Back to the hull -- gluing up the keelson

I started construction in September or October last year, and set directly to the construction of moulds.

I used 3/4 inch plywood sheathing, which is inexpensive, stable, and efficient.

Here is the hull looking aft from station 4.

I built my strongback as advised in the plan, and added 6 5 inch heavy duty wheels, so I can roll the hull out to turn it over when (if) the time comes.

Here's how you build a 22 foot boat in an 18 foot garage.  Note the 8 x 8 extension added to the front of the garage.  I can walk fully around the hull which should facilitate planking.

I insulated the whole garage and put in a 10,000 BTU propane heater in the hope of working all winter.  Alas, once the concrete floor cooled down as outside temperatures moved well below freezing, I could not get it warm enough for epoxy to set.

Progress!

We got one unusually warm day last week, and I got back into the garage to glue the laminates for my keelson.  


They, and other structural wood so far is ash, which is strong, flexible, readily available and CHEAP!  The fact that ash has less than stellar rot resistance is not so important because all structural members will be epoxy coated.


Note also that the frames of laminated ash are mostly in place on the molds.