Polynesian outrigger

Hi there,

This is my first blog, so bear with me

I really like building boats. pretty mad minimalist sort of boats. really light, really connected to the water, I know all boats are, some boats though make you feel like you are on the edge - one step up from swimming.

my current boat is a polynesian outrigger. She came about from talking to a couple who were setting out in their state of the art outrigger canoes. they looked really cool & went really fast. BUT they were plastic (carbon fibre, kevlar or fibreglass or something) Not that I'm really opposed to plastic, i just like timber, OK love timber - particularly ply. I like the constraints of ply - its 2 dimensional & you can only fold it in one plane or axis at a time. this said, you can do some really funky things within these constraints.

So - I'm nearly there, its been a bit of a brain bend working out this girl, I've wandered off from my fundamental concept & created a whole new set of stuff i had to sort - frames, long & narrow, twisting, 2 halves joined at the keel...... even the outriggers & paddle.

first attempt at steaming timber..... complete friggin' disaster, I guess you've got to start somewhere though. need to do more you tubing & maybe a bit better setup.

Anyway.

Gotta Go

talk again soon