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This morning, with sunshine, no wind and a flat sea, I launched Lady Grace. She handles beautifully and I know I'm going to enjoy using her. Here's a picture just back off the water.

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Thank you rbgarr - I'm now very confident about my many mistakes!

I delivered Lady Grace to her new home on Wednesday between heavy rain the days before and after. Hopefully there will be a break in the weather in the next few days and we can do an official launch....

Every screw on this boat is clocked but then I'm an eccentric!

Thank you Heimlaga.
She is now finished and just needs some wheels to move her to the water. Maybe next weekend.

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Almost there. A little more paint, another coat of varnish and a few small details. Fortunately the picture hides most of my mistakes.
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No April fools today (but several stupid mistakes that should be hidden except from all you expert boat builders). Making progress with lots of filling, sanding, painting and more varnish to get her...

Another step towards a May 1st launch. The stern sheets (is that the right terminology?) are now epoxied in and have received their first coat of varnish. I was a little surprised that a couple of...

Similar to my last post but the stern seating area is now complete. I still have lots of sanding to do and rounding over of the forward edge but it's getting much closer.

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Progress so far. The driver's seat and the passenger seat (which has two planks to go). They are made from sapele with mahogany accents. The bow thwart will be similar. Still lots to do and hoping...

I really have no idea of the weight. When four of us took it off the bench and moved it onto my workshop I doubt if we were each lifting much more than 25 to 30 pounds.

This picture is after several coats of varnish on the gunwales, breast hook etc. I've now taken it off of this building frame placed it on a much lower bench so that I can easily access the inside to...

No pictures this time but yesterday I spent hours sanding the varnish down with 220 grit prior to more varnishing. I believe the hardest part of boat building, at any stage, is sanding, sanding and...

Looks good to me. Hope to see more pictures as you move ahead

Once again, life got in the way (death in family) but this weekend I've been able to do a lot of sanding and just minutes ago completed the second coat of varnish on the gunwales. Before anybody...

Thanks Ben, something to think about.

Well, that only took 3 months (most of which was spent travelling). Today, with the help of some friends she was turned right side up and now I can (finally) start finishing the inside.

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Maybe it's just good camouflage!

Some fill and a little paint?

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Photo by Peter Ralston

I have two pairs of Van Fancy oars. One set straight, one set curved. Both are one piece spruce. Very happy with both.

Great job. Sadly, I'm probably the world's worst painter. Mine is all great from 10 feet or more!

I've now completed 10 coats of varnish with increasing grits (up to 2000) between coats. It's not perfect but I think I've reached "good enough". Looks the same as #135 but shinier. I'll wait u
ntil...

I'm a little late to this thread but had the same experience because I was ill for a while and left masking tape over varnish for nearly 2 months. I soaked the tape with Goo Gone and was able to...

2 more coats of varnish and probably another half dozen before I reach the finish I'm looking for. Today I also crawled underneath and did some filleting. Once I've completed some work with my block...

They say that if there are no pictures it didn't happen. So - here we are. The transom now looks half decent with all the masking tape removed. I now have to clean up the painted edge, varnish,...

Yesterday I fixed the brass bottom runners with bronze screws and caulk. Then I discovered a major mistake which was easily avoidable. I'll blame my time off for health reasons. I covered the...

Well, after numerous instances of life getting in the way, I finally completed the final coat of paint on the hull. No picture because it looks just the same as in post #128 except that the paint is...

My vote is just a slight easing with sandpaper. That's what I've done on my wherry build and the paint appears to adhere well.

Did I mention that a newly painted hull is like a giant fly trap?

Today I put the first coat of Interlux white on the hull and, in spite of taking it very carefully, I still ended up with a few small holidays and a couple of small curtains. Now worries, a second...

Previous post showed a picture 3 times. This one shows the picture twice. Maybe the next post I'll get it right. Technology and advancing years don't mix too well!!!

The keel strips now have all the holes drilled and test fit to the hull with steel screws. I now have to remove the strips, countersink all the holes and then put everything somewhere safe until the...

Not sure why the picture was posted 3 times. Technology, what can I say.

I've now completed the primer coat on both sides and spent several hours sanding it back to an acceptable level and ready...

First primer coat, port side

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No pictures today because I'm sure that watching a seal coat of epoxy drying is right up there with watching paint dry. However, the last few days have been very productive and both sides of the hull...

Life keeps getting in the way but here I am today.
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Thanks for the link and the very detailed description of your build. I have plans for a Shenandoah dinghy for rowing and I'm sure I shall be re-reading your build many times before I start.

Another small step. Today In installed the laminated cutwater. Now I have to start the marathon sanding of the planks.

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There is a lot of recycled wood in my boat. A 100 year old mahogany coffee table, an equally old mahogany four poster bed, a solid pine coffee table and more. Today, a friend who knows I'm a...

Some little progress. Next job is to turn it over, fill and sand the hull, add a cutwater and round the bottom corners of the inwales and gunwales. Glass and epoxy for the hull bottom and first...

Or find a suitable similar size brass/bronze/stainless bolt and use a die to cut a matching thread.

I would go with option 2. I've long since filed (mislaid) my plans so I'm going from memory. 8x40mm seems a little large in the vertical plane and will be harder to bend and follow the curve of the...

Time out for medical stuff. Getting back now. Recently received an old 4 poster bed. The rails are veneered but the corner posts are solid mahogany. This is very old and I've already cut and planed...

Did somebody say you can't have too many clamps?
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Far from perfect but after some filling and sanding it should pass muster. Once I've got the outside close to finished I'll turn her over and start on the "furniture". I'm planning to include...

A little progress
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Slowly, but I refuse to let it stop me doing the things I love. The sailing club just allocated a spot for my boat so I can take my "interim" rower down and start getting some good exercise. I'm...

Where did the time go? Life got in the way again I guess. Here's a pic of my progress so far. 2nd plank starboard side test fit. Port side 2nd plank sitting on top fits so this one should too. Lots...

The stir sticks/tongue depressor thing is an old trick. I can't claim to have invented it. The next plank will take some time because I first have to cut a garboard plank for the starboard side using...

Hi Dale - 6 mm okoume shipped over from Westwind Hardwood on the island. Are you building anything?