Almost-A-SCAMP Progress Report #2-8A . . . .

[Charles Brennan]

 After determining that the cabin roof from the SCAMP kit I acquired, was a little too short both fore and aft, I hied me down to Tarpon Springs, to get another sheet of 6 mm Okoume plywood.
Could I have glued lots of bits and pieces on, to make up the difference? 
Maybe. 
But it would have been a lot of time, work, effort, and epoxy and deep down inside, I just WANTED the cabin roof to be one piece.
This is probably the last sailboat I'll ever own and I wanted it to be right.
Or at least, as right as I know how to make it.
In addition, I needed some more 6 mm components anyway, so it's not like I wouldn't have had to make the trip anyway.
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Those bungee cords are to dampen the plywood oscillations for the hundred mile journey back home.

Musta worked!!    I made it home intact! 
Wasted no time tracing around the old roof and allowed  for more space fore and aft.
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OK, maybe I got a LITTLE carried away,    but it will be far easier to trim off some, than to try and add more on.

2nd coat of epoxy on the cabin sides, cabin side cleats and the centerboard trunk cap.
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First coat of epoxy on the inside of the cabin roof.  The other side (top) won't get any epoxy until it's glued down and trimmed and gets a layer of 6 oz. fiberglass cloth applied, at the same time as the first coat of epoxy.
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2nd coat of epoxy.
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3rd coat of epoxy on the cabin sides and cleats, etc.
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There is going to be a bronze shoulder bushing going in this hole, for the centerboard trunk cap Fast-Pin.
(After a coupla false starts with the Forstner bit, trying to make a shoulder slot.)
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A big enough hammer, solves all! 
Epoxied in place.
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Going to use a Fast Pin to hold the centerboard trunk cap in place  at the one end.
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Originally, I had planned to rout a space for a flush ring lift, but after fooling around with the raised end piece, I realized it was its own handle and I didn't need the extra hardware and effort. 
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Tortured the cabin side cleats into place to match the cabin side curves, got ready to put in screws, then discovered it made no difference to the roof.   
Sometimes, I forget that a lifetime spent working with aerospace tolerances, doesn't necessarily apply to wooden boat building.
Yes, there will be a slight visible curve on the inside of the cabin sides, which will be immediately covered by the roof/cleat fillet.
So I simply glued and clamped the cleats to the cabin sides.  Sometimes, you can make too much work for yourself and you just need to keep it simple.
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My aluminum break-down oars came in!    I wasted no time, figuring out how to store them, where I wouldn't be constantly tripping over them.
I mean, where do you put a coupla 9-foot oars, on a 12-foot boat? 
Seems everybody cuts up bulkhead #7 to hide them under the coamings, so I followed suit.
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My own difference, is that I think they take too much support away from what looks like a significant bulkhead, plus the oars can flop back and forth in a seaway.
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By gluing on the additional block shown clamped, I can reinforce the bulkhead a little and make a retainer for the oar section.
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Notice that the Armstrong 6" stern hatch still clears the oar blade.
My Father's words from my youth always echo in my head, at times like these:
"Fail to plan far enough ahead, when building a house and suddenly, you will find yourself needing an 8-foot nail."
Words to live by.

Fire extinguisher just came in, which had been holding up the bulkhead #4 cleats.
On a small boat, everything does double duty, including the fasteners.
The cleat's ¼-20 mounting bolts are also going to be the fire extinguisher bracket mount.
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But I'm still going to need backing doublers, so I started with those holes first.
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The doubler also acted as a bulkhead drilling template.
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Looks good from this side! 
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Hmmm . . . .  after looking at the cleat for a while, I decided it was a little low on the bulkhead. 
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So I moved it up one set of holes, so the bottom cleat holes were in the top cleat holes and drilled two new upper cleat holes.

And made sure the fire extinguisher wasn't going to be up too high inside the cuddy.
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Nothing like a little Nautical Bling to get you jazzed up enough to keep going! 
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(Notice the two surplus holes on the starboard side; they'll get filled in later, along with all the REST of my Mistakes!! 

