GlenL aqua cat...

[sundog]

anybody here built any of the GlenL boats? I really like the looks of the aqua cat (18' motor cat). any imput from plywood boat builders out there? If I do this, whats the concensus of fiberlass over the exertior plywood? Ive been on boats that have used West epoxy, which works great. Ive heard there can be adhesion problems with fiberglass over plywood if the wood is not dryed for months.

 

[sundog]

Re: GlenL aqua cat...

wanna see? www.glenl.com<br />click on design boat design catalog (on the left), <br />click on outboard designs<br />scroll to bottom and click 'a word about catamarans'<br />click on aqua cat.<br /><br />very cool boat.

 

[Rudderman]

Re: GlenL aqua cat...

I'm building the Glen-L Squirt at the moment. The plans were very good, full size plans. I use West System and glass cloth on the hull. I used BS1088 mahogany marine plywood. I haven't had any problems with adhesion. Give it a sealing coat of epoxy first, let it set up, give it a wash and a sanding and then apply your cloth. <br /> http://www.sum-it.biz/squirt/website/

 

[sundog]

Re: GlenL aqua cat...

very nice job on the boat, rudder. how did the bending/shaping of the plywood go? how long did it take you to build it?

 

[Rudderman]

Re: GlenL aqua cat...

The bending was very easy, no steaming required. I started it last October and I have about another month's work to finish it completely...

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: GlenL aqua cat...

Originally posted by Rudderman:<br /> I have about another month's work to finish it completely...

That's a great project. I was going to build my project boat with wood, but sort of wimped out since its so darn hard for me to work with.<br /><br />I used Aluminum for mine. The Aluminum handels me banging on it with a big hammer to make the pieces fit better than wood does.

 

[Rudderman]

Re: GlenL aqua cat...

Wow that framework looks pretty amazing. How did you weld the aluminium? TIG? I'm so bad at that kind of panelwork...I can't even knock up a set of mudguards for my trailer!

 

[sundog]

Re: GlenL aqua cat...

Id love an aluminium boat, but Im 'metally challenged'...the wood I have the tools and the knowledge for. nice job, by the way, winger...how fast will that girl go?<br /><br />its really, really stupid of me to be contemplating building this boat (3 reasons, offhand: twin 6yr olds and a 3 yr old)...but Im pretty sure Im going to do it anyway. and this boat would be big enough for all of us. I think Id make it a removeable hard top somehow, though...

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: GlenL aqua cat...

Originally posted by sundog:<br /> ..how fast will that girl go?<br /><br />Im going to do it anyway.

That's the spirit! Even if ya can't work on it as much as ya want, it'd be a great project to work on for a hour or two after the kids & the Mrs. go to bed, or something to do instead of watching TV on the weekends. I've had some project or another, either a boat, or a hot rod, a dog house,,, something going on all my life to keep occupied and out from in front of the TV. <br /><br />Its amazing how much kids like to help, and how much they learn from helping you too.... Mine sure did when they were that young. <br /><br />Anyway:<br />Yeah, its TIGed. I did a 12' 'D' hydro back in the 90's with a MIG wire feed machine. It can be done with one, but not by me. The welds were pretty ugly, and I don't have a lot of confidence in them.<br /><br />For this project, I took the plunge and got a Miller Econo-TIG and taught myself (with a little help from my friends--- who actually know how to use one) how to use it. Its great. For this boat, I've used about 15 lpounds of Aluminum welding rods, and 12 of the big (125 and 155cuft)tanks of Argon. I think I'm up to about 7,000 rivets too. <br /><br />Its not quite done. I hope to start my 'Sea Trials' in about 2 weeks.<br /><br />Its got a 2.4 Merc. V-6 150 hp. The 2.4s are like Chevy 350 V-8s--- there's no end to all the hot-rodding you can do with them.<br /><br />Mine is a 150hp. But the same basic engine with different carbs, different heads, etc, is what Mercury gets their 150, 175, 200, and 225 engines from.<br /><br />This hull weighs less than 600 pounds, closer to 500, its airfoil sides should generate about 300 pounds or so of lift to get it up out of the water- cutting drag and resistance. I expect nothing less than 80 from it right off the bat.<br /><br />This winter I'll be sending out the heads for machining work, playing around with reeds, props, carbs. etc. What I'm hoping for is to get it over a hundred mph while keeping the RPM under 7,000 with this engine. And believe it or not, still be stable and safe to drive.<br /><br />Ed.

 

[brunneng]

Re: GlenL aqua cat...

Hey Sundog,<br /><br />I just received my plans for the Aqua Cat a couple weeks ago. I also bought their book on Building Boats with Plywood. I'm going to build a 1/8th scale model first with model plywood and basswood. That way I can work out the blueprints and have a reference model and see if there are any gotcha's using $20 worth of material.<br /><br />I love the look of the cat hull. I'm still undecided if I'm going to build the cabin or the open deck. I'll probably go for the open deck as I plan to use it as a day boat.<br /><br />My next boat will big the bigger cabin cruiser. <br /><br />Kevin

 

[sundog]

Re: GlenL aqua cat...

brunneng~ Ive got to keep in touch with you! How do the plans look? I love the look of the cabin myself, but an open deck would be more practical for me, as well. Ive already read the book (ordered that first)...hopefully between the book and the blueprints I can pull it off. My other problem is space...Ive got to cover my sideyard and concrete it in or figure out how to stabalize the form...that and build my neighbor a new fence on that side so he wont hate me. Good luck and keep me posted!<br /><br />winger~ Holy Sh*t...100mph! but be safe with that thing...that fast on the water is waaaaaaaaaaaay to much for me. make sure you carry a 'spare air' or rig a small scuba tank and regulator. I used to work a dive shop in FL and the ocean racers would come in to refub thier air systems...never thought about needing air in a boat, but if it goes over thats the first thing they reach for...if they can. let us know how it goes!

 

[brunneng]

Re: GlenL aqua cat...

The plans look good. Very detailed with 5 pages of overview and 4 full size sheets of frame members plus some extra pages of info. I would guess the plans are 8'x4', haven't measured. Have to build a table to lay them out on.<br /><br />I'm going to transfer them to my cad system. We are building/buying a cnc router for our sign division at work so if we have it in time I can use it to cut out all the panels with cnc precision.<br /><br />I have a 16'x22' shop but it's full of tools so I can't built it in there. No garage. I have a large concrete pad out back too but it has a garden shed on it that I think I can move without too much trouble. I'll have to put up a temporary roof/cover to work under.<br /><br />Once I get started I'll post a log with images on my site.