New Matinicus Peapod under construction

[jim_cricket]

Hi folks,
I've begun construction of a double ender in my Brooklyn shop, to lines from Walter Simmons. She has a flat keel, and will be planked from 9mm occume. 16 feet long. I've put up some photos on my blog, and will add to it as I go along. http://sailingskiffs.blogspot.com/
I've shown the trad. sprit rig, but will more likely go with a balance lug, and maybe even a yawl, but more on that down the road.
Cheers,
Jim Luton

[johngsandusky]

Nice!

[NYCKiwi]

Hi Jim,
Fantastic choice; I'm really looking forward to following your blog.

[PeterSibley]

Jim ,thanks for that ...she will be lovely .I really enjoyed your blog , the link to plans etc was interesting !

[Michael Wick]

Jim, Good introduction to your new project. Keep it up. Mike Wick

[jim_cricket]

Hi folks,
After several months away from the Matinicus double ender project (due to sailing obligations!), I've made some recent progress. I have finalized the sail plan, framed her up, and I'm laying out the furniture now. She will be half decked, with short end decks, side decks, and an oval coaming. I thought I would share a couple of pics here. I've kept a fairly detailed record on my blog http://sailingskiffs.blogspot.com/



Just after flipping the hull.


Frames are in, and patterns are made for the floor boards.


One of the frame halves marked out for cutting.

As I said, I'm fooling around with the interior layout. she's starting to look like something that might be useful.

Jim Luton

[jim_cricket]

I should explain, too. She carries a dagger board, which is why the trunk looks short. There's a lot of room in the sweet spot without running into a big centerboard trunk. I built the dagger trunk extra long, so I can slide fore and aft for a little balance tuning. I'll plug the space or spaces when I finalize the location.
Jim

[James McMullen]

I likes it! Very nice!

Say, have you met my friend Tim Yeadon? Something strikes me about this boat that he might like it too. . . . . . . .

[Pete Dorr]

What design is Cricket ?

[jim_cricket]

I've seen plenty of pics of Big Food, both with the old rig and the new. I was of course very interested in his yawl conversion, and wish I was a little closer so I could have a look first hand!
Thanks James.
Jim

[jim_cricket]

What design is Cricket ?

Cricket is slightly modified Windward 15, lengthened to 16'2" with an 85 foot sail. Its a wonderful boat, well balanced, fast, and weatherly.

[James McMullen]

Ooh, I likes that one too! That's a good looking skiff!

[BBSebens]

Hey! I have one!



This is Matty (creative right?) and she is 20 yrs old. Glued lap with the plank keel.


Having sailed her with a sprit rig, I can certainly tell you that the lug yawl is the way to go. In fact I will be very interested to see pics of the rig, as I intend to build Matty a lug yawl rig next winter. Im also curious to see how the decking works out, b/c Matty is totally open.

[Duane Brown]

Great boat! I found your blog some time back and have followed along since. I can't wait to see her in the water. You have kept a very detailed account of your efforts thus far and I thank you for that because I plan to use much of your account for building my Walter Simmons boat. I am going to build a 16' Ducktrap Wherry. I was hoping to loft this past weekend but had to go make some money instead. Oh well, I can always use some more of that. You have done me a great service, thanks.

[Yeadon]

Nice boat, Jim!

The world needs more double-ended lug yawls. The invasion must continue.

[jim_cricket]

Thanks guys. Matty is a great looking boat! Gotta love that sheer. I'm looking forward to the yawl rig. Yeadon, I know I've seen some recent pics of your new rig. Where are they located? And how have you liked the yawl?
I'll try to keep updated with new pics myself. Good luck with your wherry Duane. I'd like to do a christmas wherry or a trap skiff one day myself. I understand they are tricky to plank back aft. I have Walt's wherry book.
Jim

[G. Schollmeier]

There are a few of Big Food in this thread.
http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...light=Big+Food

[Duane Brown]

Looks like you would have no problem whatsoever with the planking. You're doing a most excellent job on the MDE.

