A Seil in California

[John Meachen]

Re: A Seil in California

If you put a dab of mastic around a screw hole,sealing the inside of the hole probably isn't necessary.A less permanent seal can be achieved by dipping the screw in varnish,it will hold very well but will yield to a screwdriver-just.

[pez_leon]

Re: A Seil in California

A bunch of once-burly friends are coming over soon to move the boat out to its trailer. As of next week, I will no longer need my building jig - and I won't want to store it, either!. I would like for it to go to a good home and help build another boat. This jig is made from CNC cut medium density fiberboard. In June 2022 the materials cost $438. CNC cutting for the jig alone was at least $500. I got great use from it and it is a bit worn and epoxy stained, but I am sure it can be used to build many more boats. I would be happy to pass it along to the next builder in exchange for a donation to a mutually agreeable charity. Send me a PM if interested.


- James

[pez_leon]

Re: A Seil in California

For a year, nearly every visitor to the Lady Liberty $15,000 boathouse would conclude their tour with the same question: how are you going to get her out of the backyard? I came to notice they always asked with a half smile as though they were the first to consider the hilarious idea that I could pour hundreds of hours into a landlocked boat. Increasingly, I felt the question impertinent. All she had to do is squeeze between a low branch and a retaining wall whilst rotating 90 degrees to fit through a narrow gate. Measurements showed least half an inch to spare in several directions.



I approached the day of the move with diminishing confidence. It is amazing how much a load of leaves will cause a branch to settle.

In the end it wasn't pretty, but she fit!



Though another 1/4" all around would have been helpful. We put a decent scratch on the starboard quarter.

I have no idea how much she weighs at this point, but once delivered through the gate she was easy to carry with seven.

[WI-Tom]

Re: A Seil in California

Wow! It's mobile!

And you're ahead of the game with a scratch already on the hull. No need to agonize over that nonsense anymore--you're free to jump in and just enjoy using the boat without any worries about some non-existent level of perfection you didn't attain.

Looks great. I look forward to seeing you posting about your time on the water. Congratulations!

Tom

[Bruce Bateau]

Re: A Seil in California

Congrats! What an exciting moment!

I once had a friend who built a boat in a basement and pulled it out through a window...


I stood down there many a day and silently cast doubt on his measurements.

But with the help of about five people in and five people out...


He succeeded with a margin of 1" to spare. I had to eat seagull.

[rgthom]

Wheee! When and where is the splash? If its near Richmond during work hours I can sneak out.

[The Jeff]

Re: A Seil in California

Looking good! I agree with Tom's advice to get a few scratches in early so you can stop worrying about it. I managed to punch of 5/8" hole in the transom from a rusty bolt on a dock when I first launched mine. Definitely looking forward to your sea trials and the inevitable improvements.

[nrs5000]

Re: A Seil in California

bravo!

Wheee! When and where is the splash? If its near Richmond during work hours I can sneak out.

yes! Do let us know.

[pez_leon]

Re: A Seil in California

Thanks, all!
Rick and nrs5000, I'll send you both a pm.

- James

[pez_leon]

Re: A Seil in California

Bruce, I just love those pictures of your friend's boat emerging from the basement. It's amazing what people can do.

In the last push to assemble (no longer build!) things I have so far:

Tested the mast step and partners and not electrocuted myself


Dug the yard and sail out of storage; drilled the yard for whatever you call outhauls on the yard of a lug


Prepped for oiling by dropping all my cleats in the oil bucket to soak...


and sanding and arranging all my floorboards, benches, and spars in the Free Play and Cash Slots boathouse...


Then, having carefully red the instructions, cleared an entire Sunday afternoon to repeatedly apply Deks Oil D1 "wet on wet" until these bits could hold no more, only to run out of oil without having even finished my first coat! I realize now that while I imagined the stuff would have similar coverage to paint, the whole point of a saturating oil is that the wood will take more of it. I bought a lot more and will go back after. While many parts did not get the wet-on-wet application I hoped for, I'm not worried. They already look good, I think the new coats will still get sucked right in and stick just fine, and the worst case is just some mostly-flat sanding to get back to bare wood.

[pez_leon]

Re: A Seil in California

After what felt like endless nights mounting hardware:


and rigging:


and working leather for chafe gear:


She's launched!



This was something of a stealth launching, a dress rehersal for a larger upcoming celebration. Forumite NRS5000 very kindly dropped by and snapped some pictures.



She sails!

[WI-Tom]

Re: A Seil in California

Congratulations! Looks great, seems to float--all is well, eh?

Tom

[nrs5000]

Re: A Seil in California

Congrats again James! She looks great and seems to slip through the water very nicely.

[Mike1902]

Re: A Seil in California

Nice work and well done.
Great hull colour, contrasts nicely with the clear finish.
Enjoy the ride.

Cheers,
Mike.

[The Jeff]

Re: A Seil in California

Congratulations and nice job! Looking forward to hearing how it does for you.