Hello and ordered my plans

[Will Paul]

After months of lurking and mulling it around, I finally pulled the trigger and ordered the plans for the Spindrift 12 today! I have never built a boat before but am looking forward to getting started. I think she will make a great project to keep me out of trouble and an excellent little boat for me to learn to sail and for my daughter and I to get out on the water.

Now, the battle has begun against my collection of things that are taking up my garage. I lost the first round but am still fighting. If only I could convince my wife that garages are for boats, not cars.

Anyway, just wanted to say hello and I look forward to talking with you all moving forward.

Will Paul

Modesto, CA

[Howard]

Welcome!

You picked a really nice little boat to learn with.....fun to build and fun to use.

Unless you are immortal, chances are you will have lots of questions about materials, tools, methods, etc. Don't hesitate to ask. Lots of good advice to be found here.

Some of it may even be right.

[cdunc]

Congrats.  I am winding down on my S12 build and I have enjoyed the process immensely.  If I can help with anything let me know.  Graham is more than happy to give advice and guidance over the phone or email.  Which is one of the nice things about building a B&B design.

Craig

[Ken_Potts]

Welcome to the Forum!  Ask lots of questions and post lots of pictures!

[Will Paul]

Thanks for the encouragement. Took a hand plane class at Woodcraft yesterday and am all fired up. Those Lie-Nielsen planes sure work nice. I think the planes would cost more than the boat though.

I can't wait to get the plans this week. Come on post office!

Anybody make their own sails?

Hopefully I will have a picture of some plywood to post soon.

Will

[Howard]

Thanks for the encouragement. Took a hand plane class at Woodcraft yesterday and am all fired up. Those Lie-Nielsen planes sure work nice. I think the planes would cost more than the boat though.

Lie-Nielson makes a nice plane, and 50 years ago, so did Stanley. Get yourself a nice #4 or #5 and if you want to splurge, a Ron Hock blade for it......a selection of wet-dry paper to sharpen it with and the plywood won't know the difference. A block plane helps too with those final fittings. Either of those sharp enough to shave hair will run rings around the most expensive plane ever made...if it's blade is dull.

[John Burritt]

A slight bird walk - has anyone actually seen/used the "new Stanley Sweetheart" planes, other than in magazine ads?

[Tom Lathrop]

A fine hand plane is a joy to work wood with.  In reality though, much of the work on S&G boats is not what I would use one of these fine tools like a Lie-Neilson plane for.

It is possible to buy an old Stanley, Bailey or even Sears plane for a couple bucks and turn it into a tool that only the finest craftsman could tell the results from the best of the exotic ones.  I use Hock blades in my shop made planes and they are really good but the stock Stanley blades will satisfy most people.

The old Stanleys are generally better than the new ones, made by Record, or others found at the hardware store.  If you do buy a new plane, take a couple off the shelf and place them sole to sole.  If they don't match perfectly or show any lack of flatness, walk away.  A lot of current iron castings are not aged properly for stress relief before they are ground flat.  You can have them ground flat or do it yourself, but why should you need to do that to a new tool?