Ok.  I admit defeat on scarfing the panels.  After fairing and filling the first two panels on for the bottom, I have decided to just do the fiberglass scarf joints as outlined on the plans.  I did my Michalak skiff this way, and the seam is not noticeable to the uneducated eye.  I figure that if I need to sand and fair, I might as well make it easy.  Hope to get the foward panels on the bottom this weekend and build the sides as well.  the switch to standard stitch and glue should speed things up.

Also was slowed down by work, weather, and some damage to the transom on the Bolger 18 workskiff.  (nothing serious, just a hairline crack in the glass where it had not adhered well.  No water present!)

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 9 Sheets of 6mm Okoume
3 sheets of 9mm Okoume

by noon, I had all the 9mm ripped and ready for gluing the scarfs.  I use a makita Power plane to rough cut the 3" scarfs, and then a block plane, followed by a belt sander.  This took 30 minutes tops.

Next will be to move the panels to the basement workshop for gluing in the climate controlled environment!  I use WEST with one primer coat, followed by a thicken coat with Cabosil or equivalent to make a bonding putty.

I place a wide sawhorse under the joint, then cover with plastic, apply glue, then cover with plastic, and lastly     weight down with a 1X6 with any kind of weight on top.  If it slips too much, I will drive a couple of bronze nails through the set up.  May do this anyways to save time.  the goal is to be able to loft the bottom panels next weekend, and then start on the sides.

Here I am 3 hours later.

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The Centerboard has been roughed out to its approximate final shape and I have become a tad obsessive compulsive regarding the final shape.  The photo shows the NACA 0008 shape as it seemed to fit the final shape of the tip of the foil the best.  the NACA 0009 might be better.  My plan is to set a dado router bit to the depth indicated by the template and then  set a guide for the router to follow.  I will set the guides as expanded lines up the foil at several stations as the template can be expanded to fit the width at each point.  I used the plotter at http://airfoiltools.com/plotter/index  be sure to select "no margins" on the printer or things get compressed.  I can generate a NACA foil for several points along the board and then connect the points to expand the lines through the taper.  The router would then follow the lines to cut the lines to be planed to.

 Area that will be inside the trunk is clearly marked.  router will be used to go vertically up and strike marks to plane to.

 I have no idea how I will shape the tip, other than just rounding it off.

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I took the plunge today and bought a few board feet of 2X6 fir to start laminating the centerboard.

After an hour on the saw including set up, I have a pile of nice strips to glue up to the basic shape.

The logic to start on this part of the boat was that the garage is still too cluttered and cold for serious building and these parts can be done with the glueing indoors and the shaping outdoors.  The centerboard trunk will be determined by the final shape of this part, so there it is.

Plywood will be ordered next week so it arrives when Im home to receive it!

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I mentioned a few posts back that I still have Lusitania 13s transom sitting in my shop. Ive kept it around, waiting for it to eventually serve some purpose. (Yes, Id even considered finishing a Squirt eventually... but at this point I dont think that is likely any time soon.) Some things are a no-brainer, and I believe that is the case with the fate of Lusitania 13s transom.

After a relaxing dinner at Cracker Barrel a few nights ago, I stumbled across this neat little table lamp. Its styled to look like an old Johnson outboard motor from the 1950s. Never mind that the prop is on the wrong side. What better piece of furniture to put it on than a nightstand made from Lusitania 13s transom?

Of course, I havent made this nightstand... yet. Thats another project, coming soon... eventually.

Heres a photo of the lamp... along with what I imagine Lusitania 13s transom artwork would look like:

 

By the way, May 22 is National Maritime Day, according to my calendar. Ive got to admit, Id never heard of this before. So anyway... Happy National Maritime Day, everyone!

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