Here we go! Joosep got back from Switzerland and I came out of the forest to continue the build of our dearest Fafnir. Yesterday we glued the fifth plank to the boat, now three remain. Joosep bought 6 new sheets of plywood too, for we have wasted a ton, ought to take a picture of that as well. The aft shelving is now more or less complete, which also completes the interior structurally. The rudder is nearing completion and so is its’ steering system, which we had a little trouble understaing at first, but that was simply our problem. Our acetone smeared polycarbonate window will be repaired thanks to one of the blog readers who offered his help. Now, since we only have planking at hand, should progress be more visible and satisfying. Next build session is this weekend. Over the summer, though, the club of “DIY boaters” tripled, as two friends of ours also built a boat. Joosep’s brother completed a light sailing dinghy, out of okume marine plywod, we should add, as did Anni, who built a Portugese style dhingy, for which the plans are avalable here. Joosep said that sailing his brother’s boat was “good fun.” Though there was some difficulty with tacking and the leeboard, which wanted to float out of water. Experiences with Anni’s boat have yet to be digitalized. Lets have the lot in pictures:
-
- There she is. New plank on and all, looking good.
-
- A rare, or actually the first, shot of us two working on the boat non-posed. Picture taken by Artur.
-
- How our new plywood arrived, a lot less fuzz than two years ago. We had a truck delivery back then.
-
- The last lamination we have to do for plaking. These are the to-be starboard planks. They call it a scarf joint.
-
- The rudder sheet was laminated with large oak cheeks. Good strong wood. Now we simply have to give the sheet some shape with a plane. Then glass it.
-
- This is how we laminated the cheeks of the rudder sheet, two tiller holes are visible, one for inside steering and the other or on-deck operations.
-
- A view of the aft shelving and liferaft well. Artur’s boat is to the right. The little brother.
-
- A fine looking boat that Artur has made. He went with simplicity and with the aim of getting the boat done as fast as possible, to get sailing. That is why there is no paint for the moment, but that will be added. As said: okume. The first time I ever saw marine plywood. Looks nice, no spots, nothing, just wood.
-
- Artur’s boat on the shore of lake Saadjärv. No paint, just okume. Seems to work fine, its hard stuff.
-
- Anni asked me for advide on how to build a boat. That was in the summer. Now she has her own. A rowing dinghy out of marine plywood. Simple and elegant design, inspired by Portugese fishing boats.
-
- “A very simple 7’4″ x 3’10” dinghy, made out of simple materials, using a simple construction method and just the basic tools,” as the designer’s homepage says. The displacement before swamping is around 360 kg.
And, as it so happened, we were invited to speak on national television about or boatbuild in spring on a “good morning” show. You get to see us two speaking:
I remember having some sort of skin reaction with all the makeup applied. Nevertheless, it was early in the morning.
