SCAMP Wanderings: SCAMP #434 Build - January Progress Report

Happy 2019!

January 2019 is a busy month for us. After 25 year in our wonderful suburban Port Moody neighbourhood we have sold our home and moving to a condo in the Olympic Village neighbourhood of Vancouver. 2500 to 970 square feet means a lot of sorting and downsizing and that is a good thing. February 1st is move date.

This move means that I will be losing my cozy garage/boat shop so the pressure is on to get my SCAMP to an outdoor ready condition by that date. My plan is to move the boat to my second home in Gibsons (short ferry ride from West Vancouver) where I will store it under on my driveway under a tarp shelter.

Therefore, aside from all the moving hoopla, the goal for SCAMP is:

Purchase and pick up trailer
Finish up last paint touch ups
Install and varnish coamings trim and rub rails
Install cleats
Install oarlock mounts
Position boat on trailer
Install centreboard
Move boat to my Gibsons storage location in preparation for moving house

For the rub rails I visited my local Windsor Plywood and purchase a 14 ft clear fir 2x2 which with the help of two sons home for Christmas ripped into two 3/8" x 1-1/4" planks. I then measured and drilled countersunk holes at 8" centres along the length. Upon dry fitting this long skinny brittle feeling plan felt like it may has troubles with the curves and twists required to bent it on. Simeon on our SCAMP FB group gave me a great suggestion and that was to leave the planks out in the wet cool Vancouver weather for a week to allow the wood moisture content to increase leading to a little more flexibility. I did this and a week later, with Lisa's help, we were able to attach both rub rails with bronze #8 screws and 3M 4200 adhesive/sealant. Timmed to length, a touch with the hand plane where a little proud, 1/8" roundover with router, light sanding, varnish - done.

Soaking up the beautiful Westcoast moisture

Coaming and rub rails installed - love the two giant 'C' clamps

Installed prior to finishing

Also at Windsor Plywood I picked up some hemlock 1/4"x 3/4" trim strips that attached nicely to the coaming with 3M 5200 adhesive.

No fasteners, just 5200 adhesive for the coaming trim

Friday, January 11th will go down as one of my more 'spendy' days I am sure. Left home super early to cross the border, hit the I-5 and braved the Seattle rush hour to arrive at the Gig Harbor Boat Works around 0930 hrs to pick up my previously ordered trailer. Didn't help that my GPS decided to pack it it on route. The folks at GH were very accommodating and the trailer is perfect.

Manufactured by Carnai Trailers Inc. in Spokane the trailer is then modified by GH to fit the quirky SCAMP hull. I splurged for the opional hinged tongue and spare tire with mount. I also ordered a pair of the recommended 9' two piece oars which I picked up also.

The spontaneous part of this visit originates earlier with my mulling over building my mast. I have been pricing and sourcing 16' clear spruce and researching the birds mouth mast construction and maybe it is just project burnout but my heart was just not getting on board... GH makes the fg version of the SCAMP and with these provides a 16' aluminum, two part, painted (beige) mast. They had one in stock. It was not cheap. I bought it. I am thrilled with the mast.

So, here is the spending break down that morning at Gig Harbor

Trailer $1,595
Hinged tongue $295
Spare and mount $145
Oars $329
Mast $700
3 day permit $35

Gig Harbor Boat Works world HQ

A fiberglass SCAMP on progress - GH does beautiful work

New trailer ready to head north

Foot note - I could have been more careful hooking up my electrics as I managed to just drag the tail light cable just enough to wear through one wire on the next driving leg. I managed a jury rigged splice on the Port Townsend ferry with adhesive tape from my first aid kit to get us home safely.

Pic of the Two part GH mast - 2.27" in diameter, 1/16" wall thickness, 16" length, 12 lbs

Next stop was on the north bound leg was Port Townsend Foundry where I stopped by to pick up the eight 4-1/2", two bolt deck cleats and fasteners I had previously ordered. Six for deck and two for veranda top. Good price at $30 each and nice folks too.

New cleats and the 4-1/2" size is perfect for the SCAMP

A small sample of some of the bronze in stock

Final road stop is Duckworks in Port Townsend where I had a pleasant chat with Josh and Marty before picking up a motor mount plus break away cleat and line for rudder.