Temporary Center Frame Fit

[Aaron_G]

Just finished wiring my cs17 hull together. Everything fits great. No twist in the hull. Everything seems level.

However, I have about 1/2" to 3/4" space underneath the temporary center frame, just at the centerline and +- 6 inches to either side . All other bulkheads (front, aft and transom) fit perfectly and the fore and aft curve of the centerline seems good too.

Should I worry about the space under the center frame?

I'll post more pictures when my camera charges back up...

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[Designer]

Aaron,

I would not worry about the center frame gap too much. The centerline curve on the bottom panels is so subtle that slight variations could create that gap. I usually fuss at trueing up the hull in an attempt to close the gap but I would rather leave it there than force a flat spot or make it unfair. Have you tried a pair of screws from the bottoms up into the temp. frame. If you try the screws you need to eyeball the area carefully to make sure that it is still fair. I presume that you have tightened and trued up the centerline.

[Aaron_G]

Thanks Graham. I did screw up from the bottom into the temporary frame, but the screws pulled out as I tightened the wires on the hull. Probably due more to the cheap chip-board I was using for the center frame than any extreme force. I am going to follow your advice and leave it be....I think more screws would make a flat spot...

[mustangermatt]

One place I would look closely at before gluing is to make sure the curve is fair along the keel and bottom in the area where the 1/4" bottom pieces join the 3/8" pieces. I found on mine this is where the "pooch" showed before I adjusted the edges of the midship keel joint area.

But it sounds like you have probably already done that :-)

[Joe Nelson CS#35]

I used a short piece of dowel and wrapped some wire around it...fed the wire up through the gap in the bottom panels on either side of the bulkhead. The dowel pulls up on the panels while you twist or lever on the wire on top of the bulkhead.

[Aaron_G]

So--ta da--here is my boat project that now looks like a boat.

BTW, I was right in choosing the 17 over the 20 due to my work space constraint. As I was unfolding the butterfly, the (delecately attached) sides of the boat were flopping all over the place, banging against the side of the house, the carport and carport roof. It was a little stressfull. In hindsight I should have enlisted some help.

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[mustangermatt]

The boat looks great! I like the cradle you built. I am glad I am finally doing the decks so I am not bending over so far on my too low cradle :-)

Don't forget before you glue the after bulkhead that you will have to put the keel batten under it. Otherwise you will end up putting it in in two pieces like I did :-)

[Aaron_G]

Thanks!

Whew, glad you reminded me of the keel batten. I would have gotten so enthusiastic filletting and taping that I probably would have forgotten.

My back is hurting today...

[Scott Dufour]

Looks great Aaron. Stunning how quickly it looks like a boat, eh?

There's that spot in my lower back that always reminds me how much bent over work I did the day before. I think it whispers "let the epoxy set up." :wink:

I almost forgot the keel batten, but an earlier post from Matt reminded me. Also, I wish I had held off on putting in the short stringers in the bow until I had the side seats in. That way I could make sure they don't interfere with the longitudnal pieces. Now I'll have to hope they lay right, or work around them.