16' Ski Boat Restoration

[Milhouse]

Not exactly sure what the part you're trying to make is. That locking miter looks like a winner. You could also dovetail that joint.

Good point Matt; I considered them as well I have added them to the list.

This joint will be for the frame (in red) under the top of the engine hatch that supports the plywood deck.

I may may the angled piece a square joint and then just glue on anther piece to fill in the angle? Have not figured out that part yet.

[Milhouse]

The lock miter test piece was very strong. I put it in the vice and beat on it with a hammer and the joint didn't break. Eventually the wood cracked but not at the joint.

I started making the frame for the motor cover and the lock miters cut on the shaper turned out OK, there is a little overhang on one side but it should be just fine since its being covered by the plywood.

I also updated my assembly table top with a new piece of MDF and I cut Festool MFT top style dog holes (with the Parf Guide MK II) in it and got some MFT style clamps from bessy for it (they make the Festool ones, but these were a few bucks cheaper and on Amazon Prime). They are really handy and really grip tight. I was able to hand plane this board with only one clamp and it didn't move at all.

[Milhouse]

I starting making some headway on the hatch finally. I used the Locked Miter for the corners as none of the other joints were anywhere as strong for this type or orientation (Domino included, foreshadowing)

[Milhouse]

I broke down and bought a Domino and its making this joinery quite easy.

I love it so far!

Perfect joinery even with some angles thrown in.

With the wood in this orientation (pic 1) the Domino is glued on both pieces face grain-to-face grain so its quite strong. For the Box corners shown above (where I used the Locked Miter) its face grain to end grain and the end grain still breaks out when subjected to violence (hammer).

Pic 2 the piece is captured so even though it is face grain-to-end grain so its not as strong but there is substantial wood on both sides so its much stronger than a box corner this way.

[sshamilt@gmail.com]

Looks good to me. And still nice and clean lines.

[Milhouse]

Glued the hatch together and also glued the top on it.

it is strong and will get even more so when I get the rest of the pieces glued to it

[Milhouse]

Veneered some more panels for the engine cover. and glued them on.

Started on one of the side by adding hardwood edges.

[Milhouse]

Saw that the transmission was barely touching the hull (just touching the paint) so I pulled the motor & trans and ground down the trans a bit as I was worried it might crack the hull over time. Was not looking forward to re- aligning the coupler but it went pretty smoothly as the sh9ims were already figured out. Was good to better than 0.003"

The coupler was perfectly aligned already so this was the only option.

[Milhouse]

Finished veneering both sides of the starboard side engine cover awhile ago and now starting on the second one.

[mrintense]

Hey Jim, you'll need to let us see a picture of the finished project. I like veneering because it makes it easy (sort of) to get bigger boards with a nice wood finish. I've used it extensively in my boat, but I do worry some about the eventual need to sand.

[Milhouse]

Carl,

Here are some more progress shots. This was my largest veneering project yet and I think its turning out well. Lots of steps to get it assembled.

I just started epoxy encapsulating it I probably should have done this a week ago as the veneer had a few hair line cracks due to it drying out in the heat. With the epoxy on I can't see them anymore though.

It's more forgiving to sanding than you may think. I burnt through barely in one tony spot when I was trying to get out what I thought was a pencil mark that was a glue line...:

I plan to put quite a few coats of epoxy and then varnish on it so hopefully it lasts.

Edge banding it all with hardwood allowed me to round all the edges so they feel good and the epoxy will hold well (not on a sharp corner)

[Roberta]

Looking Great!

Roberta

[hoodman]

That looks like a musical instrument with that veneer on it.

[kens]

WOW !!

[mrintense]

Very nice Jim. The veneering does give you options for finishing, that's a fact. Love the look of your engine cover.