Nimble – Minor Variations to the Nimbus Mk3

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

Hi Ray

The trouble is I am below the waterline at the stern and have not quite reached there at the.  Failure of some planning there.

The other trouble has been that I got bored with planking the mahogany and when I found a couple of problems I switched to Spooky while I figured out what to do.

The first was a plank near the stern that had moved while clamped and had set under-flush.  A few high spots are ok but hollows are a no no because that would mean sanding down the surrounding area to remove the groove. This would create a flat spot and some local thinning that I am keen to avoid.

The second was a plank that didn’t like the twist at the transom but also it was my fault for taking off the clamps too early.  I should have left it overnight.

I can’t use filler on this varnished hull (at least above the waterline) so eventually I made up my mind that the plank had to come out and a new one fitted before adding any more planks.   Repairs necessary before even completion!

A stroke of luck was that both problems were on the same plank and only 150mm apart.  Decision made, I cut out the section only and left a tapered join to let in a new section.  Thankfully it worked out and it gave me the encouragement and nerve to tackle two very twist needy planks at the bow.

Work is now in progress as I wait for the rig and sails to arrive for Spooky.  They are with the Spanish customs and after paying duty, I think they will arrive in the next couple of days.

I am still trying to make up my mind whether to go for a full carbon fin and SailsEtc bulb or make my own.  They are a bit expensive but very efficient.  I will see if Nimble deserves it when we get to that stage.

Tim R

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

Well the rigs and sails for Spooky did arrive but I promised myself I would finish the planking on Nimble first.

 

ON this build I moved away to get all the planks full length.  The transom is so narrow it would have meant tapering planks down to needles so I planked from the deck edge upwards with broader planks and without much taper.  This will look better when the hull is varnished as there will be fewer glue lines.

As I started the close the gap I alternated between the top and the bottom.  This gives a herring-bone arrangement where the angled ends of the planks alternate.  This avoids having a single glue line across the end grain which is not so strong.  Remember that IOMs basically don’t have any bulkheads so all the stresses are in the hull and deck

When I finally got to this stage the gap was wider than one plank and would have left a very awkward sliver.  The way around this was to glue two planks together first and then fi t them as one.

I had kept the end of a cling film roll where I had to cut it to fit a dispenser.  It was ideal for a non-stick surface for the temporary jig much from balsa blocks pinned to the table.

Wedge are then used to clamp the planks while the epoxy sets.

Next I tape a piece of paper over the gap and use the edge of a pencil tip to find the outline like doing a brass-rubbing.

This gives me the size and shape of the closing plank.  The paper template is stuck to the plank with Pritt Stick and cut out on a band saw.  The back of this plank was slightly hollowed out to confirm to the hull radius.

The edges of the planks are then carefully dressed with using a sanding block until they are a snug fit.  Epoxy doesn’t make the wood swell so no allowance has to be made.

At last!!

The hull is closed up and ready to carry on with the first rough sanding.  The hull is off the board but still has about half the shadows in place to hold the shape.  This will also keep the hull at the right attitude to mark the waterline.  The remaining shadows will stay in place until I fit some temporary deck bracing.

My next boat will not be varnished mahogany!

Tim R

 

 

 

 

 

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

That will look great once you have sanded it. Worth it even if it is your last varnished hull!

I ended up with some planks like that in my Fisherman build but as I’m painting the hull I didn’t have to be as accurate.

Chris

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Tim,

She will be a beauty of that I have no doubt, In my experience it’s best not to say it will be the last one 🙂

Miserable weather goes on here 🙁 should be better by Easter 🙂

My summer place Nerja has taken a right battering !!

Regards  Ray

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