More Seatback work and Flotation

I have been thinking about the storage compartments a lot. I have come to the conclusion that I do want to paint the insides of them before installing the seatbacks. Looking at other PocketShips, some do and some don't. From what I have read epoxy does not hold up with UV light, so I think these do need to be painted.

I also was looking at how water would possibly pool inside them and the need to install drain holes. The manual calls for drain holes along the front, which I will be installing. Looking at the compartment on the inside bottom, there are fillets on 3 sides. Looking at the compartment, both sides and up against the side panels/outside of hull. It looked to me that that the 4th side facing the seatbacks/cockpit was a good place for water to pool and if I didn't get the bottom stringer attached properly, water could find its way in. I decided to put a fillet up against the bottom stringer. This will allow for fillets all the way around on the bottom and hopefully prevent any water damage.

Next up I decided to cut the flotation that goes on inside the seatbacks. I definitely underestimated the time it would take. Not that the task was difficult, but it was a lot of cutting to do. I decided to use this pink insulation from Home Depot. I think total for the boat, I used 2.5  (4 by 8 sheets). I bought Qty 2 - 1" thick and 1 - 2" inch thick. I had some of the plain white that you get in shipping boxes, but that stuff makes a huge mess. The pink insulation makes very little. I used a fine tooth hand saw and cut the pieces to fit. It took a good part of  4 hours to cut all the pieces and wedge them in there. Once I get the seatbacks installed, I plan to wedge some more, so there is no movement. I may get some of that spray-in foam to fill up the empty space.

Port side flotation

Starboard side flotation

Seatback work and Upper Breasthook

I had to go out of town for work, so I was limited again with personal stuff and not boat building. But I was able to do some odds and ends this past week. I used a router to do the round over on the seat back flanges and that turned out pretty good. I applied two coats of epoxy and plan to do another one before installing.

I also used a router on the upper breasthook and installed it to the bow section. I used 2 bronze screws on both sides and filled with epoxy. 

I also installed the sheer clamps for the decking and cut them off flush with bulkhead #2. 

Sheer Clamps installed. I used 2 bronze 1 1/2 " drilled through the rear cabin bulkhead for support and per the manual. 

This is before I cut them off flush, but they were already glued up.  

I gave the seat back section supports and stringers another coat of epoxy to seal them up.  I should be ready to install the seat backs shortly. 

I also did a lot of sanding inside the cabin and in the bow area before installing the sheer clamps and breasthook. I figured it would be better to get some of this out of the way.

Seatback Blocking and Doing some Sailing

I don't have much to update this time. We went to a Bed and Breakfast last weekend and did some site seeing and sailed some as well. Happy wife = Happy Boat Shop!

Below is my Hobie Kayak I bought back in 2015 and really prompted me to get into sailing and to build PocketShip. I still have fun sailing it, but can't wait until getting out on the PocketShip.
We went on the Chickahominy River in Virginia right at the James River. Nice sail except for the 50 plus fishing boats in a tournament that kept on flying by me. I wonder when they actually fish. All I see them doing is running up and down the river.

Below is a picture of my Hobie Tandem Island.

I did manage to cut and fit all the blocking and put multiple coats on the wood before installing them.
I installed the port side one night after work and then the starboard side. I'm glad I tested them before applying thickened epoxy with cabosil, because I wrote port and starboard on the wrong ones.  Oops!
So just a reminder to double check things before glueing up!


This is the starboard side all glued in. I used a paper template to cut the notch at the bow block, so that it would cover all the space. I didn't want to install a cleat into a portion that didn't have the blocking below. I cut is out with my bandsaw.

Port side all glued up and clamped.  I also used temporary screws to hold in place. I again cut out the notch on the bow block so it fit properly.

I have more conflicts coming up this weekend with helping my son move, so again time will be limited. I plan on taking my belt sander to the top of the blocking to level out, take a router to the seatback boards and install the floatation. If everything goes well, I may install the seatbacks!