Now at last I have to commit to some decisions about the rowing machinery and the layout of “the office.” Here’s a diagram from AngusRowBoats.com that ought to help keep terminology straight. That site acknowledges that some lunatic might be making his, her, or their own sliding machinery and provides some hints and recommended dimensions.…

While waiting for the epoxy behind the first side rail to set, I made a sudden executive decision: maybe I’ll eventually build the foam composite rigger as shown in the drawings many days ago (start here — it is a tedious journey) but (1) the temperature in the boatyard has fallen back into the middle…

The instructions say that the coaming is “tricky.” I dry-fit the bits that sit on the foredeck several times and adjusted their lower contours. I avoided doing anything that would compromise the front joint which is beveled on at least two and possibly three planes. I thought it best to put that part of the…

My screw ups continued. After I replaced the not-quite-right bright brass screws with wooden dowels, I wanted to stain the dowels. So I used MinWax Espresso on a 1-inch band all the way around the boat. Looked good! Then I wanted to clean up a few of the edges using mineral spirits. That looked better,…

Yes, you can use Black Diamond pigments in thickened epoxy. In thin applications of unthickened epoxy, “liberty copper” is not opaque. But add Cell-o-fill and you’re in business. I am a bit stressed by boat work today — did a couple of “misguided” things, recovered. In retrospect, quite a lot worked out. “What happened?” you…