Northern Michigan New Member

[John Bailey]

Hi all,

New member here looking forward to all the good advice that can be had at the site. I'm a woodworker by hobby and would like to get started on a teardrop sometime this summer. I've got a half done 15' sailboat in my shop right now, so there's no room to start another project. Hope to finish the boat this winter and get going on the teardrop in spring.

I've got the Kuffel Creek Cubby plans and I'll stick to the plans closely. Who knows after that. The only thing I'll change is that I'll put a wood skin on the outside. Right now I'm not sure if that will be cedar strip or ply. That'll be a decision for later.

Thanks for the site. It'll be an interesting read to see all the other projects.

John

[mikeschn]

Welcome to the forum John,

Look around awhile, you might decide to customize your teardrop. Many of us do!



Mike...

[Mike C.]

Hi John,


Welcome to the forum. Jump in and start your build and if you have questions, just ask. Be sure and post lots of pictures, cause we like pictures.

See you around.

[dan galvin]

HI JOHN
Do not rely on those plans for every thing they are a good general
guide.I am in the middle of my build and I feel the plans I got from them
are not the greatist but a good guide to go by.
The generc build from this sight that is free seem to help me more

Have fun on your build take lots of pic

Dan

[Miriam C.]

to the playground John. Sounds like you will have some plan time. Making a boat seems to go with making a TD. A lot will be similar. Like getting lots of stuff in a small place and getting it waterproof. The rest is all fun

Enjoy the site and please cause the pictures keep that bubble oil level. Oh and we would love to see the boat too.

[Roly Nelson]

Right on, John, another woody in the planning stages. Welcome to the forum, remember if you have questions, we have answers. Do give some consideration on using plans as a general guide and don't hesitate to incorperate your own woodworking skills to make it distinctively yours. As a boat builder, you surely have some talents that can be expressed in wood. BTW, there are sources on this board that can give you some info on using the wood-strip method, with pictures of their results as well.
Roly Hurry and finish that boat and get started on that teardrop trailer.

[Juneaudave]

Wecome John!!!! I vote strip build...but shoot....all the trailers are really nice!!!! Hope you have a good time with the build and ask any questions you might have!!!!

[John Bailey]

Do give some consideration on using plans as a general guide and don't hesitate to incorperate your own woodworking skills to make it distinctively yours. As a boat builder, you surely have some talents that can be expressed in wood.
Roly Hurry and finish that boat and get started on that teardrop trailer.

I got to tell you Roly, the 1/2 Nelson was one of the TearDrops that inspired me. That plus a wander lust. Yea, I like wood and we'll see how expressive I can be. You've certainly raised the bar with your creation.

John

[Roly Nelson]

Thanks for the cudos, John. How inspiring it is to know that a fellow woodworker is promped to do his-thing, because of a little-ol'-me. One suggestion, if you plan to build a woody, do spend the extra bucks and use a higher grade plywood than I did, which was the cheapest lauan that Lowes had on their shelves. Remember, take pics as you go along, as you will only have one chance to do it. Post em, as we all love pics and we look forward to sharing a campfire with you some day while you are out enjoying your new creation.
Roly
PS, I remember the East Jordan area well. We holed up in Gaylord in our motorhome for a week, while we took the tow car to both lakeshores, checking out the many lighthouses. What a great adventure. When you decide to break in your new teardrop and visit the west coast, swing on by and we'll swap stories about woody construction and perhaps a bit of lighthouse ventures as well.

Oh, BTW, a winter trip would be the way to go, as the balmy seashores and desert scenes would make for fine camping in that brand new custom-built woody teardrop trailer.........See you here after you brave the green prairies, cornfields, continental divide, rocky mountains, deserts, endless sagebrush and cactus. I remember them well back in 1952 on my honeymoon.........(motels, $9.50 a night) Good luck on your build.

[tinksdad]

Do give some consideration on using plans as a general guide and don't hesitate to incorperate your own woodworking skills to make it distinctively yours. As a boat builder, you surely have some talents that can be expressed in wood.
Roly Hurry and finish that boat and get started on that teardrop trailer.

I got to tell you Roly, the 1/2 Nelson was one of the TearDrops that inspired me. That plus a wander lust. Yea, I like wood and we'll see how expressive I can be. You've certainly raised the bar with your creation.

John

It was the 1/4 nelson that got me off my a** and starting to build the first one!!!!

[John Bailey]

Oh and we would love to see the boat too.

Thanks Miriam,

There's not much to show of the boat as it is a work in progress.



I'll be lucky to get it done this winter. What you don't see is the 18' kayak hanging from the rafters that I need to finish also. (You're probably catchin' on to my work habits.) Right now I'm replacing my 1949 Delta 14" band saw with a rebuild 1959 Oliver 192.



I should have that done this weekend. I'll get a picture of the finished rebuild.

So, the teardrop is really going to be a summer project, but, since I'm usually out of the country during the summer, don't know if I'll get it done. I guess it's going to be a winter project also.

Anyway, thanks for the good words and I hope to meet many of you in the future.

John

[John Bailey]

One suggestion, if you plan to build a woody, do spend the extra bucks and use a higher grade plywood than I did, which was the cheapest lauan that Lowes had on their shelves.

I've not decided on the outside wood yet. One plan is to use cedar strips, which I can mill in my shop. That would probably be the cheapest route. If not that, then I'll be using Sapelle marine ply for the outside. It's expensive, but when comparing the cost over using the cheaper stuff for this project, it'll add up to less than $200 difference and I'll have the best. Seems worth it at this point in my life.

By the way, "little-ol-you" did a hell of a job on the trailer.

John