Stambaugh Sailing Skiff Build in Virginia Mountains

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There will be a plywood deck covering the forward floatation chamber and the partner, and extending on the sides about 12" aft of the partner. Here I am making a pattern for the deck using a "Joggle stick." I will explain joggle sticks in a later post, but right now it is past my bedtime.

 

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Here is an article from WoodenBoat showing how a joggle stick works. The author's technique and precision are much better than mine.

https://skills.woodenboat.com/articles/the-joggle-stick/

 

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I used the joggle stick and marking board to lay out the curves on the sides of the deck. I have become smart enough to make a mockup from cheap underlayment, before cutting expensive marine plywood.




Then I cut out the deck mockup. I used a circular saw with a brand new sharp plywood blade to cut the curves -- a circular saw does not always have to cut straight. The sabre saw in the photo was used only to make notches for the stem and #1 frame.

 

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The circular saw and sabre saw did not cut accurately. The bandsaw did a much better job.



I laid out an arc of a circle on the aft edge of the deck. I cut it with a spiral upcut bit on the router, using a simple jig.

 

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I also used the router to cut a doubler for the hatch, and a doubler for a possible cleat. Here the underside of the deck is ready for epoxy coating.



I used a plumb bob to make sure the centerline of the deck was aligned with the centerline of the boat and mast step.

 

[UCanoe_2]

Now it's time to make the breasthook, a major structural member that holds the bow of the boat together. After much trial and error with mockups, I decided to follow Greg Rossel's instructions from his book, Building Small Boats. I made a simple jig and glued up a breasthook blank made from 5/4 yellow pine stair tread.

 

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First trial fitting.

 

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I used a router to cut an arc on the aft edge of the breasthook, same as with the deck. I also used a router to round over and bevel the aft edge, to prevent injury if someone contacted it accidentally.

 

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Still more trial fitting.

 

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Remember those model airplane kit instructions that said, "Paint all parts before assembly?" At last, a primer coat on the boat interior.....



I also primed the undersides of the breasthook, deck, mast partner, and miscellaneous small parts. After two finish coats of paint, they will be ready to install.

 

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Mast Partner Mark I was cut from an ash board made from a tree on our property that was killed by the Emerald Ash Borer. The tree was crooked and had a lot of bound up stresses. When I cut a hole for the mast, the board twisted badly. The 2 thwart pieces were made from the same tree, but did not have the serious twist.

Mast Partner Mark II installed, made from a straight grained piece of Philippine Mahogany.



Finish coat of paint partly on interior of boat. The sole will receive non-skid paint, but I will wait until the after part of the sole is glassed. Gluing with PL Premium now; much less muss and fuss than epoxy.

 

[UCanoe_2]

Today at long last I installed the little forward deck, which is a major structural component. Dispensing PL Premium with a manual caulking gun is not kind to my arthritic hands. So I applied the adhesive with a pneumatic caulking gun. IIRC it cost $75 from Home Depot a couple years ago. I had to turn the air pressure way down to feed the goop at a controllable rate.