Sentisah's Novelty Boats!

The hull is almost completed. Most of the original fronds from the first attempt of designing the boat have been used in this current build. The Auset Fronds is quite solid. She came along way from her early stages of experimentation. I can truly say that this prototype can be duplicated as well as improved over time. The goal is to follow some of the basic Ancient Egyptian boat building techniques as far as the curved bow and stern. Everything else in the design is from brainstorming the last 3 years for what works and what works even better. Her lines are not exactly straight from bow to stern, but the most important thing is that she floats. I'd like to do a float test before it starts getting really cold. Once that test passes, then I can focus on completing her esthetic side of the build.  

 Much thought has gone into the process of creating this prototype. I'm trying different ideas that I came across in my studies on boat building. My original plan was to create a small boat like the ones that were built in Ancient Egypt called papyrus boats. I had no resource that provides the papyrus plant, so I instead used palm tree fronds. These fronds are quite plentiful, and very light and is an easy material to work with. I never saw an actually papyrus plant that I can make a comparison with to palm tree fronds. Palm tree fronds, are very light weight and very easy to work with. I thought the two are very similar by the way the frond leaves fans outward. The boat is truly coming together nicely. I will be able to duplicate the process when I start working on another Egyptian Skiffy! Right now, I'm working on refining the design so I will be able to perfect it in the next model.   I also added some other material for making the hull watertight. I learned that tar h...

 The Auset Fronds has come full circle. She is practically how she was before being dropped. The difference is she has been constructed way better, which also makes her even stronger. I finally figured out what works and stuck with it. There was always a little voice lurking behind me saying, I really don't know about this? Thinking it's a stupid idea. I'm so glad I stuck it out. For a second there was some doubt about my technique making any sense. I've discovered that designing anything tests your confidence. People was saying to have the design patented, but I can't do that until the boat is in the water and is functional. She has to be able to float and move evenly through the water. She still has a ways to go before that happens.

 For the past two years and a half, I been exploring different designs as I was experimenting with palm tree fronds. After much trials, errors and a total disappointment when The Auset Fronds came apart after dropping her, the final design is coming together. I am using a bonding material that is very strong. Once two two pieces are joined together using the adhesive, it's not easy to pull them apart. It's a feeling of unbelievable accomplishment to see something being created by you, in front of your very eyes.  I have to constantly fight my impatience of  going through the process of building each section I'm working on. I'm being very careful not to hastily join pieces together so they won't be sloppy and poorly done. This time I'm paying close attention to how I am building up the hull. Doing this I am now seeing some real unimaginable results. The boat is coming into an actual shape that I didn't plan. The material are forming themselves, and I a...

 It's amazing how far you came from where you started from. To see that you're actually accomplishing your goal. This is truly a WOW moment! Even though you know that there's a better way of designing your creation, for the moment it's as good as it can get. It's when things are truly coming together. Trial and error lets you know what works and what doesn't. When you're working with natural material, if you don't bend it to your will, it can become quite a challenge. How to make the material do what you want requires you to be really creative and innovated.  Becoming familiar with the materials behavior plays a role in determining how it will function. It shows the weakness and strength of the material being used. Patience in the process can never be over emphasized.

 You start out with one idea, and turn around to do something totally different than what you originally intended on doing. In the case of working with fronds, they sort of in a way dictate how things will turn out. Either there's not enough of a particular frond or they just don't conform to the design you want to incorporate them in. Nevertheless, eventually things have a way of coming together. The key is to not give in to that tiny voice that says, "how stupid this idea is." Even if you think it is to the very end. Patience in the process reaps a well deserved reward through completion.

 I'm making a lot of progress with this design. The hull is now one solid piece. I'm almost finish bonding the bow ends together. I'll start bonding the stern ends together and then add a low keel that will run along underneath the hull vertically. I also plan on building up the sides of the hull, in order to add some depth to the inside of the hull. Due to a Covid 19 outbreak, we are currently under a stay at home quarantine which now has been about 14 days. Only going out to buy essentials from the store/or to work is statewide. Along with social distancing when you do go out among other people. Reality is like being in a apocalyptic scenario in a movie script. How unreal it seems when cold like symptoms causes people to fear coughing or sneezing of a common cold. Being unhealthy can be a matter of life and death if you have flu like symptoms.. You  have to be very thankful for your good health. It can help the virus cycle out if your immune system isn't compromis...