Realized I needed backing doublers for the cabin roof to support the down haul and halyard hardware.
Put the roof over the mast trunk and marked where I needed to put the doublers.
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It will be far easier to coat the doublers (3X) then glue them to the underside of the cabin roof, before mounting the roof on the cabin.

The pieces count is kicking up again, a sign that we're getting closer to finished, all the time! 
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Sanded all the corners of the cockpit filler boards and tack ragged everything for applying epoxy tomorrow.
(Supposed to be good weather, for a change! ) 
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This seems to be where all the details start avalanching, because so many steps now depend on other steps being done at the same time in parallel.
Still and all, I'm glad to see progress, in so many disparate areas! 

Charles Brennan

[Captain Kidd]

There are times I wish I had built a Scamp instead of the CIY. The 12' length and stability/safety factor being two big pluses. It was on my short list of possible builds. But watching you, the difference in the amount of details is staggering!

Keep up the good work! You will finish.

[Charles Brennan]

Dale, I don't think you should beat yourself up, too much.
The CIY is a nice daysailer, that can also do limited beach camping.
I'm building the SCAMP into a micro-cruiser, capable of week-long excursions in coastal waters.

For example:
You've got (IIRC) a 10 A/Hr lithium power pack with a 5 watt solar panel on it, for re-charging your phone.
I've got 2) 100 A/Hr LiFePO batteries, a solar charging controller, a 100 watt solar panel, a Smart Shunt for monitoring current draw and a 250 watt AC inverter.

You've got maybe some anchor lights and a flashlight and a pair of oars.
I have a pair of oars too, BUT! I also have full Nav lighting, an auto pilot, and a trolling motor.

You carry a cell phone.
I have a cell phone, but I also have a VHF, a GPS, a PLB, and a wind speed indicator.

You've got a small anchor.
I've got an 8lb Lawrence Claw, on a 10 foot length of chain, with a ⅜" tri-laid 100 foot rode.
I've got an 10lb Danforth, on a 10 foot length of chain, with a ⅜" tri-laid 100 foot rode.
I've got a 32" Sand Stake, with a ⅜" tri-laid 100 foot rode and finally, a parachute anchor, for drift fishing.

Two very different mission profiles; so we're going to have two very different boats, very differently equipped.
That is why there is so much detail in the build reports; I'm laying the infrastructure to support gadgets that you might not even consider.
(Built-in fishing rod holders, anyone?) 
(Edit)
An After thought:
Your CIY has ONE Distinct Advantage over the SCAMP; it's FINISHED!! 

Food for thought,
Charles Brennan

[Captain Kidd]

Well, I've chewed on that food for thought and my thoughts are that I'm still awed by the amount of detail and thought you're putting into this - and seriously impressed!

I'm not beating myself up. I like my boat and if I had it to do over... I'd probably build the same boat. It fit my budget, skill set, time frame, design brief, etc. But I still love the Scamp. Can't wait to read about the adventures you'll have on her. And I'm planning some adventures of my own. Hopefully we'll adventure together a bit some day.

[Riley Smith]

I'm just surprised S R Cat has survived so many years! I always said I would love to build her one more time    Yes, great detail CB and a fine boat. And you're right, different boats-different tasks. Mine is adept at shallow water with minimal set-up time and maximum load carrying ability. It works pretty good for me! After ONE night on a sand bar anymore I can barely move, so no long expeditions or many overnighters. The weather has cooled a few degrees and I'm getting the NASCAR start ready. One morning soon!

[Frank B.]

Great job Charles! Boy a lot of detail.  All projects have a "Critical Path" that path in which operations have prerequisite operations defining the shortest possible time/distance.  That time is only valid if you have enough "labor" available to do all the other things that can be done anytime or in parallel and "other barriers" are not in play.  What I learned is when you live in a place that has a long period of heat index days over 100 and often over 110, and then has a long period when the temperature is between 10 and 40 for many days, that is definitely other barriers if you don't have a conditioned air space to build in.

