Woody Runabout phase 16

One of several mistakes made during construction (yet to be rectified) was the inadvertent use of a waxy sanding sealer on the side panels. The adhesion is poor and I shall probably have to re varnish. The lesson: ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. I  discovered the error when using gaffa tape to hold a few slivers of wood where the frames meet the gunnels. On removal of the tape a patch of bare wood was revealed minus the varnish!   I intend leaving the job until autumn.  The wax base will need to be removed with a solvent and vigorous sanding.

The floor  is laid and incorporates sealed flotation chambers between the frames, now being painted before completion of the decking, fore-deck and transom decking.  The outboard unavailable till June because of the Covid-19 epidemic, as is the interruption to wood supplies which threatens to slow up progress.

In advance of decking, there have been fixing points for cleats added, and also fixing points for screw down straps that will secure the fuel tank and battery. Remote controls for the outboard run either side down the gunnels, and I am pondering the idea of inserting some PvC pipework to contain it, so as to make insertion and removal simpler to do. Putting such ideas down helps in the decision making and yes, I think I need ponder no more, just do it!

Unexpected problems always arise in scratch built projects such as this, and solving them becomes part of the enjoyment of brain teasing, burning of the midnight oil. One of them is how best to arrange the seating. Two seats, three or four, and should the rear one(s) face forward, sideways or rearwards, The best solution I am presently considering is to have the rear pair of seats facing inwards, facing each other so that weight would then be into the centre and away from the stern. So far, only one of the seat backs has been fabricated, in the form of an an ellipsoid hoop that I intend to make fold forwards. Laced with supportive Dyneema paracord. Sounds like one of granddad's lash up bodges, or it might just be some artistic licence and definitely unique. 

Woody Runabout stage 15

11th May 2020 and my project completion day looks a distant prospect. Hopefully I might see myself afloat by August.
Floor panels have been cut ready for gluing between the frames as additional buoyancy chambers in addition to the bow and stern compartments.
I shall experiment with some expanding foam under the floor  that may completely seal those chambers to make a virtually unsinkable craft.
The motor well will have a removable floor to facilitate inspection and maintenance of the transom area and to drain any water that might ingress.

Woody Runabout stage 14

 Pressing on with the topside. The deck layout can be seen in the rough stages of fitting the carlins and deck beams. The cut out transom with very little freeboard, but relieved by the fitting of an inner transom and outboard well in between the two.
I have settled for the idea of having a false floor of 5mm ply;  easier to bale out and may even be self baling if the waterline is not too high.

The inner transom will be faced with ply infil tp provide a flotation chamber and motor well