Marissa 18 build

[Jason Klett]

I came up with a way to glue up the long panels indoors, it just prevents me from doing much of anything else while I'm waiting for the epoxy to cure. I just have the sides which I will be doing later today then all of the long panels are done and I can start making the strongback/jig. The scarfs came out really good except one which I must have placed a little over the mark when I glued it, there is a step up in thickness that can't really be seen but you can feel it when you run your hand across. I should be able to fair it out easily once it's installed. I clamped and screwed everything together before cutting things out and planed to the lines so everything is mirrored nicely. 

 

I did make a mistake when cutting the stringers, I cut slots on the upper edge for the floor carlins not realizing they got blocks glued to them for the sticks to slot into instead. I was thinking I could just make the ones that run along the top edge of those stringers 1.5" x .75" instead of .75" x .75" to add back any lost strength. Does this sound like a good correction? 

[Captain Tim]

I think you can fix just about anything with epoxy and fiberglass cloth on a stitch and glue boat

[54bullwinkle]

Thanks for posting.   I am starting same build in October.   I’ve sourced my lumber, waiting for weather to cool down in Florida 

 

Di you use a router jig or a plane to make your scarfs and what was your scarf length for the 3/8 ply?

 

Thanks

[Jason Klett]

I used the West scarffer. I temporarily removed the guard on my circular saw and used an 8" blade with it, that gave me the 3 inches with my saw. I practiced with some scrap to get it set up (it is a little fiddley getting the perfect angle) and only had one that I had to trim back and redo. If I was to do it again, I would have just used planes but it was too hot in the shop so I went the "easy" route.

 

On a side note, I got all of the long panels glued and also the doublers on the frames. I have to laminate the transom up and clean up some squeeze out then I can start putting things together. Tomorrow I will be giving the barn a deep cleaning and building a strongback, I will have pictures soon. Ain't much to see at this point.

 

Tip to the wise, do as much cutting and sanding as you can outside. Or at least move the motorcycles and other boat out first. I should know better but had a window to work on this project and just got after it. I know there will be a ton more sanding in the future so I will be thinking a little before I act. I need to get some covers or at least drop cloths. 

[54bullwinkle]

Thanks buddy 

Yeah, space is my biggest issue.  Gonna be a tight squeeze.    Building my strong back on wheels so I can maneuver the job around in my shop (garage).   

 

[Jason Klett]

Got a strongback knocked together squared and leveled. I threw down some spray paint on the floor so if I need to move it, I can put it back in the same location and maintain level. I will be putting a few more legs on it once the uprights for the frames are in but I can walk on the edge without deflection so it'll work as is. One step closer...

[Jason Klett]

I got a little impatient and wanted to see how everything fit together. I do have to clean up some edges and fine tune a couple of areas but it slotted together nice and square. It may be a little bit before I start gluing things together but seeing a bunch of plywood look like this really got me going! I wish I had more time to devote to this build but it is what it is. She'll get finished eventually.

[Jason Klett]

I ripped a mess of Douglas fir for the chine batons and stringers today and found another screw up when I was looking things over. I glued the extra reinforcement for frame 2 on the wrong side. It is on the opposite side of the doubler instead of on top of it. I don't know why I thought it should sandwich the 9mm frame instead of being stacked but that's what I did. That will place the centerline of the frame 1/2 inch aft of where it is supposed to land on the keel. Will that have a big effect on the hull shape? If so, I am thinking the best way to correct it (short of getting more ply and recutting everything for that frame which I'd rather not do since I don't have a local source for Okoume and would have to order it and get it shipped at an astronomical cost) is trimming that 1/2 inch from the slot in the sole so it can shift forward and just tabbing in a chunk of scrap to fill the gap when I glue it down. Thoughts?

[Jason Klett]

After calming down from discovering my mistake, I went back out and looked things over again. I will have to cut the relief in the sole, it is bending the frame between the outboard stringer and the cutout since everything was cut correctly. That's why the frame isn't sitting right on the keel. I'm glad I looked it over again, it's an easy enough fix. At least I didn't start gluing up the framework, that could have made the corrections much more difficult. I have heard it said that the hallmark of a master craftsman is not avoiding mistakes, but knowing how to skillfully fix or conceal them. I sure ain't no master but I'm really good at fixing my screw ups and making them look pretty in the end.

[Jason Klett]

No real progress to report other than ripping and scarfing a bunch of strips. As of tonight, I have 6 20' strips and 2 12' strips all at 1.5" x .75" which I will process to the chine and side stringer dimensions. I may attempt to keep the inwales at .75" but we'll see after they all cure for a week. Epoxying all those strips was a challenge but it went pretty well. The only real troubleI had was the limited space to do that in so I got creative with my workstation which was far from level so a lot of shims were used. Hopefully by this time next week, I'll have something photo worthy to show, we'll see how it goes.

[Jason Klett]

Thank you Frank for your tireless work on the forum, it is greatly appreciated! Bit of an update. The way I had things set on the strongback set things a touch too high for me (I'm short) so I lowered everything a bit so I could reach better. I got everything squared up and leveled and added some more support to the frames. I had some difficulties hanging the transom until I asked for tips and used some temporary screws. I got that fitted and glued, did some fillets on the fames and stringers, and fitted the chine battens. I will glue those on Thursday and start shaving down the keel. I didn't have any problems with those battens, even with using douglas fir. Maybe it was because I used 2x stock and the way I ripped them made them pretty much quartersawn. Or I just got lucky. Either way, I'll take it!

[54bullwinkle]

Looks great .   

I should start posting mine soon.

Still transferring plans onto plywood.   I don’t have much space, so a lot of my work will be done outside.   Been raining here in FL 

[Steve W]

Nice work. Slow and steady will get you there!