Progress on Kurylko Alaska Build

[WI-Tom]

So, after 2 years there has been some progress on my Alaska--despite my temporary boat Jagular, a Bolger Pirate Racer I built a few years back, turning out to be a lot less temporary than I intended, taking me to the North Channel a few times, the Texas 200, and a bunch more adventures. Seems only fair to start off this thread with a nod to the old boat:



That's Jagular beached (rocked?) on the shore of Caroline Island on our 20-day North Channel cruise last summer.

The new build went SLOW (no shop, cold winters, and that darn temporary boat wanting to be sailed on all my good building days in summer) but I got the backbone assembled, spars and molds built, the strips ripped, and eventually collected a few tools, found a garage (unheated, unfortunately) I could afford to rent as a boatshop, and convinced my brother to help me set up the building jig and start planking. That was simple, but messy. However, sloth and winters kept me from getting it done until this spring (planking probably could be done pretty easily in a week or two with a more ambitious builder):





This June, I finally got it out of the rented garage and on a trailer--the hull roughly faired, interior bulkheads cut out and fitted but not installed:



And it doesn't look half bad--should hit the water next summer:

[Binnacle Bat]

20 day north channel cruise in a pirate racer! By the time you finish the Alaska maybe you will figure out whether or not you like to sail more than you like to build. Alaska looks terrific either way.

Bravo!

Allan

[Dan St Gean]

Tom,

Looking Good! I can appreciate having a tough time geting projects finished in a timely manner as well--and for the same reasons. My double tamanu has been at a standstill for two years untill this winter. I finally got some beams laminated and some paint on it...but now it's back to shcool and coaching. At least I've got a school shop I can use on occasion.

Dan

[WI-Tom]

20 day north channel cruise in a pirate racer! By the time you finish the Alaska maybe you will figure out whether or not you like to sail more than you like to build. Alaska looks terrific either way.

Bravo!

Allan

Thanks, Allan--

absolutely NO doubt left over whether I'm more of a builder or more of a sailor: sailor all the way! Building Alaska has shown me just how much I don't like building (you can never just build something, first you have tyo build something else to prepare to build the next thing, which will finally be useful to build an actual piece of the boat! etc. etc.) and how inept a guy can be and still (so far, anyway) produce a decent boat... slowly.

Tom

[WI-Tom]

I can appreciate having a tough time geting projects finished in a timely manner as well--and for the same reasons.

Yeah, you're a teacher and coach, too, aren't you; you know what it's like--no building time for 9 months/year, and of course you can't waste SUMMER for building when you've got another boat waiting to be sailed on a long trip somewhere...

Tom

[WI-Tom]

So, a question to you all as I start the furniture: Don's plans show manual bilge pumps mounted to a bulkhead, port and starboard in reach of the helm, so you can always pump from the high side, even as you sail. For $200 and the extra hassle, would you install them? My current manual bilge pump is a sponge and cut-off detergent bottle. Don's set-up seems really nice--any sail & oar types have opinions on HOW nice it would be? Thanks,

Tom

[darroch]

Looking good. I remember this stage (finally turned over) with fondness...

I've made up both bilge pump backing pieces, installed the vertical one (#45 on Drawing 3) but not the horizontal one (it's done after the pumps are mounted). It's easy enough to engage the self-steering and operate the kayak pump with two hands (or the sponge for that matter).

[Yeadon]

Nice work Tom!

[WI-Tom]

darroch,

what do you use for self steering? A tiller comb?

And did you seal off the thwarts water-tight to make air/storage chambers, or just fill them with foam? I'm planning to make them sealed off, with PVC pipe epoxied in for limber holes. Not sure if I'll do vertical bulkhead hatches in them, or have hinged seat tops--probably the bulkhead hatches if I can fit my tent in them.

Any chance you'll be at the Port Townsend Boat Show in September with your Alaska? I'll be there this year for the first time and it'd be great to meet you (and your boat, of course...) Or do I remember that you have an aversion to crossing the border? Later,

Tom

[darroch]

I made a jamb cleat from a short piece of bronze half-round and fastened it to the bottom of the tiller just aft of the backrest. The bungee is led to the cars on the quarters.

