September 2013

Continuing to install hull plywood strips.  Each one takes about an hour to install.  I believe that I can increase the pace once the first layer is installed.  The subsequent layers should be easier to lay down since I can fasten the layer to the previous layer where it does not lay properly.  Of course it will be more difficult to set up an make because there will be no place clamp the strips but then again I can readily see if the strip is misaligned.  Time will tell.

Ten strips are now installed.  You can see where I have sanded the seams.   The strips tend to pop up a little on the edges where there is no support especially where the strips make a hard bend such as the panels on the left of the image.  I've sanded through the first of 7 ply layers in a few places.  These ten are the only 12" strips that I will install on the first layer.  It's time to start using 9.5" strips due to the quicker changes in the hull shape. 

This weekend, I had a few friends over and we managed to install five more strips.  These are the 9.5" strips.  I was very pleased with how well they lay on the frame.  Pictures coming soon.

This is the 17th strip on the port side.  I've clamped it in place in preparation to mark the cut line.

A nice view of the work progressing forward toward the bow.  

A close up of the clamping process.  The flat strips of plywood have to be carefully clamped in place to ensure that they lay flat against the longitudinal battens.  If they do not lay flat then I will cut the wrong shape and it will not match the installed strip.  This will either cause me to recut or if I fail to do that then the plywood strip will bulge out where it is forced to match the installed strip.

Another view of the clamping process.  You can also see a previously installed strip where the temporary boards are placed to ensure that the edges of the plywood match perfectly.

After some of the hull has an initial sanding, It is starting to look  very smooth.

More clamping.  The keel is a nice place to set tools.  

The excess at the keel will have to be trimmed.