Bow of tugas

Tugas is the strongest (and most expensive) wood. Naturally bowed piece of tugas here worked for the bow beam.

Hull before flooring.

Word of the day: panulong = bow, ulin = stern

Plywood skin

Before putting up You must paint the plywood sheets on inside, after You cannot reach all places.

Problem in our small town is often things "No stock, Sir". Takes time and gazoline. And 'patiencia'.

Word of the day: salog = floor, deck

Work on agreement

Now hull frame ready and we start coating the sides with plywood.

Boatbuilders work on agreement or paqiau. They get a fixed sum after work done. While working they have full pension, i.e. they sleep ant eat at Your place.

Word of the day: paqiau = agreement, settlement

Sawdust

Every joint is glued with epoxy and eventuell gaps filled with sawdust epoxy mix. Every inch of wood must be treated with epoxy products for protection. Still bancas have limited life expectancy due to to tropical climate and tropical seas.

First pic shows how hull frame coming up. Second pic of pilling sawdust mix in a joint - mano, mano.

Word of the day: bahala na = shit will happen or que sera

Marine Blue ofcourse

Epoxy is the word in banca building. Marine epoxy in every joint, piece of wood. Epoxy paint also to protect wood. There is dry rot and wet rot, sea borers, clams, algae etc. Wooden boat takes many a hit in sea water. And every year You must take the boat up, inspect and repair what needed. Maintainence is the key for long life.

Here kasco painted with epoxy paint Marine Blue. Next pic shows how the ribs coming up.

We orderd bamboo for outriggers and rig. Must be a special kind of bamboo for any specific use. Funny it showed that this bamboo-connection family also relatives to Ali.

Word of the day: katig = outrigger spars (arms), tarik = outrigger floaters

Banca is pumpboat is outrigger canoe

Traditional banca is ancient means of transport in Philippines, and in all SE Asia. Only name differs; banka, bangka, waka ama, vaka, va'a, wa'a. Pasific island all the way to Hawaii were settled with Yi people sailing bancas.

Firstly I planned for a sailing banca, called paraw in here. Still I dream of paraw. Maybe one day...

This project is a 24' banca, in waterline. Also with outboard engine which is slightly more expensive but pros so many. I go with Yamaha 2-stroke, lighter than 4-stroke (36 vs 50 kg). 15 hk should be (more than) enough, not a racing boat. Folks joking that banca's ideal position is upside down and seeking this all the time ;-)

You start with the keel. We go with sandwich construction, 2x 1" Santa Klara plywood. Traditionally karot wood is used but plywood getting more popular 'cause they say plywood lighter and stronger. And sea borers wont eat plywood.

Our builder from Santa Rosa, an island out of Lapu Lapu. He's been building many a banca. He knows what to do. No hesitation what to do next.

Word of the day: kasco - keel, hull

It will be a...

Dream project starts today. A friend said You only happy two times with it; when You start it and when You sell it. We have some plywood and some timber. What will it be? See tomorrow.

Word of the day: susunod - to be continued