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How do you learn to build cats?


Robbieandrew

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It's been a bit of a life dream of mine to build boats, especially cats. How do you learn how to do it? It's not like there's specific courses (or is there?). There used to be boat building at tafe here in Adelaide but they've stopped that and I think they only build wooden monos like fireballs.

 

Is it just something that people pick up? Get a couple of molds and slowly learn through trial and error after some basic teaching? I'd love to one day have my own fleet of 'Robie' cats on day (Like Hobie...) 

 

Anyway, can anyone recommend the best place to learn? The PhD is a bit in the way at the moment but I really want to get around to learning and building sometime!

 

Robbie 

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The best Paper Tigers (P/Ts) and Arrows are home built, plywood. The best way to learn to build a cat would be to join/contact 1 of those class associations for plans and advice. They do have foam sandwich f/glass P/Ts, if that is your interest. I know of at least 1 boat builder who assists with advice, supervision and space to build, for rent, (minimal) and material costs.

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You could also try the MenSheds which are springing up these days.  The Paper Tiger Assocn website has quite a lot of info about building.  You could also try buying an existing cat (Arrow or PT) and fixing it up (ie strip it down, fix the soft spots, get epoxy stuck all over you, get the itches from bits of carbon cloth etc etc).

 

Tell us how you go.

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Find out your local fibreglasser who makes boats and ask if you can learn glassing lay up, mold preparation waxing, how to use a chopper gun and all the other tools and techniques. You help him, he teaches you until you know enough to do your own thing. If you want to learn carbon fibre approach those specialising in that and pick their brains re vacuum bagging , resin infusion etc. If you show an interest most would help you with the learning curve, also check your library and sailing book stores for fibreglass construction. there was a book on composite boat construction by the georgion brothers that was helpful if you can get a copy but it was also $50 or so and pretty rare but also held in high regard by home builders

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  • 2 weeks later...

Robbie, if you're looking for a project but not necessarily a boat for yourself there a free plans for a kids boat (DS12) on my website (www.ctmd.com.au).  Otherwise if you go to catsailor.com in the Mossie section "Damo" is just finishing a boat built out of some old Boyer moulds and I'm assuming they'll be on the market soon.

 

If you want to learn to glass, there is no need to find a boat builder (rarer than hens teeth) to show you the basics just go and help build a couple of spa baths or swimming pools.  Most of the rest you can fill in with youtube.  You wont be building Americas Cup boats but you'll be off to a good start.

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Built my first glass boat at age 11..My grandparents owned the local Fibreglass boat centre and had everything from Kayaks to 60 foot power Cat moulds.

Glass is prob the easiest way to go if you can get the mould..The NS14/MG14 have the moondance moulds you can hire and make yourself a new MG14,,a bloke at our club has just finished building his MG.Not sure if any Cat moulds are available to hire out?

I wouldnt mind taking a mould off my Mari and knocking one out in Carbon Fibre to see how it performs. A lot more work when making the Carbon Fibre stuff and the Epoxy is messy to work with but if you have access to the equipment you can design and construct just about any boat.

 

Are there any Cat moulds floating around that can be hired?

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Are there any Cat moulds floating around that can be hired?

 

Closest thing I'm aware of are the Mossie moulds mentioned above which basically get bought, used then on sold for what was paid.  There are also some A-class moulds that do the rounds, keep an eye out on their website.

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..... Is it just something that people pick up? ....

 

I'm in steel engineering and structural fabrication....... my only "wood working tools" are 3 bloody big chainsaws  :D

 

in saying that...... enjoy the read

http://www.catsailor.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=259959#Post259959

 

the learning curve is like a bungee jump, you just have to take a leap of faith and take that first step

;)

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Thanks again for the further replies. I have a bit of experience with glass, so think i'm pretty right there. I had a look at Damo's posts earlier which were largely what got me to post this thread. I think the plan is first to buy a house with a nice shed then go from there :p. Originally i was only really interested in making Glass boats from moulds but the more i read about timber the more appealing it looks. I'll try get my hands on some stuff one of these days and try give it a crack. As Adam savage would say, "Failure is always an option" :)

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Robbie

 

If you are thinking wood I would suggest you look around for an old boat that needs repair, you will learn as much deconstructing it as you will building one from scratch. When your finished you can sell it, get your money back and get a lot of learning for little cost.

 

Try getting onto Duck Flats wooden boats, good website lots of info available.

 

Paul

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There are plenty of old wooden and glass cats out there you can pick up cheap and have to re-deck, gelcoat, scarf in new ply on the hulls or reglass hull to deck joins and for wear, rot or delamination.  Have a play and see what works and what doesn't and get hands on. The basics come to you pretty quick and you learn not to be messy. 

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