After a few false starts over the last 12 months I have made some progress on a Eureka.
I'm using 4mm Gaboon ply pre epoxy coated on one side. Why only one side well I find the epoxy reduces chip out when cutting but I'm too cheap to pay Duck Flat to do both sides and well the bottom will be glassed.:D
Rather than show everyone pics of all the build process (midge has already done a great job of that) I thought I'd show you some different techniques and different ways to stuff up, much more entertaining.
After a couple of weeks the current state of play is hull stitched and ready for some internal micro fillets well as soon as the weather warms up a bit. In the mean time I'm fussing over inwhale spacers and things. Might even start on some birdsmouth paddles to add to the degree of difficulty.
Pic1. I rough cut the panels with a good old cheap cross cut hand saw but after seeing a mod to a circular saw (acknowledgement to John Brooks, buy his book BTW if your going to build a glued lapstrake) I thought it would be good practice for my Coquina build also currently on the go for cutting out planks. Phew sorry about that sentence, anyway the idea is to pin two battens of the same thickness one following the lining out marks the other to support the saw. Add a a perspex base plate to your weapon of choice and screw a couple of discs to the base to set the cut width and hey presto you can wizz out a panel in no time. The saw will easily cut a mild curve.
Attachment 114591
Pic 2 After rough cutting your panels pin or screw a stack of the intended planks 2 in the case of a lapstrake 4 for the Eureka and with the same battens still pinned to the stack use a top bearing flush cutter in your router to trim to size, takes about 20 seconds per side. I have added a perspex base plate to the router to give better control.
Attachment 114592
Pic3 Ready for gluing the butt straps. I layed them out after carefully considering the precoated side up ..done, careful alignment..done. What have I overlooked nothing we are good to go. Wait I reread the build instructions says "make sure the panels are layed out as per below" but there is no below ah yes make sure there is a space for the inwhale on the sheer edge....got it. But wait I've got the panels running the same way I'll end up with a butt strap on the outside :doh:.......oh no it's OK I'll just turn one panel end for end:2tsup:
Attachment 114593
Pic4 The goop is down and I employed Miks clamping method some finish nails bent over works a treat rather than weights or some such didn't want things moving and the hull will be painted I think so the holes won't matter....I hope. Even masked everything off it does save a mess.
Now at this point it pays to leave everything while the glue hardens well I got impatient pulled the nails on a couple of joints the next day. Disaster struck the joints opened up because the pox was still green and maybe because I didn't give the surfaces a rub with some 80 grit must remember to do that on the pre coated stuff.
Attachment 114594
Pic 5 This is the result of one side panel joint opening up even after I heated it and reclamped. Not sure how I'm going to fix it yet maybe the gunwhale will be enough to hold things maybe I'll add some biaxial tape as I'm adding a drop in sailing rig so a bit more strength in this area can't hurt.
Attachment 114595
More to come if you are still with me:U
Mike