Another Spindrift 12 goes 3D...Yippee

[lbrewer]

Hey Greg,

    How's it coming with the spindrift?  I haven't heard an update in a while.

Larry

[Greg Luckett]

I slowed down on it while playing with the new RV and taking trips on weekends.  I also had to build a stool for one of my granddaughters...only two years late.  She was a very happy little girl when I gave it to her last weekend, on one of the RV trips up to Minnisota.

Thanks for asking.  I intend to do more this week and will post some more pics.

[lbrewer]

I thought you may have been sneaking around and sailing it without telling us... ....or that maybe you could use a little prod

[Greg Luckett]

Foredeck seat dry fitted, and next will be the access port holes to be cut and the side seats.  I am thinking of a Griffith hatch on the foredeck for anchor and line storage.

[Steve Day]

Looks pretty good, Greg. I know it is tough to get things done when all of the stuff is going on. Keep on working on it. Looks like you should have it done by next spring and will be using it a lot on trips with that RV.

Looks like you are in position to beat Frank at getting your Spindrift finished.   ;D

Steve

[Greg Luckett]

Seats are now dry fitted and ready for installation.  Ben and I worked most of the afternoon and are bushed now.  We need more hardner too, so off to the store tomorrow.

[Greg Luckett]

Someone may have noticed that I am not exactly following Graham's design for the seat shapes.  I did not like the 6 in curves at 6 of the 8 corners, but prefer very small, maybe 1/2 radius or less, corners.  Less places for spiders to lurk where fingers and hands are grabbing and easier to fabricate too;  just the router edge trimmer is needed.

This week I plan to cut in the inspection port holes, install the dry fitted seats, and fabricate the two knees for the transom to side corners.  I plan to hinge the aft seat to enable a battery to be installed and removed easily.  I may call it a winter at that point and store the boat until next spring under tarps in the back yard.

[Greg Luckett]

I used a RotoZip to cutout the inspection port holes, then vacuumed, then some touch up sanding, then more vacuuming.  Then the foredeck was positioned again, some screw holes located and countersunk for #8x1 inch siliconized bronze screws, then the bottom was coated with epoxy.  It surprised me as to how much it soaked up.  Next was epoxy with filler applied in the boat at each of the places that the foredeck would sit, then laid the foredeck back on, screwed it down in place, then epoxy coated then foredeck top, then filled the edge seam with epoxy/filler.  At this point I need more hardner but the store is now in the winter hours and was closed today.

[Greg Luckett]

I have been busy making more details, such as the quarter knees, the bow reinforcment, and a removable aft seat for battery installation, as well as finishing up the gunwhales.

[Ken_Potts]

Still looking great Greg but you need more clamps  ;D

Does the aft seat just slip down into place or is it semi-permanent (how often will you need access)?

[Greg Luckett]

Thanks Ken, and you are right; I do need more clamps....never, ever, enough of them!

Ben and I have been debating how to do the seat.  One method would be to install a couple of hinges by recessing them into the seat beam at the front.  The seat would then swing up towards the bow and latching would be done near the transom.  The other method, and the one we like the best is to just use some pan head screws to fasten the seat down, only removing them when installing or removing a battery.  We both like the second method best.  The seat panel will be reinforced with stringers to help it keep its shape since it will not be glued down.  I took some better pictures to help visualize this.

[lbrewer]

It's looking good Greg!  Are you going to put hatches of any sort on the seat tops?...or just use the inspection ports for access? 

[Greg Luckett]

It's looking good Greg!  Are you going to put hatches of any sort on the seat tops?...or just use the inspection ports for access? 

I hate wasting the storage space but dislike even more giving up the floatation, so no hatches on the seats or foredeck.  Another builder (cannot recall who it was) did put hatches on and after doing so said they wished they had not due to the leaking.  I have some 10 or 12 inch inspection ports that I could install on the foredeck and may do so in the future.  That would be a good place for anchor road or spare lines and gear.  The ports that I have already cut are more for keeping the enclosed areas dry while sitting on the hard, but are also big enough to store items under the seats.

Thanks for the compliment too!

[lbrewer]

I hate wasting the storage space but dislike even more giving up the floatation

I am having the same thought.  Although there isn't a whole lot of under seat space in the nesting version anyway, I'd like to be able to utilize what is there.

[Steve Day]

Larry,

I put hand holes into all of the floatation compartments and am able to store dry stuff on the boat and keep it dry. I was careful to place them where I could reach to all parts of the compartment. They work great!

I am on the road in Chicago at the moment, but will shoot a picture(s) of them to you when I return home, if you would like.

Steve

[Greg Luckett]

Hmmm?  That puts you about 40 to 60 miles from me then, Steve.

[Steve Day]

Greg,

I wondered how far you were from here. I would love to "invade" your territory, but we are on a "mission" this trip and don't have any time to spare for side trips. We are here to go to the USO Ball tonight and to visit with family in the area. SWMBO would not like it if I would take off for several hours to go see boats and fellow boat builders.

It is really good to see you guys building Spindrifts. I was looking at the serial numbers and was impressed at the number of Spindrifts that have been licensed out of Graham's shop. Mine is 447.

Blessings to all of you,

Steve

[Greg Luckett]

It has finally warmed up enough for my shop heater to keep up and I have been busy out there getting the Spindrift ready for finishing details.  I will post some pics later.  Time for cleaning up the inspection port cutouts, making a couple of quarter knees, a stem, mast tabernacles, adding to the gunwhales, making a rudder and tiller, and so on.  Those can all be finished now and then the weather, hopefully, will be warm enough for the painting...sometime in April I am guessing.

It was below freezing here for about 2 months.  30s to 40s actually seem warm now, and it even hit 65 last Tuesday.  Had the top down on the convertible driving around town.

[Greg Luckett]

I have ordered the sails from Graham and Carla, who now have them about ready to ship to me, so the plan is to finish the boat this month and splash it ASAP.

Of course none of my other plans seem to work out on schedule, so don't hold your breath.

[Greg Luckett]

The sails arrived yesterday, but I probably will not get the boat done in time for the Lake Pepin Messabout....darn it!  I will still keep trying.