wood building help anyone??

[vishnuleela]

hi, just started construction on a polynesian style canoe at my friends home in thailand before i left and about to go back... it will be a super low cost vessel, scrap wood, cotton/awning sails etc so no need to be pedantic or suggest anything specialist, high tech or high cost because its just not an option

i have some questions i hope you can help with....

1) if using standard nails, can you just put something over the top of them to delay the rust?

2) planning on caulking with concrete/ roof tar mix... can this be put straight in and on? or does some cotton etc need to be stuffed in the gaps?

3) what is the black paint/ sealer you see as a type of primer for the boat after the hull is completed?

thanks very much

[vishnuleela]

here is a link to a video showing the type of crude methods we will be using... anyone know what the caulking stuff is? or what that black paint is after?? cheers

[Delancey]

Suggest you find some ring shank nails while you are here in the states. They're old-school boat building nails designed not to pull out. Can be had in copper, bronze, stainless, or galvanized. Available in stainless and galvanized at Home Depot.

As far as caulking goes, are you building with plywood or solid lumber? Matters since old-school boat building with solid lumber planking usually relies on the wood swelling up to make gaps between planking shrink, hence the cotton or oakum caulking. If plywood, then better to have tight joints with some adhesive caulk.

As far as paint goes, look for some type of oil based paint. Acrylic paints tend to soften when exposed to water.

P.S. Sounds like a fun project, post some pictures when you are done!

[Delancey]

Originally Posted by vishnuleela

here is a link to a video showing the type of crude methods we will be using... anyone know what the caulking stuff is? or what that black paint is after?? cheers

Somehow I posted my reply before your video got posted, wonderful internets! Now that I saw the video, I have a question; why don't you just ask the locals the answers to your questions? And do what they do? Prolly can't go wrong...

[psk125]

Ring-shank nails are often used for cedar siding in housebuilding. They're long and skinny, so as not to split the wood as easily as regular nails. They also come in stainless steel versions, which might be suitable for this application.