The build of our club boat the Talisman, began some time ago when we
had a meeting to decide what boat we wanted to have. After a lot of  talking it was agreed to build the Talisman at a size of 86 inches O/A.
 So we ordered the drawings, on arrival of the drawings we then had them enlarged to our size. They surprised some members as to the size of the boat when built , she is 86”  O/A and approx. 21” across the sponsons.
We can just move her out of the club room door  to outside, as we have to go out into a corridor and then out the side door the building.
     The first job was to make the building board, this was from a sheet of 3/4” chipboard cut into 2- 8 ft. X 2 ft pieces that were screwed together
  The frames were cut from 6 m/m plywood as well as the stem and stern pieces which were then set up on the building board  along the centre line and the keel was then glued in along the frames.
 At this point the planking was started using large
  planks where possible and narrow ones at the turn of
the bilges, the bow and stern shapes were made using
balsa blocks shaped to suit. All planking is 1/8 balsa.
  The main work to this point was carried by J.Watt,
 and J.Eldridge. The hull was now unscrewed form
 the board, Jackie then put in some extra stringers
 In the bottom centre area and the deck edges
while john started the wheel build at home.
 The hull is fibre glassed on the inside using matt
and resin the out side was covered in a resin
 called G4 and a tissue 2 coats G4 1 tissue 1 G4
 The hull was then filled where required with P38
and sanded smooth ready for the next stage.
  The build photos up this point are in the gallery at talisman gallery (click here)
  At this stage the  windows and porthole positions had to be marked out ready for drilling,
was completed, the windows  were then chain drilled all round and filed to size.
    The hull was now marked out for the paddle shafts and the sponsons and drilled as required. At the stern the balsa blocks had to be cut out to accept the rudder shaft and arm.
     John and Jackie now put the sponsons into place bolting and glueing them home so that the paddle boxes could be made, these were built up in place using styrene sheet,the curve of the paddle boxes  was made over a former the cover plates were cut out  and Bill cut out the shaped openings,  also at this time Alan (our electric wizard) put in the buss bar system in for the lights.they run the full length of the inside in two sections  either side of the (engine and drive area) these are brass rods passed through ply  support plates, once all this was complete the hull was ready to be painted . This was carried out  outside on a fine day (we do get them here) this was four coats of  grey primer, and two coats of red oxide, this was all sprayed .
    This had taken all the winter and a bit of spring  and our sailing season had started so work stopped  for the summer season . This may seem along time but we only worked for about 10 hours a week on her over two days Tuesday and Sunday. Jack,John and Alan  still made some parts at home during the summer.
    The sailing season over  Jack made the windows,these are plastic outers with wood inner frames and clear glazing ,at the same time the upper works had been made by  James  ready to be finished. The side sections of the boxes were made up from plastic and the side windows cut out. The ply  motor mounts and steel  gearbox brackets had been made up.The upper section of the hull was hand painted black and white.
    At this stage the inner and outer  shaft bearings were bolted into place(6 bolts per set of bearings ) the shafts slid in and the gearboxes, motors all installed ,Alan then installed all the inner lights these consist of LEDs  set in small table tops and wired to the buss bars  John then put the wheels and the feathering plates on and the drive system tested, all was well.
       From this point on Jack continued to make all the parts and install  on his own with Alan making up the sound system and putting inplace( this plays the usual Scottish music that was played on the Cylde paddlers, accordian and fiddle music.
  The decks were put on in 1.5 mm ply . It was decided to put our masterpiece in the water
and test her out, she actually floated nearly  to her waterline and was level fore and aft, two or three of us had a wee go and we where all pleased (only one fault nobody had a camera )
      
Jack now started to make all the deck railings these are made using the split pin method for the stantions with brazing rod for the rails and plastic channel for the top handrail. These were made in sections of f the boat using a jig. Each stantion has a washer at the bottom  to set the height once made up they were painted  and then installed on the boat.The same method was used for the railing on the deck houses. The wheel house and pursers office he has finished off with wood  and made the bridge wings together with the fly screens and navigation lights , being wired up for use. Jack has also made the funnel locker boxes name boards davits and all other small parts. The windows in the hull and deck house all have curtains in place.
  The embarking and disembarking platforms have been made complete with working lights.
   Jack has now finished making all the fittings and is now assembling the finished boat,
She was put in the water on Sunday 29th  June  for trials she just had to have the second battery put in to be on the water line a little ballast is required on the starboard side  to put her level in both planes. Before putting her in the water we tested the lights and music system both ok  so down to the pond she went on a table with four willing hands. Once in the water
 She had 10 very happy members looking  on . Some photos of her in her glory  are on the talisman photo pages.
   The actual launch will be on the Knightswood Gala day  12 July  all will be welcome.
   


           






       This is Jack Watt with what is really his creation  and it is him , who has worked away on his own for such a long time ,to give the club a boat the members can be proud of , he is I sure very proud of his creation .
 So to you Jack  if you see this site a VERY BIG THANK YOU  FOR YOU SKILLS AND WORK . You can now go back to building your own boats and surprise us  with more of your creations.