Back to step one...

I decided to test a few new techniques while refitting my first hull...a change in clear coat type and more wet sanding have resulted in a better depth of shine. It takes longer but I think the improvement, although very subtle, is worth it.

Three more Leave the nest

In the last week I have wrapped up 3 hulls and am moving onto 2 new projects...The Santa Cruz and The quest are on their way to Connecticut, while the Beneteau will reside here in the North Bay area.

I was a bit hesitant about the light maple backboards, but the owner was right, they look very nice...the oak behind the Beneteau 331 adds a nice richness to the final product.

Beneteau 331

Santa Cruz 37

Quest 30/32

Steady progress

Here are the SC37 and the Ben 33 ready for paint. I'm finding that building two hulls at one time speeds the process and wastes far less material.


















These two boats are about as different as any two boats can be...but both have been a lot of fun to carve.

Beneteau 331...& the WLYDO*

I've started cutting a Beneteau 331 for a member of our yacht club. Faced with not being able to get lines I was saved by another member of Cruising Anarchy known as Rasputin.

Thanks to this man's amazing ability to reverse engineer from photos and simple drawings I not only got lines, but some wonderful renderings.

So now I am able to easier produce very accurate hulls for boats that don't have lines readily available...

This is the first grinding of the hull...

* Worlds Largest Yacht Design Office...more on this later

New project Santa Cruz 37

So 

I find myself offering a few options in these hulls so I thought I should spell them out.

First is the "Designer's Hull"... this hull is carved to the smallest of tolerance and must be created from accurate lines. The color scheme is mono-tone with a contrasting fine line at the designed water line.

The Sliver boats show this well.

The next option is the "Owner's Hull". This choice is built to the same standards but shows the owners boat in particular, matching hull color, boot stripe size and color, and (optional) antifouling.

Like this...

Another option is the "Builder's Hull". Again to the same standards but is true to colors the hull would sport when it left the factory...primarily no anti fouling. The look is a bit crisper than the Owner's Hull.

Last but not least the "Not too Serious Hull"... I'm not really sure that I can describe these well as I pretty much make them up as I go along.

Each one is unique...a great option for the owner who already has a half hull.

Q30/32...done