My thwarts are filled with empty milk bottles - I replace them every couple of years. I think there's about 16 of them in total.

Don't think I'll get to PT this year but you'd be welcome if you made a detour north...

This first vid shows her pinched a bit (for safety), the second is tweaked a bit. Seems to hold her course pretty well.
Sorry about the crappy video quality - I really just take them for myself to analyze later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-pCpdfmRCk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE346Ot4s3g

[WI-Tom]

darroch,

thanks for the videos--very motivating, that's for sure. Probably can't come that far north this year, but maybe one of these days. Later,

Tom

[Eric Hvalsoe]

That's a good looking hull!

[WI-Tom]

That's a good looking hull!

Isn't it, though? The best feature of that hull, I think (and I've given it a lot of careful analysis) is how it doesn't show any of the mistakes that led up to it. Like, for instance, the one strip I tried to scarf as I screwed it to the molds, which caused an unsigtly bulge 3-4 strips later, which caused an angst-ridden few minutes of work with a Skil saw as I hacked it off, and hours more of re-planking to get back to where I started.

Or the transom: Don's construction plan has you make a temporary transom with notches for the gunwales, etc., so you can trim them flush, then build the real transom. I built the temporary transom, cut the notches carefully, bevelled it perfectly, and... Wait! Bevels??!! It didn't need to be bevelled, it's not getting planks over it. Oh, well--I cut the real transom perfectly, bevelled it with meticulous care, then cut the notches out with painstaking attention to precision and accuracy (the notches on the temporary transom were a tiny bit sloppy, but these were perfect), and... Wait!!!! Notches???!!?!?!?!? There aren't supposed to BE any notches in the real transom--the gunwales stop at the inside face, now that they're perfectly trimmed.

Yep, I'm more of a sailor than a builder, that's for sure...

Tom

[darroch]

I'm laughing but I feel your pain, my friend. I know it's more fun to just go ahead and figure things out yourself but I'd be happy to help you avoid time-wasting mistakes if you'd like. PM me if you don't want to go public.

[AJZimm]

So, a question to you all as I start the furniture: Don's plans show manual bilge pumps mounted to a bulkhead, port and starboard in reach of the helm, so you can always pump from the high side, even as you sail. For $200 and the extra hassle, would you install them? My current manual bilge pump is a sponge and cut-off detergent bottle. Don's set-up seems really nice--any sail & oar types have opinions on HOW nice it would be? Thanks,

Tom

Tom,

On Hornpipe I installed only 1 bilge pump with the pickup to the starboard side of the aft mast box under the aft seat. While it would not empty out the water as well while healed to port, I've only ever really used the bilge pump once the water level gets down toward the floor boards. For moving more water in a hurry, I carry a bailer made out of a plastic milk jug - handle left on but top cut off on one side so that it can scoop up nearly a gallon at one go.

[WI-Tom]

Alex and darroch,

thanks for replying. You both have excellent taste in boats, by the way.

Alex, I haven't looked at pictures of your boat as often; did you build the interior the way the plans show? Anything either of you would do differently now?

And darroch, I appreciate the offer of help. Most of my mistakes (transom included) are matters of execution rather than misunderstanding. I'm not sure I'm even capable of thinking far enough ahead to ask intelligent questions. If you have any thoughts about fitting out, I'd love to hear them; it doesn't seem confusing to me at this point, but I may be missing something.

Tom

[Eric Hvalsoe]

I've said several times, at least to myself, that I should buy a set of Don's plans if only to absorb the detail and thought of matter.

[darroch]

Tom, I'm obviously projecting my dull-wittedness - you'll do fine fitting her out. I almost felt like a real boatbuilder during the next stages - using and sharpening the planes and chisels on a daily basis. I stuck to the plans pretty closely (out of an abundance of caution and a nagging fear of failure) and after six years of use I can't say I would have changed anything.

I hope you document the build through this thread, though - I'd love to re-live the process.

[Chipito]

I had an Alaska for ten years and I think the only change I made was to add a small winch to a post that stuck in the mast position in the aft deck. Loved the two pumps. When people showed an interest in the boat(which was often as it's so beautiful} the pump idea was one of the first things I would show them.

