Seaclipper 16 Build

[AmosSwogger]

Great work Don, your fiberglass work is impressive.

[Don Silsbe]

Well,  I’m into that part of the build where you spend hours and hours on the details, with little to show for the effort.  But we all know how important these little features are.

 

The c/b trunk is glued together, pivot bushings done, and side rails attached.   Brodie laid down his first fillet today.  He did a fine job!

 

For things to work out properly, I needed to raise the height of the cockpit floor by 3/4”.

 

Other small parts have been shaped, and are getting their three coats of epoxy.  

There are many other details to take care of before the decks are glued on.  Brodie and I are chipping away at them.

[Don Silsbe]

I dry-fitted the c/b trunk prior to coating it with epoxy.  Also working on the motor bracket.

And determining where the power outlet should go. 

[Hirilonde]

One can't over state the importance of a dry fit.  I will even try a dry clamping if I have any doubt about the actual procedure to see if it works before I slobber everything with epoxy and find out my idea doesn't go together well.

[Captain Tim]

Hirilonde  You are correct sir.

[Don Silsbe]

I ran out of 1/4” plywood today.  I called around.  Closest place was way down in Charleston, which is 3-1/2 hours from here.  I guess the good life in the Appalachian foothills has its down side.  I called Chick Ludwig, who lives “up the mountain” a piece.  I raided his scrap pile, and now have enough to plod on. Thanks, Chick!

[AmosSwogger]

Chick assist for the win.  Love it.

[Chick Ludwig]

Glad to be of service!

[Don Silsbe]

It was great working with Brodie on Saturday.  He’s mix and thicken a batch of epoxy, and feed it to me.  Then, he’d mix up another, or wet out fiberglass tape.  
 

We glued the centerboard trunk in place.

 

We also filleted and taped in a little baffle.  This will contain the anchor rode, so the area aft (to the left in thin photo) may be used for storage.

[Don Silsbe]

I got the cubby bins cut out and dry-fitted.  

 

The power outlet for the electric trolling motor auxiliary is installed.

 

Baffles have been cut to keep gear from rolling into inaccessible areas.  
 

Finally, I did a mockup of the bow area, as we are considering separating the jib furler from the forestay.  Now it is time to coat bare wood with some good old B&B epoxy.

[Don Silsbe]

@Hirilonde— Prior to dry fitting, sometimes I make a trial piece out of foam board.  The Dollar Tree has them for only $1.25.  I cut out the panel sloppily, put in place, and mark where I need to add material.  That way, my final piece is right on the money, or darned close. Foam board also helps with visualizing hardware placement, such as the bow fittings in my last post.

[Don Silsbe]

The stem got glued on today, as did some reinforcements for the deck in the bow of the vaka. The floors of the cubby bins are now glued in.

 

The baffles at either end of the c/b trunk have been glued in place.  These allow for storage at either end of the trunk, and prevent objects from rolling out of reach.

 

I also spent some time finalizing plans for the routing of control lines.  The kick-up rudder is a peculiar affair. The rudder is one solid piece.  The gudgeons are mounted on a secondary transom, which is hinged at the top to the stationary transom.   A control line goes forward to keep the rudder-transom down and in place.  The boat will also have pedal steering in addition to a tiller.

 
 

[Chick Ludwig]

I built a few small sailboats with a one piece rudder in a kick-up affair. It was very awkward to steer when kicked back part way.

[Don Silsbe]

The cockpit floor has now been glued down.

 

The motor mount has also been glued in.  It will also be filleted and taped to the aft deck.

[Don Silsbe]

Here’s a tour of the vaka construction.

Brodie and I also flipped the vaka, and trimmed the c/b trunk.

[PadrePoint]

Interesting. It looks like the centerboard trunk goes through the bottom of the boat and is to be trimmed to the bottom ply.

[Don Silsbe]

That is exactly right!  Here I am, trimming.

[Don Silsbe]

The starboard side has been sheathed in 4oz. now.

[Don Silsbe]

And now the port side.  I sure do love Russell Brown’s epoxy techniques.
 

[Don Silsbe]

 I sheathed the cockpit with 4oz glass.  Kinda tricky.