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Steve Sobba
Steve Sobba
  • Male
  • Wichita, KS
  • United States
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Steve Sobba's Discussions

Kansas Driftboat takes 1st Float
12 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Jesse Ronnow Apr 11, 2010.

Number Crunching!
10 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Jesse Ronnow Dec 16, 2009.

Rub Strip attachment
9 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Steve Sobba Feb 6, 2010.

 

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Latest Activity

Steve Sobba commented on Steve Sobba's photo
Sorry to be so late in acknowledging your comments. You are correct, the picture was taken just under Kellogg street (US54) . We are still in need of rain! Most of the area lakes are down 4 to 5 ft. When I 1st built my boat this is where I would…
Jan 19
Steve Sobba commented on Steve Sobba's photo
Yes , 18 foot Don Hill Fly Fisher, a Rocker, that is about all it is for right now. We need rain! Lakes  are down 4 to 5 feet this past year.  Sorry to hear about your sensitivity to the saw dust. We all need to pay heed to safety, guilty…
Jan 17
Dave Z commented on Steve Sobba's photo
Now that is what i call ROCKER!
Jan 17
twoblacklabs commented on Steve Sobba's photo
Isn't this just downstream (mud) of the big Indian? I was stationed at McConnell from '87-'91. If I recall correctly, it gets pretty skinny there and requires dredging every few years.   For the non locals, it's pronounced…
Oct 26, 2011
Steve Sobba replied to James S.'s discussion 'Plywood Resource'
James, When I built me boat in 2008  I obtained my marine plywood from Homestead Hardwood, just add a .com , out of Vickery, Ohio.  I was very pleased with quality, service and shipping.  There site came up so I think they are still…
Sep 5, 2011
Steve Sobba commented on Steve Sobba's photo
Jerry, Thought I would send along  more information. My boats beam is 81 82 inches . bottom beam is around 55 inches.  My trailer is around 66 wide outside dia of main frame.  96 inches  length of main frame . th yoke 3 x3 beam…
Dec 18, 2010
Steve Sobba commented on Steve Sobba's photo
Jerry , Sorry to be so late in returning a reply.   I think I ordered the 1st set of plans from Gleen -L ...boat trailer plans by Ken Hankison  They sent with the plans or I got from the internet a Article on How to build…
Dec 17, 2010
Jerry Thompson commented on Steve Sobba's photo
Steve, good looking trailer. Did you build the trailer from scratch? If so, where did you get the plans?  I want to build one. I have the equipment and skills needed but I don't know anything about designing a trailer. I have the…
Dec 13, 2010
Steve Sobba commented on Troy Nicolls's photo
Troy , All looks great! I agree with you about cutting those angle on the the saw. my fence does not fit on the left side of the saw blade on that 35 year old table saw. I used a circular worm gear saw used in house framing. I am right handed and…
Jul 5, 2010
Jesse Ronnow replied to Steve Sobba's discussion 'Kansas Driftboat takes 1st Float'
Steve, Great looking boat. I echo some of the statements below about your first boat on the water. You should drag that beauty out west for one of the Wood Boat Shows. JDR
Apr 11, 2010
Jason Knight replied to Steve Sobba's discussion 'Kansas Driftboat takes 1st Float'
Sweet job Steve! makes it all worth it one you see it float.
Apr 7, 2010
Steve Sobba replied to Steve Sobba's discussion 'Kansas Driftboat takes 1st Float'
Thanks for the invite, will see what schedule is thanks for the advise on the oars also
Apr 7, 2010
AJ DeRosa replied to Steve Sobba's discussion 'Kansas Driftboat takes 1st Float'
Nice work Steve. You have created a beauty that will last a lifetime. Your oars are only heavy because a 10'er is probably a foot too long. We are happy with 9'ers on our 17'x54"ers and some even like 8 1/2's for this size…
Apr 5, 2010
Steve Sobba replied to Steve Sobba's discussion 'Kansas Driftboat takes 1st Float'
I would like that. thanks again for congrats from all of you. Steve
Apr 5, 2010
Scott Hepler replied to Steve Sobba's discussion 'Kansas Driftboat takes 1st Float'
Congratulations Steve, Your boat looks great. I know what you mean about it has been a long winter. I am in KC and couldn't work on my boat for 2 month, I just couldn't keep the garage warm without breaking the bank. Maybe us midwesterner…
Apr 5, 2010
Dave Z replied to Steve Sobba's discussion 'Kansas Driftboat takes 1st Float'
Very nice. Its always a memorable moment to get the first boat on the water. daveZ
Apr 5, 2010

