Capt Bones

I joined this group to share my build experience of my Core Sound 17 Mark 3-2/Bones. Thus far I have failed my own mandate. Part of my failure stems from the intimidating knowledge this group has and how little I had to offer in return. Part of my waywardness is from absolute ignorance of building boats and my even less intuitiveness. Heck, I don’t even know what I don’t know as Alan pointed out recently. Another part of my missing in action is being a little tired after spending five to eight hours a day seven days a week out in the boat barn. However, these are all simply excuses for not prioritizing this list. I am here now. Ready to participate. I will start with now and try to share pictures and be diligent with routine entries regarding this challenging journey. Feel free to jump in anytime to ask questions or comment. Oddly, at least to me, the closer to build completion the more questions I have. This build started the first week in May, (with a month off in between for medical emergencies), and after what seems a lifetime of build time, sprinkled with countless errors, re-dos, gotchas, head scratching, and epoxy ladened clothes to crunchy to wear, we have reached a point where the boat is upside down and the first coat of paint applied. Gazing rapture-like at the freshly painted hull it is pleasing to note there are no gapping wounds in the bottom, other than the center-board slot. I am gob-smacked that the bottom looks smooth and fair under the paint with only a small area at the bow with pinholes that needs to be revisited. Alan told me this was a pretty hard build for a novice boat builder. That seems to be true. Everything in the build was or is new to me, framing, taping, fillets, cutting, butting, glassing, peel-ply and now painting. It is at the end of each stage a certain degree of comfort is realized only to start over learning a new skill. This will not be a perfect boat like many in this group have built, Yet I am pleased with my stutter step effort of three steps forward one back. Alan also pointed out. “It’s wood, epoxy and glass, nothing that can’t be fixed.” I have done my share of fixing and re-fixing since May. This boat, my boat, will be ready for the next Everglades Challenge and challenges beyond. My eye has always been toward performance and learning how to sail a cat-ketch rig and as I sit and admire the bottom, My eye is cast toward mast building and rigging not too far away. When asking what boat finishes to use, Alan said definitely, poly paints. My first ever digression from a B&B suggestion has recently occurred for three reasons. The lack of color selection in poly paints has always chaffed, therefore I am using Kirby paint products with infinite color selection. Further, time is of the essence. And I reason enamel will go on quick and easy with, hopefully, a lower learning curve then poly. No doubt this decision will bring some comments. With luck some comments will circle around how to apply enamel correctly. My first painting effort has left brush marks and lapping marks on the bottom. It feels like the paint went on too thick. I want the paint on the bottom smooth for optimal performance. I am unsure how to accomplish this. I have followed many of your excellent build dialogues and gleaned much information. While not sure how my contributions may be of value, sharing now feels like the responsible thing to do. Darn, it seems my photo upload failed.

Be safe. Keep us all informed via this media as you can. Our thoughts and concerns are with you and yours. Bones n' Miss Lynn

