Projects
Cinder block dome model
After constructing the Dome check-fixture (shown on a previous post) I decided to go all-out and make a foam model of the structure. I also wanted to know how many 6″ by 8″ by 8″ hollow cinderblocks it would take to construct the dome. An upper layer block sometimes needed to be shortened in order…
Mini Tug boat
I’ve always had a fascination with tug boats, especially ones that are very small. I love playing with the boundaries of a 4ft by 8ft sheet of 6mm thick fluted plastic. The material, if you’re careful, can withstand the weight of the pilot and take on small low speed run-ins with docks, branches or…
Budget transitional homeless shelter
I made this 44 sq. ft. usable interior floor-space shelter in an attempt to bring down the cost of the Conestoga Hut. All materials were purchased new. The total cost with interior bed, shelves, and counters came to under $900. An additional 4 foot mid-section can be added (making it 67 square feet) at a…
Cinderblock beehive dome building Jig
An early rendition of a 16 foot diameter Beehive shaped dome. Years ago I was interested in Geodesic domes until, being a drywall finisher, I had the misfortune to mud one of these beasts. Luckily the home owner, already finding the expenses way too high for this project, allowed us to use a rubber trowel…
Coro Speedboat III
This is the original Coro Speed boat just before the first launch. I had a lot of fun scooting around with my 1.2 hp Gamefisher motor. I’ve had build plans for this for some time now. I used a 6mm thick fluted plastic sheet for the hull. A little later I added this arced decking…
Coro Speedboat / Cabin Cruiser
This is my favorite boat so far. If you haven’t noticed yet, I like small spaces, and this collapsable cabin is a fun add-on to the Coro Speedboat. It swings out of the way, resting on the back of the boat. This makes entering and exiting the boat fairly easy. If your battery dies,…
Gas Motorized Kayak
I’ve owned this Gamefisher 1.2 horse power motor for a decade. I’ve used it on several boats I’ve built in the past. It only weighs 15 pounds and sips gas. It works like a dream, when it wants to. On the day I tested out this set-up, the motor was successfully started at home,…
Nomad Pedal Camper
I am a proud American, but these flags are more about RedNeck protection when navigating rural roads. This was my original idea when thinking of a pedal camper. The idea came after reading the article below back in 1992. I later met and became friends with Steven Roberts as he settled just up the…
Human Powered Vehicles (Ebook)
For those of you who love human power for fun or transportation, this 82 page very unique Ebook takes a deep dive into my past thoughts on alternative transportation and toys. The following are a few sample pages. You can purchase this $15 Ebook on my plans page HERE. This is the first volume of…
Nomad Bicycle Camper (first mock-up)
Ever since towing my first bicycle camper in strong headwinds at the Burningman festival did I realize the importance of having a round or small front end. But this camper required aluminum framing to support the body, bringing the dry weight to about 100 pounds. I was thinking of the easiest way to reshape…