Start of the OSS Rebel Runner

A promise I made to myself was to build a boat after the campaign. Well now the dust has settled and I started today. I am going to name the boat "Rebel Runner" after co-candidate Chris Knight who is probably the biggest Star Wars fan I have ever met. He ran a good campaign and certainly gave a different perspective in the race.

I am going to try to chronicle my boat building here on the blog. I built one of these back in 2000 over a weekend and had fun doing it. My father ended up giving it away to a total stranger. (I'll write about that later.)

Time to begin. First off you may want to take a look at what I am building. I have had these plans for many years and the site I got them off of is still active. It hasn't been updated at all since I first logged on almost 7 years ago but at least you can still look at it. These plans came from Herb McLeod. I have modified it just a tad and you will see where once I get going with it.

I took a trip to Lowes today and picked up the beginning materials.
Which consist of:
1) One sheet 4x8 1/4" plywood (I got the hardwood underlay type.)
2) 2"x4" -16" scrap for stem (make the stem long and trim it to size after you have attached the sides and gunwales) (I have scrap 2x4)
3) 1"x2" - eight 8' for frame, transom, chines and gunwales and full-length skeg (I am just using pine striping)
4) 2"x2" - two 6" these are mounted on the outside of the gunwale and with an appropriate sized hole through them hold the oar horns. (see the picture of the gray OSS) (Another source of scrap lumber I have.)
5) Glue; tube of polyurethane construction adhesive (PL premium), plastic resin glue (Weldwood) or epoxy (I am using contractors wood glue and I also bought Fiberglass Cloth and Resin this is one of the major differences I did with my last one.)
6) Screws and/or nails plus washers and screws (where needed to attach chines and gunwales)
7) Scrap 1'x4' 1/4 ply for seat
8) 1'x 4'x 1 1/2 " bead board (closed cell plastic foam insulation board) for under seat for flotation (I use the bead board plus pipe wrap insulation that goes around the sides for added flotation I do weigh over 200 lbs.)
9) Latex primer and paint (Got the primer but no paint. I still have not decided what color to paint it yet but I may try to keep with the name and go something of a white and red.)
10) Oarlocks (No oarlocks I will have those made by my dad.)

Here is the first picture.


Don't laugh just yet. Take a look at others that folks have built. A big guy in a little boat.

So thats the start of the boat. Stay tuned and hopefully it will be done and in the water once the weather turns warm. Someday I will build a bigger boat. I am looking at a few but for now I will hone my skills on the OSS Rebel Runner.