RIP Kaschper Serial No. 79110

Today I stripped the hardware from my first scull - a Kaschper double that I rebuilt in 1998, and burnt what remained of her shell. I learned many things from this boat and she served me well. Like the Jack Johnson song says, "One goes out, one comes in." RIP.















On a brighter note, I also laid the base layer of glass for the mold for my carbon fiber rowing deck. Photos and details to come.....

I'm glad spring is finally here. S

At it again!!

Got the wonderful idea (thank you Rick!) to continue building in our rental house while it is unoccupied. That gives me a head-start on the warm weather. I set up the strongback with negative forms and moved her in last weekend. Now I'm preparing the plug so that I can cast the mould for the rowing deck. Here are a few pics...

Prepping for hibernation?

Well, it has been awhile since any meaningful progress has been made on the boat, except that she's been moved into storage in my barn, tops and bottom fitted onto the form and all wrapped in plastic. I took some time off and Rick and I headed to Italy for 2 weeks, which was wonderful! This winter I will be able to work on the rowing deck form and carbon fiber casting in our workshop as it is only about 9ft long, but I don't expect to get started on that until the new year. I'll also have time to order in all the hardware that I require....including the rigging with quick-release that I'm lusting after from Australia. A rest is good.

Pop the hull off! First look.

This weekend was spent attaching the splashboards and laying the glass on the outside of the hull. Today I could pop her off the form. What a thrill! I need a scale, but I reckon the hull is between 6 and 8lbs, so with the 2 decks, the boat is currently still under 10lbs.




First look at how she'll shape up.

I'm happy.

Hull strips finished and sealed

This weekend I only had one day, but it was a nice one! Finished the hull strips, sanded, and applied one coat of epoxy sealer. I also assembled the splashboards, but have delayed attaching them until I see how the color of the hull turns out. The blond wood on the hull is very blond red cedar. Although it looks a lot like yellow cedar, it is lighter weight.

Wake up call

The strangest thing happened while I was working on my boat yesterday. It was a long weekend laying strip after strip after strip on the hull. As soon as I finished placing a strip at one end of the boat, I'd move to the other end and lay another strip somewhere else. By the time I'd attacked all the areas where I could work, the glue would have dried in the starting spot, and I'd start the whole circuit again. Row by row the strips were creeping up the forms.

About half-way through the third day I happened to glance down the length of the strong back and was suddenly shocked! There was a BOAT! It wasn't just a form with some strips on it! It wasn't the potential for a boat. It WAS a boat! Suddenly she yelled out to me, "I'm here! Get me off this thing and take me to the water!!"

Now that she's come to life she is pushing me toward completion. Ahhh.... this is going to be a wonderful friendship.

Progress on the Hull

Finally getting some strips laid on the hull. Photos for now.... more later.