Varnish

Got three coats of varnish on the boat.  Actually, I'm not using varnish.  I'm using clear urethane.  It looks just as good, had the same or better UV protection, and it goes on much, much easier that varnish.  It's also 1/3 the price.  Can't beat it.  Now I know why none of the box stores carry varnish anymore.

Boom

Made the boom today.  I got a 10 foot 2x4 straight grain Douglas fir.  I ripped it down the center and then Shane helped me route the groove.  One hiccup but it's not too bad.  I can look down the center and see light at the end so I guess it's not too bad.  I also got the first coat of varnish on the boat but my camera was set wrong so there is no pix.

CB shape

Got the CB rough shape.  I'll work on this off and on until it's just right.  I used a NACA10665 shape.  Not sure what that means but it works for this blade.   One of my other favorite tools did this.  The electric hand planer!  Made short work of it.  I used the spoke shave to clean it up and the rasp to round every thing up.  I also put a coat of resin on the bottom.  That's going to substitute for paint primer.

Getting there

I got the boat flipped over.  The goal now is to get all the holes and gaps filled with Rockhard putty.  If you haven't used this stuff it's amazing.  It sets up in about an hour and is as the name says.  It's rock hard.  It doesn't shrink, crack or fall out.  It's also very sander friendly.  I also made a new mast trim ring.  The old one was just not as nice to look at as a brand new one.  The little quarter rounds I talked about in the last post just crumbled in my hands as  I was trying to clean them up.  I'll get some new quarters and see if they will fit.   The old ones have a 1/2 inch face but the base is only 5/8 wide.    

Centerboard

I made the centerboard blank today.  I got some cedar from Lowe's.  I pick through the pile and find the ones with as few blemishes a possible.  I got lucky and found two 8 foot x 8 inch slabs.  I cut one in half then ripped it on the table saw about 1 3/16 inch wide.  Then I glued the whole thing together, let it dry, and ran it though the surface planer.  I'll find a NACA profile that fits and shape the blade this weekend.  I also found another gem.  I found the original 1/4 rounds that backed up the splash board.  They were in the pile of trash that accumulated on the floor of the shed.  I cleaned house today and there they were.  I'll clean them up and reuse them.

Another road trip

All the years that I spent working in Washington DC, You would think that I saw all the museums in the place.  Not so!  I happened to be down there today near Union Station and right next store is the US Postal Museum.  Very nice place to visit. Like all the other Smithsonian museums this one is first rate.  

Deadman

I got three housekeeping chores done today.  First I made the deadman.  That is a chunk of wood that sits on the mast step and extends to the mast partner.  It's purpose is to allow a deck stepped mast to fit onto a keel stepped mast boat.  The old boats had a 17 1/2 foot mast that extended through the boat and stepped on the keel.  Most modern boats have the mast stepped on the deck.  A deck stepped mast is easier and cheaper to build...  Moth boat guys are all about cheap!  George A graciously offered to lend me a deck stepped mast.  The other two items are the tiller and the hiking stick.  All the above items were made from a slab of oak.  I cut 4 3/16 inch strips for the hiking stick and 8 1/8 inch strips for the tiller.  I cut a wedge to hold them apart at the fork that holds the rudder.

 I'll cut that flush with the trim ring when that gets installed.  I'll also put a 3/8 inch SS bolt down the middle and cut the head off to make it a pin.  That red stuff you see is blood.  My finger slipped on the table sander...

The pattern that I used is the Cates tiller in the background.