a few shots of the hacienda

IT'S A BOAT, AND IT FLOATS!!!

First strip hung March 24th, 2008. First time in the water, July 27th, 2008. Just a hair over 4 months from forms to water, not too bad considering crazy work schedule, shoulder surgery and a plethora of other activities/distractions. Lessons learned, tricks & tips, and some "don't do it this way" info to come soon. Some valuable self inflicted lessons learned and a great desire to do another boat soon.

But mostly just a great time, and a very rewarding new skill. (and great tune up for the interior woodworking on my honey-do list!)

Almost touching water for the first time.

Christened as all boats should be, with your favorite beverage! (Coffee for me!) It's named Fishtale II


Backing out for the first time.

Tracking along nicely.....

And back at the dock safe & sound after the 2 & 1/2 hour shakedown cruise.... (is my Navy showing?) A great day with my awesome wife...

VARNISH AT LAST

A few shots of the boat with vanrnish applied. Sand it, varnish it, sand it, varnish it, DONE!
Except for bulkheads, seat, and rigging. Hope to launch her the first time this weekend!!!!

Taped, Sanded and Epoxied... Deck is done except for varnish!

My faithful companions... they've been here every step of the way.... Okay, so they live in the garage where I'm building this thing, but they HAVE been here!

one view. All that's left to do is final sand the hull and epoxy it one last thin coat, then varnish and put a seat in her! And fit out the deck, do the hatch hardware, install the bulkheads, make thigh braces and foot braces, end pours and carry handles....... But she sure is purty, ain't she?!?!?

A longer view.... She's awesome

Clamps are Back!

couple of shots of the hatch lips clamped in place

Deck lightly sanded, preparing for final edge taping and epoxy coat.

I thought cutting the cockpit out was a nerve-frazzling event. Cutting the hatches out was deadly to the brain!


Coaming lip glassed

On edge for interior fiberglass taping.... The hull & deck are ONE!!!!

MIGHTY MIGHTY CLOSE

Kayak Bones... I fileted the boat today!

Inside hull sealed

Close to getting back together.

Second coat of epoxy on the hull, deck & coaming glassed

Hull is dry in this pic, epoxy is glossy!

Deck really pops with the first layer of glass. Let's see..... glass the inside of the hull, finish the deck & coaming lip, glass the halves together.... IT'S A BOAT!!!

MY BOAT BROKE IN HALF!

Two halves and a sealer coat of epoxy on the hull.... glassing has begun!

Decent view of the hull with sealer coat on it..... grain looks awesome!

COAMING COMPLETE!

Next step (after a bit more finish sanding) is epoxy & glass! I can't believe it's that close to being a boat.

Re-Flipped, Sanded and Cockpit Cut out

Sort of scary, cutting a piece of the boat out of the way.

Cockpit cut out, and the coaming started.

View from aft, looks pretty amazing all sanded to 120 grit.

Looking rather like a boat.... Hope it floats!

FIRST LEVEL OF SANDING COMPLETE ON HULL

Freshly sanded with 80 grit and wetted to raise the grain, all three pics. Two more levels, 100 & 120 then we do the cockpit.....

BOAT RE-FLIPPED... STEM PIECES GROUND TO SHAPE

Bow stem piece and hull rough sanded

hull rough sanded and staples gone!

fairing board at rest, re-boung to the forms for the night off!

First view with deck sanded

Last strip of the deck picture.

Center section complete, deck done!


A few shots of the deck rough sanded and wet down to see the grain.
Left side of pic sanded lightly, right side unsanded
Weird light, the grain side to side matches... not all dark like the right side of this view.

The bow:

rear deck

DECK NEAR DONE