SUKIE Posted June 30, 2009 Posted June 30, 2009 OK let's see, I've been camping on Prince Edward Island for a week, camping and paddling the wonderful remote lakes of northern Maine for a week, and attended a family graduation party in Chicago. So NOW it's time to get this boat in the water!! I chose to use 4mm okume for the coaming, first because I had it, and second because I thought it would bend easily. After soaking in hot water for about 1/2 hour it was very easy to bend into the corners (with nary a cracking sound!) But since it's so thin I know I'll need another layer. Now the question, can I get away with doing just a partial layer on the outside, ending on the deck surface, and leaving only one layer over the carlins? I ask this because I may be a little short of material and was just quoted $85 (eightyfive!!) for a 4x8 sheet. Any advise, comments, or musings are appreciated. Sukie Quote
wkisting Posted June 30, 2009 Posted June 30, 2009 Hi Sukie, I suspect you can get away with doing just the above-deck portion on the outside. There is a beam backing the bottom of the coaming nearly all the way around the cockpit. The only places that may remain a bit delicate will be the four radiused corners where there is no immediate solid backing at the bottom. Be careful not to snag these, but that seems unlikely, and the force of the curve will help strengthen it anyway. That's what we did on ours also, except we used 6 mm Okoume, which has been plenty strong. I doubt the 4mm will be noticeably weaker. In short, I think your plan will work fine. Quote
SUKIE Posted June 30, 2009 Author Posted June 30, 2009 Wow Ray, that's really SOLID. I like the idea of a thicker top and easier on the bottom. I'm looking forward to seeing your boat at the Small Reach Regatta. What boat will you bring? Quote
JeffM Posted June 30, 2009 Posted June 30, 2009 Found I had just the right amount of 9mm and wanted bullet-proof. Made it pretty tall, as well. Laminated-in-place the curves of three layers of 4mm (which I admit was massive overkill at the time--but now it anchors my cabin). I can stand on my coaming, though I don't do it too often. a single layer of 4mm (which, for attachment purposes, it is) seems awfully delicate to me, but probably Sukie is more delicate! Quote
SUKIE Posted June 30, 2009 Author Posted June 30, 2009 Jeff, Hahahaha. Actually, if I have enough material I'll do the full 2nd layer on the inside of coaming. I would feel better with that. And, if it breaks I'll redo it heavier. After all, I'll need something to keep me busy next winter. Ray, It's interesting to hear that you're painting a previously bright deck. I was so conflicted on my decision to paint, but now feel justified. No, I'm not bringing a boat (my CS17's not quite done). However, my husband an I will be camping in my Teardrop camper I built a few years ago. I'll be crew for my brother who is bringing a (gasp) fiberglass Sea Pearl. Also, Graham invited me to sail with him some. Quote
SUKIE Posted July 1, 2009 Author Posted July 1, 2009 Hey Ray, Thanks I'll probably take you up on your offer. See you there! Quote
Richard Whitney CS#70 Posted July 1, 2009 Posted July 1, 2009 Like your teardrop trailer. I saw one down here in NZ and investigated building one. Still haven't figured our how to tow it and the boat at the same time. Quote
Hirilonde Posted July 1, 2009 Posted July 1, 2009 As such it should not need maintenance for years and years. I'm an optimist some times too Ray, but that statement in reference to boats is going a bit far!! Quote
Joe Anderson Posted July 1, 2009 Posted July 1, 2009 Sukie Have a great time at the Regatta. It would be fun to hear a report if you have the chance on your return. Ray I am curious about your reasons for going with an aft deck. I have been thinking about doing an aft deck on my EC 22. Joe Quote
JeffM Posted July 1, 2009 Posted July 1, 2009 I have the aft deck and I like to perch there while sailing. On the other hand, when I have both younger boys out overnight (which is at least half the time), I sleep in the cockpit and the boys get the cabin. I can almost fit my 6'2" if I go corner-to-corner across my raised floorboard. With the seats going all the way to the transom, I could rig a nice berth and have plenty of room. Quote
wkisting Posted July 2, 2009 Posted July 2, 2009 Joe, I can't speak for Ray, but we put the aft deck on our CS20 because (1) aesthetically, it looks better to my eye; (2) no one should be sitting that far aft anyway or it typically impedes sailing performance, so a seat back would've been of dubious value to us; (3) it provides an excellent dry place to store large, bulky, lightweight items like blankets or PFDs, keeping the forelocker clear for the anchor rode and other stuff; and (4) it seems to make the boat arguably more seaworthy/convenient when waves roll up on the transom. About that last point: Our Stevenson Pocket Cruiser didn't have an aft deck and I believe its transom was higher than the CS20, but whenever we landed it on a beach and steep waves came in, they would splash over the transom, into the cockpit and fill it with water. The aft deck on the CS20 keeps that from happening, exactly as we had hoped. It was such an annoyance on our PC. I recall one time on the Mississippi River that we beached to swim for awhile. Half an hour later, the cockpit had nearly 8" of water in it. In any case, I wouldn't build it any other way now. We really like the aft deck. The ONLY semi-inconvenient issue it poses is making it slightly more difficult to reach the motor, but that's such a small issue anyway, given how little we use the motor. [Edit to add: Oops... I posted in reply to page one and didn't notice Ray had already responded here on page 2!] Quote
Joel B Posted July 13, 2009 Posted July 13, 2009 Ray, It's interesting to hear that you're painting a previously bright deck. I was so conflicted on my decision to paint, but now feel justified. My cs 20 will be available for sale this fall after season is over. If it sells, I will build a replacemnt during winter. Replacement will be aft deck instead of aft seat. It will aslo feature a quarter sawn ribbon stripe Sapele deck finished bright. After sanding deck and epoxy coating it I will glass it with 4 oz finishing cloth and smoothing that out and then covering with System 3 WR LPU high gloss clearcoat.. And it will be garage stored when not out sailing. As such it should not need maintenance for years and years. I'm not planning on finishing my deck bright eventhough I love the look of Wes's and other bright finished decks. This is mostly because of maintenace issues, well maybe more of a personality flaw my being lazy and a procrastinator. I really would prefer a bright deck. Will the technique you describe work for me? Joel Quote
Joel B Posted July 13, 2009 Posted July 13, 2009 I got my plans today. Yipee.... Now I'm hitting in the Big Leagues. If I go bright for the deck, how hard is it to get it to match or show lots of filler ect... If I paint the deck I can just beat to fit and paint to match Quote
Ken_Potts Posted July 14, 2009 Posted July 14, 2009 I'm "beat to fit and paint to match" guy. I didn't have to worry about filler or pencil marks or seams ;D I have great respect for those who choose the bright-finish route. Quote
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