building a scamp sailboat

Campy's "WICKED BEAT"

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Friday, February 1, 2019

Building scamp, an 11 foot long, wood sailboat..

Keep us all up to date with picture's. Sounds like fun...

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Complete SCAMP building plans. Eight detailed 24 x 36" printed plans sheets plus the detailed spiral-bound SCAMP Builders Manual. Welcome aboard!

SCAMP Building Plans

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SCAMP Review in Small Craft Advisor Magazine!

by GHBoats Webmaster | Oct 20, 2017 | Press Reviews , SCAMP

Exciting news that’s been a long time coming . . . the Small Craft Advisor magazine released their first formal review of the SCAMP! 

For a bit of backstory, the SCAMP, which stands for S mall C raft A dvisor M agazine P roject, was originally conceived by the magazine as a kit boat that would meet the needs of adventurous small craft sailors.  It was designed by a team of passionate and knowledgeable small-craft experts that Small Craft Advisor brought together to build something of the “ideal” capable and fun small craft. 

You can see how that history might have made Small Craft Advisor hesitant to review a boat of its own design.  As the article says, “Given our involvement with the boat and our predictable biases, we weren’t sure we’d ever publish a formal Review article. However with the passing years and more sailing hours being logged, more owners are available to offer feedback making us confident we can offer a reasonably impartial review of our magazine’s little flagship…”

Our own Falk and Dave were involved in the effort, and we hosted SCAMP events right here in our shop in Gig Harbor as we prepared to adapt the design to fiberglass.      

From the archives: The SCAMP rendezvous meeting at the shop

The 6-page review covers the SCAMP as a whole, including both kit-constructed models as well as the fiberglass version made by us here at Gig Harbor Boat Works.  It is filled with the personal feedback of both DIY builders and those who’ve purchased our fiberglass boats ready to sail, and it quotes several other press reviews as well.  

We’ve republished a few excerpts here – but the whole thing is worth reading.  For the full article, please see the check out the Nov/Dec issue of  Small Craft Advisor .  (Note: the PDF issue is  available for purchase here .)   

SCAMP Review

This distinctive microcruiser with unusual features has established a cult following.

It all started simply enough. We were on a 150-mile cruise down the Columbia River on our 16-foot sailboat and, even though the boat drew only two feet, we kept coming upon even shallower tributaries and backwaters we longed to explore. The perfect boat for this kind of sailing, we thought, was smaller and simpler, rowable, with a flat bottom and skegs so we could take the ground and wait out the tide if we wanted—a boat that would allow us to explore deeper into the tidal zones and along the water’s edge. To camp comfortably we’d want some accommodations—a good sleeping berth, plenty of stowage, and some protection from the elements—but we didn’t want a fully enclosed cabin, which would be claustrophobic on a boat this size and possibly even dangerous. A partial cabin would be better. We also recognized this was a big river and we saw how rough it could get when the wind blew against the current—this little boat would also have to be seaworthy.

Scamp has been called “sneaky fast,” and compared to a bumblebee for flying better than its shape suggests it should. However you want to say it, Scamp’s performance tends to surprise folks.

 . . .

While not a planing boat, Scamp does get up to hull speed quickly and, being generously canvassed, will move in just a whisper of wind. At only 11’11” long it won’t keep up with the fastest 15 to 18-footers, but it will literally sail circles around the slower ones.

Finally, it’s the boat’s extreme maneuverability that might be her best performance feature. With a single sheet and no shrouds or stays, a sailor can put the helm hard over and Scamp will do circles in little more than her hull length, making her quite capable of sailing into marinas or other tight quarters.

Josh Colvin signals his approval of the prototype Gig Harbor fiberglass Scamp. Photo by Debra Colvin for Small Craft Advisor.

At 420 pounds empty, Scamp is light enough to be trailered by many smaller 4-cylinder vehicles, and an important corollary is that she’s light enough to reposition on her trailer in a garage, or push her bow off the shore when beached.

