I knows it been a while....but it was worth it!!

Once again I apologize to all of you who have been desperately awaiting an update on my boat, but I have spent every free chance I got to work on the boat and haven't had a chance to update the blog. So here it is, the long awaited updates!

Feb. 9th & 10th
Today I continued working on the bottom plascore panel of the boat. I sanded down any high spots on the side I did last week and I flipped the panel over to do the interior side. I placed 6" of blocks under each end to help curve the bottom for assembly later. This will also help to keep the epoxy from puckering when it is bent into its final shape. Then I repeated the same process as before with tack coat, then kevlar, then more epoxy the glass, then more epoxy. I also took the opportunity to glass both sides of the transom so that it is ready for stitching next week!

(bottom with kevlar and fiberglass)
(Transom fiberglassed)

March. 2nd-5th
I can't belive it!! I finally have a boat! This past few days have been awesome and very encouraging. With the final completeion of the bottom panel and tansom glassed, I spent the last four days with the help from a good friend Geoff Wilson stitching my boat together. First I sanded down the edges of my side panel to help accept new epoxy. Then I drew a line parrallel to the out side bttom edge one inch up as a kep for drill holes. Next I drilled wholes every 6-12 inches where along the bottom of the side panels and planed the stem edges so that they would pair nicely together. I also screwed small blocks to the side panels to help keep the bottom from riding up to far. Then I placed the bottom panel on two saw horses and placed soem weight in the middle to help it curve. This was all in preparation for stitching hte boat together, a process that gives this "stitch and glue" style boat its name. The pre laminated panels are held in place with temporary wire tires until you can permanently bond them with the epoxy compound and fiberglass. So we started by stitching the stem together working our way down but keeping them loose at first. Next we worked our way back both sides evenly stitching the side panels to the bottom to create a tight and even connection. When we reached the transom I then beveled the edges to meet the side panels tightly and then stitched it on as well. Next I tighten up the stem and made adjustments to my stitched throughout to ensure good tight lines and a twist free hull. After I made five spreader/stretchers out of 2x4s. These cross braces served to hold the hull rigid until the interior bulkheads and dry boxes take over. After fitting these in I mixed up some more epoxy and thickened in with wood flour to a very thick sag-free consistency and placed it in small tabs between each wire. I triple checked the hull for no twists and even heights and I let it dry.

(completed bottom panel)
(completed side panels)
(stitching materials)
(stem stitched)
(hull completely stitched)
(installing spreaders)
(final hull shaped!)
(epoxy "peanut butter" tabs)

March 8th
Today was a just as exciting as the last few. It is so nice to finally see the hull in a boat shape! Today I worked on cleaning up the shop as well as filleting the interior joints. I started off by removing all of the wire stitches. The side were now held entirely by the tabs of epoxy I put on on Wednesday. I then lightly sanded the tabs to get rid of any bumps as wel as to clean up any debris from drilling the holes. I then brushed and cleaned teh joints to prep for my epoxy peanut butter fillets. Some other prep things that needed to be done was making a "wet out" table fro the fiberglass biaxial tape as well as making a curved end on a squeegee in order to make nice even fillets of epoxy. Then I went and rolled out my 12oz biaxial fiberglass tape on each joint and cut to size, then folded and placed on epoxy table for later. After I was all set I mixed up a batch of epoxy and thickend it with wood flour so that it would sag. I then worked my way around all my joints and dabbed it on. Then I went back over it all with my tool pressing it in and making nice 1 1/2" radius sized epoxy fillets. Next I mixed up some clear epoxy and completely wet out each piece of fiberglasss tape. Then I applied the tape over each peanutbuttered joints and smoth it out to get riod of any bubbles. I worked my way around until every joint was filleted and with epoxy and fiberglass. This will create an extremely strong bond. Next week I will be flipping the boat and finishing my chines!!!

(cured epoxy tabs with wires removed)
(tabs prepped for fillets)
(epoxy "wet-out" table)
(boat ready for fillets)

(epoxy-peanut butter fillet joints)

(right side is taped left side is just epoxy)

(biaxial tape being wet-out)
(stem finished!)
(transom finished!)
(all joints filleted and drying!)