How long is this going to take?

Well, I said it was going to be a fun read, I just didn't mention that it would take a lifetime to read it. Alright, the delay in progress has been due to an unfortunate and severely disabling disease that has besieged my poor wife; multiple sclerosis. She has been wrestling with this disease for the past six years now. It seems the disease has been leading the scoreboard for the past two years.

On a lighter side, my time has been allocated to her care full-time since March of this year. I have left my work, and settled in at home, much to her uh...enjoyment, and provide a variety of services that I didn't even know existed until just recently; My clothes always magically appeared on hangers, cleaned and pressed. I should also mention that apparently there is a specific method for performing these services or else you face certain disciplinary action up to and including, God forbid, the silent treatment.

It was during one of these periods of my learning process that I pulled out my Paradox plans and started to refuel my interest in this endeavour. If studied in a psychological way, it probably suggests a desire to run and hide. Thankfully, that is not the case.

New dosage adjustments are showing positive results. I hope the next 20 years we can lead the scoreboard. With a little luck, we can get back on our feet, in her case literally, and again start to enjoy our lives. Maybe, just maybe, I can attack this boat again in good conscience that my wife's needs have been met.


God bless.

Cheap or affordable

Since I am trying to limit my expenditures on this project, my tool collection will reflect that limitation. I should be a good source to those who have thoughts that inexpensive tools are cheap. I personally do not yet know if that is true or not. BUT,  I will be able to provide that answer as I move forward. I have never been one that has to have the latest and greatest. So I shop for tools now based on a combination of cost and average public ratings based on the reviews from a few separate sources ie Amazon, Home Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight and get the least expensive rated above average. I have read many reviews on items and found that the purchase was just fine and the item operated perfect for my needs. I'll share my experience with the affordable tools I acquire with the hope of inspiring those with little funds and no shop who are in the market for usable power tools that it is possible to spend little and still get a great tool.

I did spend over budget on a Porter Cable drill/driver and impact driver combo by about $50.00 because I was going to buy a Harbor Freight set but they were out of stock, and I needed a drill for other projects as well. I made up for that overage by saving $400.00 when I chose to take a chance on a Ryobi Table saw instead of the craftsman or rigid model I was currently saving for. So, love the drill and driver to date, but I will have to wait to give my thoughts on the table saw for now. As for assembly of the thing it was a no-brainer with no snags including adjusting the blade.

My plans have arrived

Actually, they arrived last week sometime. Now I have been hit with the set up the workshop aka garage bug. I can see how in a lot of ways it would be better to buy everything at once and just get started. I am still struggling with finding a good supplier of lumber. Since I am operating on a just above non existent budget, I wish I could just run down to the local lumber yard pick out a couple of what I need and start constructing something. What happens in reality is that I am chomping on the bit to get started, but no business here carries the particular lumber I am looking for, so I do the next best thing and spend on tools, or supplies. Well, at least I will be capable of making the first cut when I get something to cut. More to come. I plan on adding pics of my progress as well. For now though, who wants to see a garage full of clutter and a new shop vac.

Finally a set of plans.

I finally managed to get my Paradox plans ordered on Tuesday. I can hardly wait for them to arrive. In the meantime I have begun compiling a Harbor Freight Tools shopping list, so far this is what I have come up with: Saw horses, Clamps, Clamps, Clamps, and Clamps. Going to use System 3 epoxy. It looks like I am going to get no cooperation from any local lumber yards, so I am going to be ordering my plywood and lumber from out of state and paying freight charges. I believe I have found a decent supplier with reasonable prices. More on that end later. For now, eagerly awaiting the arrival of "The Plans".

Paradox builders manual

I just received my copy of the Building Paradox Paradox Boat Builders Manual. I ordered it online through Don's wife Wanda. This manual is fantastic. I haven't ordered my plans yet, those will get ordered in the next couple of weeks, but this manual is awesome. Having not seen the plans yet, I had a few questions and this manual really clarifies many stages of the build sequence, as well as giving some fantastic tips and guidance where it is most needed. I heartily recommend this be added to any Paradox builder's collection of tools, it is worth every penny of it's minimal cost. ($14.00 USD for the .pdf version). As soon as my plans arrive, hopefully by the end of the month, I'll be making my first cuts: the mast, followed by the spars, and yuloh.
Oh man, I can't wait.

Random brainstorming of some add-ons

• Grab rails up front and on afterdeck
• Some sort of exterior steering. I would like to be able to sit on back deck and still be able to work the tiller.
• Mechanical windvane for self-steering.
• Removeable rear window to allow for sitting on back deck and have legs hang into cockpit.

Updated paint scheme sample, thought I would include all my employers as fake-sponsors just for fun, they did contribute after all, just indirectly.

Just collecting my thoughts in one place. 

Look, I found a twin brother

OkieBoat: plans: It took me a while to get some forward momentum. Originally started looking for Flicka plans . Stumbled upon plans for a Paradox ; that...

...  I know what you mean.