Getting Closer to Finished

Here is my interpretation—in progress—of Riccelli's fin keel for the Stevenson Weekender. As noted in a couple of the shots below, I will have to make some adjustments. I say interpretation because for all my attempts at getting accurate measurements from the plans and then care in cutting, the skin didn't match the framework very well. I'm not sure where the discrepancy snuck in, but the fix is easy enough. This is just one more instance of "build to the work."

The post that forms the leading edge will be cut out of the portion of stock keel that will be removed when the boat is inverted in the near future. The trailing edge will also, most likely.

Seeing with 2020 Hindsight

I don't regret for a minute all the things that have happened in my life so far that brought me to this point in my boat ownership life. That being said, if I had to start all over today, here's what I would very seriously consider--start saving up the few thousand dollars to buy the brand new  17′ Salish Voyager  from Gig Harbor Boat Works.

Here she is on her first test sail, temporarily outfitted with the lug rig from GHBW's 12' Scamp.

I want to sail, to be in the wind on the water. I could come up with the cost of one of these now way faster than the years and dollars it has taken me to build Kingsfold.

Got that off my chest. Now back to making sawdust and mixing epoxy.

Preliminary Boom Rigging Work

Speaking of Seats...

I believe that these "hiking out" seats may be one of my top two or three most favorite modifications on Kingsfold. I'll confirm this after some time on the water.

Since the previous photos were made, I added stringers underneath pushing up against the back of the cockpit seats.

looking aft

looking forward

Construction Detail Photos for Cockpit Seats

The gaps on the top of the vertical stringers in these two photos (above) demonstrate my stellar manufacturing skills (not really). They will be filled with thickened epoxy when I attach the parts permanently.

Progress Report

All design work for the cockpit and remaining-to-be-glued parts above the keel is now done. I will be adding a doubler strip of plywood behind the seat backs above the deck, and removable seats over the side decks to facilitate hiking out.

"I mean, really?"

I just was reminded of a quotation about entering the Race to Alaska: "Why would anyone sign on to six months of boat work and training for the longshot chance of even making it to the starting line?"

In my case, depending on when you start counting, it's been nine years or five years.

Source of the Quotation