Cruising Log for S/V Freedom - a Gemini 105 - Jim and Deb Faughn
Paul Cook is building a Redwing 23
Paul Cook is a friend of ours, Jim and Deb on Freedom, and if you have read the sailing logs of s/v Freedom, you might remember Paul. We purchased our boat from Pat and Paul and they are great friends of ours. Paul has built several airplanes, remodeled and built houses, and is a great wood worker. So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when he told me he was going to build a wooden boat. Their goal is to use the boat to explore the rivers, which are abundant in the midwest. I can see them now making the trip from Kentucky Lake up to Nashville, TN. Since he is building every part on the boat, wiring, plumbing and all the other things you have to do, I twisted his arm and he agreed to provide pictures so I could create this website for him showing his construction progress. He has sent me pictures and excerpts from his building log so you can follow along. However, building a boat isn't like building a house. It seems to take forever when you are also living life too so be patient and check back every month or so for an update. He is expecting to have it in the water around summer of 2009 at this point. |
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| After the boat frames are built, they must be placed on a "strongback" to hold them in perfect alignment. And of course, you start upside down. |  |
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With frames in place, and carlines attached to frames, next add the Okome plywood with epoxy and screws. |
| While the boat is upside down, it is easier to make the cutout for the motor well before turning the boat. In fact, I completed everything possible to the hull when the hull was "up" |  |
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The hull is now fiberglassed with between 2 and 4 ply's of 6 oz glass, a few low spots filled, the weave in the glass filled with epoxy, and the twin scags bolted and fiberglassed into the hull. |
| The hull was next sanded and primered, made ready for painting. The waterline was marked and the anti-fouling paint applied. |  |
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Turning the boat over is next. Fortunately, I had room for a tractor to help with the job. I build frame work on the boat so it could actually be rolled over, not lifted. The hull probably weighed around 1600 pounds at this stage. |
| And now you can see what the inside looks like without an interior. |  |
| You have to have clamps for this job too. |  |
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The boat seemed to have grown when it was turned over. The deck was added and fiberglassed. |
| Skipping ahead, the shearstrake was added where the hull and deck meet, and the forward cabin construction begin. |  |
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Like I said previously, clamps are rally important. |
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The pilot house added. |
| The top to the forward cabin and pilot house added, and a hatch roughed in. All outside surfaces are covered in with a minimum of two layers of fiberglass. |  |
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Building the engine compartment. |
Mar 25, 2008 - To the right you can see what it looks like just after completing the topside and finishing some varnishing of the window frames. |
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When you are building a boat yourself, you have to understand systems. Like airplanes and houses, when it comes to installing the systems the plans typically say "install the instruments and equipment and wire the boat now." Really, almost everyone does it their way anyway so the designer is more concerned with structural integrity of the hull than the wiring. There is a 20 hp Honda on the back. This summer Paul is going off to work as a boat captain at Yellowstone so it does look like it will be done next year. |
April 17, 2008 - Since the last update, I installed the windshield, side windows, and the hatch on the forward deck. Also you can see the hand rails forward along with the cleats and nav lights. I am using all led lighting since I don't want to carry a bunch of battery weight around. One of the really neat installations in this picture is the port hole. It was a pain to build but it sure looks good.
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| May 4 - Everything but a GPS. The wire's await it where the tag is on the left |  |
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Pat's chair. No pedestal as need the room underneith for the Engle |
| Pilot house headliner w/o trim |  |
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The sink location
(which is built) and water tank, but plumbing must take place as well as shelving before the cabinet is set into place |
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finished engine compartment with part of the cockpit showing. Note engine/fuel tank vents, fuel fill, battery selector switch, etc. |
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This is the latest
picture of the outside. Most everything is finished on the outside except hanging the pilot house doors and painting a black strip at the top edge of the oak board running the length of the boat. |
Web Page by Jim Faughn