TMS Update 1/2 + 1/2 = hull

Finally joined the hulls, yeah! Now let the faring begin. Few pics.

Great Stuff!!!

Wish I was there but at least the weather is nice in ALABAMA.

Hey

It looks like a boat!

What color are you gonna gelcoat it? :P

I'm going to use Alwgrip as the topcoat, but hear they do put gelcoat on epoxy, I'm not going to chance it.

My grandpa said, "There was only two colors to paint a boat white or black, only a damn fool would paint it black!"

I’m not sure what color but I'm leaning on white and maybe some tape accents later but that is all down the road a bit. If I'm going to pull a mold off of this hull I need to keep the paint simple.

Next on the list is to shore up and level the boat in the dolly and pull the rest of the deck halves level then I’ll take a day or two off. Can't remember the last day off. Then I'll start faring the hull and the mold for the crossbeam. I want to set up the strong back for the ama jig, I'm going to build a plug/mold for the ama’s and so I can bounce back and forth to break up the sanding when my shoulder gives me grief.

Today I'm going to finish building the new computer, taxes, and file my corp. papers for TMS Composites, what day off, Ha!

Thanks!

Mike

Bah

White is so boring.

A few daylight pics then I've got to put this computer down before it crashes.

Yep I agree. I was thinking a light yellow time will tell and gramps is gone.

Flourescent lime green

interesting color
http://www.f-boat.com/pages/News2/F-22Launchings.html

That the color I want my next boat

KAWASAKI green. I'll need my helmet,chest protecter and boots to sail on that.

Looks like somebody was at the Walmart paint department again.
I hear the owner is actually color blind .... mean trick!

really light blue looks good on boats. it's nearly white...

It would be cool if I had graphical software and could paint it on the computer! I built two computers this weekend and put one in the shop with I-Tunes so I can rock out. Still on the learning curve with Windows7, Office 2007, and typing well maybe too late - Ugh! Well back to the boat when I get up this morning.

The only color I'm going to see in the near future is West 407! I like light blue kind of stealth for the ocean! I was smoking a cigar, having a rum drink, and thinking of a paint scheme.

Rounding out the foam with power tools, rum, and cigars.

You should submit that last build pic to SA for the "What is it" contest thinger

How much compressor does that airfile require, I've been thinking if getting one but I don't think my compressor will keep up.

It's an air hog compared to an orbital. I use it at 50 -60 psi on a 5 hp / 80 gal tank and it "runs" my compressor. But in burst you could use it on say a 20 gallon system. I still let my system catch up on my sanders.
If you watch the sales at Harbor Freight it goes from 19.95 to 39.95 - buy the extended warranty for 10 bucks these do not like to be dropped. I’m on my 3rd one I paid full price for my first one broke it , took it back on the extended warranty got it replaced and a twenty dollar bill back because it was on sale.

yeah I've been thinking that the in-line sander would make a bottom job go by pretty easily.

I've only got a 15gal compressor so I really couldn't use it

It might work...but be a hassle waiting for the compressor to catch up - then you can just run it depending on how much you care about the compressor, I've burned out a few smaller ones in my days

My old long board was falling apart and was not stiff enough so I made a new one today. Another problem was the sandpaper strips were peeling off of the ends from flex in the board. Initial test today was good. I used a 3 ply sheet of 1/8” plywood and covered it with one layer of 200 gram carbon uni on one face. This made a stiff board but it had enough flex in it to conform to the shape and spring back straight after I was done. I made it wide enough for three strips of standard air file paper, tacky backed it comes in a roll.

Tested it out with some hand faring on the foam - started to bog the deck.

This is what you use to fair a hull. Power sanders are nice for getting it into the ballpark - but you can't beat a good long board and a little elbow grease.

Correct stiffness is key and that can change depending on what kind of hull you are working on. You can make a long board out of anything - I managed to find some 4" wide plastic extrusion in a "C" shape (used for conveyor rails) and I placed a piece of 1/8" aluminum inside with some tubing bolted in place (through the aluminum - not the plastic). The UHMW plastic takes sticky back sandpaper well and releases it very well too. You can get rolls of sticky back sandpaper at Lowe's and it's a very economical method...$9 to $12 per roll and they last forever.

I used to long block ENTIRE offshore fishing boats when we built them. It is def. the best way to get a fair surface , but for getting out the bulk before it matters that airfile looks sweet, and trust me, after doing one of these you don't want to look at a long block for a long time, if ever.

You are both right! The in-line air sander is great for rough cutting and shaping, and then you pull out the long board. I'll switch between the two to check fairness. In a small job even the bottoms of a cat you can do a good job with power tools if you have the skill. One thing about power tools a little wobble and a mistake becomes a big problem really fast. But in composites it’s no big deal, an expensive sports car that’s different. I started out doing body work and show cars as a hobby, so I'm very comfortable behind a power tools doing delicate work. I've been faring and sanding for many years. Some people can fair and some cannot – me I can’t sing worth a shoot so I don’t try but I can play a radio!

Tod Nice boat what is it?

That's a Paul Mann Custom. I didn't work on that exact one ,but built a few just like it while working for Paul Mann Custom boats and Sonny Briggs of Briggs Boatworks.Check out some of the interiors.

http://www.paulmanncustomboats.com/

Here's this weeks project.

The old bottom job! Looks like just paint and no glass that is good. Yep the in-line air sander would have made it easier.

Today I cut in the bow and faired the decks some more. I need to locate and fit the deck lids so I can cut holes to get forward of the main bulkhead. I need access to finish attaching the bulkheads and tape the hull seams.

when does she get wet?

Todd - that a Hatteras?

Pops used to have a 52' Hatteras.

4 posts up.

It started to rain into the shop last night - but that doesn't count. If I can stay unemployed I'm hoping for the end of summer.

haha.. thats funny.. well you are teaching me tons, and its real cool to see the progress.

Thanks!
Andrew I don't suppose everybody wants to stay unemployed but right now the job market sucks so the boat building thing is keeping me going and who knows it may pay off in the future. I get several Email each week on people asking me for help, hints, and questions. The corporate job I had started to get pretty bad and I was getting to the point I did not like to travel. Last year was really good so I'm enjoying the break.