Between a bunch of family stuff this weekend, I found a bit of time to work on the centerboard trunk. I should get it wrapped up in the next day or two, at which time I'll post a bunch of pics and descriptions of what I've been working on.
For now, the bedlogs are attached, and I've got a couple of coats of epoxy on the inside surfaces. All the pieces are in place, awaiting final assembly...
Monday, July 8, 2013
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Oops...
I discovered my first big mistake on the Pelican today.
It started with I looked at the design in the plans for the center board trunk. I didn't (and don't) like it at all, and decided to modify it such that the sides of the trunk would extend all the way through the hull, rather than be fitted to the keelson.
Makes sense to do it that way, at least to me. It will make it easier to fit the centerboard trunk sides, and make for a stronger result.
So I cut the centerboard slot extra wide to accommodate the trunk.
But I cut it too wide. Quite a bit too wide. I can't find my calculation sheet, but I blew it. Its a good inch wider than it should be.
I spent some time in the thinking chair on that one, and think I have sussed out a solution. Basically, I am going to continue per my (modified) plan, and then fill in the excess gap after the boat is turned over again. This approach was always going to require a flip: The whole idea is that by running the centerboard trunk sides down through the bottom, they would need to be planed/sanded flush underneath later. All this mistake means is that there will be a gap to either side of the trunk on the bottom. I'll just fill it in with wood strips and/or a big lump of epoxy.
But the main thing is I am still going to work it out where I glass into the centerboard slot from the bottom of the hull. I hope to be able to reach in a good four or five inches, overlapping the glass I'm going to put inside the trunk (pre-assembly) as well as the glass on the bottom. Should make for a perfectly waterproof result.
One other little tweak: The Barlow plans call for bolts through the hull into the "logs" at the bottom of the centerboard trunk. I don't see the need for that, and am just going to glue and screw them into the keelson from the top. Among other things, that will eliminate the necessity of countersinking the bolt heads on the bottom of the hull
It started with I looked at the design in the plans for the center board trunk. I didn't (and don't) like it at all, and decided to modify it such that the sides of the trunk would extend all the way through the hull, rather than be fitted to the keelson.
Makes sense to do it that way, at least to me. It will make it easier to fit the centerboard trunk sides, and make for a stronger result.
So I cut the centerboard slot extra wide to accommodate the trunk.
But I cut it too wide. Quite a bit too wide. I can't find my calculation sheet, but I blew it. Its a good inch wider than it should be.
I spent some time in the thinking chair on that one, and think I have sussed out a solution. Basically, I am going to continue per my (modified) plan, and then fill in the excess gap after the boat is turned over again. This approach was always going to require a flip: The whole idea is that by running the centerboard trunk sides down through the bottom, they would need to be planed/sanded flush underneath later. All this mistake means is that there will be a gap to either side of the trunk on the bottom. I'll just fill it in with wood strips and/or a big lump of epoxy.
But the main thing is I am still going to work it out where I glass into the centerboard slot from the bottom of the hull. I hope to be able to reach in a good four or five inches, overlapping the glass I'm going to put inside the trunk (pre-assembly) as well as the glass on the bottom. Should make for a perfectly waterproof result.
One other little tweak: The Barlow plans call for bolts through the hull into the "logs" at the bottom of the centerboard trunk. I don't see the need for that, and am just going to glue and screw them into the keelson from the top. Among other things, that will eliminate the necessity of countersinking the bolt heads on the bottom of the hull
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Deck beams installed
No photos today, but the long-neglected Seven Wonders finally got some attention.
The mast step box is installed in the hull, and the deck beams are all glued and screwed into place.
Sorry for not getting more updates out sooner, but life has been getting in the way for a few months.
More to come...
The mast step box is installed in the hull, and the deck beams are all glued and screwed into place.
Sorry for not getting more updates out sooner, but life has been getting in the way for a few months.
More to come...
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Vote for me please!
I've entered a photo contest at the Omaha World Herald. The topic is photographs taken at Omaha parks, and I have a few of those.
So, if you are so inclined, I would appreciate your vote!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Big time gut-check today...
Was able to set aside some time today to work on the Pelican. Sorry, no photos. My phone battery is dead.
Two things on the agenda: First, I got started making the mast step box. This is the little box that holds the bottom of the mast down inside the boat. Not a lot to it, other than having to cut some weird angles. Six pieces, now all epoxied together. After it sets I'll get out a rasp, clean it up, and get it installed in the boat.
The second thing was the scariest operation yet: Cutting the center slot. There is something about slicing a huge hole in the bottom of the hull that terrified me. I bet I've measured it a half dozen times over the last few months.
