The station sections are positioned upside down on the strongback and aligned carefully.

It's just held there in approximate position with screws. Minor adjustments will be made until I'm happy that it's fair enough. It will then be epoxy glued in position.

This episode shows the setting up of the first 4 stations and the boat taking its first steps towards looking like a boat :-) My tool tip this time is the Bosch orbital sander.

Also, I've now passed the 50 subscriber mark on YouTube, so a big THANK YOU to all of my subscribers. If you're not one of those, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!!!!

Enjoy!

It's bloody cold, the forecast is for even colder weather for the next 10 days and I've got chilblains :-(. Progress is surprisingly good though. Here's some pics

I've made sure that the strongback is parallel to the lofting grid and have now marked a centre line down its length to guide the alignment of the sections. I used douglas fir for the long lengths of the strongback so I can use the wood in the build later on (deck beams, etc).

All of the station section will need to have notches cut into them to take the various longitudinal members. I've done stations 6, 7 and 8 so far. This involves some careful calculation and measuring. If these notches are cut accurately, the whole boat should take shape fairly easily (I hope!!!)

So, we've set up the first three sections. The 3 metre straight edge is very handy here. The main cabin sections are fairly easy to set up as the top of the floor beams (as it's all upside down, the bottom of the floor beams here) should all run level. The centre lines marked on all of the stations obviously need to be in line and directly above the centre line marked on the shed floor (perspective is doing something weird in the photo - they are actually correct), and the stations need to be upright. Then it's just a case of fixing them in position. The chine log and sheer clamp do that, along with the piece that I've clamped to the floor beams.

Episode 23 of my boat building video series is out now. The various frames and bulkheads are finished, as are the stem and stern post. I review the hand held planer that I use and make a start on the strongback. Check it out!!! AND, Please subscribe!!!

Well, the various station bulkheads and frames are all finished now, as are the bow stem and stern post with their respective knees.

Hazel and I marked the centre lines and water lines on all station pieces this morning. And, the wood for the strongback was also delivered at about 7:00 this morning. That led to an early start!

Episode 22 of my video series of this boat build is out now. The station 11 bulkhead is finished and first progress is made on the station 12 frame - the last frame of all, I'm forced into a semi-troglodyte existence by the wintery temperatures, and I start a new feature on essential  boatbuilding tools.

Got the station 11 bulkhead sanded up and then took it into the cellar and glassed and epoxied one side (photo soon!). Then I lofted the last frame (station 12) and glued up the final deck beam ready for it. Finally, I made sure I had the wood I need for the stern post and knee. Looking good!

I tend to alternate between two sources for my wood. There's a wood yard near here that supplies primarily trade customers but does sell to private individuals too (not a given in Germany - some businesses will only sell to trade). The quality of the wood tends to be better there, but you don't really get the opportunity to choose your wood pieces - you pretty much have to take what they give you. The other source is a local DIY store. The wood quality there is generally pitiful, but, as long as you don't want a large quantity, it is possible to sort through what they have in stock and pick out the best bits. It's normally possible to get 2 or 3 reasonable pieces by sorting through their entire stock (most of it is only fit for firewood!). I lucked out today and got a gem of a piece of 9 x 9 cm douglas fir - lovely tight, straight grain. That'll be ideal for the stern post :-)

We're in the coldest spell of the winter so far now. I've managed to make a bit of progress yesterday on the station 11 bulkhead, between warming up sessions indoors. My recently purchased gas heater nearly caught fire, so I took it back to the store and they, after a bit of a discussion, reluctantly exchanged it for a new one (customer rights aren't what they could be in Germany). I think I'll bring the bulkhead indoors to the cellar today so I can get it covered in glass and epoxy.

The station 10 frame is in the finished pile, although I might pull it back out and make a couple of changes - I've been rethinking the lazarette storage. However, meanwhile I've made a start on the station 11 bulkhead - the ply panel is cut and the deck beam is ready to go. Hope to get all that finished this weekend :-)
After that, I have a couple of days holiday next week, so I hope I can get the station 12 frame and the stem post done. That'll be the end of the flat-pack boat construction. I'll then need to do a bit of sorting out, put some markings on the various panels (centre and waterlines), build the strongback and start setting the boat up. Exciting times :-)

Episode 21 of my video series is out now. I'm pleased with this video. The audio isues are becoming a thing of the past, I address some questions from you viewers/readers, the flat-pack build is progressing and nearing its completion :-)

Enjoy!

And please subscribe!!!!

I've had a good couple of building sessions recently and am pleased with the way things are going. I feel I'm well ahead of my self-imposed schedule. Long may it remain so :-)

I'll be getting on with the station 10 frame next. It's a a very simple frame, so, all being well, shouldn't take too long. It has no floor beam, just the 2 side frame pieces and a deck beam.