So, now on to the actual building...
Epoxying stuff - Dec 2006-Jan 2007
Finally, after all the waiting, it's time to actually build the boat. Yay! The first stage is epoxying everything with a couple of coats. This takes both space and time so having cleared the space as much as possible we evolved the 'patented two coats in a day' method. Since it's actually best to apply the second coat when the first is still slightly tacky, we tended to get started late morning (make sure it's warm enough), epoxy like crazy, then go to a long microbrewery based lunch. By the time you get back, it's time for the second coat, which takes a lot less time than the first, or so it seems, followed up with a few odd jobs nicely rounding out the day. We ended up returning the following weekend, turning everything over and repeating. (1) First thing we did was lay out the big pieces for epoxying to get them out of the way to provide more working room. Shawn is proudly displaying the transom. Note the pieces are all sitting on blocks to stop them touching anything for when the epoxy goes on. Very important! 
Epoxy does take time to fully harden so don't rush - it's highly moisture and temperature dependent so during a cold spell in an unheated shed, it can actually take a week to really be cured (we were surprised) so don't rush at this stage. Any items you stack, make sure you don't stack them tightly just in case there's some stick left in the epoxy. Leave a little air gap or you'll regret it. Trust us. |
(2) This stage is actually pretty tedious - just keep epoxying using the two coat method until you run out of wood parts. We actually pressed the slatted base of an old sofa bed, slung between two of 'Harbor Freight Tools' finest workbenches (a bargain $8.99 apiece - that's quality there), into service as a table to prevent epoxy sticking. Here, Mark models the latest in epoxy-wear for the dedicated shipbuilder. 
(3) As a warning to all children out there, and as a tribute to Mr. West's fine epoxy system, make sure you leave the windows open when epoxying or things go downhill rather fast. Note the closed windows and slow learners... Shawn is modeling the actual epoxy. 
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