Quick Update

Thought we should have a quick update as it has been a while since we have posted. We have been progressing but slowed a little due to Christmas and the weather.

What have we achieved since turning the boat? We have;

• Had a big clean up. The tent had become very dusty with all the sanding of the fairing, just wasn’t nice. So spent a good few hours just washing everything down.
• Cut and dry installed the keel planks.
• Dry fitted the slanting frame.
• Cut and dry fitted the supports for the cockpit seats and for the cabin bunks.

We have posted some pics of this on Instagram.

Our main issue at the moment has been low temperatures in the UK. Sitting just above freezing. This is just too low to epoxy glue. Although I think I could use a heater warm an area for glueing the seating and cockpit supports I’m reluctant to glue the key structural elements of the keel planks, mast posts and slanting frame until I am confident the temperatures are consistently a little higher. This is simply as I want to ensure the “mass” of the wood is above 5c (preferably much higher), rather than just the air temperatures around the boat. So waiting for a weather window at the moment.

I need to take a couple of weeks off but if we don’t have a weather window when I get back then we will just need to cram some heaters in the tent and raise the temperatures for a 48 hour period to warm the boat before hand and during curing, and try to get everything done in one hit.

Next jobs apart from glueing…

• Another big clean up and checking all the fillet joints, soon some of them will be hidden and difficult to get to
• Once the slanting frame is fitted we need to take down the 70mm stringer to 40mm in the appropriate areas fore and aft
• Prepare the cabin bunk tops to take hatches and fit them
• I have ordered a two burner alcohol stove so we can build a galley box to take it
• Order the equipment for the bilge and electrical systems
• Give proper consideration to how or if we install a marine toilet
• Finalise the companion way design

I have ordered the stainless steel pack to ensure we have that in time for when we start the deck fitting. It feels as if things may start to come together a little more quickly, which gives a positive boost. Key things I still need to resolve include;

• Building the keel. I have a local price but it’s unrealistic. I need to get back on this and find alternatives.
• Consider how to get the stainless steel work done, or bought.

I’ve been impressed with the build quality of many of the guys boats on their blogs, fantastic work. Not sure ours will be as tidy as some of the others…..however it will fulfil the purpose of sailing. Hopefully this Summer.