Forward frame is fit!

After a couple of hours of trying to get this frame in place, i finally figured out how to do it.  i put blocks aft of the frame to keep it from slipping and a couple of strategically placed sheetrock screws.  Then, I put a marine battery on top to weight it against the bottom.  It looks pretty good at this point. 

Will let it sit overnight and then begin tabbing in place.  

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Bottom port forward is dry fit

On Fathers Day, I finally completed dry-fitting the bottom planking on the forward port side of the boat. Im very happy about that.

Port bottom planking, dry-fit with screws and washers.

The fitting started off wonderfully at the aft end, where the planking joins along the centerline of the keel. By the time I finished at the bow, however, there were some spots where the fitting was not as good as Id hoped. These spots can be filled with thickened epoxy, of course. Still, I wish the fitting had been better.

About midway along the keel, there is an open seam approximately 18 inches long, and about 5/32" at its widest point. There was also supposed to have been a transition joint just forward of the end of the keel. I did not pre-plan for this, and as a result, I kind of messed it up a little bit. 

5/32" gap along the centerline of the keel.

The missed transition joint.

In retrospect, I think both of these mistakes could have been avoided if I had overlapped the planking along the centerline of the keel, and trimmed the whole length to fit as I went.

There is another small gap between the bottom planking and the side planking at the stem. 

Another small gap up forward.

My plan is to use epoxy thickened with mahogany sawdust (ie: Wood Flour) when I glue this panel on. From what Ive encountered so far, this mixture seems to absorb impact better than epoxy thickened with #2 silica (which seems more brittle). The thickened mixture will fill in these gaps, and I believe that in the end it will all be just fine.

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All the bottom planking is fitted However

All the bottom planking is finally fitted.

Two steps forward and one step back. Technically, that is still progress. That’s also the current situation with the Utility as I try to finish up the bottom planking.

In a nutshell, the panels are all fitted, but there is a little more fairing work to be done. Back in March, I mentioned in a post that there appeared to be a low spot on the port chine. With the planking on, I can see that this problem is compounded by a second one: there is also a high point on frame #1.

These two photos show the "hook," or low spot in the planking caused by a high point on frame #1 and a low spot in the chine.

So, what needs to be done now?

I’ll have to remove the panels, and sand down that high point on the frame. I’ll also have to add some more wood to the chine to build up the low area. Then the panels can go back on to re-check the fitting.

Aside from that issue, there has been other progress. I cut away part of the sole support on the transom to make room for a drain tube. I have not decided yet for certain if I will add a drain tube or not. However, if I do, part of the sole support would need to be removed. That is much more easily done before the bottom planking is attached permanently. I cut away a section 1-3/4" wide, next to the port transom knee. That should allow enough room to install a 1" drain tube. A coping saw and a couple of chisels handled the job nicely.

1-3/4" of the sole support on the transom cut away to make room for a drain tube.

 

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G9 minus five Perseverance is a work in progress

Five days until the G9 Boatbuilders Gathering.

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that, I never intended for this boat to have more than a "workboat" quality finish. In many ways, this project has been more about wanting a boat, and proving to myself that I could build one. A blue-ribbon, classic boat show museum piece, she was simply never meant to be. 

So, aside from trying to do the best job I can on a bright-finished transom and foredeck, Ive accepted the rest of the finish to be, well... rough around the edges.

Still, some of those epoxy runs on Frame #2 were just irritating me. So, today I decided to sand them off, (or at least down), since I was already going to paint another coat over it, anyway.

Epoxy runs sanded off of Frame #2.

The underside of the breasthook needs some more paint, too

Theres still a lot of work to be done, just to get the boat ready to travel... let alone for her to be finished. But, shes getting closer. Perseverance is a work in progress. 

I guess we all are, each in our own ways.

Ill close with a quote from James, one of Jesus brothers:

"Let perseverance finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

James 1:4 NIV

Peace.

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