Profile Information

Hometown:
Fowler, Ks
About Me:
Wanted a new wood work challenge, started drift boat project a year ago, May 2008, and I really was taken by the lines of the McKinze River Drift Boat. Have built parts of experimental airplanes remolded homes, and built a 51 chevy truck with one of my sons.
Boats I own:
3/4 completed 18 foot drift boat

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Comment Wall (7 comments)

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At 1:35pm on December 13, 2009, Mike BakerMike Baker said…
Hey Steve,
Your boat turned out great! I am part way into building the same boat, I have a question if you don't mind. The plans say on rib #8 that there are two angles for the rib, I am sure when I get to it it will be clear but I have been wondering what that is all about. Also did you go with the 3/4" thick chine or go a little thinner, because I know those Don Hill boats really bend at around rib 8.
Thanx for any info you want to provide
Mike
At 6:42pm on September 13, 2009, Jonathan ClarkeJonathan Clarke said…
I always tell people to get three confirmations before they believe anything they read on the internet. Turns, out that's true for the stuff I write, too. The tubing o.d. is 2.5", not 3", but it is more or less .0625" wall. Stone is the brand name on the bushing, which is made of some high tech plastic or another. I bought the tubing and the bushing from McMaster Carr, an industrial mail order place in Chicago, although I used to buy them many years ago at an industrial supply place in Minneapolis. I don't have a McMaster Carr P/N for the tubing now, but I recently redid my setup with a half inch axle. I used their tube bushings P/N 60565K26 with reducer bushings P/N 2705T33. You may not want to order from them, but their web site should help you decide what you want if you can at least reference those numbers.
At 7:38pm on June 23, 2009, Jesse RonnowJesse Ronnow said…
Steven,

Kudos to you for ingenuity. They look great. You will have to let me know what you think of them after you get the boat on the water. I wish I could be more help on the oars question, that's one area I need to work on a bit.

Tight lines,

Jesse
At 4:30am on June 22, 2009, Jason KnightJason Knight said…
Steven,
The exterior of my boat is a few coats of Z-Spar (2015) Captains Varnish over epoxy. The interior is just oiled. This was my first time varnishing a boat - and if I had to do it over, I would have built up a few coats of varnish on the panels before construction while they were laying flat - but I was not sure how I wanted to finish the exterior until I had it built... The Captains seemed to roll and tip pretty well - though I do not really have a means for comparison.

You have a great looking project there! Love those front seats too...
At 9:54pm on June 19, 2009, Jesse RonnowJesse Ronnow said…
Steven,

The boat is beautiful. If I may, did you design the front seat yourself? If so may I ask how? I love it.

Jesse
At 5:05pm on June 7, 2009, Jesse RonnowJesse Ronnow said…
Steven,

It is Line-X truck bed liner. The stuff is indestructible. Having said that their are a couple of issue you need to be aware of. 1st off, it weighs in at about .7 lbs per square foot and is heavier than most other options (glass Kevlar, UHMW). 2nd, it is not the slickest stuff on the market. 3rd, once the stuff goes on, it's not coming off. Well it may come off but chances are you are going to have to replace the surface it is attached to. Because of this last one, it is not recommended that you cover the chine cap... that is if you are building a framed boat. The chine cap generally takes the hardest beating and therefore may need to be replaced multiple times during the life of a boat.

I chose to use the stuff for a couple of reasons. #1, my boat is nearly 30 years old and I wanted to make sure that there was going to be no leaking, or seeping at all; mission accomplished. #2, because the stuff is indestructible. Even though it is not supper slick, which by the way is wonderful when sliding over rocks and gravel bars, it does not tear, rip, crack or break down at all. And it does a good job in the sliding department, just not as good as say Kevlar. #3 I only use this boat on the very clam (with respect to rapids) rivers of the Henry's Fork, South Fork of the Snake and Madison rivers. Therefore the concerns at this late stage of her life regarding the need to change the chine cap are pretty minimal.

I am planning on building another boat and will probably use the stuff again, however will only be on the bottom of the boat. I will purposely leave the chine cap exposed in case I need to replace it.

Man that was long winded, I hope some of that was helpful. Good luck with your decision and please let me know if you have any other questions.

Tight lines,

Jesse

P.S. what rivers are you planning on floating in KS?
At 10:34am on May 31, 2009, Randy DershamRandy Dersham said…
Welcome Steven, Post us some photos. It's always fun to watch the projects take shape. I hope you enjoy the site.
 
 
 

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