[jim_cricket]

Hi folks,
Still making some some progress on the Matinicus. I finalized the arrangement and deck plan. I decided after some thought to step the mast through a partner with a gate so I could have at least a fighting chance of raising and lowering the mast afloat. Here's the plan view...



I've gotten the seat risers laid out, and put in some flakeboard seats to see how I like the side benches. The dagger board really opens up the cockpit amidship...



I fitted a knee amidship to support the side bench span...



And I've laid out the deck...



And put in the deck beams...



The whole construction process can be found here-
http://sailingskiffs.blogspot.com/20...er-part-7.html

[BBSebens]

What would I have to do to get you to share your information with me? I am currently building a new kick-up rudder for my Mattinicus, and also plan to build a new Lug Yawl rig next winter. I would greatly appreciate being spared the task of doing the math!

So, specifically, I would like info on your rudder, Dagger board shape, and dimensions and placement of the rig.

Thanks!

[jim_cricket]

[QUOTE=BBSebens;2892989]What would I have to do to get you to share your information with me? I am currently building a new kick-up rudder for my Mattinicus, and also plan to build a new Lug Yawl rig next winter. I would greatly appreciate being spared the task of doing the math!

I'd be happy to dimension my rudder and dagger drawings. As for the rudder, keep in mind that I haven't drawn it up full size from the lofting yet. The cad drawing is accurate, but you'll have to fit it to your own sternpost. I dubbed off a flat at the top of the post, about 13" long overall so that the pivot axis is a straight line. As for the rig, I have dimensions such as I would give the sailmaker. You might do better asking Yeadon about his design, as he has actually sailed it. How mine will balance is speculation at this point, but I did my best with it. Don't you already have a centerboard in your boat?

I put pictures of your Matty on my blog a ways back, after corresponding with Steve Clancy, the builder. I just now made the connection. I thought I recognized the boat! Its very beautiful. Are you Steve's son in law?

Anyway, give me a few days to go in and dimension the parts. I haven't done it yet, because I'm not there yet with the build.

Jim

[BBSebens]

I am Steve's son-in-law! Small world...

For the rudder, I am mostly concerned with the blade shape. The rest I can make work for my stem. I am going from the trad Big Fat Rudder to the modern foiled kick-up, pretty much just like the one you drew. I also do have a CB, but its just a 1x10 with rounded edges, and I'd like to shape it as well.

One concern I have is that with the plank keel, there isn't a lot of lateral plane. Right now, my slab o' centerboard and slab o' rudder are it, and the current rudder is 20" deep by 22" long. So if I go to a nice foil, will I lose all of my lateral resistance?

I am considering adding a keel onto the plank keel. Something about 2" deep. What are your thoughts?


As for the rig, Yeadon's Mattinicus is different than ours. 1. its a Gardner design and only 15' long, and a different shape. 2. its trad lapstrake, and has a "normal" keel. So I imagine that it'd be close, but if your rig works out, Im copying you! Besides, Im not building a new rig until next winter anyhow, so hopefully you will have yours done before then.

[jim_cricket]

Here's a couple of pictures of Ben's Matinicus, Matty. The builder is Steve Clancy, Ben's father in law. Steve sent me these pics a while back, and I put them on my blog. Nice boat. Ben!

[jim_cricket]

A little more progress has been made on the MDE. I've got paint on the interior...





...and installed the floor boards. These were cut from an old redwood picnic table I found dumpster diving. The redwood is oiled.







Now its on to the rest of the furniture. As always, there is further info on my blog. http://sailingskiffs.blogspot.com/

Jim

[Sharpie21]

Very freakin' nice. And I love the score you made on that redwood for your floors. They look great. Pays to keep a sharp eye out for cast off materials.

It looks like, so far, that you have a primer coat only on that interior. What product did you use for the primer coat?

[jim_cricket]

Thanks sharpie,
The first pic is primer. Petit Easypoxy. The other photos show three topcoats of Petit Easypoxy sandtone. The paint is Petit's single part polyurethane, similar to Interlux Brightsides.

[StevenBauer]

Looking awesome, Jim. I don't see her listed on the Small Reach Regatta entry list though. Can't make it this year? I'd love to see her in person.



