Paradox: Near to Turning the Hull

WINTER is here early. For days we've had drizzly, cold, windy weather. My outdoors boatbuilding shelter had been tested but it's holding course, keeping everything dry.

SHEER CLAMPS
Work was limited to fits and starts through the week and this weekend I pushed ahead a bit to finish the week of well at this stage, I have the Sheer Clamps pretty near done. As I couldn't buy 4.2m pieces, I had to scarph them, and decided the joins needed to be between bulkheads #1 and #2. So the front sections are about 1200 each and so far the starboard is fixed in place, glued, nailed* and clamped. The portside is dry fitted, waiting for the clamps to be freed up.

RIGID
The hull feels so rigid now. Even without Bottom Planking and the sub- floor framing, she feels great.

NEXT I get to turn the hull over and do bilge clamps, bottom planking, chines and hull flashing. Phew! I have a big birthday in January next. I may be speaking through my hat, but it'd be cool to be sailing for then.

* NAILS. For all work up tool this time, I've been using 2.5mm x 32mm ring nails and had two problems, one they were to long for the Sheer Clamps once the heads were countersuit. And two, their thickness meant that, even when predrilled they needed a lot of hammering to drive in. Very unsettling! So I ordered 2mm x 25mm which I installed today and they were a pleasure to drive in, without the fear that you may be jarring every joint in the hull. Designer Layden recommends that nails and epoxy are both needed, for hull security when grounding etc.

To be continued...