Eight planks on.
The planks are going on steadily with the workers learning as they progress. Mistakes we made last week were rectified and the job becomes a little easier. For example: dots of excess glue allowed to set on a plank have to be removed the hard way, you can’t pull out a chisel and just whack away at it. Out comes the sander or a shaped file and the excess is carefully removed.
Then the sanding continues with the edges of the planks removed to offer a better shape to the hull. In the meanwhile Bob is steadily shaping the next plank and the fit is checked not once but at least three times on the old adage that one measures thrice and cuts once. For light relief, the inside of the boat is photographed and the beads of glue between the planks are noted.. they will have to be sanded away before the boat is readied for painting.
The sounds of exploding clamps heard a couple of weeks ago have subsided as the hull gets into a less stressful phase, but the whiz of a drill is heard as we use screws for preference in high torsion situations. We are becoming used to working together and skills and abilities are becoming augmented as we work on the boat.
As the title suggests, we actually have eight planks on and by Tuesday when you read this, we will have the next plank on and be preparing to put the 10th plank in place. There is some talk of painting the hull before it is turned over, but the jury is still discussing that one. The keel has yet to be fitted as well as the outer stems, but they are well in hand thanks to the deft hand of one of our people.
We’ve had various people drop by and everyone is welcome to join us for a moment and the lads working on the Sailability boats regularly call in to make up a brew and have a chat.
Rick Steuart