Steven

[jim_cricket]

Hi Steven,
Not this year. I plan on launching sometime this season, but I'll bring her to SRR next year, after the bugs have worked themselves out. Meanwhile, Cricket will get some workouts.

[Steve McMahon]

Fantastic! I have to admit I drooled a bit over your shop too. ;-

[jim_cricket]

Hi folks,
After six months away from the boat, I'm back at work on the Matinicus. This is proving to be a long winded project, even by my standards, but that's how it is. Busy working and busy sailing!


Fitting thwarts and knees.


Knee pattern.


Finished knee, not fastened to the boat yet. The steel screws will be replaced with bronze and bunged before installing the thwarts for good. I have them clamped
in while I'm fitting the side benches, then everything comes back out for finishing before getting installed permanently.


After sitting for a while unrestrained, I noticed the boat settling out slightly. I put these band clamps on to bring it back in until I
fasten the thwarts and knees in permanently.

I'm fitting the side benches now. The full story is on the blog. And to go back to the very beginning, go here. More later...
Jim

[James McMullen]

All right! This brought a big grin to my face! Good to see how much closer you are to getting to try her out.

[Breakaway]

I have them clamped
in while I'm fitting the side benches, then everything comes back out for finishing before getting installed permanently.

I hear ya.But it looks like glue squeeze out under the knee and thwart. Do you mean to just remove the screws?

Great build, thanks for sharing it.

Kevin

[jim_cricket]

Hi Breakaway,
I permanently mounted the knees to the thwarts, and they go in (and out) of the boat as a package. I couldn't easily get a fastener in from underneath the thwart with it in the boat. Its a little tight going in and coming out, but it works. The steel screws get changed out before installing. I'll just bed the knees in sikaflex where they bear against the planking, and screw them in from the outside, except at the inwale where the screw goes in through the knee.
Jim

[jim_cricket]

Some progress on the furniture. I've got the side benches fitted now.


I first made thin ply patterns, then transferred the info to my seat stock (there's
no bevel on the pattern, hence the gap at the hull).



The benches fit well to the hull, and between the thwarts. The inboard edges are still wild at this point.



But let me backtrack a minute. When I put in the seat risers, I sprung in the piece, already cut to width. I had a bit of a struggle keeping the correct heights
for the rowing positions, and wasn't able to straighten the run of the riser (in profile). It has a curve similar to the sheer, instead of being flat (parallel to the waterplane). So there is a bit of a curve between the thwarts. I thought the benches would be tough to spring to shape, so I decided to resaw the material, and glue it back together with a bit of curvature.


This is the kind of thing I bought this bandsaw for. 16" resaw capacity, and a 5 hp motor
walk right through the spanish cedar.


No form here, just a few blocks under the layup. The glue is Unibond.

More to come...
Cricket

[jim_cricket]

Side benches continued...

Laminating in a bit of arc worked great. The benches fit the riser curve well. I meant to say before, that I wonder if I should have spiled the riser,
and cut it out of a wider piece? I may have been able to keep the top edge flat that way.


I sprung a batten around the whole length of the bench, sawed out the curve...


...and cleaned up the cut with a compass plane.


Here are the benches with the curves cut. I still have to get out the daggerboard cap, and bevel the undersides of everything to lighten it all
up visually before I install the lot permanently.


I left a little space at the ends of the benches against future swelling of the thwarts. Its pretty dry in the shop, and I don't want to start pushing the frames around.

I'm looking forward to a little break at xmas for another push. I need to get the boat out of the shop!
Jim.

[James McMullen]

Scupper holes for the side benches? You'll want them to drain off to the bilge when you pick up splash and spray on the low side. Otherwise, when you tack, you're going to have the remnants of that puddle of water to sit on when you move over to the new high side.

[Breakaway]

Thanks for clarifying,Jim. I'm enjoying watching this boat come together

Kevin

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[jim_cricket]

Scupper holes for the side benches? You'll want them to drain off to the bilge when you pick up splash and spray on the low side. Otherwise, when you tack, you're going to have the remnants of that puddle of water to sit on when you move over to the new high side.