“Have come to really like the simplicity and ease of sailing with the balanced lug sail.” Todd & Jan Sellick, Litle Bark, GH Scamp. 

Where a lot of popular trailerable sailboats are not recoverable after capsize, needing a tow or assistance to right and/or pump out, Scamp was designed with self-rescue in mind. In the event the boat is knocked down she will remain afloat and can usually be righted, re-boarded and sailed away—often without needing much or any bailing. 

“Tender to about 10 to 15 degrees then it stiffness up quickly. The boat likes the first reef at 12 to 15 mph winds. The 2nd reef at about 22 mph. Once reefed the boat settles down nicely.” Paul Stovner, Frisky 2015 Gig Harbor Model #367

Few categories are more subjective than sailboat accommodations. Just like with terrestrial camping, where some folks think of backpacks and bivy tents, others imagine motorhomes and microwave ovens. The latter group will find Scamp wanting, but the former will be embarrassed by its excesses.

Todd and Jan Sellick’s shot of their ‘glass Scamp Little Bark nosed up to a small island at the east end of Bigstone Bay, on Lake of the Woods, Ontario.

The so-called “glass Scamp” is a perfect match for its wooden sisterships, with no noticeable differences in performance or handling. Certain systems, like the water ballast, lend themselves well to low-maintenance fiberglass construction .  Instead of wood, Gig Harbor uses rugged composite materials for things like thwarts and foils. 

The Gig Harbor version also employs a two-piece aluminum mast (powder coated in a tan color) that can be broken down for travel stowage. As it’s even lighter than a birdsmouth wooden equivalent, many Scamp builders have opted for the Gig Harbor masts and built their own booms and yards.

“ Very good quality. The boat is two years old and looks new with no gel coat cracks. No issues or failures with the hardware. Very sturdy and ready to take heavy weather. Only flexing is the lower portion backrest coaming in the cockpit. This seems to have no effect on the operation of the boat. No delaminations.” Paul Stovner, Frisky 2015 Gig Harbor Model #367

One question we get now and then is whether someone ought to buy a glass Scamp or build their own. We think the answer is easy: If you’re truly excited about building your own boat and have the time, then go with the kit. If you just like the design and want to go sailing, buy the Gig Harbor model. You’ll probably save money if you build your own, but only if you don’t factor in your time.

“ Very good value, better than a Potter 15 for performance and ease to set up, and more comfortable to sail.” Paul Stovner, Frisky 2015 Gig Harbor Model

Needless to say, SCAMP has surpassed our expectations both as a boat design and in terms of its overall popularity. In addition to proving itself the capable beach-cruiser and backwater explorer we’d imagined, the little boat has inspired adventures, sparked friendships, and drawn new sailors and builders into our small-boat community.

Want to learn more about our fiberglass SCAMP’s creation?   Browse through the SCAMP archives!

What’s the first step of building a new fiberglass boat? Building a wood one!

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Small Craft Advisor

Boat Designs: Evaluating SCAMP’S Big Sister

(this new welsford cruiser checks a lot of boxes…).

Over the past few days I’ve had email exchanges with John Welsford, New Zealand designer, regarding a brainstorm that’s been percolating in his clever, whimsical noggin: A bigger, more commodious takeoff on his wildly popular SCAMP design.

As most SCA readers know, the 11’ 11” SCAMP design was conceived 13 years ago when Josh Colvin, editor of this fine publication, asked Welsford to come up with a new kind of small cruising boat—one small enough to explore the most hard-to-penetrate backwaters, while being easy to rig, light enough to trailer with the smallest of tow vehicles, surprisingly great under sail, and comfy for overnight camp-cruising adventures. So, following some tweaks by designer and master boatbuilder Kees Prins, the resulting sailboat was dubbed SCAMP, for Small Craft Advisor Magazine Project.

