Keel Days

We began thinking that the keel would take forever. We have been pleasantly surprised that it hasn't. We started by cutting the wood into strips. The strips are cut to the required width and we started from the leading edge and worked back to the trailing edge. This means that when stacked, the front of the stack forward of the widest point would have to be sanded down the the correct shape while rearward of the widest point is filled in. It seemd to work pretty well and it was easy to do. We also inserted two aluminum bars into the layup to add stiffness to the assembly.

I also have a picture of the cabin top. As you can see, it is stretched over a framework and sort of looks like how WWI airplanes were made. We decided that it would be fun to try something a little different so that is the look we went for. If it looks cool when done, great, if not, well a little more putty and we can have the plug for a nice round shape. In either case, this will become the plug for the mold that will make a couple of cabin tops using a foam core.

As the keel has gone well, rather than flip the boat now, this week will be used to finish up the keel, make the rudder heads, tiller and other fittings, the keel trunk and begin the deck.

And, one of these days I might have to read how to post here rather than just winging it. Oh, well. I'd rather be working on a boat anyway.

I have also posted a picture of a custom A/C cage we built, just one of the other things Team Recovery does. We also will be doing all of the machining and welding on the rudder fittings and most of the chain plates and mast fittings.