Laser levels?

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Laser levels?

Postby SMHolmans on Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:29 am

I would like to use a laser level to mark up the water line and boot top for painting the hull. Does anybody have recommendations for a good type/make?
Thanks!
SMHolmans
 
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Location: Oxford, United Kingdom

Re: Laser levels?

Postby [email protected] on Thu Aug 12, 2021 9:23 pm

I marked my waterline a couple of weeks ago with a $32 laser level I bought from Amazon for this purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JX7NG7X (there are dozens of models available in this price range). It worked great. I used the laser for leveling the keel as well as actually marking the water line. I was happy that the marking could be done even if the laser was only 5 or so feet away from the boat, because my cramped working area wouldn't allow me to get it further away.

My goal is to duplicate the waterline and boot stripe layout of PS #1, since it looks nicer than any other PS I have seen photos of. The manual says its waterline was marked 16 1/2" below the bottom of the keel, but I found that I had to set the laser an inch or so lower to match the final appearance of PS #1. When I actually paint the white boot stripe, I'll use the laser again to mark its location.

Doug
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Location: Princeton, NJ

Re: Laser levels?

Postby SMHolmans on Fri Aug 13, 2021 3:24 am

That's exactly what I needed to know Doug. Thanks! I'm doing the same as you regarding colour scheme and boot top, and was curious if an inexpensive level would be good enough.
Thanks again.
SMHolmans
 
Posts: 174
Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2017 7:38 am
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom

Re: Laser levels?

Postby afairaizl on Fri Apr 22, 2022 10:53 am

Screen Shot 2022-04-22 at 11.45.26.png
Screen Shot 2022-04-22 at 11.45.26.png (240.22 KiB) Viewed 1425 times


Adding a pic with lights on/off since I just hit that stage. Lasers are frickin cool. I started at the stern lining up the vertical laser to the keel and worked my way around. Definitely don't forget to completely level the keel before starting.

Tip - Since you will likely have to move the laser several times - mark lines in pencil on the walls where the horizontal beam hits. It adds another layer of verification you're in the right plane after the move and the beam lines up again. Also, measure different points where the laser line bisects the chine from the bow and stern (port/starboard) and you'll get an idea quickly of how symmetrical you are at that point.

Screen Shot 2022-04-22 at 11.47.23.png
Screen Shot 2022-04-22 at 11.47.23.png (208.84 KiB) Viewed 1427 times
Thanks,

Drew - Hampton, NH, USA
PocketShip 'Dreams Won't Wait'
Build Started: Oct 2021
Boat Launched: May 5th, 2023
Build Blog - https://www.dreamswontwait.com
Photo dump = https://photos.app.goo.gl/dS2tViRpgq4YZH8o6
afairaizl
 
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Location: Coastal New England

Re: Laser levels?

Postby [email protected] on Fri Apr 22, 2022 3:26 pm

A tip: Even if the laser line is not immediately visible from a distance (like at the far ends of the beam), you can easily see it if you view it
up close from the correct angle. I had no trouble marking an entire side in one shot, even though the laser was only 5 feet from the side of the boat.

Doug
[email protected]
 
Posts: 183
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2020 2:47 pm
Location: Princeton, NJ


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