We put the top skin on first since that was flat. It went on well. We just kept checking to make sure it all was true. We did install the top with brass screws.
This is really cool TS. There is a very old kookbox in the Santa Cruz Surfing museum with a cutaway section that is very close to what you are doing. The only obvious difference is material used. Back then indigenous Redwood was use, and probably inferior glue. Props to you for building a prototype with less expensive material. I’d only point out a couple of things, like knots, that could be problematic, and flatsawn wood which will move disproportionately. The fasteners are an easy fix and could get swapt out. Maybe your glasswork will save it, but the one’s i’ve seen leak and have drain plug. 1/4 marine plywood would work great, but pricey.
Thanks a million for the time and photos. Very inspiring.
Hey Eastern,
I absolutely agree with you. The materials used were scrap (except brass outside screws) so we weren't worried about longevity. We too worried about the strength of the pine ribs but for now we will just go with it. Even on the next one I doubt if we can justify redwood but would love to see paulownia used instead. Here is the bottom installation.
Top and bottom skin put on using 3/4 brass screws.
After cleaning up the top and bottom skins we added the outside cap. You have to be careful not to distort the outline. With each edition it gets stronger but it is still flexible. The outside piece is cedar and we will use that to round off the corners.
After attaching both sides we trimmed up the excess using a Japanese furniture saw.
howdy TS, is it done?
cheers,
What ever happened to this Kook box build ? Did it get finished? Was it test surfed ? Calling TSaunders, TSaunders where are you ?!!!!
curious minds want to know…
Troy, thanks for posting pictures of your and Austin’s kook box. I think your timing is perfect. I have a 1939 Tom Blake , the 13’-9" pintail from Popular Science, framed and waiting for decking in the garage. There is also another one currently being built by someone on Sway’s who has a connection to Blake’s hometown in Wisconsin.
Aloha crew,…here’s a few pics of a kook box I made for Surfrider Chapter in Ocean City,…redwood nose, tail block and rails,…african mahagony for bottom and deck, internal ribs are poplar, screws were brass counter sunk with oak dowels to cover and pretty it up, abalone inlay on seams, brass plug for drainage. The template was from a board found in Delaware and in the hands of Blair Rhodes–it was fir with nails.
Spread Aloha, Randy
