3rd row of planking going on.

Kel and Pat helped with 3rd row. We dry fitted and trimmed planks 3rd row. Then glued, screwed and fitted stbd side planks. Unfortunately Mate came around and distracted me with 6 pack. Watched NZ lose to Aussie again in cricket! Should have fitted port side instead of watching cricket...

Any way a few pics. We make our dog, Jack, sleep on pillow so he doesn't walk around and cover his paws in epoxy drips!

Front floor boards cut out

Hi. Busy summer with kids sailing. Have managed to cut out front floor boards. These were easier to cut out and trim to size before the sides go on. Kids try out mum and dads foredeck sleeping area.

More jobs

2nd row complete. Tingles in. Applying fairing compound to lead. Kelly will epoxy coat all of interior while I am at work tomorrow. She loves painting. Amazing what filler can fill ;-)

Cheers

Brian

Cutting 'Gains' near bow section

This job was easy. The 'Gains' took about 10 minutes on plank and 10 minutes on the hull. They start from about 350mm from stem. Straight edge on plank and plane down as required. My bevel plane was bought on Trade-Me. Thanks to my apprentice for her help. I am lucky she is willing to mix and fillet epoxy and occasionally use the drills!

I am going to holt planking at the 2nd row for a short while. I have decided I am going to epoxy barrier coat my wood under the floorboards and leave unpainted. Will be quicker than painting. Easier to repair. Will also finish all fillets, forward floor and anchor floor. All these jobs will be easier with the top two rows of planks off.

Second Row of Planks almost on

More Progress!

After beveling the first row of planking and marking out and cutting the third row it is time to put on second row. So far so good. Have put on the the rear two planks on. Tomorrow I will cut the gains and glue and screw the front plank on.

Will probably stop there and complete the anchor well and possibly some of the front flooring. May even raw epoxy the floorboards and frames a little more prior to putting on third row.

More Pics of Lower Plank Operation

I had to add an extra couple of small strips of Plywood along the bottom edge of the reverse curve. These allowed the clamps to have something to pull up on. Otherwise they slipped off. They are only held on by short screws and I will take of today.

PS I think I should ask Steinlager for sponsorship too!

Lower Side Plank

These are the hardest. Especially around the bow. I didn't find it to difficult. The key being to pull everything up evenly. Thanks to Simon and Max from Canterbury Sailing School for their help. Also Kelly my wife. It really is a two or three person job. Thickened epoxy in a bag works for getting onto frames and stringers. I used a combination of clamps, zip ties, and wedges. Check out the photos.

Took a day to get all planks on.

Planking

In God, the angle grinder and thickened epoxy we trust. What a hassle getting the chines bevelled to the right angle. Took ages. I thought I might be able to use planes but they hardly fit amongst building frame. So out game the grinder with a coarse sandpaper flapper wheel. Noisy and dusty but got the job done. Not sure if I should be called the 'Butcher of Bagdad' or 'Rangi the Carver'

My old Air Force buddy Jacko came around. I soon had him enlisted in helping me mark out the first plank. "No thousands of an inch tolerances here!" I had to tell him.

Any way here are some pics.

Agghhh! Two years?!?!

Can't believ my project is over two years old now! Time to get A into G. At least my family has been sailing in Oti's, P's, Europe and my Finn. So we have all learnt to sail. So back to it aye! Into the man cave to continue my build...

J class Pic

Oops. Forgot to upload pic

Radio Control Yachting

Have been busy sailing a RC yacht at Hagley Park in the middle of Christchurch. It is a J Class. There is a great fleet of almost 40 racing sometimes. Heaps of fun. It does keep me away from building...

www.christchurchmodelyachting.org.nz

DC-3 Fundraising Flight, Christchurch, 10:30am, Sunday, 26th-July-09

Awesome scenic flight in a Classic Aircraft. Departs Christchurch Airport overflying Christchurch City - Lyttelton Harbour - Sumner Beach - New Brighton Beach - Waimakiriri River Mouth - Christchurch Airport. Plenty of opportunities to visit the flight-deck and take photos.

$120 Adult, $ 60 Child 12 years and under.

Proceeds to help our son Patrick 'Mad Dog' Haybittle, NZ's top 11 year old Optimist Sailor on his voyage with the NZ Development Team to the Noumea Optimist Nationals in November. Plenty of opportunities to visit the flight-deck and take photos. The aircraft has modern seating and "viewmaster" windows, and the scenery is astonishing. The flight takes you over the partly submerged giant volcanic cone of Banks Peninsula, around over the Pacific Ocean and over the Canterbury plains in full view of the snow clad Southern Alps ( the aircraft has a heated cabin) The Waimakariri is one of the best examples of a braided shingle river anywhere in the world and its full beauty cannot be seen from ground level.

(This is the reason I bought a jet-rib. So I can follow our kids out sailing on the Harbour)

PM us or call 0800 406 447
021 112 9556

Cheers
Brian and Kelly

http://www.maddogsailing.com/Mad_Dog_Sailing/DC-3_Flight.html
http://www.southerndc3.co.nz/home