CAPSIZE CAMP THOUGHTS The drone of tires on the west-bound North Carolina highway does not quiet the excitement in my chest nor the churning in my gut. Soundless thoughts and visuals are looping through my head as Bumpkin and I attempt to make practiced conversation on a twelve hour drive home—there is only one subject—Safety protocols and equipment we want to maintain on the Core Sound 17 Mark 3-2/Bones we are building. We have spent a short two days accumulating a years’ worth of knowledge during the Capsize Class at B&B Yachts and endorsed by WaterTribe. The class goal was to learn how to self-rescue from a capsize, however, it was much more. Our discussion on the ride home was a cornucopia of wisdom gleaned from the other participants, Roo, SOS of B&B Designs, Chief and of course learning from the exposure of our own potential fatal inadequacies. Each sentence shared a fruit harvest, each paragraph a bounty of fresh understanding. Here is what we learned at this event and how we are applying it to our Core Sound build in progress. • Attach rigid folding recovery ladder on the stern of our boat. • We will have a secondary soft ladder system on-board. • Attach a grab handle approximate to ladder for aid in boarding. • Individual safety lines attached to base of the mizzenmast adjusted just long enough to be within reach of boat ladder if in water. • Righting line stowed on mizzenmast with pre-adjusted foot stirrup used to assist in applying body weight in righting the vessel. • Having seen its success, we will be purchasing a “Goldfish” masthead float from B&B. • We intend to sort a kick-up centerboard downhaul, or a streaming string to pull CB out of the trunk when capsized, or a shear pin to hold down the centerboard. We want the centerboard extended or the ability to extend it when capsized. • Our ballast tank will be normally full, as opposed to normally empty. • We will maintain our hatches with leak proof seals. • Our cockpit drains will be oversized. • We will maintain an electric and manual de-watering pump. • We are going to sail within the limits of our boat and skills to minimize unintentional capsizing, yet during our crew training periods, we intend to practice intentional capsizing until it is boring. • The proper footwear and PFD, (worn at all times while underway), that allow righting/boarding relatively unhindered is paramount to us. • Firmly secure everything in the boat we want to have at the end of the voyage. The above we learned about capsizing and recovery. However, there was so much more gleaned on sails, rigging hardware, equipment, placement and techniques of everything and slick tricks in general. We appreciate those who sacrificed their time and provided their personal boats for this event. There is no doubt what was learned at this training program will save a life in the future—probably mine, and I thank you in advance cause I have a good life. Capt Bones & Bumpkin

Thank you for this opportunity. Although our 2019 Everglades Challenge boat is in the boat barn being built, co-captains Bones and Bumpkin are traveling from West Tennessee to attend this unique event. We understand the message of skilled safety Chief and B&B are underlining by promoting this Capsize Class. We look forward to learning new or confirming existing skill sets. Yes, we both have pushed boats around here and there and our experiences have taught us two things: The more we learn the less we know, and that perfect practice makes perfect. We believe this is important training for all boaters and especially for those involved in adventure challenges and look forward to learning more about those issues Alan has detailed

Beautiful boat sir, beautiful. Good job! Nice looking trailer also.

If I glass or epoxy something in my temperature controlled metal roofed barn, when finished, is it alright to turn off AC and allow it to bake dry in the high heat and reduced humidity? I have experimented with samples that suggest I can fillet, glass and apply the two epoxy top coats in one 12 hr period with seemingly good results and reap a nice savings in time simply by turning the AC off after each application and back on before applying again. i have the cypress sprits shaped. I wish to apply a finish. Because of there specific activity, (flexing and rubbing against sail) is there a preferred finish? Bones

The sprits are shaped but not finished for lack of decision on what to use. Suggestions welcomed. Alan sent some updated assembly sheets Friday, but we only have 8.5x11printer paper and the best size is 11x17. We had to wait for Monday to get proper size copies made that I could read easier. Aw, you gotta love small southern towns trying to do things in town on a weekend. So today we threw a bunch of parts into the boat near there correct locations just to see them and what they may look like installed. Kinda of a quasi dry fitting. Here is what that looks like. Those parts will be set aside and the centerboard trunk assembled and installed as it seems most interior parts orbit around the trunk and ballast tank for a bit. I am not good at estimating installation times but it looks like a day or two to get the trunk glassed in and over the weekend to install either the ballast tank and/or several support parts. It feels like three steps forward this week while trying to gauge where the one step back will occur. Adelante.

Oops. I jumped to soon to ask those questions. Went to the video tour of Carlita and answered all my own questions. Sorry for any disturbance.

OK, I now have the Cypress sprit plugs cut. I have the option of leaving them at 2 full inches or shaving down to 1.5" that the plans relate. Then as I look at them deciding the round over is confusing me. Further, what is a proper finish for sprits. I am asking the group these questions. 1.5" or 2" sprits? 1/4" or 1/2" round-over? What length and how much taper? What length are the ends rounded? How is it best to finish sprits? We will be starting on the centerboard system this weekend and have finished both sides of the rudder blade and will refine the trailing edge in the morning. Thanks for your comments in advance.

