Forcing the Point.

3/4 in plywood does not want to bend. So to bend it you need VLC'S and 117 screws. Here is how it goes. First trace the bottom from underneath. 

So this picture was taken after i had traced the frames under the boat and flipped the bottom panel over to drill the holes for the fasteners. You can see the little piles of saw dust where the holes have been drilled.

Screw the 117 screws in, and take a moment to think about all the sanding your going to get to do. Well at least its better then working.

Photo Fun

Bottom on Top!

I planed down the chine logs today, there getting close. Because of the tension in the chine logs I was unable to mate one of them with the stem post. So i made a little spacer and nailed it in.

I am a little bummed that i was unable to get the Chine log to a tighter fit but thus little piece will work and hey, its good enough.

Lea will be leaving for the week so i stopped that project and decided to get the bottom panel scarfed together (moving all This stuff around is getting cumbersome). So just one more pick of the boat outside.

This scarfing thing is getting easier and easier. I remember as a kid thinking it was tough, i never dealt with a chine log back then. Anyhow i was able to get the scarf joints cut.

Notice the huge amount of saw dust, i sort of covered the car.

It was delicate work to get the two panels under the hull but we got it done, lined up the panels, mixed the epoxy and than it was time to clean up.  

Chine Log Hell

For those of you who are not familiar with bending wood let me splane it to you. First find yourself a small pine tree five to eight feet tall. Next pound a stake in the ground and tie a rope to the top of the tree. Now bend the tree down so that the top of the tree is on the ground and tie it to the stake. At this point you will need an assistant and a knife.
Stand with one foot on either side of the top of the tree have your assistant cut the rope holding the tree down. While your flying through the air with a bruised package wondering why you started something so stupid just remember in five minutes you get to do it again!

Ok it wasn't quite that bad but it was close. I fitted the first chine log a couple of days ago and after measuring and thinking and finally cutting i realized it was to short, aaarg! So i fitted the second into place and eyeballed it, this worked, to hell with the tape measure.
A bunch of nails some cut up fingers and tada!

If you look closely in the above picture you will see two clamps sticking out. As it just so happens as i was fighting to put the chine logs in (see above description) i herd my favorite crunching sound. Upon closer inspection i found that the plywood was cracking at the stem post where the chine log meets it. 

After some reflection i decided to beef up the outside of the panel with some cloth. 

I needed to relive the pressure so that the panel would cure in its original shape, cue the clamps and Spanish windlass! 

You will notice the two drill bits in the chine log preventing the windlass from sliding off the chine logs. There is some serious potential energy here boys and girls so keep your fingers out. 

So finally at 2 am i got the reinforcements on the bow.

And its a boat!

Spent some nights this week worrying if it was all going to come together or if it would be one big flop. I am glad to say... well you'll see.

Here frame 4 and nine are clamped in place. frame nine cracked under the stress and needed to be rebuilt but other wise the process as a whole went smoothly. here are the rest of the pics.

Transom in place.

All frames in, stem post cut, super dusty in the shop. Next the chine logs.

Fast Forward

A delay in the supply chain set me back a bit but don't fear!!!

I made quick work of cutting out the other side panel.

Cleaned up the edges and on the the stem post!!

Careful, careful!!

Holy crap a half a hull!!

Ah there is the other half. And then it was back in the shop all ready for frames.