Wednesday 13 October 2010

Fiddly templates and more brooding


Did I really say that after turning the hull, everything would be straight forward???? I mean, what planet was I on? Practically everything that is fitted inside the hull turns out to be a really weird shape, involving cardboard templates and loads of wood rasp and spokeshave work; all takes ages - but then what's the rush? - winter is on its way, and epoxy resin work is going to become limited by the low temperatures. In this connection, the resin supplied by Fynne Boats congeals in the tin below 9C whereas with the West System, it's the catalyst that seems to get a bit treacle-like at low temps. The helpful people at Fynne Boats suggested heating the resin in a jam pan - and it seems to work OK - nice and runny once more - but I'm not sure I'll risk making jam again.

Anyway, after making sure that there was no fore and aft twist in the bare hull, I fitted the breasthook and knees at the transom, followed by scarphed mahogany lengths for the outwale and the rubber spaced one plank below it. The outwale is OK to fit as it's easy to clamp but the rubber below it had a lot of twist along its length and needed to be screwed from inside the hull. The steps in the knees and breasthook are to allow spacers between outwale and inwale - looks fancy!

The frame shown seems a long way foreward of the transom but this is to allow the outboard to swing up into the boat. For this reason this frame is reinforced by a 40 x 85 oak beam at the top edge to take the inboard 'outboard'. If you don't need the engine to swing up, then a simple small outboard well would do and this frame could be moved aft a bit.
The upper edge of the transom is framed with 12mm mahogany inside and out, with a lip on top - should give a bit of character when cleaned up, etc.

At the bow end, the second frame is fitted - with opening for an inspection hatch. It get more complicated here as I'm planning to fit the mast in a tabernacle just aft of this frame, so the top of the frame is reinforced by a cross beam and the kingplank is more substantial than on the plans. The foredeck is to be extended back to Frame B position but I'm omitting this frame - leaving it open here - with the aft edge of the foredeck and kingplank supported by a laminated cross beam. The idea is to drop a vertical support from the centre of this beam to brace the foreward end of the centreboard case.
The oak samson post looks rather splendid but is not glued in position yet.

I've raised the foredeck to just 100mm below the gunnels and have introduced a camber - 'cos I think it looks nice! The refs. by John Leather and Peter Cook spell out the necessary details for this; or try: http://www.joliebrisemodels.co.uk/tenth/calculator.html

All other framing is omitted and replaced where needed by ribs - I think - maybe. There's an awful lot of time, at this stage, spent walking round the hull brooding . . . .

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)