The site has been graded and covered with straw. Ben and Clif starting to assemble the framing.

Framing is ten feet high at this level.

My son Ben holding the frames at the proper width while I attach the stringers.

Lots and lots of bolts to tighten.

Original frame is completed and ready for extensions.

Extensions are fitted and framing is complete.

Covered with plastic and shade tarp.

Strongback holes are dug and the posts are starting to go in.

First side of posts and rails are in.

Both sides are done and 2X4 studs are going in. The studs were placed 16 inches on center.

Strongback framing is complete and waiting for plywood decking

Plywood decking being placed. All components are screwed together to make removal easier.

Once the weather started turning colder the end framing started. Each end gets a door and a vent framed.

This end had the most slope and had to be built up with 8X8 timbers.

8X8s are in and framing is going in.

This shot shows the end framing done but no plastic has been hung yet. The wiring is going in for the lights and drop cords.

Exterior shot of finished end.

The 2X4 board prevents the door knobs from puncturing the plastic,

and the shock cord holds the door open like so!

Trenching for the service line with my nephew Chris.

It didn't seem very far when we started!

Sub-panel in place.

Lights and power done.

First order of plywood. BS1088 Meranti.

First load of lumber, Southern Yellow Pine.

Douglas Fir... Former bleachers from Wake Forest University.

Tight grain.

African Mahogany for the hatches.

Bayley inspects the new planer.

The strongback was painted white for easier lofting and at this stage the templates are being made.

The lofting lines are transferred over for patterns.

The the patterns are faired

I used finish nails to hold the batten as I faired the curves.

The hardboard templates are used to cut out the plywood parts.

First it is cut with a jig saw.

The part is cut slightly larger than the finished size.

The template is reattached.

Then a pattern bit is used to trim to the final size.

If the templates are done correctly, you get a perfect fit with the final part and you can make the second one exactly the same as the first one.

Laying out the backbone. All of the keel sections are done at this point.

Starting to mill the bilge stringer on the surface planer. These were cut from 8/4 SYP boards.

Then the edge was cleaned up.

Then it is ripped on the table saw to the final size. The slightly rough finish left by the tablesaw blade makes a good glue surface.

Bayley approves of the sawdust pile.

The bilge stringers are scarfed at a 10:1 angle and glued with thickened epoxy.

Nice scarf joints result.

The finished stringer is bonded to the backbone.

Keel doublers are cut out of 1/2 Meranti.

Four doublers are made for each section, two for each backbone.

Doublers...

And more doublers

Once they are sized to fit the get glued and nailed in place.

Thickened epoxy and ring shank nails are used to bond the doublers to the backbone.

Lots of nails! Note the plastic under the butt joint to prevent bonding the backbone to the strongback.

Bulkhead guide blocks are placed.

Every surface that will be inside the boat is sealed with epoxy.

Backbone is flipped over to repeat the process on the other side.

30 lb lead bricks help with positioning.

They also make handy clamping weights.

Fiberglass tape bonds the butt joint on the stems, fore and aft.

The finished keel is moved off of the strongback so that the second one can be assembled.

Metal fence posts provided the support.

The second backbone is completed and coated with epoxy.

Lofting of the lower bulkheads begins with some calculations.

The bulkheads are lofted out full size on the plywood.

Then the plywood is coated with two coats of epoxy on each side.

After the epoxy cures, the bulkheads are cut out.

Ta Daaaaaa

One hull's lower bulkheads.

After notching for the stringers and the backbone, the bulkheads are set in place on the first keel and the process is repeated for the second hull.

The keel is hoisted to vertical.

Going...

going....

Gone.

Now.... what's next?

The stems get secured on the strongback according to the lofting lines and the bulkheads are fitted with support legs.

After much measuring and tweaking, the bulkheads are secured in place plumb and square to the reference lines and the stringers are being fitted.

The pink blocks are plastic wrapped blocks to assist with clamping.

I added the extra stringer, the lowest one in this orientation.

It really helped with fitting the hull panels in place.

Imagine the area unsupported if that stringer wasn't there.

Ann and I agree that it looks like a boat. Neville is planning for the sole templates.

Bayley says that the wood stove needs to be cleaned.

This got old quick.

All of the hull panels are coated on the interior side.

After using a squeege to spread the epoxy I would roll it would for a smooth even coating.

One more to do and then all of the screw holes are predrilled.

Hull panels are fitted prior to being bonded.

Clamps are used until the screws are all placed.

Shaping begins on the bilge stringer for the last few panels.

Laura is under the hull marking the location of the stringers while Neville works on that perfect fit.

Using a flexible batten, scrap hardboard, to check the fit.

Al ponders the ramifications of offering to help.

Charlotte wants to know if I've lost my mind.

Rich and Al try to determine the optimal time to break for a beer.

A lot of work is explained on this page.

Bayley walks away from the groups as we fit the last panel.

Finished with the dry fit. Time to take them all back off and the glue them in place.

The panels are now being glued and screwed to the hull.

Temporary butt block on the exterior helps ensure a fair joint between panels.

Finished planking, bow view.

Screw holes filled, stern view.

Ready for keel fillet, bow view.

Finished planking, stern view.

Initial fairing done.

Keel fillet is being placed.

Purpleheart keel strip is also on.

Fiberglass going on.

An additional layer is going on the keel after repairing bubbles in the glass.

18 oz. Biax was used on the keel and 10 oz cloth on the sides.

Fully glassed side.

Still fairing the cutaway portion of the keel.

The original fairing plan was a dismal failure.

It was all sanded off.

And sanded....

And sanded.

The notches from the trowel made a handy sanding indicator.

Eventually the hull was fair.

So I made cradles.

My buddy Kyle came over to help set up for the turn. Here we are padding the cradles with carpet strips.

The final product.

Chain hoists and webbing slings placed.

All the crews are removed from the support legs and both stems.

As we hoisted she layed back into the slings.

We cleaned up a bit...

And waited for the rest of the beer drinkers to arrive.

Just hanging around.

Finally everyone arrived and grabbed a spot.

Heave!

That was too easy!

The cradles are muscled into place.

And lined up on the bulkhead station...

Fore and aft.

Then it is lowered into place.

Next, I cut an opening in the plastic...

And we moved the second keel out of the shed.

Out....

Over the fence into a neighbors yard....

And then back across the fence...

Through the door...

And back in the shed on the other side of the strongback.

All the way back in.

The next day, I'm ready for more.