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

White Beach

Every island have at least one White Beach. Of some reazon folks like sand beaches. I dont. We have White Beach in Saavedra but locals call it BasDako or BigSand. Beach in Panagsama is called BasDiot or SmallSand.

Many stories where Panagsama´s sand beach gone. They say taifun took it. I say look at all the concrete buildings in Panagsama. There is all the sand.

When even little sand blown in by tides and monsoons, they bag it away. 10 peso a bag. As building material it is used as it is, salty and weak for contruction. Or washed sand, little better.

Worl of the day: bas, balas, bunbon = sand

Unos

Strong gust took down the big tree blocking half of our view out to the sea. Now we can see Pescador island from all of our lot.

These gusts come in very fast. Still I cannot predict what dark clouds just rain and what is just strong wind. I mean, soon I have a banca and when caught in open sea by these strong winds, I smell trouble. Must have respect for local conditions.

Bukid mama one night bring a mouse home and eat up. Following two nights bring in birds and give to kittens to play and eat. Only I was early morning standing in kitchen and filling up water kettle, suddenly feel strong bites in my feet, look down and see red ants who come because rests of bird all over the rug.

I can handle most in here but not red ant bites. Takes more than one week to heal. First I have to scratch the coming bubble so blood comes out (and poison), then slowly with zink paste dry up the wounds. Really PITA.

Word of the day: unos = gust

Walk the walk

September 9 Junior walking longer streches. Before only 3 steps. His walking was maybe a little late, by almost 14 months, but he is very careful and wont fall recklessly.

Jerry and Banjing loading a 60 kg bucket on Honda to sell in Ginatilan. Today the catch is tagnipis, a small anjovis, coming from Zaracosa. One bucket is 950 peso. Resale price is 25 peso/kg. Profit 10 peso/kg. Hinay hinay.

Pancikol coming again. Price is from 100 peso.

Word of the day: tagnipis = anjovis (one of many a kind)