Thread: Tom Cat

Be careful posting those photos Laurie - some of us could get a tad overexcited .

It's looking stunning - keep up the good work.

Thanks mate!!

I would like to go one better labr and say it's probably now too good to go into the water-it is a Museum piece!

Thanks for the 'tip on the Oneonone-I'm just about to fit up the toerails and portholes in my Folkboat and this might just be what I'm looking for Laurie.

Splendid-C.R.

I agree with Running Water. It is too good to be even christened on the water. You should just take it to all the boat shows and receive the praise and kudos you deserve for the boat you have built/constructed.
When you purchased the paulownia timber from me in 2007 and said you intended to make progressive posts of the construction I had no idea you would be so dedicated to the concept and its construction. You deserve a lot of credit in respect of the build and helping others.
John

Finally got the job done…completed the 8 coats of clear on the Mast. With the further 4 coats of Weatherfast Poly Clear giving a total of 6 plus the original 2 coats of epoxy. My skill at application is still not forthcoming but it is what it is and if I’m still unhappy a year after launch I’ll do something about it!

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Also completed the brass Mast Step after getting the bow of the boat out of the shed to fit the Mast. The Step now requires some paintwork to complete it.

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So with the Mast and Spars now clear finished I will get back to the rigging and leather work required.

Thought I would install the fwd Deck Fittings and put them to bed so the following have been installed…

1. Bollard Cleat for fwd mooring and towing activities
2. Pt and Stbd Bow Fairleads
3. Pt and Stbd Double Tufnol Blocks w/- Fixed Bow, spring heightened to manage the following…

• Throat halyard (run > inner Stbd)
• Peak halyard (run > inner Pt)
• Pt and Stbd Lazyjacks (both outer sheaves)

The spring heightening of the Double Blocks allows a straight run of the Halyards aft without any further fittings on the Cabin Top (hopefully)


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looks great. I decided not to put the Lazyjacks but I do need a a solution for a boom crutch. Did you started to think about it?

I did a number of posts regarding a Boom Crutch although it came under the Mast Support Trailering posts commencing at post #159. Subsequently I have both the Crutch and the Lazy Jacks but no intention at this point to add a Topping Lift - we’ll see how it goes! Finishes at post #163 although still needs some padding in the arcs.

Final stages of the Spars…leathering the Jaws. Not much to add other than it is a bit of a slow process to get it right. I commenced with the Gaff as it is the more problematic one. After much dithering with the fitting and cutting of the leather I finally got it glued on.

I have used 3mm unfinished cow hide and have also sanded the area where the leather was attached utilising Gorilla Wood Glue – no tacks, brads or staples at this stage, we’ll see how it goes. I will condition the leather after the glue has thoroughly dried with some old Coacholine Leather Dressing left over from my leather working days.

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All done – Boom has now been fit, cut and glued also.

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I have now dressed both these Spars with the dressing mentioned in previous post. All looks OK!

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Originally Posted by Dry Water

All done – Boom has now been fit, cut and glued also.

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I have now dressed both these Spars with the dressing mentioned in previous post. All looks OK!

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Hi, looks good. It will be interesting to see how long it survive without tacks to hold it in place. Also, I am curious why did you select a Gorilla glue and not a contact glue? Is that based on your experience with leathering?

Yes, as an old leather man I was happy using the Glorilla Glue but will need to see how it survives in an aqua environment. It should be OK - it’s not as if it is in the water all the time. It passes the ANSI/HPVA Type II water resistance requirement. The dressing used should assist also. I also just happened to have it sitting on the shelf!

Follow on from Post #429 - "189 Main Sheet Cleat" all done and dusted at the aft end of the CB Case.

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So…harking back to Post #320 - “148 Oil Floor Boards Cont…” – just to complete the interior I have gone ahead and finally screwed down the permanent Floor Boards Pt and Stbd and Fwd Ctr after giving them another coat of oil. Also attached the timber Turn Buttons (not brass at this stage as originally intended) where required for the removable Floor Boards. There are 4 sets of these – P&S fwd and 2 per Board Set P&S aft (refer Post 74 for layout and 148 for the fwd ones) There are also brass Finger Latches attached where you see holes in the Floor Boards and one fwd and aft for the Grate. Refer Post #158 - “74 Floor Boards Continued….” for more info.

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This gives us completion on the basic build requirements internally so anything further will be classified as add-ons - thinking here of ballast requirements, anchor stowage, paddles etc etc. Oh, nearly forgot – still need to attach the CB Case top after I add a couple more screws aft to reinforce it to support the Mainsheet system I’ve done.