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Re: Current Builders' Status

PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2023 8:26 am
by Creekboater
So I've had a few frustrating months here lately. Back in January I had my spars epoxied and ready for varnish. I figure a couple of weeks and I'd have them out of the shop and then be able to begin the hull. But, no joy.

Varnish went on and would never cure, stayed tacky for a month. Using Schooner Gold, which I used on previous build in same shop, zero issues. Since then I've sanded ALL the spars back down to bare wood twice and done all kinds of tests on scraps as well as real pieces like rudder cheeks and centerboard trunk. Varying degrees of success. I'm not looking to get off on a varnish tangent but if anyone else has had similar experience with Schooner Gold feel free to send me a PM. If I ever feel I've figured out exactly what's been causing all this headache, I'll be sure to share.

So in the meantime I've been working on lots of little pieces. Getting my bulkheads cleated to the extent I can and finish ready. Getting my cradle mostly built. Gluing up all my hull panels and glassing where I can. Have beefed up my tabernacle sides and even carved out a pretty little tabernacle doubler piece for the inside of BH2.

Also been playing around with stains. I'm going to stain all the timber pieces inside the cabin and all my spars as well. I'm both nervous and excited about this. My wife and daughters laugh that I can't match my own clothes, so who knows what all this is going to look like. Of course I've been testing on scrap, but that only gets you so far.

This is one of those phases where, although you're busy doing plenty, not much seems to be happening!

Re: Current Builders' Status

PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2023 2:27 pm
by SMHolmans
Don't be too discouraged!
I've had weeks and even months when nothing much seemed to go right. This is my fifth year of building my PocketShip, and although the end is in sight, I know there are challenges still to come.
But as my wife and son tell me, "Hey, it's a journey ... try to enjoy it!".
I've had no problems with varnish but had loads of issues with epoxy resin which never seemed to cure and paint which didn't want to set right. So I know how you feel. Sometimes it's just a bit too hard to relax and enjoy the journey ....
I'm using a not-too-expensive yacht varnish which seems to be popular here in the UK and it is looking really nice. If you can't get your chosen brand of varnish to work, maybe try another one? In my experience price doesn't always relate directly to quality.
My UK experience based on the previous five years is to cease building in January - it's simply too cold for anything to cure. I just started again this month. It's going OK so far.
Best of luck with your varnish challenges.
Steve in the UK.

Re: Current Builders' Status

PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2023 4:56 pm
by Creekboater
SMHolmans wrote:Don't be too discouraged!
I've had weeks and even months when nothing much seemed to go right. This is my fifth year of building my PocketShip, and although the end is in sight, I know there are challenges still to come.
But as my wife and son tell me, "Hey, it's a journey ... try to enjoy it!".
I've had no problems with varnish but had loads of issues with epoxy resin which never seemed to cure and paint which didn't want to set right. So I know how you feel. Sometimes it's just a bit too hard to relax and enjoy the journey ....
I'm using a not-too-expensive yacht varnish which seems to be popular here in the UK and it is looking really nice. If you can't get your chosen brand of varnish to work, maybe try another one? In my experience price doesn't always relate directly to quality.
My UK experience based on the previous five years is to cease building in January - it's simply too cold for anything to cure. I just started again this month. It's going OK so far.
Best of luck with your varnish challenges.
Steve in the UK.


I hear you Steve, thanks! Glad to see you starting back up. Have enjoyed your blog.

Re: Current Builders' Status

PostPosted: Sat May 13, 2023 6:21 am
by Hooky
This week I installed the cockpit seats, now I can sit in my boat. It all went quite smoothly with no issues. I painted the lazarette areas, cabin area beneath the seats and the underside of the cockpit floor before installation. I also installed speaker boxes in BH 8. Now I have commenced work on the flush timber hatches, check out my progress and pictures on the Blog.
Cheers
Terry from down under
https://hookypocketship.blogspot.com

Re: Current Builders' Status

PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2023 6:02 am
by Hooky
Update from Down Under, The Flush Timber Hatches.

With the exception of painting the construction and installation of the flush timber hatches is complete. I am very pleased with the outcome; I have to admit this has been a very labor-intensive mod which required a lot of time planning and designing. It was important the design and construction allowed for water to drain back into the footwell and not the lazarette areas, I'm hoping my design does that.

I have also stitched in the rear cabin wall and seat back frames in place. I used a laser level to identify the positions for the seat back frames.
Check out the pics on my Blog
Cheers Terry
https://hookypocketship.blogspot.com

Re: Current Builders' Status

PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2023 8:11 pm
by LemonShark
Howdy,

Scott
Began early April 2023
Plans build
Just finished centerboard trunk (I still think a daggerboard would've been a viable alternative). Hull panels glassed, keel sides cut out, centerboard finished, noseblock finished.

The mountain succumbs to a million steps. :)

Re: Current Builders' Status

PostPosted: Wed May 24, 2023 3:35 pm
by dbeck
Update from Europe: Foredeck is almost ready to paint.
foredeck.JPG
foredeck.JPG (119.19 KiB) Viewed 12807 times

Re: Current Builders' Status

PostPosted: Mon May 29, 2023 2:03 am
by Dmitriy
Deck is glued on. Transom skirt in place. Getting ready to glue the seat backs.

Re: Current Builders' Status

PostPosted: Thu Jun 15, 2023 3:09 pm
by dbeck
Basically I can just quote the previous post. :-)

Cabin roof and transom skirt epoxied on. Installing the support blockings for hardware at the top of the seatback frames.

Dietrich

Re: Current Builders' Status

PostPosted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 2:50 pm
by Creekboater
Finally! I'm done with my spars, they're out of the way, and I can begin actually stitching my hull. It's been just over a year since I started my build.

https://sisterspocketship.com/2023/06/completing-the-spars