Hello!

Happy Holidays to all! I just published my November update. In November I finished fitting the rubbing strakes and started to fit the carlins. I'm getting close to completing the wood work so I'm very excited to say the least.

Here's the link to my blog. I hope you enjoy the update.

Cheers!


Julio

Cheers Julio,

Another great read. Made my afternoon.

 Hi Julio,
 
Great Stuff - Picara's looking lovely - I really like the rubbing strakes, especially the gentle curves towards the bow.
 
The carlings also look good and are coming on nicely.
 
I'm at the sanding down of the hull at the moment, as I intend to fill and paint before turning over and inserting the frames.
 
Keep up the great work !!
 
Best wishes & Tanti Saluti from sunny wintry Southern Italy
 
Ainslie

Afternoon Julio, another great instalment. Keep up the good work. 
 
Have you decided what you are going to do for the mast and sails? You might want to think about your sailing weight before deciding what route to go down if buying out of the UK as different sail shapes are cut to different weight bands
 
Look forward to the fit out as well
 
Barnsie 
 
 

Thank you, Gareth. Have you launched your boat yet? Send the latest photos.
 
Ainslie, thank you. Sounds like you are making great progress, You won't regret painting the hull before turning it over. It makes sense from a build process perspective, It will also help protect the hull while working on the inside, decks, etc. Send photographs soon!
 
Barnsie, thank you. I though about my sailing weight when I started my build. The boat has its limitations. Since, I've lost 23 kg. and holding although the holiday parties are killing me right now. I plan to stay as close to 80 kg, as possible and recruit/train a light(er) crew. I had my carbon mast built here in the US to Keith's specifications. For sails, I purchased a used HD set from Chris Martin to get me started. Sounds like I need to learn more about shapes and weight bands available. I'll talk to Andy Davis next year on how to improve my setup,

Still a few things to do Julio.

I've been stuck working away in Spain the last ten days and off again next week.

Hopefully sailing over Christmas and loads in the new year.

 Hi Julio,
 
Thanks for your comments. Just a quick pic of progress to date showing the outcome of two major headaches; the gunwhales and the bow. I must thank Laurie Smart for all his help in explaining the methodology in resolving these critical issues to me. For more days than I can count, in the cold early hours before dawn, I have struggled to get these details correct.
 
The little brown nose on the top of the outer stem isn't a winter squirrel. 
 
In order to check for symmetry of the outer stem I had to lay out and uncurve and fasten,my brass keelband. (Be sure to straighten your keelband in a vice before drilling and bevelling the holes).
 
 As you may find, the curvature at the bow is tricky, and may leave the smallest gap between the mahogany and the brass.
 
 To resolve this I followed Thomas Hill's suggestion in "Ultralight Boatbuilding" and filled with a smear of thickened epoxy darkened with mahogany sawdust, the consistency of flour.
 
Once varnished and with the keelband mounted, only you and I, and the other two thousand or so members of the Merlin Rocket community, will know the difference !!
 
Best Wishes & A Very Happy Christmas to everyone - Buon Natale a Tutti
 
Ainslie
 
 

Hello Gareth, I don't know if I should feel sorry for all the (real?)work related travel you're doing. But then I see your profile photograph and suddenly I imagine this is how you spend your days. An inspiration indeed.
 Have fun and fair winds to you!
 
Ainslie, what can I say. She looks fabulous. This is a view that never gets old. Great attention to detail and with Laurie's help you've done very well indeed! Congratulations. I too spent quite a bit of time on the gunwhales. It has been a great exercise to start thinking in three dimensions on a daily basis.
 
Agree on the bow challenge. The curvature must be generous to allow the brass to form evenly around it. Yet, I do have a Mahogany sanding dust bag full with precious particles to fill in the gaps between the brass and the wood.
 
Feliz Navidad!