Splash!

 Well it has been 4.5 years since I started my build. It’s probably longer than normal, but I have enjoyed the whole journey! I finally got her ( boat name DAMFINO) more to come on that, in the water on 9/24/20. I had to drive almost 300 miles, but we did it! 

I am not much of a sailer and was very anxious about putting her in the water. I picked Beaufort NC for our week’s vacation. The week started off with 3-4 days of 20 plus knots sustained/ 35 plus gusts! Needless to say, we did not go. We also had a king tide during the same time period with coastal flooding and a current/tide drop of 4 ish ft.  Not a good start for a beginner! 

Yesterday called for no king tide, winds around 5 knots, oh and I didn’t mention no small craft warning, which we have had for the last few days. We picked the local ramp, which had enough room to basically do circles. I will not go into all the concerns I had, but every thing worked out great! Some exceptions! Lol! 

I had no spaghetti tangles when raising the mast, the torqeedo motor with remote throttle work great! I did put a nice scratch in her putting her in the water, but that can be fixed! 

We got the name from an old silent movie by Buster Keaton “The Boat”.  My voyage was a lot better! 

More to come on my build. Already have some modifications in mind. 

Done! Ready for the water!

 Well I am finally done after over more than 4 1/2 years. Yes it took me that long, but I have enjoyed all of the journey! I still need to get her in the water. Or I should say DAMFINO wet. My wife came up with the name from an old Buster Keaton silent movie “The Boat”.  Google it and watch it. Pretty funny. The least I could do to let her name the boat for putting up with it for that long!  Hopefully my maiden voyage is better than the video.  Lol! 

I was hooked up ready to go a couple days ago, but had an insurance issue on the boat and trailer. Didn’t want to risk it and actually it was probably too windy. Going on vacation next week and may take the boat if weather permits. Calling for some windy days at 24+ knot winds. 

I still have some odds and ends to do and I am sure the maiden voyage will provide additional work. Still need to work on the electrical. I have basic running lights, but have some other components I want to install. I will post more these at a later time. 

I also need to install some additional hardware and lines for reefing. I need to get additional lines, since the kit doesn't seem to come with those. 

I did have some issues getting the mast up. Turns out the back piece of the tabernacle was too high, so the mast holes wouldn't match up to the tabernacle holes to lay it flat. I have to cut out some of it and re epoxy and re paint. 

Below are a few pictures! 

Getting Close!

Yesterday I continued to work on the hardware for the boat and pulled her out to take some pictures to be able to get her registered.  I also wanted to get the boom on the boat, so I could locate some of the hardware. It was too blasted hot (100 Degrees), so I didn't last long. 

Next weekend, I plan to hoist the sails and hopefully get all the rigging straight. I still need to do some electrical to get basic navigation lights, so this will possibly delay putting her on the trailer. It is easier and cooler to work in the garage, even though that is a sweat box too! 

Below are the pictures I took. 

Back issues and Painting

Unfortunately I pulled my back out and was out a few weeks with doing any boat building. After plenty of rest, I was able to get back to working on the boat. 

Below shows the rudder where I painted the blue strips and put a couple other coats of paint on the white areas. There was also a few areas on the boat where I had to touch up the blue, so I took care of that while I had the paint out. 

Below is a picture of the finished product. 

I also painted the tabernacle white and that took a few coats and different sessions to get all sides. 

After I finished the painting, I started to install the hardware. 

I decided to make my tabernacle removable. All the holes are drilled/filled/drilled and ready to attach it with bolts once I get it on the trailer. Still need to leave it off to get it out of the garage. 

A while back I purchased the non-skid pads and installed them in the bow area and and on top of the cabin. I just marked with blue tape where I wanted them to go and then just peeled and pressed down. Very easy!

Today I installed the Sail track on both the mast and gaff. I plan on installing more hardware tomorrow and possibly raise the sails! Getting close. I need to get some pictures of the boat, because I need to start the registration, which I know is going to be a pain!  

Spars Hardware and Trailex Trailer

I finished up some of the spars with 2 coats of epoxy and 5 coats of varnish. I applied it with a foam brush and they turned out pretty good if I say so myself.

For the bowsprit, I installed all the hardware on it and did a test fit and connection with the bobstay that attaches to the boweye.  With COVID-19, it has been a little difficult getting the bolts that I needed. I wound up ordering some of them online, so I wouldn't have to visit the local stores.

With the recent sale at CLCBoats, I decided to order my Trailex Trailer. It took about 4 weeks as expected and arrived partially put together. Below are a couple pictures of when it arrived.

I didn't have any "Salty Language" when putting it together! LOL. I will say it did take me about 6-8 hours over a couple of days to get everything put together. I was able to do it alone, but having a helper would have definitely helped. Since it is a custom trailer, they don't have custom instructions, but it is pretty straight forward. Trailex was able to guide me through it using other trailer documents and answer my question. Very helpful!

I got the axle and springs attached the first day.

Below is everything put together with the winch. It does come with a spare tire, but I will just keep that in the back of my truck.

I will need to adjust the bunks on the side once I get the boat on the trailer.

