BUILDING A WESTERN SKIFF – PART 5
2
The plugs were glued into place
making sure the grain lined up with
the grain of the gunwale timber. They
were later cut and sanded flush.
10
On the other side he attached a
short length of aluminium U-section.
Some rubber padding with protect the
keel and make a better fit.
3
Back in the garage for painting and
varnishing, the top strake is taped
off with masking tape ready for the lower
strakes to be painted.11
Two holes were then drilled through
the bracket and the keel, and a pair
of drop-nosed pins used to attach the
wheels to the underside of the boat.4
Jeremy used household undercoat
on the epoxy sealed hull. Posh yacht
paint on the top coat would provide the
necessary external protection.12
Hey presto, an amphibious boat!
Jeremy plans to fit handles to the
stern of the boat to make it more easy to
manoeuvre, wheelbarrow style.6
The hull could then be turned and
the varnishing could begin. Jeremy
used the Le Tonkinois brand, and took
three hours to apply each coat.
14
Holes are now drilled to accept the
rowlock pin. Scrap timber clamped
to the underside prevents the base of the
hole splitting away while drilling.
7
The finished boat is positively
gleaming, even after just two coats
of varnish. Another coat will follow.
Gunwales were previously epoxied.15
Jeremy decided to leave the plates
proud because they look so good.
Brass rowlocks may eventually be
replaced with stronger bronze ones.8
Buoyancy tank Inspection hatches
were fitted next. There was no sign
of the proposed ping pong balls to fill the
void when the author visited...The Western Skiff is available as a
partial kit from Jordan Boats
(jordanboats.co.uk) or as a set of
free plans from http://www.pbo.co.uk.
Anyone downloading the free plans
is invited to make a donation to the
Ed Burnett memorial fund at http://www.
justgiving.com/remember/201501/
Ed-Burnett. We’d be delighted to
hear from anyone building the boat- please send updates and photos to
[email protected]
Build your own Skiff