[WI-Tom]

the only change I made was to add a small winch to a post that stuck in the mast position in the aft deck. Loved the two pumps.

Thanks for the input (Least Tern was yours, right? Beautiful boat); I'm curious--was the winch for beaching the boat? Yeah, I have a feeling I could get by without the pumps, but they seem like they'd provide a level of decadence andcomfort verging on the inappropriate for small open boats!

Now, a puzzler; if I make the thwart watertight with PVC tunnels glued in for limber holes, how to arrange the pump hoses? Any thoughts on that, anyone? Just give up on making that aft thwart fully sealed?

Tom

[Chipito]

Thanks, Least Tern was my boat. I think she's one of the best and prettiest boats around. Actually the winch was for the foresheet. I ran the sheet from the rail block to the winch. It was more of a stubbing than a hauling winch since I didn't have a handle for it. The pump pickup hoses were just led to the opposite side of the cockpit area under the floorboards. I used the pvc pipe idea in my Myst but I sawed them in half first so they would move the most water.

[WI-Tom]

I used the pvc pipe idea in my Myst but I sawed them in half first so they would move the most water.

Yep, that's my plan (actually, Chuck Leinweber of Duckworks suggested it to me).

Another question: I happened to notice a few free-standing tents that would fit on Alaska's sleeping platform. Those of you who have slept aboard, do you think that would have any advantages/disadvantages compared to a custom boat tent? Seems simpler, and would give the option to sleep ashore without having any more gear. What do you think?

Tom

[Chipito]

Me again. I tried that with my Myst which is about a foot wider. I realized tents are designed to walked around while erected. I tried my tent with the boat on the trailer, otherwise I would have dropped half the pieces overboard and probably would have fallen in the water myself. I'm sure it could be done but it's an order of magnitude harder to do on a boat.

[WI-Tom]

I realized tents are designed to walked around while erected

Thanks; I wondered about that myself. If I decide to try out the freestanding type, I'll be sure to try setting the tent up without walking around it--maybe some of these new-fangled tents just kind of magically spring up and open when you open the bag. Sure they do...

Tom

[darroch]

Tom, when you say "seal" the aft thwart compartments do you mean permanently; i.e. with epoxy fillets or 'glass? I would be concerned about unwanted growth in the nether regions with no ability to inspect or clean, what to speak of repainting and repair.

Yesterday we were sailing in English Bay in the fugliest chop ever - square waves with four-foot holes in the middle, waves popping up out of nowhere and slopping into the boat - and only 5 - 8 knots of wind - an ugly combination in itself. After four hours of it we only had maybe a gallon of water. Once again, put the self-steering to use and pumped her out without losing any ground. If I were to be swamped I'd grab the bailer (the head with a strong rope attached) and give 'er.
(40 gallons a minute compared to what, 2 or 3 with a one-inch hose?) Having said all that, two bilge pumps would look cool and that's got to be worth something.

If I could convince you the boom tent is a piece of cake to make and I know where you can get all the materials, what would your other concerns be?

[WI-Tom]

Tom, when you say "seal" the aft thwart compartments do you mean permanently; i.e. with epoxy fillets or 'glass? I would be concerned about unwanted growth in the nether regions with no ability to inspect or clean, what to speak of repainting and repair.

Yep, but with removable hatches (2 in each compartment) for ventilation and storage of small-ish, absolutely must stay dry items inside. Haven't seen any problems with other boats doing that as long as you leave the hatches open when you're not sailing. The tops I'd maybe just bed and screw in for easier removal if that proved necessary later... not sure yet.

If I could convince you the boom tent is a piece of cake to make and I know where you can get all the materials, what would your other concerns be?

Other than being spectaculary gifted at doing easy stuff very poorly, I like the idea of cutting the redundancy. With a freestanding tent I'd have the option of sleeping ashore without bringing other gear. And having never really slept aboard or set up a tent on a boat, I wondered if a freestanding tent might be easier and faster to rig than a special boat tent. Chipito suggests the opposite, though.

So where would I get the materials? And would you have patterns or drawings for your tent? And thanks for the videos, by the way; looks like the boat moves very well.

Tom

[darroch]

Tom - I just lost a long post. I'll try again.

