Turn Over Day

This week I accomplished a major milestone.    The Ebihen was turned over for hull planking.   To get to this point of construction I have been building for four months.   I am amazed that it is looking so good based on my unknown boatbuilding abilities.   Taking my time on each phase of construction, spending an equal amount of time in planning as in construction appears to have been a good plan.

Finished primer coating and ready for turn over

Turning the boat over has been a long term thought process for me.   I wondered how I was going to do it.   My priority was to figure out a way that I could do it myself.   I had a number of volunteers who would help me, but I wanted the challenge at this stage; and I might need them latter for the next turn over after hull construction.    After reviewing a number of  U-Tube videos and chat room conversations on boat turning, I decided to make extensions to the boat that would allow me to balance the boat and spin it on it’s axis.  I  did not want to screw anything into the boat that would need removing and patching,  so I designed a clamp system using standard two by fours and 10 inch bolts.

Bow turn over clamp

Stern clamp bracket (boat has been turned over)

Clamps used for turning Ebihen

Boat hoisted from the construction frame and is ready for turning

In less then a minute the boat is flipped over

The boat flipped easily and I was able to control the rate of turn over.    I had purchased two hoists but one was defective so I used a rope on the bow after hoisting to the approximate height.  This was a bit of a problem because I did not raise the bow enough to clear the ground after turning.   I was able to simply lift the bow to the center point,but  in hindsight  I would have one hoist each for bow and stern that I could adjust as necessary.

Here are all the photo’s from the day.

Finished primer coating and ready for turn over

Bow turn over clamp

Stern clamp bracket (boat has been turned)

Clamps used for turning Ebihen

Boat hoisted off of frame and ready for turning

Each flip over accomplished.

View of bow with clamp and hoist

Hoist point in rafter, backed up with 2×4 across joists.

Large drill bits needed for boring bolt holes in clamps.

The construction frame being shortened to new length.

View of stern turning clamp, (used four bolts due to distance to pivot point)

Aft Pivot, be sure to extend out past top of stern.

Tied additional rope as insurance from slippage.

My first look after turning over. ( I still love the lines)

Another view of stern clamp with hoist attached.

Closer detail of stern clamp. (doubled up on clamps for stern)

Pivot eye close up construction

View forward of Ebihen

Completed turn over with new shorter and lower frame in place

And finally,  with the garage cleaned up and the Ebihen resting on its new shorter and lower construction frame.

My next agenda items will be to complete the sealing of floorboards and the purchase of plywood for the hull strakes (planks).

Ebihen now ready for planking on the shorter and lowered construction frame.

 

Paint Primer

I sanded and painted many hours this week.  I used epoxy mixed with fairing thickeners to fill seam and voids that I wanted to smooth out.   This created a lot of time consuming sanding.   Even though this stuff is ‘designed’ for sanding, it was hard going and came off very slowly.  I finally gave in and started using patching compound for wood and wall board to get the final smoothness before my final primer coats.   The primer coats where applied with a small brush and paint roller.  I am using System Three Primer.  The smooth finish I desire is finally there and after one or two more coats of primer and an inspection, it will be time to flip the boat over and start the hull planking.   I will be buying the plywood next week for cutting out the hull planks.   I have also started work on the rudder.

Structure view with 2nd coat of primer and high spots sanded out

Structure view with 2nd coat of primer and high spots sanded out

View of Storage Locker in bow of boat

View of centerboard trunk and oar access hole under storage locker

Rudder construction has also started

 

Sanding, fairing, and more sanding

Back to work after the holidays!    I am working  toward finishing the interior spaces before flipping the boat over for planking.   I am now spending hours with the orbital sander after applications of epoxy to all the wood seams and joints.  I have strengthened the framework by adding larger epoxy fillets to all the bulkheads.   The floor deck is coming along nicely.   I have fitted 80% of the boards and these will be finished with clear coat.   I picked Flood CWF-UV Clear wood finish for decks.    The deck boards will be screwed into floor beams with number 8  1 and 1/4 screws and capped with a 1/2 round plug.

Adding epoxy fillet along bulkhead and backbone

Most wood seams got a small smoothing fillet

Smoothing fillet added on seams

Practice board drilled for #8 screws and 1/2 wood plug. Used 1/2 fortsner bit for plug drilling. Found wood plugs at Home Depot.