Summer Breeze
building notes -
Day Four October 11th, 2000
More true confessions.
Part of the fun of boat building is being clever about fixing mistakes. I got a
good opportunity for cleverness today.
As I began to piece the
back together I realized it seemed smaller than it should be. It turned out I
didn't make enough allowance for the external chine log. Also, I failed to
realize that my slotted stem (as much as I love it) puts the theoretical apex of
the sides a couple of inches out in space beyond the bow of the boat. Ain't boat
design fun! This is why I don't just build by plans... I'd miss all this!
Today reminded me of a
great Yogi Berra quote I got from Lew Clayman.
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."
-Yogi Berra
On to the solution.
An internal chine log or
a stitch and glue version of Summer Breeze would work with the current
dimensions. However, even so, I was able to fudge it via the miracle of
PL Premium "inlay."
.
If you haven't glued up your sides and transom yet, here's what you do. To get the bottom to fully cover the external chine logs, the transom needs to
be moved forward 2 1/2". (This includes the original 3/4" I
moved mine previously.) The transom is so thick I was able to hold the bottom
back a 1/2" from the back edge of the transom. This still allowed
sufficient chine joint at the bow. It seems my obsession with getting the most
from the least made me dance a little close to the edge. Hey, what can I say...
it worked in theory! ;-)
After dry fitting the bow
sections, get under the boat and mark the inside perimeter. This will show how
much to back set the butt blocks during gluing.
The butt blocks are made from the trim pieces from the sides.
The gluing steps are identical to those of gluing the sides. Put down plastic -
dry fit & mark - spread glue with notched trowel - staple with 1/2"
staples.
I once again stapled over
twine which works well. I did pre-bevel the butt blocks this time using my band
saw and belt sander, which seems easier than sanding the taper after they're
glued.
The chines are planed level
with a hand or power plane. A straight edge helps. A long board with course sand
paper on one end will work also. Resting one end on the other chine keeps
the sanding end level.
After the back is glued up,
it is dry fit and marked at chines. Make sure the boat is aligned before
you mark the back. A string pulled tight from stem to stern should cross the
center line of your frame. If it doesn't nudge the hull around until it
does.
The back is trimmed a little
outside the line with circular saw. How close you cut it depends on your
confidence and what tool you will do your final trim with. If you flush
route like I do, it's not too critical. If you'll take the overhang off with a
hand plane and sanding block, accuracy cutting this line can save work. Some
folks even tilt their saw blade for this.
This is a good time to fill
any blemishes in the back. It's easier to sand at bench level then after it is
the inside of the boat. Yes, that's Elmer's exterior filler I'm using.
The back is now dry clamped
in place.
I made this little marker
that makes it easy to mark where the nails will go in the chine log. It also has
a 5" piece of wood that determines the spacing.
Here it is in use. Mark with
a pencil or an awl.
I pre drilled for the nails
and tapped them all in their holes. The nails are spaced 3" apart along the
transom, 5" along the sides. These are the #14 by 7/8" bronze ring nails.
Half of the boat is
unclamped and propped open. Glue is applied and spread. The back is then closed
and clamps and nails are applied from the middle out.
Here is how I used PL to
fill the gap at the transom and bow. It should sand out fine.
I used a nail set to very
slightly countersink the nails then filled them.
Next come the quarter
knees and breast hook and gunwales and inwales.
I'm re-thinking the sail.
Here is a sketch of a 75 ft. lug rig with a sprit boom. I haven't drawn the boom
in.
This
is not a balanced lug rig as I show on Featherwind. The Tack
(lowest corner of sail) of the sail is at
the base of the mast. I will probably use a bamboo spar (stick at the top of the
sail) and sprit boom (a stick with one end attached to the aft corner
(clew) of the sail and the other end tied to the mast - similar to the way wind
surfers are rigged) This
puts the mast step closer to the middle of the boat lending more rigidity to the
hull even if no fixed rowing seat is installed. (Incidentally it will leave just
enough space forward for my dog, Kayla, in her cart. ;-)
That's it for today.
On
to Day Five!
I welcome all feedback on
this experiment in making the building and design process public. Feel free to
drop me a line. David Beede simplicityboats