SCAMP DRAWING…

The rest is history: More building plans and kits for SCAMP have been sold over the years than any other small cruising boat we can think of. Besides the original wooden version, Gig Harbor Boat Works was licensed in 2013 to produce a fiberglass SCAMP, and the little giant killer—in wood and fiberglass—has since its debut been at the center of various small-boat rallies, workshops and sailing events.

While SCAMPs are still being built worldwide by enthusiasts, plan and kit sales have slowly been approaching what might be a kind of saturation point. It’s not that “everyone who wants a SCAMP has already built one,” but we get the feeling that it’s time for something new and different—like a SCAMP-inspired design that has the personality and quirky appeal of the original boat, but with more creature comforts (for an aging population of SCAMP lovers).

Meet SCALLYWAG, John Welsford’s big sister to SCAMP, a 15’ 4” x 7’ 3” wonder with a “real” cabin, tabernacle mast, mizzen sail, powerful main, water-ballast tanks, sitting headroom down below…and like SCAMP, faster than many onlookers might expect.

SCALLYWAG DRAWING…

This might turn out to be a timely, common-sense follow-up to the successful SCAMP design—so tempting that John Welsford is talking about building one for himself.

(As a footnote, we might add that in 2008, prior to the introduction of SCAMP in 2010, Welsford came up with another design that was similar to but somewhat larger than SCAMP—called TREAD LIGHTLY, which measured 13’ overall, with a beam of 5’ and addition of a mizzen. The series of similar hulls began with PEANUTS, an experimental build that never quite made the plans list. That design led to TENDER BEHIND, then SHERPA, then TREAD LIGHTLY, then SCAMP, then SCRAPS and now SCALLYWAG. Quite a series!)

TREAD LIGHTLY drawing…immediate predecessor to SCAMP)

Here is John Welsford’s description of the SCALLYWAG design:

“I’ve had a number of people tell me they love SCAMP, but they’d like a ‘real’ cabin—something that would provide shelter for a couple of friends to overnight out of the rain; somewhere with space enough for four to sit and chat over coffee or rum on a cold evening; somewhere with a bench for a cooker, a table to eat the food off of, and lockers for all the essentials…and room for the skipper and first mate to stretch out and sleep in comfort.

“SCALLYWAG is not so big as to make launching and retrieving a chore; her mainmast is in a tabernacle, which makes standing it up easy-peasy for clients who don’t like the idea of lifting a mast that size vertically into place. Her mizzen is light enough to not be a worry, too, in that respect.

“The rig is a powerful one, but easy to access for reefing, and she will heave to under mizzen with the main let free so she sits mostly head-to-wind, dry and restful if a gust has to be waited out.

“I’ve added a pair of big water tanks for ballast, so with that and her beamy shape she’ll be very stable. Her cockpit self-drains, the motor is inside the tall transom for easy access, and while there’s room in the cockpit for four, she’ll be easy to single-hand and relaxing to sail.

“While the relationship between SCALLYWAG and SCAMP is obvious, it’s not just the styling. The backroom calculations in hydrodynamics suggest she’ll handle well, and be faster than many expect. With high stability and the ability to sit upright when aground, she’ll be able to transition from hiding in the mud or sand up a creek somewhere, to making a longer coastal passage without any fuss.

“Construction is simply plywood over ply bulkheads, with stringers to line everything up, and with considerable buoyancy just in case. The plans will have scale drawings of all major components, and we anticipate soon having printable full-sized templates for frames and other key items.”

As for specifications, beyond the overall length of 15’ 4” and beam of 7’ 3,” SCALLYWAG will have board-up draft of 10,” a board-down draft of 3’ 4,” a total sail area of 143 s.f. and a fully-rigged dry weight of 750 lbs. (Incidentally, the beam-to-length ratios of SCAMP and SCALLYWAG are almost identical.)