The Bateau 14FS skiff instructions said I could have a working skiff in 80 hours.  Both right and misleading as that was the "critical path" to a unibody structure that floats and resembles a boat. Of course it took me two years to actually finish. Other barriers indeed.....

As far as the right boat to build, the skiff was not quite right almost immediately. It was purpose built to fish the local small lakes, fish the backwaters on the MS Gulf Coast, and scallop the St Joe Bay area.  But then the Presnell family sold their fish camp and the ramp and canal, that used to cost three bucks to use was closed to anyone who did not stay in the new non-fish camp luxury lodge, or rent a camper space. The trip from Port St Joe is a little long and often rough on the trip back, a little much for that skiff. 

As far as sailing craft they are only right for a time, seems that time is ending for what I currently have.  Much like your situation, pushing 79 my Compac 23 is no longer right. And sadly neither your choice or Dale's seems to be either.  I think to stay comfortably on the water, and do those things I want to do, a Dianne's Rose would be as good as any choice, but I can't get comfortable with the build time. And you're not helping with your log. I'm both impressed and overwhelmed by your attention to the many details which would be on a grander scale for the Rose with the exception of worrying with a mast, sails and rigging for same.

So press on, looking forward to the launch.  I'll just keep on contemplating what to do next.........

[Captain Kidd]

Great job Charles! Boy a lot of detail.  All projects have a "Critical Path" that path in which operations have prerequisite operations defining the shortest possible time/distance.  That time is only valid if you have enough "labor" available to do all the other things that can be done anytime or in parallel and "other barriers" are not in play.  What I learned is when you live in a place that has a long period of heat index days over 100 and often over 110, and then has a long period when the temperature is between 10 and 40 for many days, that is definitely other barriers if you don't have a conditioned air space to build in.

The Bateau 14FS skiff instructions said I could have a working skiff in 80 hours.  Both right and misleading as that was the "critical path" to a unibody structure that floats and resembles a boat. Of course it took me two years to actually finish. Other barriers indeed.....

As far as the right boat to build, the skiff was not quite right almost immediately. It was purpose built to fish the local small lakes, fish the backwaters on the MS Gulf Coast, and scallop the St Joe Bay area.  But then the Presnell family sold their fish camp and the ramp and canal, that used to cost three bucks to use was closed to anyone who did not stay in the new non-fish camp luxury lodge, or rent a camper space. The trip from Port St Joe is a little long and often rough on the trip back, a little much for that skiff. 

As far as sailing craft they are only right for a time, seems that time is ending for what I currently have.  Much like your situation, pushing 79 my Compac 23 is no longer right. And sadly neither your choice or Dale's seems to be either.  I think to stay comfortably on the water, and do those things I want to do, a Dianne's Rose would be as good as any choice, but I can't get comfortable with the build time. And you're not helping with your log. I'm both impressed and overwhelmed by your attention to the many details which would be on a grander scale for the Rose with the exception of worrying with a mast, sails and rigging for same.

So press on, looking forward to the launch.  I'll just keep on contemplating what to do next.........

Good post. Interestingly, enough, I have pondered Diane's Rose myself as a potential next build. I've even broached the subject to my wife, though she's not too keen on me taking on any more projects at this stage in our lives. It's like someone said, you can spend your time building a boat or spend your time on the water. But a houseboat at this point does tickle my fancy and I think my wife would enjoy it as well.

[Frank B.]

Yep it kinda ticks the old couple boxes.  Standing headroom below without a high profile where windage is a problem; a head that does not require tearing up the bed to get to; a nice flat trip hazard free foredeck; light enough to tow with what I've got; can masquerade as a state park camper; ability to beach it when conditions are right with a plank exit to ground; yes there is a motor back there, but I can't hear it where I'm driving this dude from.

Fact is, the last few years we've motored the sailboat more than we've sailed it primarily because of the natural conditions of our lake. When we anchor and swim my wife is recently having trouble getting  up the stern ladder.

Not all that long ago there was one for sale in Arkansas, kinda wish I had looked into it.