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I am building a Sommes Sound 12 1/2 (glued lapstrake ply cousin to the Haven 12 1/2) and the plans call for Dynel on the foredeck. I really don't like the idea of "glassing" (sort of) any part of...

LOL. Is it okay if I pass my own wind? :o

Thank you. I expect to try to find someone with experience in sign painting as I am the least artistic of any human that ever breathed paint fumes! ;-)

Thank you. Good advice. I just wanted to make sure the paint would "stick" to the varnish.

Hello. I am building a boat and plan to varnish the transom to keep the wood natural. I have gold letter paint to stencil on the boat's name. How should that be applied? To the bare wood before...

Yes, it can be a bit confusing, no? But, yes, West Marine does supply WEST System epoxy and I've had tremendous success with it. I even used their G/Flex product to make some very small fillets at...

Thank you. Based on all the responses so far it looks like I'm going to go with epoxy under varnish, and a clear penetrating epoxy sealer (either System Three or TotalBoat) seems most appropriate. ...

Awesome. Thank you! I'm definitely looking into the System Three product Clint mentioned. Also, West System has a nice post on surface prep:...

Perfect. Thank you!

Thank you Clinton. Have you any experience with West System products? There is a West Marine near me so I've been using West System epoxy for the entire build and have plenty of it (read that: I...

Thank you. It will not be left in the water. It will "live" on a trailer and will be covered. So varnish over epoxy is an option (i.e., they are not incompatible)?

Hello all,

I am about half way through my Sommes Sound 12 1/2 project and I am getting ready to apply paint to the hull just before turnover. The planks are plywood laps that were coated in epoxy...

I found out they have mostly Loblolly and Slash pine with a juvenile section of Longleaf. But they don't source to the public. So it is moot.

Thank you all. Looks like I will need to source me...

Thank you for this. I'm not sure whether or not the species he grows (I have a query into him) is SYP or not, but if it is I like the idea of using it for the boom and/or the jib club.

And, yes,...

Thank you. My original plan was to use Doug Fir, but I happen to know the owner of this plantation and I would love to source *something* of his on this craft, and that's what came to mind. For...

I covet your thoughts on using pine for the spars for a gaff-rigged Sommes Sound 12 1/2. I ask because I have the opportunity to source plantation pine in GA from the standing trees. They are...

Okay, now I'm rightly confused with regard to this shrinkage thing. Yes, there is no doubt that lead shrinks on "freezing" and that the rate is 5/16" per foot (2.6%). HOWEVER! As seen from some of...

Wow! Sounds like Sodium Silicate is the preferred way to go, based on an unscientific poll of the posts here. I will most certainly look into it. I also like the ideas or sealing the seams. Thank...

I miss my time in PNW. Thank you. That makes me much more comfortable!

Thank you. Bob Emser built a very similar mold for his Haven build (see his "Art of Boatbuilding" YouTube channel), so I will reach out to him to see how he ensured his mold was tight. There was...

Thank you for this wonderfully detailed reply. I'm thinking of building the form of 2x pine and keeping it inside the AC for a month or two to ensure it is nice and dry. The plan is to surround it...

The idea would be to use it as a lining, but given the many posts I've seen below, I expect I will go with either plywood (wondering if, for example, I should avoid OSB) or pine (as Brooks...

Thank you for this. Not trying to overthink it (although that is always a tendency for a first-timer), but also want to avoid an explosive event. ;-)

Excellent idea about the dowels for the bolt locations. Is a specific ply that you would recommend or avoid (e.g., OSB)? OSB, is, of course, nice and cheap. ;-)

Yes, I do have Brooks' plans (cost me an extra $50! :) ). The keel that results from his plans differ from the keel for the Haven, which is what much (most?) of the drawings seem to depict. So I...

Thank you. The mold is partially closed -- the first 3' or so from aft (the mold is build upside down. The plans call for a single vent, but I plan to put in two for good measure.

I'm pleased to...

Hello experts! I need to pour a lead ballast keel for my Sommes Sound 12 1/2 and I am to the point of creating the mold. A few questions:

1) Is there a type of wood that is preferred, or, more...