MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : USA Hazardous Boat Building Project -December, 2014 Update

Hello and Happy New Year to All!
 
 I just published my December update. In December I finished fitting the carlins, the king plank cap and the mast step wedge, thus completing the main wood work on Pícara. I also purchased a trailer for her. Now, while waiting for warmer weather to varnish the wood, I am in the process of making final shape modifications to the carlins and the rubbing strakes.
 
Here's the link to my blog. I hope you enjoy it. 
 
Cheers!
 
Julio 


Posted: 19/01/2015 00:25:24
By:
Fantastic work Julio, Picara's looking fantastic !!
 
Your tips will be really useful when I finally arrive at this stage.
 
Best Wishes & a Happy New Year.
 
Ainslie French


Posted: 19/01/2015 08:10:30
By: Luna Rossa
Hello Ainslie,
 
Thank you. How is your boat progressing? Send photos of your boat when you get a chance. Pity one can't post them here anymore. At least I haven't figured out a way. 
 
 
Cheers.
 
 
Julio 


Posted: 20/01/2015 13:14:29
By: Julio Arana
Hi Julio,
My progress is all rather boring really. I spent every free moment over the Christmas holidays hoovering every square centimeter of the garage in preparation for varnishing and painting.
 
Many will say I'm doing "Overkill" on everything but ultimately after all the fanfare has died down - "boat building", in my experience, is a pretty lonely business.
 
I now have 5 coats of varnish on the bow and on the junction between the transom and the topsides. At 11 degrees centigrade the varnish takes 2 days to dry. Following Ian Oughtred and John Brookes recommendations a minimum of 6 coats of varnish with a promise to add more coats at the end of the season, two coats of primer, two coats of undercoat & filling at this stage and finally two coats of gloss. 
 
All paint is International and I am using the "Original" for the varnish. The topsides will be finished in "Mediterranean White" which is a slightly warmer white than the other International option "Snow White". All sanding taken down to 220 grade and then I'll see how much patience remains. Have also rounded all the plank edges following the John Brookes method - a small block with 150 grade emery paper stuck inside and rounded the plank edges at the transom with a file & fininshing with sandpaper.
 
I do what I can, but, as you are also probably aware, its all a bit of a balancing act, firstly keeping the troops happy, secondly earning the daily bread and finally not annoying the neighbours with saws and smells whilst getting on with the boat. On the last point, when I finally get round to painting, I will probably work from half past three in the morning through to half past six before going to work.
 
"And if you try to explain this to the young people of today - they won't believe you !!" :-)
 
Best wishes and Tanti Saluti
 
Ainslie
 
P.S. Julio - perhaps you should consider putting  some curved surfaces in your spinnaker chute opening otherwise you could risk ripping your spinnaker during deployment.  Best Ainslie
 


Posted: 21/01/2015 08:07:41
By: Luna Rossa
Hi Ainslie,
 
Good to hear things are moving along well with your boat. I agree this home boat building business is a (time) balancing act. Time is at a premium. But still loving it and looking forward to sailing Pícara soon. 
 
Indeed, I'm spending a good deal of time under the deck and all around the spinnaker chute to avoid shredding my spinnaker later. Sanding, rounding off the edges and putting curved surfaces in the opening. I'll add some photos of this in my next update.
 
Cheers!
 
Julio 
 
 


Posted: 26/01/2015 22:16:43
By: Julio Arana

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