Lapwing 16 Build

[Murray]

Checking the masts are plumb athwartship. I'd say that's as close as I am going to get.

[Murray]

I had decided to use a resin bearing in the mast step to allow easy mast rotation. As I was about the pour the resin I pondered that since the mast step can be subjected to significant and sometimes shock loads, I might bury 4 screws into the keel plate under the bearing. With these, the four screws in the mast step itself, and then gluing, filleting and taping the maststep to the centre case at the side and the the keel plate underneath, well it hopefully will stand the loads...

[Hirilonde]

I don't get it.  What are the screws supposed to do?

[Don Silsbe]

I think what Hirilonde is saying is that the epoxy bond will provide more than enough strength for the loads.  I can see the benefit of them for precisely the step.  But after the glue has cured, they serve no purpose, other than an entry point for water.  Just be sure to include a drain hole, so water doesn’t accumulate in it.

[Murray]

On 7/5/2023 at 11:42 PM, Don Silsbe said:

I think what Hirilonde is saying is that the epoxy bond will provide more than enough strength for the loads.  I can see the benefit of them for precisely the step.  But after the glue has cured, they serve no purpose, other than an entry point for water.  Just be sure to include a drain hole, so water doesn’t accumulate in it.

Well - belt and braces. I don't know the loads on the mast steps, but I'd guess as shock loads - approx plenty. So making sure for sure, I'd start with hoping the epoxy bond is good. Then the four screws in the step are more good. Then the four screws under the bearing give even more mechanical security - so more good. If redundant, then it's just four screws. 

[Murray]

On 2/8/2022 at 7:01 AM, Designer said:

I remember my first employer telling me "the art of a craftsman is being able to disguise or work around your screw-ups. 

 

I have been where you are more times than I want to remember.

 

I have not seen your problem but my instinct would be to trim some wood off one side and make it up on the other side with epoxy. A little adjustment with forward gunwales ends might be necessary. There may be some tweaking of paint edges.

 

While you may not be able to eliminate the visual effect completely, reducing it will make invisible to most folk.

Thanks for this comment Graham @Designer- that was the pathway to solve the problem. 

[Don Silsbe]

Graham once told me that adding screws to an epoxy joint actually weakened it.  I wish I had quizzed him further on that.

[Murray]

On 7/13/2023 at 6:16 AM, Don Silsbe said:

Graham once told me that adding screws to an epoxy joint actually weakened it.  I wish I had quizzed him further on that.

That's interesting. In the plans he specifies screwing the mast steps as well as gluing.  Maybe the screws add sheering strength.  I wonder maybe differing coefficients of expansion between the screws and the epoxy could see a joint working over time?

[Hirilonde]

On 7/14/2023 at 12:49 AM, Murray said:

That's interesting. In the plans he specifies screwing the mast steps as well as gluing.  Maybe the screws add sheering strength.  I wonder maybe differing coefficients of expansion between the screws and the epoxy could see a joint working over time?

I bet it is to keep the step from moving while the opoxy cures, there is no way to clamp it.

 

[Murray]

On 7/17/2023 at 1:59 AM, Hirilonde said:

I bet it is to keep the step from moving while the opoxy cures, there is no way to clamp it.

 

You are so right; one look at my stem issues prove that point.  You mentioned somewhere Dave, that you put footsteps in - where did you locate them?

[Hirilonde]

@Murray I am trying to remember what I meant by foot steps, and I can't. Are you referring to something to make stepping the main mast easier?  I'm getting old.

[Murray]

18 hours ago, Hirilonde said:

@Murray I am trying to remember what I meant by foot steps, and I can't. Are you referring to something to make stepping the main mast easier?  I'm getting old.

...Nah - still just a boy!

 

I should have asked at the time I saw the post, but I think it was in reference to sitting on the sidedeck, and needing some foot strap arrangement to prevent falling over the side?

[Murray]

The resin on the transom yielded to the gentle persuasion of 80 grit, but it was astonishingly hard. Still it sanded off and now with some stain in place it will probably look OK when varnished. I guess also with the white paint going over onto the edge of the planks, a rudder and other things going on to distract the eye from small  blemishes, it will look fine. 

 

Suddenly I am at the point where the list of tasks is becoming manageable; Carlin supports tomorrow, then carlins can go in, hatch covers, decks, then sanding for a few weeks... Then tipped over for final coats of hull paint, gunwales, rubbing strips, a rebuild of the rudder stock, oh then.... actually still quite a list...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hirilonde]

5 hours ago, Murray said:

I should have asked at the time I saw the post, but I think it was in reference to sitting on the sidedeck, and needing some foot strap arrangement to prevent falling over the side?

Oh, you mean hiking straps.  Yes, they were imperative in my boat. You have never seen them in small boats? They allow me not only to sit on the side deck comfortably, but I can hike out thus avoid reefing for another 5 or so knots of wind.

[PadrePoint]

Hiking on my CS15� a gust began laying over my boat and I quickly sat up on the side deck (I don�t have hiking straps, but I used them in a Sunfish-like boat a LONG time ago). �Releasing the main some made things quickly settle down. I slid off the side deck back onto the seat. �
When I could not find my wallet in my back pocket later that day, nor ANYWHERE else, I concluded that when I slid off the side deck my wallet got squeezed out into the lake like a wet watermelon seed popping out from between thumb and first finger.

I even had my old college ID still� my kids and others enjoyed laughing at it. �I just don�t lose my wallet, at least for very long. �Lesson learned and I now have a new wallet with all new stuff. �Whenever I remember to take the precaution it comes out before sailing. The trick then is to remember where I carefully stowed it.

�

Your boat is looking very nice. �Enjoy!!

�

And, just because this very cute photo of my grand-girls from last year popped up on phone today� (in the very spot from which I sent my billfold over):

[Steve W]

....actually still quite a list....

 

I have a friend who jokingly says "80 percent done with 80 percent to go". I use it myself now.  Even when you are done the tweaking never ends. Looks great though!

[Murray]

16 hours ago, Steve W said:

....actually still quite a list....

 

I have a friend who jokingly says "80 percent done with 80 percent to go". I use it myself now.  Even when you are done the tweaking never ends. Looks great though!

I’ll use that quote - very apt!

[gray duck]

Boat looks amazing! Regarding screws in epoxy - I have heard and seen that SS screws that are NOT exposed to air (ie in epoxy) will rust.

[Murray]

This really feels wrong....

[Murray]

But necessary. I found a piece of rubber tube in the garage, no idea where it came from but after wrapping cloth and resin around it, it makes a good fibreglass tube to drain the mast step outside the hull. It was a good little project that has allowed me to avoid doing the carlins. I can't quite see how to get these things set up - with 15 degrees of 'backrest' - when you pull them against the hull, they twist and rise up at the ends. what else can I do next to avoid this...