I think the hatches are a good idea - I've thought of affixing a small box to the inside of the thwart web, with an access hatch, for the small stuff. Another winter project, maybe.

I'm always on the lookout for possible tents that would fit as well. It would be great even if you had a boom tent - you could set up the inside tent and leave the fly off if bugs were bad. I'd suggest a tent that opens fore and aft, though, so you have access to the anchor well and room to manouver with a canoe paddle if necessary, from either bow or stern.

Rather than hijack your thread, maybe I should start one for the tent and you can decide whether it will work for you in your cruising grounds.

Glad you like the videos - the self-steering makes me giddy...

[bobdny]

I'm new to this forum, and I'm glad to find a number of Kurylko Alaska builders here. I completed the hull for "Sea Dog", my Alaska, and I couldn't wait to get it into the water before it was completed. I posted a thread with a picture and a video of my "Sea Trials" with "Sea Dog". If you're interested, you can find it here:
http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...ferrerid=35133

[bobdny]

I do hope that darroch starts a thread on the tent. If I am correct that darroch built Cintamani, I was very impressed with the pictures of his tent on Don K's website. When I reach the stage where I am ready to add the tent, I am hoping to be able to make a tent as good as that.

[bobdny]

If Chipito is still watching here, I'd like to ask more about his bilge pumps. When I first saw the study plans for "Alaska", the bilge pumps were one of the first items that grabbed my attention. I though they were so cool, I bought a pair of pumps before I even started building the boat. I bought two Whale Gusher pumps with 1-1/2 inch hose connections that would pump 15 gallons per minute. (Much too big, I think.) When I finally built the hull, I thought the boat was too beautiful to mount those big ugly plastic pumps on. What kind of pumps did you use, and if possible can you give a source on where to get them? The beautiful pictures of Least Tern on Don Kurylko's website were an inspiration for me through the many years it took me to get my hull completed.

Bob D

[darroch]

Bob - somehow I missed your build and thread. She looks great!

Somewhere I've written a detailed description of the tent-making - I'll try to find it.
Any more pics?

[James McMullen]

I am definitely interested in seeing pics of your tent construction, Darroch. I am in the process of designing one for Rowan right now, and I'd love to see the methods you employed for reference. Prob'ly ought to start a new thread for that one to avoid hijacking Tom's, though.

Edited to add: Here, I started one.

[WI-Tom]

I don't mind a good hijack as long as I learn something. Right now my boat's in an unheated garage far away, with lots of interior furniture cut and fitted and just waiting for warm temps to start gluing, so this thread is on hold anyway. But I'll check out the tent thread--I'm leaning toward the idea of a small backpacking tent that I can set up aboard, but I'm not convinced that'll work. I'll definitely trailer my boat over to REI this spring/summer and try it out with a bunch of different tents to see what (if anything) fits, and can be set up from INSIDE the boat.

Tom

[Dan St Gean]

I don't mind a good hijack as long as I learn something. Right now my boat's in an unheated garage far away, with lots of interior furniture cut and fitted and just waiting for warm temps to start gluing, so this thread is on hold anyway. But I'll check out the tent thread--I'm leaning toward the idea of a small backpacking tent that I can set up aboard, but I'm not convinced that'll work. I'll definitely trailer my boat over to REI this spring/summer and try it out with a bunch of different tents to see what (if anything) fits, and can be set up from INSIDE the boat.

Tom

Tom,

There's no question that you'll be able to find something that works. You don't even really need to put the tent on the boat. Most manufacturers have footprints and dimensions available on their sites. I'd spring for a good one though. If you've ever been inside a tent that's getting flattened by the wind, or had tent poles snap because they weren't up to it, you can appreciate spending a few extra bucks on a good one. I do like James' suggestion of dual entrances fore and aft or at least fore to check the anchor. Just focus your search on something with less than 54" of width on the tent--easily accomplished with most two person backpacking tents.

Dan

[WI-Tom]

Tom,

There's no question that you'll be able to find something that works. You don't even really need to put the tent on the boat. Most manufacturers have footprints and dimensions available on their sites.

Dan,

the issue isn't whether it'll fit on the boat, but whether it will be possible to actually set it up on board without being able to walk around the tent on all sides. See post #23 above.

