SCAMP Wanderings: SCAMP #434 Build - March Progress Report

With my fast forward move of purchasing an aluminum mast from Gig Harbor Boats I am now able to concentrate this month on:

Build boom and yard
Fit mast to boat
Attach hardware and rigging
Install oar lock mounts
Install motor mount
Purchase motor
Launch that puppy!

I have been fussing around with boom/yard thinking - Sitka spruce? Doug Fir? Solid? Laminated?

In the end I visited my local Gibsons Building Supply and after a bit of searching was able to find a 12' and 14' clear boards from the grade 2 kiln dried 2x4 construction spruce stack. Total cost less than $20. I know this may add a little weight but if this is a flop I have little investment. The boom will be the full 1.5"x 2.25"x 136" but for the yard I scaled it up a bit to an oval cross section of 1.5" x 1.75" x 150" (plans show a 45 round cross section). As my friend Jamie Orr once said "Just build it. if it works - great. if it doesn't work - build it again." Wise words.

Nice clear 2x4s

After laying out lines and cutting tapers with circular saw

After ripping to width on table saw

Cleaning up tapers with jointer plane

My Dad's Stanley No.7 jointer plane is the ideal tool for flattening out the long taper and rip cuts.
This tool was given to him by my Mom as a wedding gift in 1948. My lee Valley block plane for size perspective.
Farley supervises.

Sanded and wiped down

Two coats of varnish

I had previously laminated two 3/4" pieces of plywood together which I now bolted to the Duckworks engine mount using countersunk bolts. Added a coat of varnish for good measure.

Purchased a new Honda 2.3 hp, air cooled four cycle outboard motor at the local Honda dealer. Was lucky as I got it for $955 which was about $200 off the list price. Sale due to last years model and 'Boatshow' pricing. Sweet little motor. I was very happy with my 5 hp Honda OB I had on my last boat. I promise to maintain good gasoline hygiene practices which are so important for these little four strokes.

After much fitting and measurements I mounted the the motor mount and it seemed about right.

Need to cut bolts to length and use nylock nuts

Looking good!

With a little jiggling I was able to mount the centreboard with the pivot bolt. I ended up using a 7/16" bolt rather than the 1/2" as it was easier to insert but I did notice a bit on lateral movement of the board which may or may not be due to this. May switch this back at end of season. Sealed and screwed the cover plate over pivot bolt.

Rigged the CB lifting lines and everything worked beautifully

With the CB in place and the panel screwed down, motor mounted, trailer licensed and an unseasonably warm stretch of weather we decided that March 20th would be a good day for an unofficial 'builder's launch'. Off we went to the Gibsons Marina!

At the ramp - strap off, CB up, motor on, rudder on, pay for launch, PFDs, dock lines attached...always feels like I'm forgetting something

Really digging the light weight and ease of launch

Very cozy and comfortable for a 11'11" boat - even for a couple of six footers!

Farley gets a rub down after he fell overboard

Blow dry!

We spent a few hours motoring around our local Shoal Channel before a stop at Plumper's Cove to stretch our legs. Back to the ramp and home. Very slick. The boat and motor both performed beautifully.

The Gig Harbor mast came with an upper plastic spacer attached. It was a wee bit too wide so I removed it and planned it to fit. They gave me a couple of plastic blanks and from one of these I was able to fabricate the mast step that I then attached to foot of mast with self tapping screws and sealant.

Offset mast supports to achieve the correct mast angle

Stepped - nice and snug and straight. Good colour match too.
I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of stepping this 12 lb mast.

Next step was to attached the halyard and down haul fitting and associated cleats to the cabin top.

Keeping it simple with 1/8" plywood backing plates, over sized washers and 3M sealant.

Oarlock mounts were next.

Mounted with 3/4" bronze screws and generous 3M 5200 adhesive

Simple fix with a length of bungy and plastic hooks to keep the fenders neatly stowed but out of cockpit when not deployed.

Finally had a chance to try out this portable solar charger. Thanks for the recommendation Hagoth! Quite impressive results - charged my old Samsung tablet from 0 to 58% in three hours at 16 degrees Celsius. This is going to be really useful when away from shore power.