whitewater guide, is to cover the entire deck, top and bottom in epoxy and let it cure. That protects it from water damage but doesn't have any UV protection. So once the epoxy is cured, paint over it with a good outdoor polyurethane, not the water based stuff, and that will protect it from sun damage. At the beginning of every season, you should re apply another layer of polyurethane and that will keep it lasting a long time! Mine is holding up very well with this regimen
I am curious what 1/2” XPS foam with a thin 1/8” veneer on top, with wood plugs in areas where necessary for reinforcement (tie-downs), then sealed in two layers of fiberglass cloth and resin - would be light as hell. Might get destroyed though. A thought I had. Yours look absolutely beautiful. Dig all the rounded corners and smoothness of it all. THanks for the excellent video. I learned some stuff.
how is the plywood holding up? Regular interior plywood, like the cheap stuff you bought uses a starch based glue, they literally mix white flour and water to make the glue. If it gets wet a few times it will fall apart. I worked in the lumber industry and went on several plywood manufacturing plant tours.
Wow. Great use of space. I have the same raft and I love the ideas. Did the San Juan from Mexican Hat to Clays hills last September. Was support for 5 other duckies. Would love to figure out space. Where did you get the Bimini?
The Bimini is from Leader Accessories. It's been a game changer! I don't know how we survived desert river trips without one before! I highly recommend getting one. Congrats on the San Juan trip, that sounds awesome. Way to pack it in there!
thanks for posting! questions.. can you share spec on the wood, type and thickness? 2. fastners, you have DRE, i have NRS, different but similar, you used their u bolts? did u recess the nut? thats all for now, thanks!!
I'm sorry I thought I responded to this... I used 3/4 inch birch plywood, covered it in a layer of epoxy, and then several layers of polyurethane for UV protection. I did use DRE components for the connectors, and the NRS U Bolts paired with it just fine. I did not recess the nut because NRS rounds the top of their threads and the nut set flush with the top of the bolt, so nothing is able to get caught or cut on it.
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I love being called a dirty hippie! Cuz I AM a dirty hippie! Nice raft too!!!
Thats such a cool little boat nice work!
Nice! Its the basic shit that gets me sometimes. I had not thought about doing a cardboard template, lol. So much easier to adjust for fit that way. Thanks for uploading!
I'm a pipe welder/fitter. You'd be surprised how many times cardboard has gotten me out of a bind on custom work. 🤙🔥💯 🧑🏭
I'm retired from the hardwood lumber business. Cabinet plywood, like the imported birch that you used, uses a simple starch based glue. The main ingredient, believe it or not is white flour. I've been on a few tours of plywood manufacturing plants, in Oregon, California and Shanghai China. All of then had pallets and pallets of bags of white flour. It really works well, until it gets wet. It might take a few times getting wet, but eventually the glue will fail. An exterior fir plywood would have been better, a marine grade plywood would be even better, though much more expensive. Since you've already put all of that work into what you have, just make sure that you keep it well sealed so that water can't get to the wood.
great video mang! Lots of good ideas gleened :D
You have the right tools and you obviously know how to use them. You also seem to know exactly what you need, which speaks of a significant experience on the river.
The boat might be perceived as tiny, but it is in no way small. With everything on it, it becomes quite a force on the water, which makes it reliable and safe.
Did you build the metal frame yourself as well?
How do you keep the wood from getting damaged by water?
I built the frame from Down River components. The other popular option is NRS frame parts, both can be ordered online or, even better, from your local whitewater store, if you have one. I wish I would have filmed how I protected the wood, but I wasn't 100% sure that I was doing it right. What I was told from a commercial whitewater guide, is to cover the entire deck, top and bottom in epoxy and let it cure. That protects it from water damage but doesn't have any UV protection. So once the epoxy is cured, paint over it with a good outdoor polyurethane, not the water based stuff, and that will protect it from sun damage. At the beginning of every season, you should re apply another layer of polyurethane and that will keep it lasting a long time! Mine is holding up very well with this regimen
@@derekthebarbaric, good to know; thank you for sharing!
I am curious what 1/2” XPS foam with a thin 1/8” veneer on top, with wood plugs in areas where necessary for reinforcement (tie-downs), then sealed in two layers of fiberglass cloth and resin - would be light as hell. Might get destroyed though. A thought I had. Yours look absolutely beautiful. Dig all the rounded corners and smoothness of it all. THanks for the excellent video. I learned some stuff.
how is the plywood holding up? Regular interior plywood, like the cheap stuff you bought uses a starch based glue, they literally mix white flour and water to make the glue. If it gets wet a few times it will fall apart. I worked in the lumber industry and went on several plywood manufacturing plant tours.
Wow. Great use of space. I have the same raft and I love the ideas. Did the San Juan from Mexican Hat to Clays hills last September. Was support for 5 other duckies. Would love to figure out space. Where did you get the Bimini?
The Bimini is from Leader Accessories. It's been a game changer! I don't know how we survived desert river trips without one before! I highly recommend getting one. Congrats on the San Juan trip, that sounds awesome. Way to pack it in there!
thanks for posting! questions.. can you share spec on the wood, type and thickness? 2. fastners, you have DRE, i have NRS, different but similar, you used their u bolts? did u recess the nut? thats all for now, thanks!!
I'm sorry I thought I responded to this... I used 3/4 inch birch plywood, covered it in a layer of epoxy, and then several layers of polyurethane for UV protection. I did use DRE components for the connectors, and the NRS U Bolts paired with it just fine. I did not recess the nut because NRS rounds the top of their threads and the nut set flush with the top of the bolt, so nothing is able to get caught or cut on it.
what bimini top is that, vendor?
Leader Accessories, they're available on Amazon or directly through their website. This is the 6' version, the 8' looked way too big on this lil boat!