The hull of Bobtail is now complete and the builders plate has been re fixed. I know I have relied upon epoxy resin and it's gap filling properties and I couldn't have built a boat using 1940s materials. The screws could use some minor adjustment but i am very proud of my twelve foot national.
The completed hull ready for fitting out. I can't remember how many coats of varnish are on the decks.
I didn't want to use modern black plastic fittings where the shrouds pass through the decks to the chain plates. I can't remember what the arrangement was when I bought her so some new fittings were made from recycled tufnol lined with 12mm diameter stainless tube. I think they look the part despite loosing one tufnol washer on the garage floor and taking one and a half hours to find it.
The tufnol jib sheet fairleads and cleats were originally mounted on the side decks where they look awful and uncomfortable to sit on. They probably work best here but could be mounted on the the thwart. However the sheets will rub on the side deck when reaching or running. Any good ideas on other boats? No holes have been drilled yet....
The mast step is back on the deck. the front corners were cut away to suit the the original decking and washboards.
The stem fitting has been re fixed despite a small crisis when one of the bronze screws snapped. a small matter of digging it out and filling the cavity with epoxy has it sorted with visible damage.
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The centreboard has been sand blasted and primed with something very hard. It is now painted white and will be flattened back at the weekend. the rudder from 3434 is nearly as deep as the centreboard but considerably lighter.
Finally I have cleared up the garage and the old decking, washboards and other pieces of scrap burnt. The old varnish caught fire very easily. How close was bobtail to a proper bonfire?
Bobtail is in the the garage, sitting on a nice new trolley which shares the same road trailer as her younger sister. If the weather is right I will tackle the mast at the weekend.
