From: horneta@ix.netcom.com
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 23:06:57 -0700
To: "baidarka@lists.intelenet.net" <baidarka@lists.intelenet.net>
Subject: baidarka Lil' widowmaker
Here's a progress report on my original (and dangerous) design.The
construction of the PVC-frame foldable "Lil' widowmaker" is underway
again!
At a salvage yard I ran across a box of 3/4" aluminum tubes used for
towel bars in the bathroom. Very light, thin-walled, but cheap ( I
haggled 'em down to 75 cents each). These 5 foot lengths are
extraordinarinarily strong when reinforced with schedule 40 PVC. I slip
the PVC inside and then rivet them together to prevent excessive
flopping around. The aluminum avoids the excessive flex, while the PVC
prevents a catastrophic collapse of the aluminum.
Same salvage yard (Berkeley's Urban Ore, gotta love it) also had this
HUGE pipe bender that I suspect was used for muffler pipe, but at $5 I
can't complain. I bent the aluminum-PVC combo very well after some
practice, even keeping the curve in the same plane. The PVC prevented
the aluminum from kinking or rupturing during bending and the bow form
is very resistant to bending.
The keel stringer flexes - but does not flail like a wet noodle ( or
nude PVC sch40). The 3 pieces are joined with wood dowels that fit
snugly insed the PVC.
Ribs are made by using 45 and 90 degree PVC unions, T-joints and PVC
electrical conduit pieces that are sold with 90 or 45 degree curves
(very gentle curves).
Lil' widowmaker's length is approx. 15' (because that way I use 3
subunits per stringer) and around 26" BABB (beam at boater's buttocks),
assymetrical, and destined to be skinned in canvas impermeabilized with
"roof proof" mobile home elatomeric coating.
Again, if I survive the launch and test ride, I will publish the plans
free of charge on the web ("cause only a fool would pay for my risky
plan, let alone listen to it:))
I cannot thank Jim Henter (Pak Yak master) enough for tthe idea of using
a pop riveter. What a wonderful tool! It's a poor boy's welder....