In parallel, I have been working on the mast and gaff. Since I had to work all day yesterday Sunday, I took off a little while ago and put the first coat of varnish on. 

Spars and Hardware

Sorry for the delay in posting. Been a lot going on. I guess that is an understatement!  Me and the family are doing well as I hope everyone else is. Actually I have had a little more time in between the expanded honey-do list to work on the boat and haven't posted any updates. There is so many pictures you can take off coat 1, coat 2, coat 3 of epoxy.

 Drill-Fill-Drill

 I have been doing a lot of drilling out of the holes for the hardware, refilling with epoxy and then drilling out the final.  This has been a lot of measuring many times before drilling and also trying to rig up a means to use my small drill press and making sure the piece was level.

Below I am working on the BowSprit. This is the part that will be bolted to the tabernacle!

The picture below is the gaff where the gooseneck will attach and then slide up the tracks on the mast. There is also a tie down on the other end where I drilled and filled as well. 

The is the top of the mast where there are a lot of hardware to be installed. I have completed the drill-fill-drill and have set aside to epoxy and varnish later. I am running out of space to work.

With the limited amount of space, I can only work on a few pieces at a time. Below is the boom, gaff, boom gallows.

This past weekend, I was able to get the 2 coats of epoxy on the spars shown below. I plan on sanding these and then starting on applying the varnish. All the holes are drilled, except for the track holes and 1 or 2 pad eyes. 

I also installed on both the port and starboard the Harken Swivel/Cams for the Spinnaker Sail.  I haven't purchased that yet, but this will be a good place to tie a boat fender.  I am glad I wrote down the exact measurements of the blocking that is installed underneath. I would highly suggest doing this. I installed extra blocking to allow me about 16 inches. I installed it approximately in the middle.

I went ahead and purchased the Trailex Trailer from CLCboats, so I am getting real close to getting the boat out of the garage!!! I still have a lot to do, but knowing that makes me happy!!! :)

Varnish and Other Hardware

The last month has been a rough one fighting a bad cold, so not much working on the boat. I have tried to do some when feeling up to it, but only a little progress has been made.

I have been able to varnish some components on the boat. Below I have applied 4 coats of varnish on the companion way slide and a couple of small pieces like the tiller.

Below you can see where I taped off the rub-rail and also have applied 4 coats of varnish. I have had to wait for some warm days, which have been limited. In between the coats, I lightly sand with 320, vacuum and then wipe off with acetone and allowed to dry.

Today I also installed some deck plates on both port and starboard dorade box inside the cabin.  This will allow me to close or open for ventilation.

It should hopefully be warming up more soon, so I can complete things to get it on the trailer. I want to do a final paint coat in some places where it needs touching up, but it will need to be a lot warmer. Varnish low temperature is 50 degrees to apply, so I have been focusing on that and the hardware.

I also have been purchasing some electrical components and making a plan for those as well.

More Hardware and Tabernacle

The tabernacle has probably been taking me more time than is should, but I guess it hasn't been up to par for me. I want to have my tabernacle to be removable, so I needed to add more bolts. I decided on 6 bolts to secure it, so I first started out with the drill/fill/drill method.

Below shows the holes already drilled and then filled with thickened epoxy.

Drill/Fill curing with thickened epoxy. 

After the epoxy cured, I drilled the holes and was ready to line up the tabernacle to drill the holes into the cabin. I taped off the cabin wall, as to not damage the paint and measured a few times to make sure things were centered. I inserted the bowsprit also to make sure it fit in the correct position. Once I was satisfied, I drilled the first hole and then inserted a bolt and tightened it so that the piece would not move. I then drilled the remained 5 holes.

I have since coated the holes with epoxy to protect them and will do multiple coats. I also counter sunk the top 4 holes so that they will not interfere with the mast. The other 2 holes are below the bowsprit, so they don't need to have it done.

I think I am going to paint the tabernacle. Originally I was going to leave it natural, but I have had to touch it up too much for it to look good.

Companion Way Drop Boards
To hold the top drop board from falling down, there is a piece of wood that is attached to the bottom.
I took a piece that I had and first thought I would just use a router and bevel the edge. The result didn't take enough wood off, so I took to the good old hand plane. This made quick work and took off the necessary wood quickly.

Drop Board wooden cleat after hand planing the edges.

I coated the piece today and will have to apply another coat before varnish

Motor Mount

I decided to go with a Torqeedo Battery Motor to start. It is a long shaft 3 hp equivalent. I bought an adjustable motor mount from West Marine. Today I spent a long time determining where I would mount it. I decided on the port side, since I am right handed and will probably sit there a lot especially when using the motor. My son was over today, so he helped me hold it in place and test various positions. I installed the rudder and tiller and tied if on so it was pulled all the way over to the port side.  I then drilled the holes and coated them with the first coat of epoxy. 

I need to get some better hardware to mount it will probably get a backing plate. 

Dry run of the motor mount with motor. 

I am coming along with everything. The hardware installs are taking a lot longer than you would expect and I want the finishing touches to look good. I also will probably be ordering my Trailex Trailer from CLCBoats in a week or so! She will definitely be in the water this year!!!