One Plank Short of a Boat

Last week, I spent a considerable amount of time planing the lap of the first middle plank we put on the pram down so it was about 1/8" to 3/8" deep. This took a lot of time and was extremely difficult to do without making dents in the garboard plank above it. I finally got it so I liked it but not without some need for filling and faring on the garboard. So when it came to the next planks to be added, the other middle plank and the shear strake, I decided I would be smarter and plane the planks down more before they were fastened to the boat. This worked pretty well. I did my bevels and finally we had a chance to do the installation today. We have the process down to a science by now and we drilled the screw holes and counter sunk both planks before we mixed the epoxy and put them on one right after the other. Even finding the screw holes isn't a big problem now. So, below, you see the stern view.....

And the view from the bow.....


We will put the other shear strake on this week some evening after I get it fitted. Then I will fill all the screw holes with epoxy filler and we can break her free of the moulds and turn her over.

We have decided to work on getting her ready for rowing this summer and not worry about the sailing part until next winter. We will put the sailing parts that we absolutely have to now, but she probably won't sail until 2010.