You're right about that, James. I guess I could have left the benches shy of the hull sides. I sort of hate to cut them back now that they fit well. Any suggestions as to how else this might be contrived? This will all be kind of under the deck, so visually its not right in your face. Limber holes? Elongated slots at the hull edge?
Jim

[Yeadon]

Can you just unfasten the side benches, trim them a bit (or maybe just a nice bullnose, plus a light trim) and reinstall?

[James McMullen]

I'd definitely at least do holes or slots or something, I guess. It would be a good idea to make them big enough and plentiful enough so that you can pass a cord through them to use as tie-down/lashing points to secure gear and drybags and equipment securely out under the benches for when you cruise this little honey. You simply can't have too many tie-downs, and lots of versatility keeps your options open. Like all limber holes, make them bigger than you think you'll need so they drain really well and can't clog on a leaf or a candy wrapper.

[StevenBauer]

Looking awesome, Jim. I don't see her listed on the Small Reach Regatta entry list though. Can't make it this year? I'd love to see her in person.



Steven

Well I certainly know all about boat builds that take years but my original question still holds for the SRR 2012. Are you planning on bringing her up to Lemoine in July? She looks great. I'm hoping to bring the KDI my daughter is building with me.

Steven

[thedutchtouch]

great thread, i only have one complaint- your boat's much too small for the shop. once finished please begin a larger project which will allow me to read another of your threads, for a longer period of time.

[JoshuaIII]

great thread, i only have one complaint- your boat's much too small for the shop. once finished please begin a larger project which will allow me to read another of your threads, for a longer period of time.

I second that, there is way too much space around that shop... A 36ft should enter there nicely

[BBSebens]

Looking great!!!

[Bill Perkins]

Great fun to watch your handiwork come together . Even the cradle is grade A .I love this boat! Like Yeadon , I respect the fit you got on the side benches ; but to drain them a simple gap with some round over seems most elegant (to me) and most functional.The work of fitting wouldn't be wasted .It would produce the perfect gap with just a scribe line from a combi square.

[jim_cricket]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback on this project. I'll definitely add scuppers to the benches. I'll either cut them back a quarter inch or so for the whole length, or I'll make some cutouts. Nothing is fastened in yet, so its easy to do. I'm going to varnish everything after detailing the edges, and then fasten it all in. No work on the boat tonight though, hard day on the job site. We are just finishing up a figured bubinga kitchen and living room in Greenwich Village, all but the last bits of hardware. I had to lay down in the tub tonight.

I second that, there is way too much space around that shop... A 36ft should enter there nicely

If only! I'm on the third floor of my building, with a sixteen foot freight elevator. I've been thinking of ways to build in sections, to re-assemble later. Cricket went down the hall and into the elevator easy, so the peapod should too.

I'll be thinking of the rig pretty soon, so I'll want some opinions there, too.
Later,
Jim

[Michael Wick]

Jim,

Just get he done. I am having so much fun sailing and fussing with the little things that finish my boat off. Right now I am building up the outside width of the cockpit coaming so it is more comfortable to sit on. With the strong November winds, I am fussing with a smaller rig and with extra ballast. Get it done. Mike Wick

[PeterSibley]

A lovely job Jim ,great details .

James , the seat limber holes idea noted .

[jim_cricket]

Happy New Year everyone!
We made some progress on "Mouse" over the holidays. I did end up cutting back the outboard edge of the benches as suggested, to drain water.



I beveled the underside of all the parts, and rounded the edges over with drawknife, spokeshave, etc. Faster than setting up a router, and easier to
work in the transitions to square from round.





I sanded up all the furniture, and put a sealer coat of amber shellac (for a little warmth), and 3 coats of Zspar 1015 before installing the lot.



I bedded the knees and thwarts in sikaflex, taping off the finished areas first, to aid in clean up.



Everything is in now for good.



We're on now to the mast partners and decks. I just spoke with the sailmaker, and I'm sending him the drawings today. I'd like to get started soon
on the spars.

Jim

[jim_cricket]

I'm bumping this. For some reason the new post is not showing up.