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Light sculling trainier: Stitched together! |
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Written by Jon
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Monday, 31 March 2008 |
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Well, I'd have to say it was a good weekend. On Friday night, I stayed in and worked on the boat some. Then Saturday Dad and I attempted to sail.Sunday there was no wind, which led to adventures of a different kind at eh Italian Festival in Ybor City (my liver still hurts from that afternoon)
I decided not to glue the ends together first. When I got the side panels up on some horses, I laid the bottom panels on and started drilling some holes and running zip ties. I think I was in the garage for about 1.5 hours, but probably only actually worked for about 45 minutes. Once the holes were drilled and the ties in, I cinched it all together.
For anyone who has not built a boat, it is hard to describe how sensual it is. Don't take that the wrong way, boat building engages all of your senses. The smell of the cut wood, the sounds of the tools and creaking of the bending wood. What struck me this night was the feel of the wood bending into shape as I tightening the ties. The hull came together so tight and true, despite my shaky cuts. I spent a good deal of time just absorbing the image of the flat panels bending to form. Wood is such a cool material!
I decided to call it a night rather than push on to gluing the seams to avoid any rushing mistakes. In the morning Dad and I drove to St Pete to take Stormbringer out. For some reason, we decided that we did not need ice because we didn't think we would be having any beers. Well, once we were out searching for puffs, we really wanted a few cold ones. We made do with warm Amstel, it really wasn't that bad. The Moral of this story is always buy ice, because you will want a cold one, or even a cold water eventually.
The wind totally died, so we headed in. When I got home, I picked up the hull and set it up on horses in the driveway to take some shots. After the photo shoot, I cut some small bilge frames for the cockpit between the two bulkheads. The bottom flattened out there and needed them for shape. When all is said and done, she is pretty tight. Some gaps exist in the keel seam which will easily be filled with the fillet material.
Stay tuned for more, and check out these pics!
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 April 2008 )
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~6 hrs total on the Light sculling trainier: some progress |
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Written by Jon
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Wednesday, 26 March 2008 |
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I recut the bulkhead frames last night, using the metric measurements and my jig saw, rather than my circular saw. Much better job this time around. When that was done, I attached the bulkheads to the side panels with temporary screws.
I'm sure some old-country boat builder was spinning in his grave as I manhandled the panels and flipped and flopped it around to sink the screws. The flexibility and forgiveness of ply just amazes me sometimes. But everything lined up to my measurements, and I ended with the frames and sides up on horses which should make it easier to work on.
After that I laid the bottom panels on and considered the project for a while. It is one of my favorite parts of boat building, to just sit and look. Sometimes I plan the next step, most time I just appreciate the current shape and imagine the outcome.
At that point, I began to be intimidated by the pointy ends, and realized that the only pointy end I have had on a boat was for my nephew's baby tender cradle, and that was a traditional frame and stem construction. Hannu's Boatyard site shows the ply ends simply glued and clamped together. So the question I am stuck with is whether to epoxy the ends, then let them dry before finishing and placing the bottom. Or just stitch it all up, to maintain the flexibility to adjust it and make sure it stays true.The twist in the stern section of the bottom panels inspired a similar concern. It looks so pretty in the 3d images, but is a bit scary to try to glue it up and keep it true.
I took a few pics, and will post them shortly
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 March 2008 )
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Light sculling trainier on hold |
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Written by Jon
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Friday, 14 March 2008 |
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Well between an amazing trip to the Langerado Music festival plus work, the band, and other activities, I have not gotten ANYTHING done on my project. It is very frustrating and very much in the way in the garage. At this point the side panels are stitched together, as is the bottom. I have decided to re-cut the 2 frames with measurements taken from my panels to make them fit better. When that is done I can finish stitching, and start gluing.
Once the hull is glued up, I am going to laminate some scrap stips in the bow and stern boyancy chambers to hold the strips for the strip planked deck. I know that will be overkill for this boat, but I always wanted to try it, and these flat decks make an easy experiment.
My thoughts are already turning to how to make a passable sliding seat. I think I am going to try a simple wooden track and a rectangular seat on dolly wheels to start. If that doesn't work I can try something else. The whole point of this boat is to see if I like a sliding seat enough to invest in a nicer one. |
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