 |
|
 Mold frames set up, apron & longitudinals on, T&G planking just started; T&G layer ends in rabbeted bilge stringer |
 View from above; Transom on, T&G planking started |
 T&G planking; clamps & blocks; Note the rabbeted bilge stringer to marry bottom & topsides planking |
 T&G layer finished; starting first diagonal layer (1/2" marine plywood planking) |
 First diagonal layer complete & trimmed at bilge stringer |
 First diagonal layer at stern; note staggered centerline joints |
 First topside planking layer is on--finishes flush to first diagonal bottom layer |
 Second diagonal bottom layer overlaps first topside layer 3" creating a full-length joint; Layer is trimmed off along a release-tape below joint; Teak strips are laid out to be laminated over the plywood transom |
 Second diagonal layer showing release tape above which it is trimmed |
 Second diagonal bottom layer is complete, ready to be trimmed off |
 View from above showing butted centerline joints different from first diagonal layer. The joints are covered by keel laminates |
 The 2nd diagonal layer is trimmed off and the second & final topsides layer has been laid |
 The outer stem, keel and wale planks are laminated in place and epoxy fairing has been started; Butt joints in topsides planking have been ground hollow, glass taped and faired |
 The stack laminated keel showing centerboard slot and gap for the steel "Flatiron" ballast box; Note the large fillets |
 End joint where the Flatiron ballast box joins the keel deadwood |
 Wale plank finished; glazing & fairing taking place |
 The shaft log mortises are cut into each component of the stack-laminated keel deadwood as it is assembled; The fiberglass log is inserted and the gaps filled with resin after the hull is righted; The inlaid trapazoidal SS fitting is welded to a pipe for the rudder shaft |
 The prop aperture is sculpted and faired to an elliptical trailing edge; Note the cap planks notched for the gudgeon |
 The teak overlay is laminated to the plywood transom prior to fabric/epoxy covering the planking |
 The final coat of wet-out epoxy benefits from an admixture of microballoons; Note transom overlap; You can just see the boot-top line below which the fabric layer is doubled; Xynole wets out so well you can saturate many layers simultaneously |
 View from the bow showing epoxy saturation with microballoon thixogen in final coat of three |
 The hull is painted with several coats of high-build epoxy primer, sanding between coats |
 Underwater viewing ports are inlaid into the hull near the bow; Lexan disks are thru-bolted and bedded with polysulfide |
 Turning the hull over using square wheels and a boom truck; Note the belay to the Flatiron keel (heavy!) |
 Halfway home |
 Almost! |
 Now you can see what a
rocketship this really is! LEOPARD is a Virginia Pilot Schooner
inspired by French
Naval Constructor Maristier's lines taken off in 1821 (NUMBER 17); Bill
Smith and strongback in foreground
|
|
 Starting the deck framing; Mast Partner to right; Centerboard trunk being assembled (note curved laminated aft post) |
 Deck frame and Bulkheads are assembled in concert; The first deck layer is leaning against the hull--pre-painted 1/4" plywood (Sherwin Williams Tile Clad II white epoxy paint); When fresh (less than 48 hours old) the Tile Clad bonds to the epoxy glue used to laminate the deck layers; Cleanup must be done immediately under the deck using rags and denatured alcohol (wear gloves & respirator!); The deck beams & carlins are pre-varnished or -painted (sprayed) before final installation |
 First deck layer laid; spacer blocks laid over deck beams, carlins & sheer are for the foam insulation layer; Ice hold throat is to left--the hold dog-legs into the galley where a top-access hatch is located. Poured polyurethane foam insulation is 6" thick |
 The foam core insulation layer being dryfit; foam & deck covering must be laid simultaniously |
 Final deck layer in place |
 Interior being roughed in; Note large filets with glass tape; The official Parker Marine Ghetto Blaster is just visible to the right, probably playing Anjelique Kidjo, Third World, or possibly Antonin Dvorak |
 The Cargo Holds, with built-in ladders, are divided by the centerboard trunk |
 View from above |
 Cabin trunks going in with interior bulkheads which will be trimmed to the coachroof beams; The tape is to protect endgrain |
 The foam-core butterfly cargo hold hatches are center-hinged and can be completely removed in one unit |
 Looking aft into the saloon and galley |
 The cockpit in frame |
 Drawers: beveled mahogany faces with inset bottoms and rabetted corners; all epoxy glued & sealed--waterproof |
 Companionway carlin with built-in handle; A "pullman berth" can be seen below with settee/water tank below & inboard |
 Double-laminated trunk cabin corner; Trunks are 1/4" ply over 5/8" ply |
 The cockpit framing finished, ready for Xynole/epoxy; My 17 yr-old secretary Rachel Smith, Bill's youngest daughter; Note the saddle-shaped laminated helm seat |
 Mahogany cockpit coaming caps showing scarf joints |
 View into the galley & saloon; The settees are integral water tanks |
 Coachroof work; Center: the official one-of-a-kind Parker Marine Ghetto-Blaster |
 The Forepeak hatch; Beyond: Forward cabin getting foam core dry fitted |
 Hatch covers |
 The squared-off 2" SS rudder shaft with stuffing box and floor timber |
 The FLATIRON keel box ready for molten lead |
 The SS centerboard pin, bolted flange & end-plate |
 The rolling stove for melting lead; Keel box to left |
 The Flatiron Keel box showing plywood form to hold 1/2" SS allthread rods in correct allignment |
 Using railroad jacks to raise the Flatiron keel into position in the deadwood keel apperture; Bedding is 3M 5200 |
 Cement stucco fairing compound is troweled in place prior to epoxy compound and Xynole covering |
 My girlfriend Sylvia working on the transom; Being a criminal-defense lawyer, she may be slightly over-qualified |
 Spot filling with acrylic putty
prior to shooting LP finish coats
|
 Reuel shooting linear polyurethane using a pressure-pot and Binks 2001 spraygun; Spotter/assistant Hershel below left |
 Ditto--shooting the buff-colored wale plank (Sherwin Williams Polane HS) |
 Naca 0009 foil-shaped rudder with sculpted end-plate; 3-blade prop (changed later for a feathering Luke prop) |
 Cockpit almost finished; Ice hold hatch to left; Perkins 4-236 diesel below center hatch |
 Cockpit, looking aft, getting ready for nonskid & finish coats of LP |
 The teak transom varnished; black linear polyurethane topsides finished; red boot stripe, my dory below upside down |
 Laminated white oak gaff jaws just out of the jigs |
 Oak boom jaws being thru-bolted |
 Lowering LEOPARD onto her foil-shaped centerboard prior to launching; Reuel in Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt |
 In the slings at Riverside Marina, Ft. Pierce, Florida, March 1994 |
 Afloat for the first time; My Swamscot dory GANDY DANCER alongside |
 The bulwarks are stack laminated in two layers from industrial Wolmanized yellow pine air-cured for two years |
 Inside the saloon (aft cabin); Main companionway; Note mahogany trim & corner posts |
 Hand splicing 1/2" SS 7x7 wire rope for standing rigging (I had motored LEOPARD to Norfolk, VA) |
 Shrouds ready to be hung, served with tarred marlin |
 Sailing north up the Chesapeake Bay for the first time; The blue bundle is wood to finish the interior |
 LEOPARD's 38" ash & mahogany wheel, which I made (only one) and A-frame "grandfather clock" pedestal |
 First mate Pagan Hill |
 LEOPARD at anchor in Gloucester, MA, summer 1994 |
|