Dillon Laker 14/16.5 Wooden Tunnel Hull Build/Mod Project

[gm280]

On the upside, I'm retired so my schedule is wide open. I should (hopefully) be able to make up for any build time I loose out on over the winter and still (hopefully, again...) be able to splash on schedule. I'm shooting for sometime this coming summer as long as I don't run into any unexpected snags during the build. We have a later start to boating season here as the lake closest to me, Georgetown Lake, is at just above 6K feet above sea level. It takes a long time for that lake to thaw out. I've seen it still fully frozen over as late as May.

Oh yea, and today's forecast is calling for a high of 32* and more snow from 10am to 5pm.:smow:

I can't wait till I can get more fuel for the heaters so I can get back to work.

gmp440, how much is K1 selling for up your way? I use K1 in my heater when it finally does get cold here in middle Georgia. And I have been using the same 5 gallon can for three years if that is any indication of how much it gets used. It does heat up the shop fairly quickly, but you still can shell the K1. I keep telling myself to build a hot water type outside burner stove and pipe in the hot water through a heater type core for a fan to blow across it to heat the shop. But I never do....at least not yet.

Being how your lakes stay frozen for so long, maybe you need a nice air type boat that would push you along. :noidea:

 

[gomopar440]

If I buy it from Ace Hardware, It's about $11 a gallon, $25 for 2.5 gallons and about $50 for a 5 gallon can. I'm looking around for another source I heard of that is supposed to sell it in bulk for a lot cheaper. No luck finding it yet, so it may just be a rumor.:noidea:

Well, the keels on the Laker could be used as skis, so that part would be easy. Maybe if I mount the Tower of Power upside down and put a 36" prop on it...lane:

 

[gm280]

If I buy it from Ace Hardware, It's about $11 a gallon, $25 for 2.5 gallons and about $50 for a 5 gallon can. I'm looking around for another source I heard of that is supposed to sell it in bulk for a lot cheaper. No luck finding it yet, so it may just be a rumor.:noidea:

Well, the keels on the Laker could be used as skis, so that part would be easy. Maybe if I mount the Tower of Power upside down and put a 36" prop on it...lane:

See....new idea are in the works now. Just make sure when you flip the TOP upside down that you flip the carbs as well. Otherwise it won't work. :facepalm:

 

[gomopar440]

What if I leave the carbs as is and just inject helium into the gas so it floats up instead of down...:eagerness::crazy::laugh:

 

[Patfromny]

Wow, that is expensive for kero. Don't any gas stations or fuel oil places sell the stuff? we can buy it at some stations or at home heating oil businesses. probably for half that price and I live in one of the most expensive places in the US.

 

[archbuilder]

Wow Gomo, that seems really high for heating. But then I live in the land of oil and gas. I'm getting ready to fill up two propane tanks that take about 25 gal each. That will run me about $140 after tax. My guess is I will have to fill them up again if I put in a lot of time on the weekends and keep things in the high 50's / low 60's while working. That really sucks, sounds like you spend more heating than you do buying boat supplies.

 

[gomopar440]

Regarding the spending on heating, I think you might be pretty much spot on there Arch. I'm not keeping those costs tallied on my build log document, I really don't want to know that part of it. I don't want to give up working on the boat over the winter just because the mercury drops. I'd loose way too much building time if I did that. It won't be as difficult after I can make a permanent addition to the side of the barn where the tent is now. I don't think that'll happen before I'm done with this Laker build though.

I've got to head out to the VA hospital in Helena for an appointment tomorrow, so I'm going to hit Lowes while I'm in town to see if I can get some kero there any cheaper. I also want to pick up a dual head halogen light and a LED shop light while I'm at Lowes. I printed out a few coupons for Harbor Freight, and the wife has her sights set on going to a huge thrift store right next door to it. I always try to make the most of the hour long one way trip whenever I have to go up there.

 

[gm280]

gmp440, I would spend some funds on insulation to help cut the cost of heating. Maybe insulate a more permanent wall for the tent building would help. :noidea:

A few cheap 2 x 4's and some roll wall insulation or even some foam would certainly help. Yea that sounds like building a room, but a simple solid structure with some insulation would be a huge help with the cold. Just an idea.

 

[archbuilder]

Did you get up the insulation that you have? I may have missed that. vinyl faced metal building insulation would work nicely if you wire it up. I'm thinking that is what you said you have.

 

[mickyryan]

id have to go with a woodstove and a 15 dollar fan to blow on it it would heat that place quick

 

[Patfromny]

How about the insulation you have and then another inner layer of another tarp? I think between the two, you'd be nice and toasty all for 75 bucks an hour in Kero. lol Honestly though, the second layer of tarp over the insulation would be the quickest and cheapest way to warm that place up. Harbor freight is where I'd go for the second tarp if you don't have any laying around.

