January-February 2015

It's a new year and I'm ready to make some progress on the boat.  The weather is the only thing keeping me back.   I have competed two layers on one side and half way through the second layer of the other side.  Finishing this layer will mark the half way point in this phase of the project which started July 1, 2013.  By this account, I should finish the lamination of the hull by July 2016.  A good goal and plenty of time to save for the next phase which is fiberglassing and painting the hull.  Never pays to get too far ahead in this kind of project though.

January 11, 2015

It's now January and mostly too cold to work with the epoxy.  I have determined that 50F is the minimum working temperature although the epoxy requires 40F in order to cure properly.  Below 50F, the epoxy is just too thick to spread efficiently and metering out of the container takes a long time.  Being that I'm located in Alabama, there are opportunities to work during the winter, so I work when I can (See January 2016 where I have figured out a way to make this a little easier).

February 28, 2015

I've found a little time to work on the boat while the temperature is barely above 50F.  Actually there is no way I could do any major work on the hull because the epoxy is still very cold.  I did, however, do a bit of catch-up sanding on the hull and was able to scarf together some more strips in anticipation of warmer weather.  Things are going to get spring-like in Huntsville Alabama very soon in spite of the 10 inches of snow that fell a few days ago.  Here are some pictures to bring you up to date on the build.

This is a slightly skewed image but I was trying to get a picture of the scaffolding that I work off of on the starboard side. These are 10 inch boards about 10-12 feet long.  I will need to build scaffolding for the port side as well and this is on the do very soon list.  

Just another view of the bow from the top of the bottom of the boat.  Notice the scaffolding on the left side of the image.

The latest work looking toward the stern.  This is layer 3 of 4 on the starboard side.  I've just given the last three strips a good sanding today.  There is no need for the nail boards or nail pads anymore since the hull is now thick enough to fully bury 5/8" long staples.  I do not need to remove them from the work as long as they are stainless steel.

Another view but further back.  The new layers are on the right.  I'm trimming the pocket for the keel filler strake as I go.  

A view of strips being scarf joined together from the top of the bottom of the boat.