Another issue is, do I want to spend a hundred dollars and up on a backpacking tent when a custom boat tent could be made much more cheaply? A ready-made tent would also be good for sleeping ashore, and the separate tent/fly combination seems advantageous--better than the "tarp over the boom" approach.

Tom

[darroch]

I've been thinking about tents again, Tom, and I've responded to James' thread. I think for you the awning would be a good start. You could set it up quickly for shade and cooking and either add panels to make it water- and bug-proof, or set the tent up underneath it. You could also lower the awning to sleep under and raise it in the morning. Of course, you'll need a thumbcleat for the mainmast (but you may want to make a sprit for downwind work later anyway). Even if you sleep ashore the awning could prevent a lot of water coming aboard on rainy nights.

I see a few boats in the EC with little sunshades over the cockpit. What do you think of shade for the helmsman, or does the sun not bother you much?

[WI-Tom]

Actually, I prefer to be out in the open so I'm not a big fan of awnings and dodgers and all that. The sun doesn't get too hot up in the 40s N latitude, so shade is not a big need. I wear a hat if I must.

For whatever reason, an awning doesn't appeal to me, however practical it is. When I make my tent, I suspect I'll probably end up with a tarp stretched over a line between the mainmast and mizzen. If I'm ambitious I might put a couple of tent-poles/hoops between the gunwales to hold it up. But mosquito netting at the ends will be crucial.

But none of that's a big priority since I can usually sleep ashore easily if I need a tent because of bugs or weather. When I get my act together and sail the Inside Passage or other areas where it's not so easy to sleep aboard, then I'll need the tent.

Tom

[Michael Wick]

I've had good luck with a boomtent and a few hoops from gunwale to gunwale. I have a bivy for bugs. I tried a hammock under the boom, but A waterman's wake busted my boomcrutch. If it had been steeper waves it might have capsized my 16 foot melonseed.

[WI-Tom]

The bivi is a nice ultra-simple approach, but around here the mosquitos show up at about 9:45 p.m., like turning on a switch--sit around outside until then, but you better be in the tent before they show up. I'm not sure I'd want to be stuck inside a bivi sack that early. At least in a tent I can sit up, eat, read, etc.

Tom

[darroch]

I bought a traveller's mosquito net that hangs from the ridgeline and covers the entire sleeping platform.

[WI-Tom]

So, back to gluing temps. I moved the hull to my brother's garage and enlisted his help with the rest of the build--he's a much better builder than I am. We've made some progress in the past week. Here's the hull with centerboard slot cut:





I had most of the furniture and bulkheads cut last fall but it got too cold to glue. Next step: put 'em in.

[James McMullen]

Tom, I wish you lived close enough so I could come over and lend a hand this weekend. You're so damn close now!




(well, sorta. Actually that was a little white lie to encourage you. You're about 1/3 done. But it's all fun and interesting woodworking from now on, the slog is over.)

[WI-Tom]

And here they are, just set inside the hull to take a good look--there's the stern seat, three thwarts, three mast steps, a centerboard case, and a flotation chamber in the bow that's admittedly not strictly to plans:





We also cut out the centerboard and shaped it. Next week all this furniture should get glued in place, and I'll have to add some lead to the board and glass it. Then decks, a sampson post, a rounded coaming, and a whole lot of finishing work (spars are already done except for varnish and hardware).

Again, my "help" at this stage was making simple relatively idiot-proof cuts and measurements while my brother did all the thinking and tricky things. By the time the boat's done, it'll be about half (at most) my work. And it will be a much better boat for it!

Tom

[WI-Tom]

James,

yeah, it's a stage with a lot of seemingly sudden progress, especially with my brother helping. I'm curious what Don will think of my bow flotation chamber (I can picture him, and all designers, cringing at the thought of changes to a carefully-thought-out design), but after hearing about Chipito capsizing in a gust and not floating high enough to bail successfully, I wanted more insurance.

Still, I don't know if "so damn close" is quite accurate either; there's LOTS left to do. But I suspect it'll hit the water before things ice up around here, though it'll have to wait for real sails until next year (but at least my wife will know what to get me for Christmas!)