Oy mate. I am sure you have similar events in your country. Here they are small boat events to test yourself, well, against yourself, nature & time. A proper set of challenges right now are the WaterTribe Challenges with the Everglades Challenge, a 300 mile event, being the most popular. B&B makes reference to them on their website and both Graham and Alan are heavy hitters in the events as well as their Core Sound boats. Another popular event is the Race to Alaska, (R2AK). You would be well served to google both those events and WaterTribe for the best descriptions, much better then I can provide. There is a UTUBE video about the EC that I have often watched for motivation. THE CHALLENGE by Warren Richey I have not completed the EC and wrote about my adventure but it is probably not appropriate for this forum due to its off-content and length. I have a score to settle with the EC and am looking for redemption in this boat. Thanks for your interest.

Good news: I found a full 2"x8"x12' dried Cypress plank locally that I will use for sprits. I have two nice plugs ripped out of it and may be able to get a third as a spare. Dem wild plug things will be tamed into sprits Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. Glad that's solved, it took two full days to run down decent wood of any kind, other then plain ol Southern Pine. That's how it is when you live in the far side of beyond. Interior chines are filleted and glassed. Guessing its ok to do the transom also. The rudder blade is glassed and coated twice more on one side. Doing the other side either tonight or early in the morning. it will be completed, except for finish sanding and paint, until I figure out trim colors for the boat down the road. Alan is feverishly working to finish the next segment of plan sheets this week while most likely juggling a few other projects. I appreciate the way Alan has stood by me in this build.

OK. I will. Thank you for your comments.

Actually, to my way of thinking, hull # 14 is the Core Sound 17 MK3.Bones. What with all the ideas and effort to constantly make an excellent vessel better I suppose the designer does reserve the right to label it .2. However, it remains Bones to me, my very own B & B custom design CS17, kinda. Thank you Graham and Alan.

I feel uncomfortable not knowing what I am doing building this boat. Being such a novice, I have little feel yet for what is a good technique or a bad one or what step should follow the next. I am using B&B’s freshly written build or assembly instructions for the 17 MK 3. Fortunately the pages I have used to date are exceptional in clarity. I know this because I followed the directions closely and every joint on the boat, with a push here and nudge there and with a twist of wire or a screw and pad, lines up perfectly and the boat is not out of rack. The upper bow has pulled apart a bit but that came together nicely when I did as Alan suggested and wired the stem with more wire and wire the 1x2 shaper board bow ends together. This pulled the gap on the stem totally closed correctly without any odd deformation. To date the forward bulkhead, 2nd bulkhead and the standing knees have been dry fitted, taken out, the epoxy and glass keel strip run from stem to stern, the bulkheads and standing knees dry fitted again then glassed in place. To their credit Alan of B & B has been with me and supportive every step of the way as needed. I am loving this hands on experience. The pain, the confusion, the frustration and then the insight and the satisfaction. I even value the three steps forward and one back progress. (my normal new project progress is three forward two back, so this progress is indeed progress.) With the keel glass complete, the transom wired in place and fiberglassed as directed, the bulkheads and knees glassed in place as well as the standing knees—I am turning to the next page of the build. Before I do, I wish to thank all of the list members who have graciously shared their building experience. I have read each Core Sound build on this list multiple times and watched the videos. Honestly, I am not sure how any of you had the time or energy to write and take pictures during or at the end of the day. It seems the buildout of # 14 in some areas is ordered differently then previous builds, so I will attempt to share my experience with better coverage in the future--and more photos. Bones

