Gaff

[Florin {VACATIONER}]

So the decision was made. I built the gaff last night and it is solid. I laminated it of course out of 2 pieces ripped out of the 2x12x12' spruce I got the other day. I glued and clamped them together with plastic resin glue. I made them a little bigger, so I have to trim down the edges today.

I also made the stub mast. It is solid as well. I couldn't see why I should make this one hollow since I don't have to lift it anyway when stepping the mast, plus it's a lot simpler to build. I made this out of 2 pieces of 2" stock and one piece I had to rip to 3/4" which went in between to give me a 4x3 3/4" piece. I'll have to trim down the edges on this one too. All end grains went against eachother to prevent warping. I also made the gaff jaws yesterday. I have to pick up some ready-rod to screw the jaws to the gaff now.

So today I have to trim down all the edges and I'll possibly start cutting the staves for the mast, but I have to find a lot of those radiator hose clamps to put the mast together. I took your advice and will keep the boom solid, I'll make that today as well since all I have to do is rip a couple of pieces of wood and glue them together. I also need to buy more clamps... I almost ran out yesterday when I did the stub mast and the gaff.

Florin

[Craig]

At the rate you are going you could meet us in Michigan in July Florin...

Happy building

[T. Nelson Surbrook]

Florin, When you finish you can always come down to Spokane and we will take our boats to Lake Ceour d' Alene! It's a lot closer to you and man would that be fun.

[Florin {VACATIONER}]

As things are progressing right now we are hoping for a late july, early August launch. Who knows, it may happen sooner, but I highly doubt it. There's still a lot of things to be done to her before she's ready. We are having our turning party tomorrow. After that there's still some fiddling around with the coaming, taffrail, still have to build a couple of hatches for the cockpit seats, install the steering and the rudder+box. While I do that we'll be fiberglassing and then, the admiral will be finishing. Oh yeah.... I decided we'll build the trailer since I can't find anything suitable just yet. One of my buddies is a welder an he put his foot in his mouth the other day, he said he would weld it up for me... I'd rather have him do that, for I'm not that great at welding anyway.

I guess painting would be the last thing we do, but it still needs to be done.

So finishing in a couple of weeks I think would be pushing it.

But I'd love to get together with you guys if this was possible. We may end up going in the Spokane area or maybe Coeur D'Alene next summer though. I think we'll stick around Alberta lakes this year until we get used to the boat and possibly get some minor kinks out of it.

Thanks