Building a small work barge with plywood

no dropped an I beam on it. Didn't hurt at all. Really. Surprised me. Hurts now that he tried to fix it. Epoxy probably would have worked.

We using slow hardener on the epoxy to give us more working time. Never used it before. Not too bad and the extra time is nice especially when laying up the 24 foot pieces.

 

First rule of boatbuilding: No bleeding!

 

Luckily it wasn't your typing finger.

 

oh it is. Finding a new use for the ring finger and pinkie on my right hand

 

I want to update everyone on the barge. should i start a new thread or just continue this one. Also I am looking for a paper template for a mercruiser alpha one transom assembly.

 

Continue this thread so information won't get separated.

 

i am trying to load some pictures directly to the reply but i can't seem to make it work. Should I use the attachments method or have them show up right on the reply? I am also trying to set up a shutterfly account and post all the pictures there for a slide show.

 

well i have to apologize to some of you early nay sayers regarding the cost. You were partly correct. We will come in much higher than expected. Mostly labor related but some material. Chicks estimates for epoxy usage were low and we decided to beef it up a little more than planned with tape. But i did shop around and found a supplier for biaxial cloth that was more than half of my cost from my usual supplier. Could have saved more by not using WEST but chick wouldn't budge on that one. Can't turn back now.

 

I just discovered this thread and you're already building a wooden barge so I guess it's a little late for this concept, but here's something I might have considered from the beginning:

Use 6 of those 500 gallon propane tanks, 3 on each side in a catamaran configuration, with at least 4 feet in between. Construct a deck with a big hole in its middle, to allow the barge to be positioned directly over each anchor you need to lift. For lifting just construct a quad-pod made of pipe, with a big pulley on its apex and a cable going to an electric winch on deck.

A barge like this might not have cost as much as your wood / glass / epoxy barge, and it would probably last decades with minimal maintenance.

 

Thanks Kenneth

we did investigate that but one of the drawbacks was the availability of those tanks around here. Most if not all of the propane companies ship their old tanks to be refurbished at this place in canada. they wouldn't even sell me some that were in real bad shape but it was a worthwhile idea. there are some links of that idea earlier in this thread. Although this barge is not the cheapeast idea thrown onto the table, it won't be that bad and it will be quite unique when its done. I have enjoyed and appreciated all the info that this site that has produced. We also looked at large diameter pipe but we are planning on using a mercruiser unit we had here so that presented a small design and placement issue.

 

That's too bad. I can certainly understand that the availability of cheap tanks would be an important factor.

The person who originally suggested the concept of the propane tanks had a great source for a really low price. If anyone had a chance to build an inexpensive barge like the one I described, he certainly did.

Good luck with your build and keep us informed of your progress!

 

Try logging onto this site. Go down to pictures and videos, click on barge construction and click on all then click slide show. there are over 200 pictures.. I am experimenting with shutterfly so bear with me. Also there are some other pictures but they weren't jpeg so i couldn't add them. Need to change them. It takes a while so get a beer or two and relax..

http://bargeconstruction.shutterfly.com/

 

I think the link is ok now

 

Nice work, Joe! Thanks for getting pics for us.

Who's pet project is the hanger queen next to her?

 

Also ours. That my fathers boat and for the past 15 years its been thee. Work on it when i can. He passed quite a while ago. she is a 1951 40 Chris craft command bridge.