John Welsford says that plans for SCALLYWAG will be available on December 1, but he can take orders in the meantime. Price will be $245 U.S. funds for emailed, printable PDFs, and the plans can be ordered via John’s website: jwboatdesigns.co.nz (Joel Bergen, well-known for the Welsford Navigator he built and sails in many Northwest small-boat events, will be developing a set of SCALLYWAG patterns in the not-distant future, according to Welsford. Editor’s note: We heard from Joel yesterday; he’s hoping to develop CAD-produced patterns “in a few weeks,” now that he’s received initial SCALLYWAG drawings. Stay tuned; we’ll provide updates on plans and patterns in this space.)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE SCALLYWAG DESIGN:

Eager to hear what SCAMP-savvy friends might have to say about the SCALLYWAG specs and just-released drawing, we sought initial reactions from…

JOSH COLVIN, editor of Small Craft Advisor , who commissioned the SCAMP design in 2010 and enjoys sailing SCAMP #1:

“There’s certainly no doubt who designed this one! It looks almost as much like Welsford’s PENGUIN as a SCAMP. SCALLYWAG’s length is a sweet spot in terms of accommodations potential. She’ll be rowed less than most SCAMPs, but I love the inboard motor well to keep her lines clean, and the engine right at hand. But her most exciting feature is the addition of the mizzen, which will improve seaworthiness and make managing the mainsail easier.

“Between LONG STEPS and SCALLYWAG, those looking for something like SCAMP, but larger, have great options. I’m excited to see the first boat built—she will be bigger than most expect, just looking at the drawing.” SIMEON BALDWIN, builder of an early SCAMP who has perhaps sailed more nautical miles with a SCAMP than anyone…and who has also served as a generous advisor to fellow SCAMP builders and is an expert on rigging and sailing the little 11’ 11” boats:

“I like what I see of this long-rumored design. Knowing John and his attention to ergonomics, I can anticipate it will work well. The tabernacled mast and addition of a mizzen are most appealing.

“From the drawing I think it may resemble LONG STEPS in terms of the recessed footwell. It also appears he is eschewing a by-design lazarette made popular by many SCAMP owners.

“The double water tanks are something to contemplate. I don’t envision SCALLYWAG as a purpose-built racer with crew, actively keeping high-side ballast on long tacks, like the SKATE 15 that Brandon Davis designed, which utilizes two tanks and a dump-valve system that may be more elaborate than a typical cruising sailor would want to live with. But John may be describing two water tanks that are filled and remain separate from one another.”

(Editor’s note: Welsford’s comment on tanks, “The ballast tanks are linked, and they’re not far enough off the centerline to work independently. There is one each side of the aft end of the centerboard case and they go out as far as the seat-front extensions.”)

“I’m looking forward to how all of this works out!”

BRANDON DAVIS, of Turn Point Design in Port Townsend, whose company cuts CNC kits for the SCAMP and a variety of other small boats. Brandon is also a skilled designer and small-boat sailor:

“I really like this boat, since it has just enough room to have a cabin but it’s still small enough to be trailered, beached and easily built in a garage. The enclosed cabin should encourage longer trips or taking a friend along.

“The longer waterline should increase average sailing speeds. My guess is that rowing speed will be lower than the SCAMP, as the rower will not be able to take advantage of the waterline length because of her weight.

“Will SCALLYWAG be offered as a kit? I could see it selling well as a kit and the market could be ripe. Many SCAMP builders might consider this as their next build.

“I look forward to seeing the first SCALLYWAGs on the water!”

KEES PRINS, designer and boatbuilder, who constructed the first SCAMP while serving as boatshop manager at the Northwest Maritime Center…and in the process suggested and implemented some changes that improved the design:

“I think SCALLYWAG will find a great following in the SCAMP world and beyond. Adding a cabin will greatly enlarge the ‘SCAMP Crowd.’ At that beam, and with twin ballast tanks, stability should be enormous for a boat this length. I would have liked to see a cross section through the cabin to know more about sitting comfort. (Four people hanging out inside seems a little optimistic, but two should be comfortable.)

