For my Engineering Diploma I have to do a project so I'm going to build a powerboat.

From looking at some photos I managed to draw up the bulkheads and make this model in ProEngineer. The cabin needs some more work.

The bulkheads and keel were cut out using a laser cutter.

Now have the stringers glued on and the hull mounted on the building board ready for the skins.

1st skin is now glued in place.

Today I glued on the second skin and used car body filler to fill and smooth the joint.

I have heard about coating wooden hull's in thinned epoxy, has anyone tried this before?

All 6 skins are on, I used more filler and sanding to smooth the joints. The tape was stuck on to see what the hull will look like when the joints are finished.

Today I got the hull of the building board. This was done by prising and smashing the bulkhead supports of the building board. I think the hull looks good and it only weighs 550 grams.

Next job is the boat stand.....

Today I made the boat stand, used the trick of wrapping solder round the hull to get the shape then transferred it onto the wood and cut it out.

Also fitted the rudder, rudder servo and ESC.

The ESC is only 30A but will be fine for the graupner 600 plus it has LiPo cut off.

Got the propshaft and motor in, it runs very smooth and quietly

I filled the front 2 sections with expanding foam so if the boat ends up upside down, full of water it should still float and I'll be able to rescue it.

Today I used a CNC Miller to make the mould for the cabin. The cabin was designed In ProEngineer first and then milled.

The mould was milled from a dense foam material.

After milling the mould I used a vacuum former to make the cabin In clear polypropylene.