 

[gomopar440]

Just got back a little while ago and I'm hurtin from being on the road for a while so I'll keep it short. Not much luck at Lowes for kero prices vs Ace. Well except for the three old metal style 1 gal containers I picked up on clearance for a little under $7 each. The new plastic bottle replacements were just barely under $11, so not worth the drive for the regular price ones. I picked up a 2' LED shop light and two single 500W table top halogen lights. I had stopped at HF first and spent more there than I had planned, so I had to cut back a little bit at Lowes.

The insulation will get done when I'm feeling better. I forgot to take my pain meds before I left this morning and didn't have any with me to take while I was out of town. Needless to say, I'm feeling pretty crappy right about now. Hopefully tomorrow turns out better.

 

[mickyryan]

hope ya feelin better soon man I'm enjoying watching ya do this!

 

[Patfromny]

Hope you're feeling better soon. I too suffer from a bad back. Nothing like yours, just 10 herniated discs. lol but most are the lumbar variety and long drives mean numb legs and a few days to get strength back. Weird but it drains me more than hurts. Stiffness and weakness.

 

[gm280]

Sorry you're felling bad. It seem everybody has back problems. I don't think I ever met a person pass 40 without back issues. So my non-doctor's advice is to take care of your pain so you can continue with your project. Don't rush trying to do things without feeling well. It usually cause more issues. JMHO

NO, I am not a doctor and didn't even spend any night at a Holiday Inn either. But I just came back from my six month checkup doctor's appointment. Does that count?

 

[gomopar440]

I was first diagnosed with degenerative disk disease back in 2004 while I was still on active duty and stationed in Puerto Rico. Had my first double disk laminectomy surgery in 2008, and the second double disk laminectomy was in 2014. My back is now fused solid from S1 to L2 with Ti pins and rods to help keep things from shifting around on me. I'm only 45 right now, but I FEEL about double that age on my really bad days.:facepalm: I pretty much took today off to rest, other than to run to the bank and the store for a few quick errands. I should be well enough to get back out there and start on the boat again by tomorrow. ...I think. I'll see how I feel in the morning and take it from there.

The next couple of days it's supposed to get above the freezing mark just barely (33/34*F), so I'm going to fire up the heaters and try to get the Port sponson to look like the STBD one. I picked up a dozen more clamps from HF yesterday so that should help out a bit. I don't have any more long split pieces to glue, bend and clamp shut like the chine, so the clamps I have should go further than they did on my last progress report. These split tip chines sure are clamp hogs. I'm glad I don't have to use that many on the Sheer Clamps. With the extra clamps I just got, I may be able to get the Port Sheer Clamp and the three Sponson Battens all glued and clamped at the same time. If so, that will be a nice time saver and should help me make the most of the kero fuel I use.

Those Halogen lamps I picked up should help with the heat and light as well. I didn't get the dual head floor model I wanted, but two single head 500W table top units instead. I saved about $10 doing it that way and I'll have a little more flexibility with separate units. Well, unless I NEED both lights right next to each other, and sitting on top of a pole...

 

[Patfromny]

Hang them from the tent or build your own stand out of spare 2?4's. the separate ones are probably more useful in the confined space you have. the stand does take up a lot of space. the stands are also often clumsy when trying to set up and move and with the amount of light they throw off, I can't see you needing both pointed at an object unless you're doing eye surgery. lol. I remember you mentioning the extent of back damage you have in an earlier post. That is why I didn't try and compare mine to yours. With mine, I can and have learned to live with it without too much interruption to my life, I'm still playing Softball twice a week at 48. I can tell you that I consider myself lucky when hearing about how bad it could be. I have a few friends that have degenerative disc disease and see first hand how debilitating it is. Take it easy and glad to hear your almost back to fighting shape. lol

 

[gomopar440]

Still been feeling a bit under the weather, so I didn't get any work done on the boat itself. I did bring the new clamps, lights and kero out to the tent and assembled the halogens today. It's not the progress report I would have liked, but it's better than nothing. And the weather is supposed to get very cold for most of this week starting when the arctic front rolls in tonight. The daytime highs are going to be in the single digits for a few of those days. You really don't want to know what the lows are predicted to be... :faint2:

 

[mickyryan]

nothing more exciting then seeing more clamps then a s&m bondage house could imagine in a pic hope ya get better soon , your boat is counting on ya!!

 

[gomopar440]

Eeeek!!! https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/59711:4:US