After using the router on the full length of the rudder I thought it was easier to use a mould to get the right shape. Using the router on the full length, I saw some irregularities occur. We don’t want that!  Luckily not to late the change strategy.

This mould would be placed over the rudder and with a longboard connected to the router, the shape could be made easier, quicker and more accurate, just by sliding it back and forth over the mould.

While using the router it is dusty and noisy so, gear up and use a mask, goggles and ear protectors.

After completing one side of the rudder or daggerboard, the mould would be used again for the other side since a made the mould to rest on the flat workbench.

after this stage, the raw shape will be sanded, filled, sanded to a smooth surface.

to be continued..

 

The project is on its way. I started with the daggerboard. It is a build-up retractable daggerboard made out of two plates of plywood joint together with a glass fiber core.

This core is of two layers of traxial 830g/m2 cloth. The plans actual indicate that 750 g/m2 is sufficient for the job, but I only could get my hands on 600 or 830, so I chose the latter.

The epoxy I use is from West Systems. I like their dispensers and the way you can make fillers and glue with their additives.

When the daggerboard was joint together and fully dry I am making the daggerboard shape with a ‘router’ and using the templates as provided with the plans. I can’t get the grin of my face while working: I started working on my first boat!

Once the general shape of the daggerboard is finished I will use a belt sander to remove the small discrepancies.

April 2018..Here we go!!

I started a new project. Building a sailboat.. actually THREE sailboats.. ‘cause that’s what you’re doing if you’re building a Trimaran.

The trimaran I selected to build is a Scarab 650, designed by Ray Kendrick of “Team Scarab Multihulls”.

I had the plans in my possession for over a year and studied them extensively. Since Ray has made multiple designs, I contacted him for a little help to select a suitable design for my first build. Ray was very helpful and I followed his advise to build the 650.

The design will be build by the “stitch-and-glue” principle and I will build the boat from marine grade plywood and glass epoxy.

There is the possibility to build the 650 with foam epoxy, but since I am more familiar with woodworking, the first option “feels” to exotic for me and it is a little bit cheaper to buy.

Since building a trimaran is a large project, I try to start with the smaller projects to get in the “flow” of building. As there are building the rudder and the daggerboard. For both there is woodworking and glass-epoxying involved.