As for coming out to help, why don't you wait until the sanding and final fairing of the hull? I have a longboard with your name on it! (Or, I'll take a sharpie and write your name on it before you show up...)

Tom

[WI-Tom]

One more look:



Sorry, but I can't get the photo to rotate after 80 bazillion attempts. But you can see the forward flotation chamber roughed in with scraps to give some idea. There will also be a small fore deck and coaming at the very bow, at sheer level.

You can't really tell from this photo, but the top of the forward flotation chamber will be well below the sheer, at the same level as the thwart tops. The main mast step will sit on top, with a compression post beneath. The mast will be about an inch higher than Don't plans show this way, but will still have more bury than the center mast step, which is also set up to take the mainsail on the main mast.

Thwart tops and top trim of centerboard case and gunwales will be finished bright (and maybe the transom), the rest painted (gray? white? cream?) and the exterior probably painted white. Later,

Tom

[Dan St Gean]

Looking goo Tom!

Dan

[Yeadon]

Tom!

Nice boat.

[Don Kurylko]

Tom...I notice that you have cutouts in the thwart webs. Are you not planning on putting foam in those compartments?

I wish I could convince you to hold off on the bow buoyancy tank until you have had a chance to try out the boat for awhile without it. I'm pretty sure that the stowage for anchoring and mooring gear is a far better use for that space. I really doubt that it will contribute all that much extra flotation if swamped. You will gain much, much more with watertight stowage/air bags along the sides of the hull under the benches.

I'm not sure if Chipito had any extra flotation in his boat when he swamped, if any at all. I don't remember. I hope Alex and Darrough will chime in with their thoughts. I know that Darrough has practiced capsize and rescue drills with his boat.

Looking good!

[WI-Tom]

Don,

thanks for chiming in--I should have asked you about changing things but was a bit apprehensive of what you'd think. I'm planning on sealing the thwarts and not putting foam in--my hope is that the hatches will provide enough ventilation to avoid problems with that. I have drain tunnels through each thwart. Seat tops will be bedded and screwed in place so I can get at the space if necessary.

I do plan to store my gear in dry bags lashed under the side benches, so that will add lots of flotation, too. I think Chipito's boat was empty if I remember right, so loaded for cruising it would certainly take on less water if the worst happens. But I'm optimistic (perhaps stupidly so) that the flotation chamber in the bow won't change much for the worse, since I'm simply replacing the teak grate with a permanent deck in essence. If it turns out to be stupid, well... it won't be the first stupid thing I've ever done, and will be fixable. It is a big space, though, and that much of an air chamber low in the bow seems like it could be a good thing. And it might be a bit easier to get to the forward mast without having to step over a pile of anchor gear. I agonized over the choice for a long time and may not have arrived at the right answer for sure! Other than the loss of a handy anchor well, do you see any other problems a sealed chamber there would present?

You make a good point about stowage for mooring gear--most of my sailing is in zero-tide waters where you can usually anchor in knee-deep water. I may regret not having that space when I take on the Inside Passage and need hundreds of feet of anchor line. Something to think about--nothing is permanent yet.

I didn't know darroch had tried some capsize drills; with luck he'll step in and tell me the results before I change things. But I appreciate your input--if you see other problems that sealed chamber will cause, I'd love to hear about it. I tried to think it through, but the quality of my thinking isn't backed up by the amount of experience you and others on this forum have.

Tom

[Don Kurylko]

Tom...the only problem with the forward chamber is the loss of useful stowage space. It will work as you envision, but I think I would rather retain the stowage capability and just stuff some partially inflated inner tubes up forward to add some extra buoyancy if need be.

Watertight chambers under the thwarts will work fine too. You have obviously taken some pains to assure that they won't leak. No problem there either.

As for the mooring system, I personaly think it is indispensible for wilderness cruising, even on the Great Lakes. Alasaka is a pretty heavy boat and it is not always possible to pull the hull high enough up the beach (granite in your case) to keep any significant wave action from beating the hell out of it should you be caught out on a lee shore. Winds shift - often when least expected and usually in the middle of the night. It's one of Murphy's Laws.

Big Food and Rowan rafted out on a mooring: peace of mind.