Not Far Now (well end of phase one anyway)

Week seven and progress has been good, I’m only a couple of strips off from finishing the hull off!

I managed to get a lot done this week by just adding a strip to each side every evening after putting Nico and Eloise to bed. On Saturday I brought the rest of the Epoxy I need and a whole load of fiberglass cloth. The cloth is almost as heavy as the timber for the hull! It’s going to be interesting to see what the final weight of the boat is.

After getting the supplies I spent the rest of the day adding strips, Nico is great wanting to join in and help. I just have to be very mindful of the tools and the epoxy… I added the bow and stern rib, finishing them off as the last job Sunday.

Sunday was less productive as we had friends over for lunch, so the day was spent buying groceries, cooking and entertaining. But I did manage to get a strip done in between all that ;) After our friends left and the dishwasher was loaded it was back to work.

Proud dad moment; as soon as Nico saw me start sweeping up the wood shavings he joined in to help.

Now that its starting to look like a boat I’m thinking about how to organize the final layout, do I settle for two three seats? Do I add one or two under the seat storage areas? Extend both bulk heads, or just one? How practical is a forward storage area with the mast in the way? Do I install an access hatch in the top and if I do what type?

I’m starting to develop ideas but I’ll need to get feedback on how practical they are from people experienced with this kind of boat.

Stay tuned…

Introducing the New Assistant Project Manager:

Week six, and Nicolas has an assistant project manager, seen here supervising the wood pile:

Even though I again lost time due to traveling (three days in Australia) we’ve made good progress. I’m hoping to start laying the outer fiberglass coat over Easter weekend but I think I’m being a optimistic seeing as I still quite a few strips to go followed by a good amount of sanding. We’ll see how the coming week goes.

Progress as of Sunday 17:00:

Thoughts for the week:

- Still having lots of fun with the project. Its good to be working with my hands.

- Australia has a good climate too, not sure if it’s enough of an incentive to putting up with the locals though.

- I gave up on the gloves, my hands were getting soaked inside them.

- Nico likes to get involved, I try to involve him where he can without getting his fingers covered in glue or cut.

- The workmanship isn’t perfect, I'm hoping I will be able to smooth out a fair amount during the fairing process… We’ll see.

We’re Moving Forward Again (Finally)

Week Five; back from Suva. Had a productive week in Suva, spent the days with our client, Fiji Gas, who are always very hospitable. In the evenings I walked around Suva enjoying the warm climate. To be completely honest, I could get used to living in the tropics. Past visits to New Caledonia and Fiji I always found very hot and a tad unpleasant. But this time was different, maybe I’m finally adjusting.

On the down side there was a cyclone warning on Friday evening expected to hit northern Fiji on Sunday. Luckily it didn’t stop my return flight but boy did it rain on Saturday!

Saturday I was able to start on the boat again, and managed to get three strips done. Sunday I got another five strips added. I’m really enjoying the work, it’s nice to be building something with my hands again. It is also easier than I expected.

The boat at the end of week five:

Thoughts for the week:

Progress!

PVA is stronger than I remember as a kid (wear gloves!)

Epoxy rocks! Even the laminated shavings held together.

You can never have enough clamps…. I think I need bigger ones too!

Bula From Suva

Week four and progress has slowed down. The wood arrived from Rod on Wednesday but didn’t laminate the bow and stern stems until Friday evening which pretty much wrote off laying the first strips this weekend.

Saturday was spent finishing the laminates while Sunday was spent flying to Suva, Fiji. Regrettably for work and not a week in the sun, sailing and fishing at leisure.

Week Three

Well yesterday I was supposed to drive down to Hamilton to pick up the wood from Rod. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to organise a trailer the day before and then slept in. So I ended up asking Rod to freight it up.

Otherwise progress has been steady if slow. The strong back is finished and all the stations have been mounted. I brought the first batch of Epoxy (5 litres of 12). I ended up getting CRC Aodos from NZ Fiberglass (www.nzfiberglass.co.nz). Nico came along for the trip and they had a Cockatoo parrot who liked to say hello and bite fingers. Luckily Nico didn’t give him the opportunity (even though he was tempted!).

Other helpful things Nico did was to drill the holes when mounting the stations..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And he made a nice little sculpture out of my socket set!

Next step is to laminate the bow stems and shape them so that I staple on the planks. To be honest I’m more than a bit nervous about using the Epoxy and dragging it out a bit.