Sunday, July 26, 2015

Warts, Blemishes and Other Flaws...

I've made progress with Gardens and will push on through the summer and as late into the fall as possible (hard to believe I'm contemplating the coming winter in July...). But reviewing Gardens' hull today with a realistically critical eye I saw the warts, blemishes and other flaws I've created.

Now, I have always maintained that what I see in my mind's eye does not come out of my hands, but even I was surprised with some of what I saw today:

Daylight gap between a plank and the transom (and I've assured Jan the boat won't leak - and it won't - but I wouldn't want to test that statement today).



Serious blemish where two planks meet. Not sure what happened here and not sure what I'll do about it but I will figure it out.



Sample of pock marks and irregularities along the laminated stem and centerboard slot surround. These will be tedious to fill and fair. I've also come to the conclusion that more substantial fillets are called for along the stem, centerboard surround and skeg.



So I'll be busy with remedial work and new work. I'm not discouraged but there are times I wish I were a better craftsman.
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4 comments:

  1. RikJuly 27, 2015 at 8:45 PM

    I identify with your feelings. Similar stuff happened during my build. Simple filleruppers with various grades of filled epoxy filled all gaps. Actually is as been said that "perfect" woodworking is not desirable with epoxy glued boats. there needs to be some space for the epoxy to create structural strength.

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    1. BobJuly 28, 2015 at 1:58 PM

      Thanks, Rik. Good to know "Similar stuff happened during..." your build. Vanessa is beautiful so, perhaps, there is hope Gardens survives my woodworking skills.

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  2. dorymanJuly 29, 2015 at 5:49 PM

    Rik is right. (how's that for hyperbole?) Too little epoxy in a joint is worse than too much. That said, a filled spot that's too wide might crack, but don't worry about that until it happens. (too much worry is part of the learning process, but don't let it spoil the soup).
    With the revitalization in home building we're experiencing, varnish is highly over-rated. In a crowd at a boat show, varnish catches the eye of the uninitiated, but seasoned mariners use paint. If the boat gets scratched, you fill it and paint it.
    As a professional, I can tell you that a bright-finished boat gives you gray hairs, if you actually use it. Fill those imperfections and primer everything - new blemishes will show up - fill them too and paint 'er pretty. Then use the heck out of your creation.

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    Replies
    1. BobJuly 29, 2015 at 8:50 PM

      Thanks for that. Gardens will have precious little bright work but I will paint her pretty and sail the heck out of her!

      Delete

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