VA - WV13

[Boost240sx]

So I have finally made enough progress worth a post but first a few questions.

I need suggestions on building a rod locker through the floor of the sole for surf landings. I need to cut holes in the frames so the compartments aren't sealed so I figured I would cut a square even to the floor, stringers and sole bottom. What about a lid, how do I make it keep the sole's curved shape?

Speaking of the sole I'd like to lower the sole at least and 1.5 or so. Anybody who has built one of these have dimensions for the sole in this lowered position? Figured I'd ask since it would save me a couple hours.

When cutting the storage for the aft compartment, is this much easier after the top is in place?

On to the build.















After a lot of resin...

[pee wee]

Wow! That's looking really good. Is that glass tape on the seams, or did you fully glass the inside?

[jacquesmm]

The boat looks nice, clean fiberglass work.
Did you buy those puzzle joints panels from us? That looks very much like my puzzle pattern and size.

[Boost240sx]

That is just fiberglass tape on the seams, though I am considering putting a layer of glass on the bottom for extra protection. The extra weight trade off may not be worth it though.

My okoume had an extra couple inches past the last station line so I used a router to cut the puzzle then lined it up to the adjacent board. Traced the pattern and routed it out to fit.

[jacquesmm]

Does that mean that you cut those puzzle joints yourself, with a router and a template or guide?

BTW, the nesting drawing shows the plates on standard panels that are 96" long (244 cm) but many Okoume panels are 98.375" (255 cm).

[Cracker Larry]

That's some fine router work on those puzzle joints

[Boost240sx]

Thanks.

There was no template really, a pencil and a steady hand with the router. I used a cap to something random in the garage for the circle then sketched the fillets in.

[jacquesmm]

That is impressive. It is very difficult to cut those puzzle joints by hand, there is somewhere a web page about that by a guy who sells a steel router guide. There is also a Porter Cable dovetail template.

[OptiMystic]

How did I miss this months ago? Very nice work. Makes my hatchet job on the ugly step sister look pretty bad (actually that's my fault, not yours, of course). Are you further (done?) now? Curious if you did side drains or drains at all. And if you are done, how it handles.

[Boost240sx]

Not done yet, it has been too cold for resin to kick off but my goal is to finish this before I start my cobia tower for the big boat and the offshore season is around the corner so I'm going to be kicking it in high gear soon.

I did manage to do a float test to see if I was happy with the height of the stringers and stability. I think I'm going to lower them 2" which should be high enough to still keep the scuppers above the water line and help with the stability but I'm still pondering the rod storage compartment similar to the one you did but going forward instead of aft.