Thursday 23 June
Despite arriving early the shed was already open for business and the Tesla parked outside gave it away as Paul W who was keen to get going. We had a final look at the plank lands on the stems and both did a little trimming before Adrian and JP arrived followed by John I and Lesley. Adrian decided to have a go at planing the scarfs on plank 5 and with JP’s tuition got set up and worked away at it. JP brought in his vacuum cleaner so that firstly Lesley could prepare boat 1 for more filleting and then JP could use it with a sander to clean up the joints on plank 4.
John I took over the shaping of the rudder with his own small block plane and got the hang of it straight away.
Adrian helped Lesley to mix the filleting resin and got her started pasting on the filler into the plank lands on boat 1.
We had a visit from friends and neighbours of Harry and Kay’s, Lindsay and Helen who came in carrying scones and cakes from Kay. This amazed me as Kay only has half a kitchen at the minute but Harry was on hand to let me in on the secret that they were purchased. They were greatly appreciated all the same. Lindsay told me that when he was young in Mandurah, he used to help his Dad build traditional boats holding the dolly (a weighty bar) while his Dad hammered over the ends of the copper rivets that held the planks in place BE (Before Epoxy).
After tea break Paul and Lesley started the glue up process.
I was back on the gunwale fiddly bits making the second wedge for the stern. The first wedge needs trimming down but looks ok as do the forward blocks.
JP was in charge of mixing glue and with his growing experience was able to mix exactly the right amount. Lesley, JP and I applied it liberally along the plank lands then it was all hands to the clamps to get plank 3 bedded down and the ends temporarily screwed into place by Paul.
JP worked on the top cleanup while I went down below and slowly worked my way along the underneath. Having taken the set up string out of the centre line (as suggested by JP) I could sit up and work so that I didn’t have to push myself up on my elbows. It also made seeing what I was doing much easier. By the time I emerged everyone had called their goodbyes to me but I was completely happy knowing that there would be less to cleanup when we turn this boat over.
There were moments of intense concentration in the shed today when it went quiet except for the sounds of our various tasks. We achieved a lot and with only three more planks to attach to boat 2 we will soon be at the Whisky plank stage again and then turnover.
See you on Monday for another enjoyable day of planing and glueing.
Cheers Dave