The 0.6 Metre Whaler

I have selected John Welsford's "6 Metre Whaler" design as my next boat build. This is my biggest project to-date, so I am going to come at it with more deliberation than is my usual habit.

My previous boats were all built using the "lap-stitch" and stitch-and-glue method, so this will be my first exposure to Mr Welsford's brand of "lapstrake" construction. Currently, Welsford's own book on the subject Backyard Boatbuilder: How to Build Your Own Wooden Boat , is out-of-print and unavailable.  For these reasons, I have decided to first construct a 1:10 scale model of the boat to familiarize myself with the new methods and the construction steps of this particular design. Thus the 0.6 Metre Whaler will be born. As an added bonus, I will have a completed model to show incredulous vistors to the boatshop what the finished boat will look like.

The full-scale boat will be built upright on a jig, so I will mirror this in the model by first building a 1:10 scale building jig. I'll post pictures as the model build comes together. 

Building the Eastport Nesting Pram

Summer in Florida means hot weather, fickle breezes and afternoon thunderstorms. The heat and inconsistant wind means my usual crew takes the summer off. The heat doesn't really bother me much, so I needed a boat I could easily set up and launch solo, and transport in/on my sub-compact car. The Eastport Nesting pram from CLC meets these criteria. 

I started the build last week, and plan to have it completed, float tested, and ready to launch at the Summer Sailstace Event on June 18th.

Pictures of the project can be viewed here

Helping Mom build her canoe:

I am helping Mom build her own B&B Moccasin 2 canoe. It is currently structurally complete and just needs final epoxy coats and the final paint work. Mom is painting this one which will spare me from my least favorite part of the job...

Click here for pictures of the build