Greg Luckett Posted June 13, 2009 Author Posted June 13, 2009 I was just moving pictures from subfolders to a master folder on my PC and saw that this project started with lofting in December 2004. What was supposed to be an over the winter boat building project has turned into a 5 year one. It is shocking to me how much time has passed, but then I did not work on it again until March 2008. It kept getting post poned for 4 years, then again many shorter times. The advice given to me by Graham to just try and do a little every day has really paid off, plus being able to put up my tent without the city giving me grief. Having shelter from the weather, which is generally bad here, has been the best help. I really need to find a work shop big enough to allow me to tackle the PS26 or a CS20. The search goes on as does the boat building! ;D Quote
Greg Luckett Posted June 15, 2009 Author Posted June 15, 2009 Arrgh, why does it take me so long to do a good job? At least I am learning new tricks of the trade...sigh. The gunwhales are done being shaped, and the second stain coating, a different and darker color, "gunstock", has been applied. The "oak" stain was too light to cover some of the earlier stains inflicted by epoxy fillers. In the morning I hope to do a light sanding, apply another coating of stain, and apply the filleting in the cockpit and sole areas. I am very pleased with the gunwhales now. A day was also lost due to steady raining creating a very muddy ground under the tent. At least there was some progress as the rudder repairs were started in the shop. Quote
Ken_Potts Posted June 15, 2009 Posted June 15, 2009 Press on! Your boat's already prettier than mine! ;D It seems like you've hit your stride and are steadily on the (long) homestretch. Keep plugging along and you'll have the pleasure of posting some breathtaking launch photos. I like the picture of the shopvac taking command of the ship ;D Quote
John Burritt Posted June 15, 2009 Posted June 15, 2009 Greg - It that the standard spindrift rudder blade? Quote
Greg Luckett Posted June 15, 2009 Author Posted June 15, 2009 Greg - It that the standard spindrift rudder blade? A good question. No, it came from a 14ft. boat (Skipjack) that I bought for salvage parts and its trailer. I realized today that this rudder is not going to be a good choice for the Spindrift because it is not a kick up rudder. Until I really started working on it a couple of days ago, I thought it was a kick up type, just with varnish sealing the joints. I plan to go ahead with the refinish and then put it on Ebay. I can fabricate a rudder per Graham's design in a couple of rainy days and am now going to do so. Thanks for asking. Quote
Bikermouse Posted June 15, 2009 Posted June 15, 2009 I love the shop-vac mainmast. I think you should install it in a mizzen position, though. That way, if you're out and the the wind dies, you can just switch it on (in exhaust mode) and fill the main. Nice easy downwind run all the way home and no rowing! Of course, you might need a moderately long extension cord... Quote
Greg Luckett Posted June 29, 2009 Author Posted June 29, 2009 Some of the hardware from B&B arrived yesterday. Today I fitted the bow eye and the stem fitting and hope to have the chain plates fitted tomorrow. I decided to make the aft hatch seat with strips of white oak and walnut, then finish it bright. The new band saw blade has really made it nice to do resawing again. My camera stopped working so no new pics until I learn how to use the new one. Quote
Greg Luckett Posted July 5, 2009 Author Posted July 5, 2009 The Spindrift's aft seat is now all fabricated and ready for final sanding and varnishing. The rudder pieces are all cut out now too, ready for assembly. The bow eye is now installed too. Quote
Greg Luckett Posted July 6, 2009 Author Posted July 6, 2009 This has been a handy and simple, shop made tool. It is good for sitting small things to be epoxied or painted and allows both sides to be worked on. It is a board with lots of nails. Quote
Guest Dennis M Posted July 6, 2009 Posted July 6, 2009 Greg, it looks like a Medieval torturing device. Do you threaten the wood with the nail board to get it to behave? ;D Quote
Greg Luckett Posted July 6, 2009 Author Posted July 6, 2009 Gee, no. Would that work? ;D Greg, it looks like a Medieval torturing device. Do you threaten the wood with the nail board to get it to behave? ;D Quote
Greg Luckett Posted July 13, 2009 Author Posted July 13, 2009 The rudder is nearly finished, just needing a couple more things and another coat of paint. The second primer coat has been completed on the interior. Quote
Ken_Potts Posted July 14, 2009 Posted July 14, 2009 Looking very good there! I bet you can taste it at this point ;D Quote
lbrewer Posted July 14, 2009 Posted July 14, 2009 That's looking great Greg! So close......(are you sure there aren't any pictures of it floating in the creek out back? ;D) Quote
Greg Luckett Posted July 15, 2009 Author Posted July 15, 2009 The rudder is now mostly done, just needing the downhaul installed, the pintles, gudgeons, and the stem fitting is also installed. I wonder why a wing nut is specified for the rudder axle? I like a self locking nut much better, that will keep its position. I still need to make a tiller and extension but have just now really started thinking about it. It looks like it is a solid piece to the rudder cheek top in the plan. I do not like that, preferring a removable rudder and also one that will hinge up and down. I think I will give Graham a call and see what light he can shed in my head ;D. Quote
Greg Luckett Posted July 16, 2009 Author Posted July 16, 2009 That's looking great Greg! So close......(are you sure there aren't any pictures of it floating in the creek out back? ;D) Nope, but I do wish that creek was deep enough to make it down to the river. Quote
Greg Luckett Posted July 16, 2009 Author Posted July 16, 2009 She's looking good Greg!! 8) 8) 8) Thanks Craig, and you other folks who commented too. I appreciate you each and all! Quote
Greg Luckett Posted July 16, 2009 Author Posted July 16, 2009 Looking very good there! I bet you can taste it at this point ;D Thank you, and you are correct. I am trying to avoid getting "channel fever" which has caused me to make mistakes on other boats, so I avoid thinking/dreaming, instead mentally putting on blinders, and pushing to make each detail as correctly as possible, taking as much time as needed. I plan to spend a lot more money in the next few years building either a Core Sound 20 or the Princess Sharpie 26, and want to improve my skills prior to that. This Spindrift build has been great for doing that. Quote
Greg Luckett Posted July 18, 2009 Author Posted July 18, 2009 No more work will be done until next week at the earliest. We are sitting at Mackinaw City, MI, waiting for Ben to finish at Mackinaw Island, and also to visit the Great Lakes Boatbuilding School at Cederville, and the icing on the cake, to be here at the end of the Chicago-Mak sailing race. Quote
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