Well, now I've bought the plans for the Racer X. I now need to consider a few things including length, type of materials being used, how I'm going to do this, what tools, what parts, oars and all kinds of things.
I once used to project manage a few things and sometimes the scale of projects can be very quickly overwhelming and I've never built a boat before.
Let me try and tell you how I made it simple. This is to help people building but it's not my design. Above all else, I need anyone that's following along at home to relax and read the instructions. The 42-page build guide is very comprehensive and has all kinds of tips and advice. I will be following this guide pretty closely but making a few variations along the way because I can.
The majority of the variations will be in how I build. This is for a number of reasons.
Some things are harder to find in Australia. Some of the wood of choices are imported and consequently expensive. I will cross that bridge on materials when I get to that point in time for the build. This also includes my choice of covering, epoxy resins, screws ect.
I am already experienced as a rower. Some parts, therefore, are going to be bought, not built. My oars are a prime example of this. Other rowing fittings will be bought or sourced 2nd hand for refurbishment.
My skill level. I teach Design Technology for a living. I have access to my broad range of skills and tools that others won't have access to. I repeat this point. follow the build guide. you don't need access to the gear I use. I just happen to have it or am so used to using it that I find it frustrating to go back to other techniques. I will document the tools I use in a total list along the way. I won't say what brands I use unless there are reasons to.
Step 1 - Print the plans
While you're at the computer reading the build guide and looking at the plans thinking "what am I doing, this is a big project!" (It is). Cool it and take a breath. The rest of the steps can come in a sequence. the most significant thing is you now have access to the full-scale plans in a PDF document. Get them printed at 1:1 scale by a local plan printer.
I just happen to live in an urban area and because I work in design and have worked in the building and planning industry I know where to start. Open your search engine of choice and search for "plan printing" Any plan printing service should be able to print these plans but ring to check first. The provided visual scale on the plans needs to be right. Please check with the printing service so they understand this. If they can't do it or sound like they won't help you, walk away and call another service. 2 phone calls and I found a local plan printer, they printed me a copy for $10 and I drove over to them to get it. All of a 15km round trip.
Some of you will be further away, I'd suggest 2 copies and postage in a tube needs to be included.
The ruler in the picture below is approximately 150mm (6") just for a sense of scale.
The next step from here is to cut them out so you can lay them on your sheet of plywood or read my next step to what I'm doing and why.
Till next time
D
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