“I’m curious about what the tabernacle for the unsupported mast will look like. A big sail area, together with a stiff hull will induce a significant load on the tabernacle. There seems to be a deep well for the mast base to swing through, judging by the drain hole.

“All in all, SCALLYWAG looks very promising.”

OSCAR LIND, a serious student of all various small-boat designs , and earlier builder of a SCAMP, who shares at least one thing in common with John Welsford—they’ve never met a pun they didn’t like:

“I might have to clear out the shop and make as much room as possible to build this boat (due to the 7’ 3” beam, especially). It’s so tempting and fills the bill for usability and function.

“It does need a Chinese lug rig, though. I expect quite a few SCALLYWAGS will ultimately be built.”

(Editor’s note: John Welsford comments, “I like the Chinese lugsail, but for a sail of this size on a boat that will be trailered, rigged and derigged for each outing and dry-stored, the extra complexity of the Junk sail slows the process. As well, the balanced lug is in my experience, a little quicker upwind—unless the junk rig has cambered-panel sails, and there are few sailmakers producing those, so I think in this case, simplicity and performance get the nod.”)

As for my personal view as a serial boatbuilder, restorer and sometimes buyer of project boats, I enjoyed owning a SCAMP several years ago. While I loved sailing the boat, I wished it was bigger and included a sleeping cabin. So, John’s new SCALLYWAG design checks many more boxes as an all-around keeper, and I prefer its overall hull, cabin and rig design, not to mention its potential as a serious cruising machine.

So, once again, here’s a chance for you, as a fellow boat nut, to offer your evaluation of SCAMP and her newly-hatched big sister, SCALLYWAG. (Also, please add other thoughts in the comments section below…) • SCA •

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• Close to the Water: My Boat Crush

When I first saw a Scamp sailboat, I thought it looked like an oversized children’s bath toy. It seemed to bob around sitting too high in the water, and that snub nose made me feel that part of the boat was missing. But once aboard, the high sides created a dry ride and an atmosphere of safety. With a small cuddy forward, and lots of hatches for neatly stowing gear, it felt serene compared to some of the open boats I normally admire, where gear and stray equipment clutter their cockpits.

The Small Craft Advisor Magazine Project (better known as SCAMP) is an increasingly popular small sailboat that can be built from plans or a kit, as well as ordered as a ready to sail fiberglass model constructed locally by Gig Harbor Boat Works. With a 100-square-foot sail, and measuring just shy of 12 feet with a beam of about five feet, the boat seems like it shouldn’t sail well at all, but somehow it does.

I’ve been out on Scamps enough times to not be surprised by their abilities. For such a small boat, I’m continually impressed by how comfortable and spacious the seven-foot long cockpit, with benches lining each side, and the five-foot cuddy make the boat feel. If I was blindfolded at the helm of a Scamp and you asked me how big a boat I was steering, I’d say something long and steady — maybe 20 feet. After all, I’d be sitting straight up, with my legs down in a well, not scrunched up like most dinghies. The tiller in hand would feel steady, with no signs of the boat wiggling due to any slight inattention.

I wasn’t alone in finding the aesthetics of the hull curious. “I became interested in Scamps very slowly. At first I did not really care for them,” my pal Randy Wheating wrote by email. “However, my big Chebacco was being used less and less.”

Many people construct their own Scamps as part of a class. Friend and lifelong sailor, Dale Simonson, told me, “I sort of ended up with a Scamp by mistake. Or, more like by happenstance. I was planning (or dreaming about planning) to build a boat in a few years… when I stumbled onto an upcoming ‘Scamp Camp,’ a group build of ten boats. Ten students, four instructors, two weeks, and come home with your own boat!”