Chick, Thank you. Our first year of full time cruising we spent several weeks off and on over a summer on Tellico and The Little. It indeed is a magical place. We retired from cruising and started a goat farm ten miles from the intersection of Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee which is a point in the middle of Pickwick Lake. I developed an interest in adventure challenges, bought a Hobie AI, used it, sold it when "My Precious" said, its challenges or the goats not both. And because I got lost in my own mind with hallucinations and the Everglades at the same time she added the caveat of no more small boats that you sit on like the Tri. You can have any boat you want as long as it is dryer and you can sleep on it. Now who am I to argue with a woman who says I can have a Core Sound? Well, the goats are gone and the Core Sound is in my barn with the hull keel fiberglassed with 12oz 10" cloth and this morning going to fit the bulkheads, and transom and tab them in and whatever my next directions say. (Its morning and sometimes I forget what I read yesterday until I see it again in the morning). I do not and likely will not day sail or cruise this boat. It is being specifically built for Adventure Challenges. Once complete however, it will spend plenty of time on the lake and river being tested, learning its skills and disabilities, figuring out the best way to sail a Cat-Ketch and in general blending with the boat. I have a hard time going out just to sail--it seems I need a hard purpose, a definitive goal. I suspect my favorite place is the waterfall cove at Pickwick Lake or the first lake south on the Tombigbee Waterway at the end of the canal or ditch, who's name is not jumping to mind.

Aaaarrrggggh! Thank you Drew. After an unexpected lay day--back to the boat barn where thar be dragons to slay.

Thank you for sharing.

Thank you, look forward to sharing and learning from others. I have a small bit of tweaking to do to pull a small crack out of the chime/hull interface near the bows. My next step is to install the temporary batten along the top edge of the side panels. At the moment, the forward bulkhead is a little sloppy and the #2 bulkhead a little tight but those will be adjusted for proper dry fit after the batten. After checking for twist, I am electing to tack weld the chime and keel bottom and then the interior keel fillet from stem to stern prior to setting Bulkhead #1 and #2, the transom, and hanging knees. After that...will see what's on Alan's next page. Probably gluing up more cleats on pieces of pretty wood.

Dale. Yes! The blooming of this boat shape from messy flat wood pieces glued together is intoxicating. The fact it all comes together rather perfectly like a hardwood origami creature is rewarding and exciting--most here already understand this feeling. Now I do also. I am pleased. Now it is time to get to work.

And so it begins.... Capt Bones, Miss Lynn, Capt Bumpkin and Sheena the Warrior Princess embark upon a new boat construction adventure located at a top secret (code name only) location past the far side of beyond. We look forward to sharing our build efforts as we convey them in pictures and words that will also likely be reflective of our success and failures along a wide continuum of emotions throughout our work. We have pick-up our cut kit and returned to our secret location, code named GoatHead Ranch ten miles from the Tennessee River. We have opened the box scatter bits and pieces all around us, then froze in the sudden realization of "WHAT HAVE WE GOTTEN INTO NOW! We figure after two or three days of hard drinking, as pirates are wont to do, we will shed our fear and pick up the some pieces and glue them together. This reminds me of a story. Several years ago I acquire a MT 49 PH that the Bahamian Government had taken from a drug smuggler and tried to use in chasing down other pirates. In short order, I think, they figured out this seven knot boat would not catch much. Heck, they have tidal bores twice as fast as this trawler was. Well I put it on the hard with much refitting and repairs to get done, so much and so many I couldn't figure out where to start. A friend came by and listened to my tale of woe as we were standing on the flybridge deck, my phone rang, I answered it and was talking with my wife when I heard a small engine sound behind me. I turned to see my friend Jesse, dipped the churning blades of a chain saw into the boat and cut off the back third of the flybridge deck. He turned off the saw, turned, dusted of his hands and said. "There now you have a place to start." I certainly did. Well, Capt Bumpkin isn't Jesse, but he is a bit more aggressive. which is tempered by the fact he has a full time job and lives fifty miles away. Pity me, when he gets time to help me build. Been working for a couple of weeks now using a combination of assembly procedures, U-tube and the periodic phone call to Alan. Hopefully this report with pictures will show up properly on the site as a test.