Forward locker coming on

I have started boxing out a small locker in the bow. Partly for buoyancy but mainly just for the heck of it. I am going to board the mini-deck over the top and varnish it. The rest of the boat needs to be painted.

I have also bored a hole through the stem, fitted a solid backing block and inserted an old eye-bolt I had left over from my Winkle Brig, which had two towing eyes for some reason. I have fitted it low so that the bow lifts when the dinghy is towed. The mast box needs to be sealed off from the locker so that it is water tight.

I have an air tight locker cover which is a spare from Daisy G. which I shall fit on the starboard side to give access to the locker for inspection and maybe a bit of storage.

End of season sail to Studland (13nm 359nm total

A sunny day, but cool. Wind in the NW and I went for a gentle sail, out into the open sea and across to Studland, where I anchored for lunch. Views of Old Harry rocks and the sail training Tall Ship Lord Nelson coming into Poole with people on the yard arms. It feels very much the end of the season. Boats just drifting about, most with paint work looking a bit scuffed.

I may be down again in September, but probably just to pack her up and bring her home. I sailed off my mooring and didn't use the engine at all until I had to battle the full ebb flow to get into the harbour entrance. Then I needed full power just to make 1kt against some of the current.

Mast support frame work on the dinghy is fully set, but needs surplus epoxy grinding off.

Fitting the mast support structure

Just about a year since my shed started in earnest and it is starting to blend in. Plants growing up it and the trees in leaf hide the bulk from the house. Good thing too. The main comment form most visitors is "My God it's huge!"

I have fitted the inwales to the dinghy and the longitudinal seat, which is all looking quite good. The seat allows you to adjust the rowing position if there is more than one person on board. A neat idea.

Now I am working on the mast support. This looks good clamped but is covered in a mess of epoxy at the moment which I hope I can get tidied up when it has set. I am having to make all of this up as I go along as the boat plans don't cover installing a mast at all. This is real woodworking, Compound mitres and curved tops to the beam. Fingers crossed that it all stays in place over night as the glue sets.

Basic hull more or less "complete" for about £75 in materials and 25 hours of work

She looks like a boat and I am very chuffed with her. Second gunwale now firmly glued in place and I am just fitting inwales, which are not part of the original plan, but I think they will make her stronger and give a better base for the rowlocks. More strengthening needed on the transom for an engine but the rudder of my Blue Peter Dinghy will fit on without any problem.

The outside seams still need taping but apart from that, and an awful lot of finishing, tidying and painting, this is the built boat. About two weeks of very simple evening work, I would say about 25 hours maximum to this stage. Total cost of cheap plywood and softwood about £35. Epoxy and fillers about £40. Yes the glue costs more than the wood, but not if I was using marine ply. Mind you, this isn't MY finished boat, as I want to fit a mast support, towing eye and probably a skeg, possibly with a wheel built into it. Another couple of weeks at least for all of that I should think, and then an age painting her.

First gunwhale on after two weeks work

The starboard gunwhale is clamped on and the espoxy is curing. This was really a filthy job, epoxy everywhere. I hope I managed to clear up most of it. I have used every clamp I have. If I want to do a serious bit of boat building I will need more, and powerful ones too. The second gunwhale is jambed in a bent position between daisy G's trailer and the shed wall and I have been toasting it with the hot air gun, which does seem to soften it. All being well I will fit the second one tomorrow. I have one screw in each end of each gunwhale and I think those will be the only ones left on the finished boat.

After the gunwhales the next job is smoothing and glassing the outside of the hull joints. Not looking forward to resin and fibreglass tape.