Boat building weather

[Mark Gudschinsky]

Boat building in Alaska can be a challenge with no garage or shop. We managed our first cut in early March in the driveway surrounded by snow at 10 degrees F. Then the weather turned cold and we were stopped from building for almost three weeks. (Even a dedicated boat builder comes to his senses a - 25 below.)

But in our part of the world a few weeks can make a dramatic difference! Tonight it's 9:30 PM, the sun is blazing it's + 50 F. in the shade. A person couldn't ask for a more pleasant place to build than outside on a night like this. When we finish getting the kids to bed I'm heading out for another hour or so.

I'm hoping to get the inside complete so we can turn her over and start on some of the finish steps. I expect pictures soon and will attempt share a few.

[Russ Sylvester]

It's really interesting to hear about the differences in conditions that folks are willing to build in. What you consider to be nice or even warm weather at 50 degs, I consider to be the lower limit of workable. At anything below that I either close up and turn on the heat or quit working altogether. Being outside when it's 10degs doesn't seem doable and -25 doesn't even compute.

On the other side of the coin you would probably think that 95-100 degs with 90-100% humidity is not workable. To me it's just another summer day. Different strokes I guess.

[GreenHorn]

Boat building in Alaska can be a challenge with no garage or shop. We managed our first cut in early March in the driveway surrounded by snow at 10 degrees F. Then the weather turned cold and we were stopped from building for almost three weeks.

Then the weather turned cold??????

I don't think I could take that kind of climate!

I'm with Russ on this one.

50 is about the lower workable limit for me.

But it's different for everyone.

In the winter we have the thermostat set at 72, and the wife is cold ..

in the summer, it's set at 76 and she complains about being hot!

Go figure ...

[JMetzner]

Mark,

You're almost ready to roll it over??!?!? Geeze!! I gotta get moving on my weekender again. This work nonsense is taking faaaaaar too much of my time.

It's funny being transplanted Fairbanksan here in Minneapolis temporarily, I haven't used my jacket yet. These folks bundle up waaaay

too early

--John M.

[Guest Anonymous]

They say in california people move there because of the climate and leave because of the weather. In our part of Alaska the climate sounds intimidating, but the weather is (mostly) great. (Our maybe were just used to it and don't know any better.

John, I've been watching your web site you're the one I'm trying to catch up to. And did you get the e-mail I sent you about the boat trailers?

[Barry Pyeatt]

John,

I just spent some time going over your photo essay. Very nicely done! Great progression of photos and dialog to show your progress. That will be a great help to a lot of builders and an excellent record for your "Ship's Log". You might consider placing a link to it in Frank's Link page. Other newbees would get a lot from your documentation.

It is a lot easier to paint that interior before applying the panels. For me at least my knees never would have held up to the task. Glad to see that you were able to handle the side panels single handed. I flipped the boat to install mine because I didn't want to fight gravity as well as plywood.

Yes...red is a difficult color to make truly opaque. Not just the brand you are using. It looks really well done. Subtle it ain't! No self respecting Orca will be in the same neighborhood with you.

It is going to be one nice "Ocean Liner" lots of portlights to observe those Northern Lights.

[Craig]

We lived for a long time in Grand FOrks ND. Fourty below keeps the riff raff out. It is also why I live in Florida now... 8)