I know this is mad but I feel ridiculously proud every time another American Punt pops out into the world
the builder is the beguilingly yet wittily pessimistic Washigntonian virgin boatbuilder Rusty Knorr.
this boy can really write and he has maintained a wonderful blog of the build
http://ridingonadonkey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-end-is-in-sight.html
of the build he says
" The boat that I thought I could crank out in a conservative six weeks (and the design which Dylan Winter built in only ONE week) has taken me over six months!
There were challenges associated with having to build it out in our courtyard, with all the schlepping of tools back and forth, and no ready electricity. There was the stubbornness of having to do the entire thing by myself, without any help from others. There was the frustration of only having a few hours a week to work on the boat between my job, music, relationship, and all the other things that fill up your time while living life. There was the challenge of trying to figure out what all those lines were on the 8x10 sheets of paper that were all I had for a building plan. There was scheduling when I could borrow a truck to pick up the materials that I needed (and the ones I needed again when I made some dumb mistake!) Oh, and speaking of...all the mistakes, those wonderful learning opportunities which came up again and again. Sigh. Paint masks a myriad of things, thank goodness I wasn't ever planning on varnishing!
Well, it is certainly not a show piece, and it will never win any awards, but it is good enough for a first boat build, and I am happy enough with it, if not exactly satisfied with how it came out. I have to keep reminding myself that I built it as knock-around boat, and it is going to get pretty beat up in short order, and a Duck Punt is a Duck Punt, not a swan! I still need to put some additional coats of paint on the interior but I am going to wait until spring when it warms up again and call this thing done for now! Enjoy the finished pics and expect my next post to be from the water!"
Mr Knorr, I will be reading your sailing blog with great delight.
Hello Rusty
Welcome to the ever growing band of Duck punt owners.
Did you build your punt in the thicker ply listed in the plans or used 6mm ply as Dylan and myself did. I chose this thin ply so I can lift the boat onto the family car on my own.The only problem with using the thin ply is it stops it from being class legal. i wouldn’t worry at all about the time scale take to finish your boat. i myself had a very good area to built mine, all tools to hand, and a very understanding partner. :) it look a very nice build and I will enjoy reading your blog. What paint did you use?
Regards
Julian
Julian! My apologies. I wasn’t made aware of replies and just happened onto this post! Better late than never, eh? :-)
Regarding your questions, I used “Porch Paint.” It is supposed to wear well, although it did not adhere satisfactorily to the epoxy, as my later post indicates.
The boat was built of lighter materials, but far too much of all of them! :-) The Mersea boats must weigh an unbelievable amount for their size because my boat is heavy, despite the fact it’s supposed to be light. I overbuilt unnecessarily, and pay the price whenever needing to hoist it on my car. I moved a block away from a lake so I can roll it to the water on a cart for that reason! (Just kidding…mostly.)
I hope that answers your questions. Have a great day!
hi do you no any one who builds duck punts I am interested in a new or second hand 12ft punt
I am from Romford so I am close to you.
I would say that any half competent chippy could knock one up in two days
the record is 18 hours
jigsaw, power screwdriver, glue decking screws is the way to go
D