TILLER & RUDDER STOCK

Through the whole build, when I came across a part that was a little difficult, I would put it aside and go on with something that was easier. It has now come down to all those more difficult jobs.

Yesterday, a friend of mine came over, handed me a bag and said, "here". I opened it and squealed with excitement. Obviously, he saw my worn out jigsaw! I get to use his to finish my build. By the look on his face, I guess he has never seen a woman get that excited over a power tool.

I have been putting off cutting the hole in the transom for the tiller. It seems wrong to cut a big hole that close to the waterline. The pintle and gudgeon was ordered from Duckworks, and I installed it today. The lower gudgeon is not completed yet, so I just drilled a hole in scrap wood to simulate the gudgeon. After marking approximately where the tiller will meet the transom, I drilled a couple of holes. With jigsaw in hand, I started the cutting. And it cut so smooth!!!!

The tiller will be made next. Hopefully, that post will be up in a few days. We'll see...

Rudder & Rudder Stock

The rudder pivots on the rudder stock, giving you the ability to sail in shallow water and to beach her. Because of this, the rudder needs some extra weight to keep it from wanting to float. I poured lead into a notch cut in the back of the rudder, close to the bottom. Screws were screwed into the edge of the notch to hold the lead firmly in place. I forgot to take a picture before I poured the lead, so you will just have to believe me when I say they are in there. :-)

After the lead was poured and cooled, I had to file a few high places and fill a few low places. The rudder will be fiberglassed after it is faired.

The rudder stock, to the left, was constructed by gluing together two 3/4 inch plywood. A 5/8 inch bronze rod is epoxied into a hole drilled the length of the forward part of the stock. This is the pintle that will pivot in the gudgeon that I have not built yet. The upper pintle and gudgeon will be purchased from Duckworks.

My work has slowed to a crawl, as I have had many distractions. I hope to finish the plumbing soon, so I can glue the lids on the water tanks. So many things to do!

Stove: Part 2

This week I've been working on the single burner stove and the dividers behind bulkhead #4. The only dimensions I am sure of, are the ones for the stove. Without knowing what will be stored there, I am not sure how big the compartments should be. So, I just divided the remaining area in half.

The ability to easily change out the propane bottle was a must. I didn't want the need to fish for a screw driver in order to pull the burner. The holders pictured on the left, will be glued in the small compartment just behind the bulkhead. This design was the simplest I could come up with. The stove knobs will sit in the slot and the lid will slide over the bolts and be held in place with the wing nuts. These holders will be glued to the back of the bulkhead and the divider parallel to the bulkhead. I will post pictures when it is completely installed.

Today, I pulled out the rudder and rudder stock. They have been cut out, shaped and faired. The

rudder stock has a step mounted on the port side. This is a must. Without it, I would never be able to climb back aboard from the water. The lower pintle is a 5/8 inch rod running inside the length of the stock. This pintle will fit into a gudgeon that I will make.

The rudder is weighted, however, I haven't poured that yet. Maybe I can do that on Sunday.

My next post will have the stove completed and in place and the rudder filled with lead, so stay tuned.