Let’s get started. FedEx handed me the epoxy from MAS on Monday morning. In the afternoon, I straightened up a little more, lined up some tools and supplies, and dry fit the sheer clamps. They were each shipped from Chesapeake Light Craft as two bundles of three sticks. The middle stick is scarfed at both…

Proper ratios of epoxy resin and hardener are almost always specified by volume (for example, 2 parts resin to 1 part hardener; or 5 parts resin to 1 part hardener; etc). The mix can also be prescribed be weight. To convert from volume to mass, you need to know the densities of the components. The…

The problem began with how to mount cameras to the aft deck. I was thinking of notching the sheer clamps and epoxying in some small steel plates to which I could screw whatever I wanted. Making that neat and structurally sound while not adding too much gratuitous weight kept me up nights and woke me…

I’ve been reading the instructions over and over to internalize many of the steps. Along the way, I’ve been taking note of the tools and supplies that I will and may need (in addition to the epoxy which should arrive tomorrow). Herewith: Marine varnish (Interlux Y96 Schooner varnish, at least a quart, for the deck).…

It begins to resemble what it will be. I went through the plans while sorting through some of the pre-cut wood. With apologies to Henry Reed, today we have naming of parts. These are the sheer clamps, by which the deck is attached to the hull, and these are the bulkheads by which flotation is…