Dale noted, “I wasn’t totally enamored with the design until I started to really consider the value of the workshop, and getting such a good jumpstart on a build. It wasn’t until we got into the build, and all the ensuing discussions with the instructors (in particular, John Welsford the designer, and Howard Rice the adventure sailor), that I fell in love with the concept and the approach of the design as a very small vessel that is capable of cruising my local near-shore waters of the Salish Sea.”

For some Scamp sailors, the camaraderie is a big part of the appeal of the boat. There’s an active online community as well as Red Lantern rallies where scads of Scamps congregate. But that’s not true for everyone. Samantha Ritchie, the captain of a fiberglass Scamp named Kerfuffle observed, “the Scamp community is mostly older white men. I like older white men, but that’s not really my group, so I am not into the ‘community’ thing very much. That being said, I love seeing other Scamps and always go chat with the owners.”

But like other people, Samantha appreciates the balance of simplicity and function. “I am very comfortable in the Scamp, and it’s a low fuss kind of boat.  I am strong for a 65-year-old woman, but not as strong as I was 10 years ago. Despite that, I can easily put up the mast, pull the boat up on a beach, etc. No need for winches for any big jib — no jib!”

I initially expected the Scamp to sail like a bulldozer, slogging along pushing water. In reality, it moves smoothly under sail and turns on a dime, making sailing out of a marina or around other tight places deceptively easy. With only one sail and a short waterline, making 360 degree penalty turns actually feels like fun. I will admit one fault about my crush — as I’ve sailed alongside my friends in their Scamps, they are gradually outpaced by all but the shortest hulls.

I’ve been out in Scamps in a big blow, but when filled with 175 pounds of water ballast (integrated into cavities in the hull), I’ve been impressed with how stable they were. But, it wouldn’t be a sailboat if you didn’t get scared from time to time and yes, despite the broad beam and reefable sail, I’ve seen them capsize. Still, the boat is self rightable and floats high enough to bail with a little effort.

Besides being fun to sail, the Scamp is an able camp cruiser and despite its size, both Dale and Samantha have done overnight stints at anchor with their partners. Dale notes, “I think I’m a minimalist at heart, my wife and I lived in Volkswagen vans for two years, touring Europe and Australia. I love to row (and sail, even more) and don’t care much for motor boating. I have found backpacking, kayaking, camping, and living a bit ‘rough’ to be enjoyable… Big poofy pillows are allowed. Dutch ovens, too. It’s a very comfortable floating tent that turns into a kitchen, a lounge, and then a fun sailing machine… and fits in a single car garage.”

As I’ve started to play with the many strings and sticks attached to slightly larger boats, the simplicity of the Scamp keeps calling me. Sure I’d be slower and maybe not as sleek, but the comfort and adaptability of the Scamp in such a small package just keeps me smiling.

Bruce Bateau sails and rows traditional boats with a modern twist in Portland, Oregon. His stories and adventures can be found at www.terrapintales.wordpress.com.

Bruce Bateau

Bruce Bateau sails and rows traditional boats with a modern twist in Portland, Ore. His stories and adventures can be found at www.terrapintales.wordpress.com

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Scamp plan vs kit build cost

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Post by Jedi Clampette » Sun Apr 20, 2014 5:00 am

Re: Scamp plan vs kit build cost

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Steps in Building a SCAMP sailboat

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Building a Scamp Sailboat, I Continue Laying Out and Cutting

All the bulkheads are checked and cut. I've relaxed a bit.

I laid out the bottom of the Scamp today. It was a quick job. I had glued up a nice pine batten but it broke, so I made another using left over 9mm plywood scarfed in the middle, as fair a curve as can be.

I did not join the extra plywood onto the front to make a long enough piece, I just clamped it very well in position and drew the curve. I will join after cutting out. I'll combine all the joining in one happy day and save a bit of time. I have quite a lot of space in the shop so that will work.

Before cutting the bottom I marked the center really well and also the area that will be cut out for the centerboard. I'll wait until I've made the centerboard case before I cut.

