Things are moving again .... finally

The project hasn't stalled - I've just been too busy to blog things. I'll take and post some pictures tomorrow. Thomas' project is starting to look like a boat.

So far, I've completed the first assembly stage - the centerline frame is epoxied to the hull bottom, the bulkheads attached and all the supporting stringers and cleats are in place. I've got to finish the transom bulkhead supports. The outside side panels are now attached as well.

Surprisingly, everything has fit just about perfectly. There was a little twist in the hull bottom as the centerline frame was attached, but as more of the parts were assembled and fixed, the hull pulled itself into alignment perfectly.

Now for a little frank discussion .... I changed the hull bottom and the cockpit deck to 1/4 inch plywood from the specified 1/8 inch. Although the 1/8 inch is lighter, and the design strength in the foam sandwich is adequate, I feel that Thomas at 100 pounds and growing fast would probably damage the 1/8 inch plywood. Since I decided to build for quality over minimal cost, it wasn't a hard decision. Increase in cost? About $16 total.

I'm trying to make this build turn out as nice as possible - and to do this I've put some effort into cosmetic things, as well as strength. A while ago, a Italian boat builder (Marco Croci) showed a spectacularly beautiful 12' boat called the Truc 12' from Crusyacht. I immediately fell in love with the money-no-object classic yacht vibe and the presentation that looked both light and modern as well as refined. In tribute to Marco's drop dead gorgeous Truc 12', I've attempted to emulate some of the same look and feel, using lumberyard parts instead of the teak, carbon and mahogany. When the hull is finished, people can let me know if it looks good or cheesy.

My wife and I were out trying to take our 14 month old Husky/Shepherd mix to the Lac Phillipe section of the Gatineau Park this past weekend, and discovered things had changed a lot since we had last been there. Dogs (even leashed) are persona non grata there now, except for one trail you can't get to without a 3 kilometer walk through the busy campgrounds and beaches. We passed on the Park and drove out to Robert's nearby (15-20 minutes away) house instead. Roz (our puppy) played with Bibitte and we had a great time visiting with Robert's family.

Thomas got back from his grandparent's (my parents) today after two weeks. I've missed him and so has the project. Two weeks is too long. The one benefit is that most of the epoxy work is done, and I can switch to the construction adhesive for attaching the foam. We'll cut the foam tomorrow - I made a pattern from the centerline frame for the foam parts earlier.

Got an email today from Tom J. (teabag on Sailing Anarchy) a local 505 (and Contender) sailor, saying that he had some leftover Tyvek from a renovation project ... did I want it? Answered yes, and went to pick it up at lunch. Thanks, Tom!

Tomorrow I'm planning on figuring out how to handle the transom, build it and mark out and cut the foam supports.