Wednesday 28 July 2010

Wasps show how it's done! - July 2010


My comment in June that insects are attracted to routers seems to be borne out by the appearance of a wasp nest in the shed where I use an overhead router. I find these things amazing; the colours are quite striking and the result is surprisingly strong. Perhaps appropriately, the wasps seem to favour a clinker method of construction and I'm watching with interest to see how their work proceeds.

The coble hull now has all its strakes and I'm hoping to have it ready to turn over within the next month. As can be seen, the strakes were cut easily from just 6 sheets of ply. 

The plans suggest laminating the outer stem in situ but I chose to build mine up from sections of oak, 28 x 45mm instead of the 20 x 25mm on the plans. This seems more in keeping with the sturdiness of the hull and allowed me to deepen the forefoot much as the cobles I've seen in Northumbria. 
Fixing will be with 6mm s/s studding once the mould is removed.
I'll also use oak on either side of the centreboard slot, then down the centre line to the transom.

However, first the skegs have to be fitted and I have a slight problem with these. The plan details skegs 18 x 220mm at the deepest point and, to my mind, these won't survive a sideways swipe when grounding, beaching, etc. I'm thinking 30mm at the base with through bolts - but we'll see . . . .

Sources

London Stainless Fasteners Ltd. www.londonstainless.com - (great range of nuts, bolts, washers, etc. and you can buy them singly.)

Sitebox. www.thesitebox.com/ (stainless steel bolts).

Fyne Boat Kits UK. www.fyneboatkits.com (kits, plans, wide range of materials, information and advice)

Force4 Chandlery. www.force4.co.uk (marine chandlers)

Selway Fisher. www.selway-fisher.com (marine design, plans, advice)

The Battery Masters. www.batterymasters.co.uk (batteries suitable for marine use)

Classic Marine. www.classicmarine.co.uk (general marine tackle, bronze screws & nails, full range of Oughtred plans).

Robbins Timber. www.robbins.co.uk (large range of timber, fixings, resins)

Sail Register. www.sailregister.co.uk (sails & covers to measure).

Wires.co.uk. http://wires.co.uk (copper wires suitable for stitch & glue construction).

East Coast Fibreglass Supplies. www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk (resins, fillers, matting, brushes, etc.)

Prism Plastics. www.prismplastics.co.uk (plastic washers, spacers, etc.).

Marinestore. http://marinestore.co.uk (general marine chandlers - esp. bronze screws)

Bosun’s Locker. www.bosuns.co.uk (chandlery andmarine brokerage)