"In Irons" (or at least splints)

OK, so I’m back teaching school. That means only the bare minimum can be accomplished on Woodstock. Not only that, but have you ever heard about the guy who got so frustrated and angry at work that he punched a wall with his fist? I happen to be very familiar with that guy and I know he finds it pretty difficult to do most everyday things let alone boat building. (Stupid, stupid , stupid,……………..,did I mention it was stupid? On the other hand, at least I didn’t hit a student. Of course then I’d have plenty of time for boat building. No! Bad idea!)

However, before I discovered walls don’t move I was able to lay out all of the parts in the basement.

I also discovered that even though our basement is dry, laying wood flat on the floor in a heated basement leads to warping. Oh well, nothing that can’t be “influenced” into a proper boat.

As I anticipate more serious building activities I also have had a chance to think about some details. One of those details is that I didn’t like the idea of the open end of the mast tubing rubbing on the bottom of the hole set in the mast step creating black aluminum oxide and probably producing lots of wear and tear on the epoxy and the plywood at the bottom of the hole. Ace is the place. I found a 1 ½” nylon washer 1/8” thick that matches the OD of the mast perfectly. The nylon washer is very durable and it can be placed in the bottom of the hole in the mast step with enough depth left to seat the mast. Buying another washer is better than trying to refinish the mast step.

One word to other builders – get the packaging tape off the wood surfaces soon after the kit arrives. Otherwise there is more of a tendency for the adhesive on the tape to peel off the tape and stick to the wood – particularly in a well heated basement. (Wish CLC's source of plywood hadn’t used stickers for much the same reason.)