navigator deck work

The template cut out earlier enabled a very economical layout of the two foredeck pieces onto the ply sheet, and the pieces are sitting on the boat in the photos above. These pieces are cut a little oversized at this stage to avoid any potential for drama when finally positioning them later when the inside surfaces are sealed and painted.

The shape of the forward coaming is a little different from that shown in the plans. I was hoping to create a slightly more conservative line up there, to further enhance some of the sweet curves elsewhere, but also to give a little more sitting space on the forward seats. I hope these little tweaks work OK.

Over the last week-end the slightly drier days enabled me to coat the cockpit interior with epoxy: some bits for the second time. There is still a bit of filleting to do in there, and it is those details that soak up the major time portions, not the fitting of large slabs of wood.

It is a real struggle to come up with a colour scheme for this boat. I see too many options! The sails (from Duckworks) are an 'Egyptian cotton' colour. This is a warmish beige actually, rather than a cream, and I do want them to look well with the hull. The last boat was simply white with timber trim; no brave choices there. This boat has me torn though, because there is a bit of me that would have it as a workmanlike boat, all greys and neutral knock-about colours, but also a bit of me that wants it to look happy and playful. This isn't a heavy weight classic, it is a recreational dinghy that has made lots of sailors very happy!

I still haven't had a chance to begin making the spars, but have made the bowsprit. The centre-board is shaped but not yet weighted or 'glassed. The rudder box is dry assembled, but the foil is still a pile of timber. The seat bases are mostly fitted and put aside until the epoxying and sealing is complete. The tabernacle is dry assembled but won't be fitted until the king plank, anchor well and forward compartment are ready to be covered in for ever.

This isn't a hard boat to build, but like any sailing craft there is an enormous number of sub-assemblies and components to make (and assemble in an order that doesn't make other fittings impossible).