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A couple more hours today saw me get the sixth and final hull plank tied in and the first longitudinal stiffener in place. The stiffener was pretty fussy work. It crosses the bottom/Plank 1 seam,...

I am keeping a log, but I haven't toted up the hours recently, and log book is over at the shop right now. I'll try to provide a total at some meaningful milepost. I haven't kept a log before, but...

Then it's on to the first plank, second plank and transom loosely tacked in place. Everything is only half-tight at this stage; I won't pull it tight until all the pieces are in the boat and I can...

The building jig makes an appearance! And the bottom is tacked bow and stern to the jig pieces. This is a stitch and glue kit, using zipties for the stitches.

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Derek, Scout is supposed to be a lengthened version of the Portage Pram, so I'm glad to hear you like it. I've sailed in company with a Scamp and will again this spring, and I agree, it's an awesome...

First I sanded the precoat on the foils smooth, using 120 on the random orbital, dialed down and a very light touch, and finishing off with touchups using 220 by hand. Then it was 3 layers of 'glas,...

Two more planks laminated today -- I'm finally getting my technique down, I think -- and I pre-coated the foam for the blades with epoxy thickened like honey. That foam is thirsty, and once the...

More progress today, but you know boatbuilding: there's always something. I went to laminate the bottom, which right now has a long slit in the bottom. The two sides join the bow section at the...

Slight progress report: I used Plan B, a minimal first layer to hold down the 'glas, followed a bit later by another layer upon which to lay the peel-ply. That worked well. Also, I rolled on the...

Then it was on to try my hand at laminating cloth and, new for me, using peel ply on the cloth. Let's just say I'm learning.

One thing I discovered right away is that the Fast hardener for the...

I thought I would tackle the transom next, since it would be a good test for laminating foam to plywood. Per the kit instructions, I coated the foam with QuickFair so the neat epoxy would not soak...

The puzzle joints require sanding after epoxy is dry. The joint below is sanded, the one above is how it came out of the stack and awaits sanding. Sanding takes just a few minutes. I tried 100...

Ok, well you wanted pictures:

this is what the kit box looks like. 7.5 feet long, 1.5 feet high, 58 pounds, two rope handles, stuffed with CNC-cut plywood and foam pieces

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To wit:
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The fun begins. The first boxes arrived, and inside we find fiberglass cloth, the sail and spar and (not pictured) a box of neat parts and a box of epoxy. The big kit box is supposed to arrive...

Fed Ex delays. Kit now due Thursday or Friday.

My kit is now scheduled to arrive next Wednesday. That's 31 days after ordering. Not too bad at all, especially considering Christmas falls in there, and they apparently had a great deal of...

I'm eagerly awaiting that big box. Meanwhile I've made some sawhorses and I'm getting ready to set up the worktable. I hope to be ready to sail by ice-out next spring. Anticipation......

Thanks, Wisconsin Tom, wherever you are. That technique is much easier than what I remember from ages ago. I should be able to resize in the saving with a program I have.
Waiting for that dang box...

I'll certainly try to document. I still need to figure out posting pictures on this site. I'm starting to build my work table now, where the long pieces get laid out, scarfed/finger-jointed,...

Just ordered one. Hoping to see the crate in c. 3 weeks. They had a nice sale over Tgiving and apparently were quite busy. I got the manual today, and it's as straightforward as it looks in the...

Congratulations on all fronts. I was just at the NWMC for a conference, and they are more than tickled to have La Vie. And I bet you are more than tickled to have an election winner in the family. ...

count me in for a Wisconsin messabout. Core Sound 17 in Milwaukee.

Hey Nick, having met you and your spouse (you donated the lathe), great to read your report. Many thanks.

After a recent long-distance sojourn in a decent breeze, where I know I was getting fatigued, I started telling everyone that "Nobody can sail this boat better than I can." That is, when I had the...

Very nice, and it seems like you've done an excellent job building. One is underway in our volunteer shop.

Re cutting rolling bevel: Cut the max angle on the bandsaw, then mark and plane in the rolling smaller angles. (Or, I suppose you might say cut the minimum angle and then plane in the broader...

I have cut the bottom close with a saber saw, watching the blade top and bottom, then planed what's left. Cant the saber saw to get in a little closer where the angle is sharper. Don't get too...

I would use your dremel with the conical bit. I've used that and it works fine. I put mine inside the transom, and would put it further "inside" next time. i'd rather be able to say "the number is...

Something like the Mayfly or Mikes Boat seems a good bet, especially if you are committed to building and finishing it before the kids go to college. Both Scamp and Ilur are more complicated to...

As far as simplicity, dropping and stowing the boomed lug rig on the Clint Chase Caravelle our volunteer shop built with veterans couldn't be easier. Let the halyard go and the lug sprit with sail...

300 yr old plywood?

Rainy lake is terrific, but parts of it are big water, so maybe start out with some campsites close to the public launch. You need to reserve the amazing campsites, which shouldn't be a problem in...

I've used total boat a lot, good results. i think the warning about hot weather, above, is a good one. that is, use thinner when it's hot. TB is far less expensive than most finishes, if that's an...

A million options. The little Sjobergs "workstation" might be worth a look, depending on your needs. I like it. Often goes on sale on the big online woodworking sellers. ...

Good experience with System 3 Silvertip Quik Fair https://www.systemthree.com/products/silvertip-quikfair-epoxy-fairing-putty . Mixes 2 to 1 by eye, dries for sanding in 3 hours, "wood" colored,...

Another reason to buy a kit from a reputable designer like Clint or, in my case, Graham at B&B, is the quality of materials you will receive. When I bought my B&B kit in 2013, I really had no idea...

take it for the lumber?

Anybody built one? I am enamored.

Thanks, Tom. Another little cruising gem on an unknown Wisconsin waterway. I enjoyed this very much.

And then Nick's donation led to another donation - postage paid - by a fella who I believe wishes to remain anonymous. He contact me through private message and shipped a dozen or so really nice...

I built a Caravelle along with a group of veterans who came to our volunteer shop and have sailed it, but only in light air so far, with a passenger. It is a delightful build, for all the reasons...

Picked it up Monday, a very thoughtful donation by Nick. It will go to All Hands Boatworks here in Milwaukee. Thank you, sir! So nice to meet you and the Mrs.

I'm replying again because the forum list doesn't show my reply, even though it seems to be here. In any event, Nicholas, if the lathe is still available, I'd love to drive down from Milwaukee and...

Assuming 4 is lying fair, then bring 3 out to meet it. You want the planks fair. Worry less about how they meet the frames inside; you can marry frames and planks later. You must have a dip in 3 if...

I have used four casters on two-by-four framing on my homemade stands for table saw and drill press. Two casters are fixed, two are swivel. All are locking. Locking all serves pretty well for most...

Mine arrived in the mail a bit before Christmas, maybe Dec 20? I think I saw it at West Marine a couple days ago, too. It's No. 133, the Jan/Feb 2022 issue. There's a Core Sound 20 on the cover. ...

Alex, I saw your article and the blurb on the CoPogy in the new Small Craft Advisor, then realized this blog had been right under my nose the whole time. So I sat and read the entire blog. The...

Happy Birthday.

fwiw, we've switched in our volunteer shop from sea gold to the latest version of Total Boat Halcyon Amber. It looks a lot more like real varnish when dry and doesn't have the odd look that other...

I've had a Bluegill, and built 2 of them. Never been in a GIS, but seen many videos.<br>
As noted above, the Bluegill is a good all around boat. You can motor it, with up to a 9.9 hp, though even...