Building a Kingfisher boat
We took the above KF12 to several outdoor markets here in Brookings OR. These markets are well attended with folks driving hours to attend. It was displayed on its cart with the motor turning the prop slowly. Nearly every passing youngster had to stop and grab the slow turning prop. Of course it stopped easily, but the kids were enthralled as well as the dads. Every day some 'dad' having looked the boat over carefully, would take my wife aside and say to her "he really didn't build that boat, did he?' Its not that I look like I can't tell which end of a hammer to hit a nail with, the boat just looks that good. Now 4 years later, fishermen still stop me on the river wanting to know more about the boat. So who can build a KF boat?
|
If you have never built a model airplane, fixed a lawn mower or painted a kitchen then this project would probably be over your head. The builder should be able to read simple drawings, use basic hand tools and apply paint or resin with a brush. You will need a flat table or other surface 8 ft long, 36-48 inches wide and good lighting. Then figure on spending some leisurely hours cutting out frame pieces, assembling these and adding decking. The completed frame is then covered with 4mm plywood, trimmed and sanded in preparation for some 4 oz fiberglass. Painting over the glass is an option. I like the scheme shown above. The top is varnished and the bottom painted white.
The boat is built in 3 sections which are later joined together. All of the frames have full size drawings, so transferring the image to the wood is simple. Just lay the drawing on the wood, punch a sharp ice pick through the paper and into the wood at the ends of each line and at the center of each hole to be drilled. Remove the drawing and connect the dots in the wood. Check that the drawing on the wood is the same as the paper original and cut it out. In most cases you don't even have to measure anything.
The boat is built in 3 sections which are later joined together. All of the frames have full size drawings, so transferring the image to the wood is simple. Just lay the drawing on the wood, punch a sharp ice pick through the paper and into the wood at the ends of each line and at the center of each hole to be drilled. Remove the drawing and connect the dots in the wood. Check that the drawing on the wood is the same as the paper original and cut it out. In most cases you don't even have to measure anything.
| 
|
Transferring the drawing image to wood for frame 2 and 3 for a KF10. | KF12 bow section |