Anyway, its not going to wait forever, so I decided to get to it. Really went pretty easy. I used my circular saw with the rip guide running along the keelson, and it came out perfect.
One thing I wasn't counting on: The keelson is under a lot of tension from being bent. After I cut the sides, I drilled a big hole and used a jig saw to finish off the ends. When the first end came free BAM! The slug I was cutting out sprang back to more or less straight, and scared me to death!
After getting my heart re-started, the other end came off easy, and that was that!
This week we should be getting the deck beams on.
Edit:
Ok...phone is charged. Here are some snaps:
Here's the mast step box. Not much to this...
Lots of trial and error involved in fitting those. I wish I knew a faster way, but I just kept nibbling away at the ends until they dropped in and fit properly.
Two things on the agenda: First, I got started making the mast step box. This is the little box that holds the bottom of the mast down inside the boat. Not a lot to it, other than having to cut some weird angles. Six pieces, now all epoxied together. After it sets I'll get out a rasp, clean it up, and get it installed in the boat.
The second thing was the scariest operation yet: Cutting the center slot. There is something about slicing a huge hole in the bottom of the hull that terrified me. I bet I've measured it a half dozen times over the last few months.
Anyway, its not going to wait forever, so I decided to get to it. Really went pretty easy. I used my circular saw with the rip guide running along the keelson, and it came out perfect.
One thing I wasn't counting on: The keelson is under a lot of tension from being bent. After I cut the sides, I drilled a big hole and used a jig saw to finish off the ends. When the first end came free BAM! The slug I was cutting out sprang back to more or less straight, and scared me to death!
After getting my heart re-started, the other end came off easy, and that was that!
This week we should be getting the deck beams on.
Edit:
Ok...phone is charged. Here are some snaps:
Here's the mast step box. Not much to this...
Here's the centerboard slot. I cut it wider than the plans call for. I have something special in mind for that. Details to follow...
I went ahead and got started fitting in the deck beams.
Lots of trial and error involved in fitting those. I wish I knew a faster way, but I just kept nibbling away at the ends until they dropped in and fit properly.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Spring has sprung!
Well, its been a miserably long winter. Despite my best intentions (and my space heater), I found I just didn't have the gumption to work in a cold garage all winter.
Alas.
So "Seven Wonders" has sat idle for a few months. Well, not exactly idle. My family found that an empty boat made a very inviting storage area, so my first order of business today was to clean out three months worth of accumulated junk from inside her. I took the occasion to haul a bunch of scrap wood and other assorted junk down to the office to toss in the dumpster. The garage isn't exactly clean, but its at least workable.
I'm also trying to decide if there is any value to the flare forms from the jig. I guess I'll try putting them on Craigslist, but I don't have a lot of patience for having them around right now, so unless someone local happens to be planning a Pacific Pelican build this year, I'm guessing they are going into the dumpster this week.
That having been taken care of, I set myself to the task of finishing off the top edge of the sides, down to the sheer clamps. Pretty easy work with the jigsaw and a couple of sanders.
Oh well. One more thing to do. For now, its nice to have the project kicked off again!
Alas.
So "Seven Wonders" has sat idle for a few months. Well, not exactly idle. My family found that an empty boat made a very inviting storage area, so my first order of business today was to clean out three months worth of accumulated junk from inside her. I took the occasion to haul a bunch of scrap wood and other assorted junk down to the office to toss in the dumpster. The garage isn't exactly clean, but its at least workable.
I'm also trying to decide if there is any value to the flare forms from the jig. I guess I'll try putting them on Craigslist, but I don't have a lot of patience for having them around right now, so unless someone local happens to be planning a Pacific Pelican build this year, I'm guessing they are going into the dumpster this week.
That having been taken care of, I set myself to the task of finishing off the top edge of the sides, down to the sheer clamps. Pretty easy work with the jigsaw and a couple of sanders.
Came out really nice.
Next step was to vacuum out all the sawdust that accumulated in the hull. Looks pretty decent, but I'm going to have to tackle the abundance of squeeze-out. I really blew that when I was gluing this together. I'd scrape the joints, but then after scraping them, more glue would ooze out, leaving me with a real chore.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Finished off the sheer clamps
Just a quick update tonight...
Over the weekend, I installed the sheer clamps.
Actually, I installed the top half of the sheer clamps.
Tonight I installed the bottom half: A little 1" x 3/4" stick that runs along the bottom of the sheer clamps installed previously. You'd think it would have been a trivial job, but I still managed to spend almost three hours on it!
With the sheer clamps in place, its amazing how much they stiffen up the sides of the boat.
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