Well, here we are. The fourth and final strake, at the boat's sheer, is on. No problems or big insights to report, I got better at it as time went on. I still need to trim, add more filleting compound at the seams, and recess the nails before I start finishing the bottom. On the bow photo you can (barely) see the bow piece protruding a little on the top side (bottom in the photo since the boat is being built upside-down). That protrusion is there in case I decide to rig the boat as a sloop: the bowsprit will be secured to it with a pin.
The second photo shows the transom. The last strake has not been trimmed yet, nor has the curve been cut into the transom itself. All in good time.
After putting on the final strake, I cleaned up the garage (it was a total mess) and made room for the car which had been banished outside. The next two weeks I will be busy with other things, so there won't be any progress or updates.
But sometime in July and early August the bottom (keel, skeg, paint and all) will hopefully be done, and it will be time to flip the boat right side up to work on the top and insides.
So don't stop checking 176inches!
boatbuilder
Then I had to do the very same thing with one of the sheer strakes. This butt joint will be more or less hidden under the side deck. Memo to self: next time (if there is one) buy or borrow a belt sander to taper the scarf joints, since a power plane is too imprecise and a hand plane and palm sander too slow.
Finally the sheer strakes went on (third and fourth photo). I also reinforced the sides of the CB trunk below the hull, making sure
they are tapered at the leading and trailing edge to reduce drag. The hull of the boat is complete (although not fully filleted at the seams, sanded, epoxied, primed or painted). It's been a few intense weeks and my wife has been patient but not happy about my obsession. Talk to y'all again next year!
