THE SAILBOAT!!!
About two-plus years ago - my brilliant husband decided we should build a sailboat. We had decided on one plan, but we found another (better!) plan that was designed for the guy with a few woodworking tools and a roomy backyard....and well, here we are almost three summers into it and we should launch this year, summer of 2012.
Gwenivere:
This is the "skeleton" of the boat, so to speak.
I often wonder what our neighbors were thinking as they began
to see this little project begin to take form.
I often wonder what our neighbors were thinking as they began
to see this little project begin to take form.
Bending the lazerette.
This was one of the more difficult parts of building this boat. Bending plywood is a
nightmare with "archaic" tools, but a few ingenious ideas and John managed to
get that "sexy" little curve on the back of the stern.
nightmare with "archaic" tools, but a few ingenious ideas and John managed to
get that "sexy" little curve on the back of the stern.
Upside-Down
The boat had to be turned over, not once - but twice!
This is the first time, which allowed us to glass and epoxy the bottom
and then sand, and then sand, and then sand some more....
This is the first time, which allowed us to glass and epoxy the bottom
and then sand, and then sand, and then sand some more....
This was scary!!
Yes, it's leaning ever so slightly on the side of the house. If this hadn't gone well,
I wasn't sure how I was going to explain our little boat crashing into the side of the house
to my insurance guy. It's hard to see, but we had a rope and pulley system, since it was
only the two of us turning her over.
Yes, it's leaning ever so slightly on the side of the house. If this hadn't gone well,
I wasn't sure how I was going to explain our little boat crashing into the side of the house
to my insurance guy. It's hard to see, but we had a rope and pulley system, since it was
only the two of us turning her over.
Top-side primed and ready for paint.
We still have some sanding to do - but now she's looking like she's "sea-worthy"
We still have some sanding to do - but now she's looking like she's "sea-worthy"
Trailer Queen
Since we didn't use Marine Plywood - our little day sailer will have to always be stored
out of the water. But we do know she's water-tight, as last winter she filled up
with a ton of water which rotted some parts that we then had to replace.
out of the water. But we do know she's water-tight, as last winter she filled up
with a ton of water which rotted some parts that we then had to replace.
Cuttin' Sails
The sails are handmade from UV-resistant white truck tarp....yeup, plastic tarp.
Cut, sewn, glued and installed with grommets - lots and lots of grommets.
Not hard work, but you spend a lot of time on the floor.
Cut, sewn, glued and installed with grommets - lots and lots of grommets.
Not hard work, but you spend a lot of time on the floor.
