Sides, bulkheads, transom, seats

Day off today allowed a lot of work to be accomplished.  Sanded 1 side and pre-coated both chine logs with 3 coats of epoxy.  Cut out all parts except for rear seat and middle seat.  Plotted cutouts in bulkhead 2 and 3.  Also, started framing transom.  However, time flies.  Wish I could dedicate more large chunks of time to the build instead of 1 - 2 hour increments.  Plan is to continue work on smaller parts (daggerboard, rudder, bulkheads, etc.) through the winter where epoxy can cure in the basement and then resume the assembly in the spring.  Others who have artificially warmed their workshop/ built heating tents for large pieces are much braver than I.   Enjoying the process, so I can wait.

Lots of parts cut out and marked

Not sure how I am going to sand the epoxy on the top and inside corner of the chine log...

Redwood is being used for some framing instead of the chine logs

It's starting to get crowded and a few too many projects...

Sanding and chine logs glued

Chine logs cut down to length and glued to side panels.  Also completed a small amount of sanding before I need to buy more sanding pads.  Decided to use slightly smaller WRC chine logs, 43x17mm, instead of what the plans call for 45x19mm.  These still overlap the bottom by 10mm, as the plans call for.  I assume this will only effect the cutouts in the bulkheads, which I will need to remember to cut to the now smaller chine logs.  Once dry the chine logs will get 3 coats of epoxy then perhaps I will move on to shaping the stem...

Planning and pre-drilling

Clamping in process

Epoxy pre-coating panels

Perfect epoxy weather here in KY so with the extra help of my dad and father-in-law we pre-coated the insides of both side panels and the bottom panel using the "wet-on-wet" application method, with a total of 3 coats.  Even after tipping, we realized the foam rollers created quite a bit of foam in the epoxy.  Temps in the shop were low 70's and it was early evening with the temperature falling to upper 50's overnight.  Not too concerned as the panels will need to be sanded and we have already decided to paint the interior for the sake of utility and ability to easily hide future repairs.

Bulkheads, bottom prep

Slowly cutting out and framing bulkheads.  Also prepped bottom for wet-on-wet epoxy coating.  Decided to utilize Redwood for framing and stay with WRC cut to plan dimensions for the chines so as not to make fitting the bottom to the chines/ bulkheads any trickier.

 

 

Tested out using wire brads to minimize movement of epoxied parts.  Helped to hammer them just through the framing, coat piece with epoxy, get piece into position, and then push tip of brad into ply until clamps could be placed and brads nailed in further.  They were easy to remove with pliers after the epoxy set.

 

Glueing bottom panels, chinelog wood choice...

Slow work continues with my dad.  Glued together bottom panels.  Also marked out and cut bulkhead #1 and bulkhead #4 (not pictured).  Also discussed with my dad the use of on-hand Redwood for the chines since it will be glued on two faces (side panel and bottom) and it is correct dimension 19x45mm, instead of the ripped and scarfed WRC which came out to 17x43mm.  Seems the consensus is second-growth Redwood is a better choice than old-growth and it is not a complete no-go for boatbuilding.

 

Good squeeze-out.

Chine logs

This evening I had the help of my father to rip and scarf two chinelogs.  From a 1x4 the finished size is smaller than the 19 x 45mm dimensions the plans call for.  Hopefully the smaller size, 17mm x 43mm, will not present any problems in the future.  Chinelogs ripped with a Matsushita 7.25" thin kerf blade on the table saw.  Decided on W. Red Cedar instead of a Redwood 1x4 leftover from a previous project.  Feared it too brittle and soft.

Chinelogs ripped, switched back to 10" blade to accommodate the homemade scarf sled.

Mixed epoxy and wood flour for the two 12:1 scarf joints.

Returning to GIS, finally!

It has been quite a while.  Finished some outstanding home projects and I am finally able to focus on the GIS again.  With the help of good friend and woodworker, Michael P., the sides were glued together and bottom cut out.  Expect to have more consistent work on the boat now, watch for updates!