Well once again here is my boat building update minus pictures! I can't seem to coordinate the building process with the photo process (at least not with any regularity). Of course a digital camera would probably go a long way in bringing the two processes together. I am a messy worker most times so maybe it's just as well that I don't have a nice digital camera around waiting to receive a fresh epoxy coat or a dusting of freshly sanded wood.

ANYWAY!
I spent the time between last weekend and today really making some progress on the project (Cunningham Greenland style). I spent last weekend building the coaming lip (of which I have pictures taken but are as of yet undeveloped). What a chore! I ended up using all of the advice I recieved here and then some. I soaked my strips, ironed my strips, steamed my strips and hot air gunned my strips. I built a nail raceway for them to follow (ala a pachinko machine) and still the end result was less than perfect. Fortunately there are such things as block planes and sandpaper. I managed to whip the coaming riser and lip into...well, a coaming. It still has it's little problems (I'll never say where though) but it really looks good. The fact that I'll be putting cloth and epoxy over it all will really knock out the last little things. I really wanted to do the recessed coaming but given my difficulties doing the standard coaming, I'm glad I did not. I may regret it once I become comfortable with the boat but hey, there's an excuse to build another. The second time around I'll make better decisions...and maybe have some new tools. I've managed to kill a sander and a circular saw on this project already. I appreciate all the good advice I received about the recessed coaming.

This weekend I managed to do my first fill coat. I am surprised at how well it looks with just the one coat. I think a little sanding and another fill coat may do the trick. I received some good information from a fellow builder who used Glidden Porch and Enamel (oil based) paint on the hull of his CLC project. He is a former Interlux Brightsides user who says that while the Brightsides cures faster, the Glidden is in his experience is a bit tougher. He also says that the Glidden repairs much easier and is less noticeable afterwards. I plan to go that route with my kayak. I will of course be using a hi-build primer prior to the Glidden to help smooth out any small inconsistencies. My only downside is that I want to launch the boat this month and according to my RAKA paperwork I should wait at least one week after the last epoxy coat before priming/painting. I am inclined to wait two or three just to be sure--I still remember the pics from Bobby Curtis's website where his paint had to be scraped off after a few days because it was not drying--ouch. So launching may take place with an unfinished hull/deck. I probably could have gone with the natural wood (luan) if I had been a little more careful during the building process. I managed to cut one of the hull panels oriented with the good side in (my first mistake of many and not as noticeable as you might think). My goal was to build a boat to use no matter what it looked like so I will have acheived that goal anyway. Although I have noticed that as I progress on this project and get over certain hurdles, I become more worried about what the end result will look like.

I resized my cockpit and am very glad that I did so. I can now sit in the cockpit and bring my legs in afterwards. I only added 1 1/2" to each side and 2" to the forward portion of the hole. I smoothed it out and it is still pretty snug. I have enough neoprene to make one spray skirt which I hope to do next weekend. Does anyone know where I can get the cement and tape mentioned in the how to build a spray skirt article that is on the Internet? I see where John Sweet carries the glue but I don't need that much.

I made twenty of the little web hoop contraptions for putting through deck just as I have seen on several websites. I really like this. I will probably wait till after the first launch to put these in and rig the bungees and perimeter rope.

I finished my first Greenland paddle earlier this summer and will need to make another (or borrow a temporary second paddle) prior to launching.

The final items will be my seat/backband and the wood rack for my truck. The truck rack is pretty straightforward and can probably be built in an afternoon. I'll tidy it up with paint and such after the first launch.

SO, things are really starting to come together now. I actually purchased wood and begin cutting the last week in September or first week in October of last year. I did take December through March off because of weather and the fact that everything has been done outside. The weather is nice here into October most times so I am hoping to use the kayak a little before cold weather.

Well I guess that is about it for now. I will try to have some developed pictures next time although I am trodding a well worn path in this building process and can offer no new processes or insights. My only real contribution is that you can see what luan and not so great tool/woodworking skills can get you if you work hard. I will probably take my conglomeration of pictures when all this is over and build a small page to better remember the stages and processes I went through. I don't plan to build another for awhile as I really want to make some use of this boat. I love to fish and am hoping that once I am experienced with the boat that I'll be able to do some kayak fishing.

Thanks for listening...if you are still there.

--Tony