This is it: the picture. Three adult intelligent human beings worked on the rudders for a few months and we didn't notice.............................you figure it out. Now on to other stuff while you cogitate. We had absolutely wonderful weather for most of the week.
Budgetboater worked on the final hatch coaming for the starboard hull and glued it in.
Hatches are mostly done- Wuhu! Ben and I trudged on with the motor cases. First we coated the interior of the cases.
Then we dry assembled the cases to make sure that everything was correct.
Everything was not correct. Boat hint: scuppers go on the bottom, which is the top if you build them upside down. We tweaked the parts.....................
Then we laid it all out so we get it right.
Coated the pieces and glued the reinforcing pieces on the ends.
How are you doing with the "what's wrong" picture? Here's a hint. OK, Budge, hoist 'er up!
A little further....................................
Ok, um............... good enough! Back to the motor cases. Where was I? Oh yeah. Then we glued them together straight and true (Hah).
And went to work on the floors which comprised of 6 pieces for each case because I cut them wrong (twice).
The floor, extended on both ends with sister pieces glued over the joints. After everything was set up. We glued the now 2 floor pieces into place............ after coating the insides, of course.
The next process (Yawn!) was to put a final epoxy coat on the interior and, when it got tacky enough, put two coats of paint on the interior ( exterior latex satin house paint and primer in one, normally $30+ a gallon), bought five gallons for less than the price of one, from the big box store mismixed, deeply discounted shelf (aka: scratch and dent section). It's gray (or grey, if you're British).
Coat one...........
Coat two. Somewhere amidst all of that, we glued on a couple oak strips on the one gaff that I trimmed a mite too thin.
So, what is wrong with that picture??? As we were dry fitting the tiller to the rudders, Ben cursed out, venting his frustration against the gods, the universe, and Neil Degrasse Tyson. I still didn't notice (Duh). As it was configured, the tiller would stick out eight feet past the rear of the boat! The notch and cheeks were opposite to what they should be. This put Ben into a blue funk. After much discussion, we decided to cut the rudder top off, reverse it, sister it, and glue it back into place.
Marking the cut square. He was consistent: both rudders were wrong in the same way.
The big commitment!
The big result!
Ben attempting to be upbeat about it and failing................ Then the rain came in, so he could let it fester inside of him for a day or two. The upbeat aspect of building wooden boats is their ultimate repairability. All in all, a good week with a bad ending, but hope springs infernal........
The Music♪: Utah Phillips "Moose Turd Pie"
Somehow it fits. It's a monolog, not a song. Also the term "Gandy Dancer" is one of the more colorful names of occupations outside of the movie industry, which has "Key Grip", "Foley Artist", "Gaffer" and "Best Boy". I prattle on..........................
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