(The Puffin) New Tiny Trailer

[NoNeck]

did you put fiberglass cloth on your whole roof when you built it?

[steve wolverton]

:thinking: did you put fiberglass cloth on your whole roof when you built it?

Nope, I just sealed it with two coats of epoxy that I applied with a roller. I used the fiberglass on the seam here because I want the joint really strong.

[NoNeck]

I have really learned so much from your posts and pics. I hope to start a build soon. I have two troublsome teens right now that are making that difficult. But i appreciate all your knowledge. Your Awsome!! Thanks

[steve wolverton]

:thumbsup: I have really learned so much from your posts and pics.

Thanks. I have learned a lot from this forum as well, and I keep getting fantastic ideas from these guys. It makes it easier when you have a good group of people wanting to see you succeed.

[steve wolverton]

Wow, I just realized the thread has 40K+ views!

*patiently waiting for my 4th shirt from Mike*

[apratt]

looking good Steve. You have done a good job on your trailer.

[apratt]

I wonder if the 40+k veiws is a record??

[steve wolverton]

Last pics for tonight.


This is the final coat of epoxy mixed with glass bubbles. This stuff sands very easily.


Since I enjoy sanding so much, I thought I'd give this a try. This is the poor man's version of peel ply. After I spread out the epoxy/glassbubble mixture, I press some waxed paper onto it. (The taps is to keep the wind from lifting it) I then smoothed it with the palm of my hand. I've never tried this before, but it seems like it should work just fine. Besides, it's no big deal if I have to sand the epoxy/glassbubbles - it's nothing like sanding woodflour.

If the wax paper works, then I'm going to try it on my canoe.

Speaking of canoe - I found another one that I really like. I think I'm going to build this one instead of the one I was drawing up:



Oh, and if you want to something *really* cool - check out this 55+mph sailboat on hydrofoils!

http://www.hydroptere.com/

I'm not sure what they're saying (I don't speak french) but I think the guys are yelling "Slow down! Slow it the f*#@ down dude!"

[steve wolverton]

looking good Steve. You have done a good job on your trailer.

Thanks, I appreciate that. As for the records of most views, I'm not sure. I hadn't thought about that.

I think the reason this post gets a lot of views is because people can go from the first day of my build to my current. I also try to keep most of it together (although I do get off-topic quite a bit) so you don't have to jump all over the forum and find out what I'm working on next. It's not like everything has worked either - (I wasn't crazy about the first interior paint scheme and added texture to the interior and painted it beige, changed to smooth exterior sides, changed up the paint on the outside, cut up the bed to make a settee, removed that goofy exterior spar, etc.) Maybe someone can learn from my mistakes, or maybe it will inspire ideas for their own campers.

[flygal6]

Hey Steve,
Love your Puffin....fantastic job. In regards to your trimaran....you may want to check out windrider.com. They make great little lightweight, fast trimarans. I own a 17ft and love it. They also were making a hydrofoil model called the Rave. Might be out of production now but lots still around for sail and/or information on the web about them. Might give you some more ideas. I also know Hobie just put out a kyak type trimaran as well, very portable for cartop.
Hope this helps
Carol

[steve wolverton]

want to check out windrider.com. They make great little lightweight, fast trimarans. I own a 17ft and love it. They also were making a hydrofoil model called the Rave. Might be out of production now but lots still around for sail and/or information on the web about them.

Yeah, I've been looking at all of the trimarans, sailing canoes, proa's, and sailing kayaks I can. I've seen the windriders - nice rig! As for the Rave - very cool but I'm sure it wouldn't be long before I came up too high and dropped it a few feet under water. I really like the trifoiler too, but that's way out of my league.

I'm going to build as it's cheaper, and usually lighter. I need to keep my rig (16' canoe + amas) under 100 pounds. This will allow me to cartop the boat, pull the Puffin, and have the mountain bikes on the back of the camper when I get a receiver rack mounted. Lots of toys for the camping trips.

[Donutboy]

Yes--you've done a great job and inspired a lot of people. I've even noticed people planning to "build a Puffin" in other threads on this board. Maybe you should have called your design a "Wolverton". You'd really be famous then!

I finally talked my wife into it. Going to get the NT 5x8 trailer this weekend. The design I finally settled on is basically the one you have, except I'm going with a smaller radius at the back, and going with provisions for side by side cots over the bed for the two boys, currently ages 3 and 6 (got that idea from someone on this board that built a teardrop with cots). I'll also make the table go all the way to the back since I have to seat four people.

I've debated on leaving the bathroom where you have it, or moving it by the door which would leave an L-shaped counter on the other side. I'll probably go with your design unless I come up with something really clever.

Is there anything about your design that you would change if you started from scratch today?

[steve wolverton]

I finally talked my wife into it.

It's on!

Is there anything about your design that you would change if you started from scratch today?

I would make the bathroom smaller. Instead of it being 30 x 36, I'd make it 24 x 36. I'd also extend the drop floor all the way across the camper (until it hit the frame rail) and build it out of 1/2" ply instead of the 3/4" ply I used.

If I wasn't concerned with weight, I would also drop the floor at the bed/settee area so that I'd have more headroom while sitting at the table. I would drop it 6" and lower the benches/bed 6" too since I'd have a footwell.

That's about it I guess - I'm quite happy with my camper.

[angib]

I brought out my big daddy WMD grinder (AEG Grinder)

For this sort of work, a really small, really light 4-1/2" angle grinder, or even better the rare 4" version, that fits entirely within the palm of one hand is really the best tool - you can get your face right up to the workpiece to see what you're doing (without worrying about the monster in your hands) and you've still got the other (bare) hand to run over the job and feel if you're sanding it right.

This is one of those rare occasions when a cheapy, light, low powered tool is actually better than something more macho.

And you can then call it "an electric spokeshave", 'cos that's what it is!

Andrew

[steve wolverton]

For this sort of work, a really small, really light 4-1/2" angle grinder, or even better the rare 4" version, that fits entirely within the palm of one hand is really the best tool

Agreed - if I had one. My last grinder (cheap HF) gave up the ghost and I haven't replaced it yet. It was either my AEG monster - or my belt sander. After spending absurd amounts of time sanding epoxy/woodflour mixtures with a belt sander, it didn't take long to decide which tool to use.