Somehow cutting the bottom feels important.

That's the plywood stamp on my 9mm. It's probably Chinese. So far it's been nice and I've not seen any difference with other Meranti I've used except that the back veneer is not necessarily as pretty. I can live with this for an almost 40% lower price. Good marine grade ply. Our exchange rate right now is quite terrible. Here is a wikipedia article on BS 1088 grade plywood

Laying out the cockpit floor is not too complicated. It is a long piece that will be cut in 2 parts and assembled. This particular sheet is slightly damaged from the transport and I'm having to cut around bad spots. I think it won't be a problem because the layout does not use the full width.

I also cut one of the mast box pieces. I'm getting a nice pile of pieces. I might have to assemble them sometimes soon!

Bottom layer of cockpit is cut, next is the top layer to reinforce the floor. It is cut just slightly smaller to create a drainage ditch.

I cut out the cockpit sole doubler, It is slightly smaller than the sole/top piece to make a drainage channel. I also cut the transom cap, which required a bevel.

It went quickly using the smoothing plane but I got a bit of tear-out and used the sander to smooth the edge. I don't think it's visible in the finished boat.

I spent the day in the shop today cutting out more scamp parts. I got the cabin top and sides as well as the aft pieces of the garboard.

I had a stupid attack and I swear I had to draft every part twice... almost. I'm cutting in the 6mm now, most of the parts from the 9mm are done except for the rudder case and a few doublers.

There is a fabulous dragon logo on the 6mm plywood. The surface is nicer than the 9 mm. Surely that means that my boat will be faster and fiercer with such plywood.

There has been lots of arguments to and fro about Chinese marine ply but so far I have not had any reason to complain and have not found any real flaw. One sheet had ugly top veneer but it was sound. I don't really think that's a flaw though.

I will now be laying out and cutting the side planks.

This was the most difficult layout yet. This is where the plan builders have to figure out the best placement of lots of pieces on a sheet of plywood. It was a tricky exercise, for me at least.

One good thing that saved time, I cut 2 sheets of plywood together. Since I was cutting out pairs of side planks this worked very well.

Next is the top deck. It needs to be cut in several pieces and joined.

The funny thing about this kind of boatbuilding is that it takes forever to cut out the parts and day after day all I have to show for a lot of work is an increasing large pile of oddly shaped bits of wood. I think assembly will go quite fast and finishing will take a longer time. Time Will Tell.

This is what a SCAMP looks like. Some Assembly Required. Another benchmark has been reached. I've cut all the plywood pieces. (Except a couple of doublers and reinforcements and the rudder.)

To tell the truth I also have to cut the hole for the mast partner in the top of the cabin. As I build I will have to adjust a little bit I think. I've cut as accurately as I could though.

So far I've had to cut in my extra sheets. If I had taken the time to place the parts more accurately then I could have fit them in but the amount of extra work would be several hours. I also chose not to cut a bulkhead in 2 and re join it later. It's cheaper to have an extra sheet of ply, than to lay out very closely, even at my rate.

This means that I have slightly larger waste pieces and extra plywood to make the centerboard and the rudder blades, so I don't think there is much waste in the end. I will also have wood for access doors and portholes.

In the end I've used a combination of the little Dremel Saw to rough cut quickly and my trusty jig saw for accurate cuts. I'm just more skilled with the jig saw but I think the Dremel would work except for tight curves.

I've cleared the shop and taken down my extra table for now and will start cutting the support straps and mast staves next.

So far I would estimate I have spent about 30 hours laying out and cutting. I had to break this time in many segments because I found the exacting laying out and cutting to be tiring and I would start making mistakes if I tried to push it. This includes laying out but also checking everything at least once and more if I found a mistake.

emails: Christine

This web site reflects my personal ideas and doesn't represent anyone else's point of view.

If you decide to build a boat be careful. These tools can be dangerous. If you don't know how to safely handle something find out. There are lots of forums out there.