The oppertunity came up to build a new -- and I might add -- better Orca, so I thought I'd share the build. I know it's been done before, so won't go into the nit picky details until we get to the "new and improved" parts. Several very nice photos were provided for details that I had not seen before, so this one will definitely be a cut above the rest.

The hull was planked with 1/8 X 5/8 boards, so the number of planks will be scale. As always, you can't have too many clamps.

The bottom planking was finished, and the the first side plank laid at the chine, before the hull was lifted from the board. From there, the rest of the planks were laid.

The main deck was cut from 1/8 balsa and glued to the hull. The splash rails were made from 1/32 ply and glued in place.

The 1/4 balsa triangle strakes were glued in place next. The p-type Orca didn't have these and it handled a bit funny in the wind. The second one did, and it handled much better.

The Stuffing Box was made up from 3/16 and 5/32 O.D. brass tube. The 1/2 long bearings were soldered in both ends, then the assembly glued into the hull and faired with epoxy and micro ballons.

SWEEEEEEEEEEEET, as always.....Ivan!

The forward cabin sides were built over the plans, then glued in place on the hull. The remaining assembly was built up directly on the hull. The windshield frame was also built up over the plans, then glued to the main cabin sides and fore deck.

With the basic cabin assembly in place, the edges of the deck and splash rails were faired and sealed using a good stand-up mix of epoxy and micro balloons. The slurry was applied with a syringe, then pulled to shape by dragging it off with a finger. By doing it this way, when the mix is right, litterally no sanding is required.

Finally, the leftover epoxy mix was applied to the frame/plank joints inside the hull.

PAT

looking good

Very cool Pat! Orca is a great boat to have around! amazing how many people still recognize it 30+ years after the movie!

wow the build quality looks excellent

About all that got done today was cutting and fitting the main cabin roof and the sft deck. The cabin roof is 3/16 balsa, the rear deck is 1/8 balsa with the planks scribed in with a fine point ball point pen using the Mayline on the old drafting table.

PAT

I can only dream of building like this, will this one be for sale Pat?, incredible work, and so damn neat, the epoxy fills look as though they were done by machine, very, very, very nice!

Originally Posted by Tug Lover

will this one be for sale Pat?

Everything Is For Sale

Tug, This one's already promised, but there's more where that came from.

KMOT, That's true, to a point... Someone offered me a good bit more for the p-type then I thought it was worth once, but that's one boat I just couldn't let go. Got a soft spot for it somehow. I guess it just goes that way some times.

PAT

Guys, click on the "Everything Is For Sale" highlighted link and watch the video!