The Big Cut

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The time had come tor the great Portola Valley Chainsaw Massacre--the big cut of the FB11.

Chainsaw Mike

Actually I didn't use a chainsaw. I had a knowledgeable and strong friend come help, and I used a family heirloom carpenter's saw.

The Big Cut in Progess

Before I installed the second half of the double bulkhead I drilled holes through the side and center chines. When it came time to cut, I drew lines connecting the holes, and cut along the lines. On the whole it went pretty uneventfullly. I did have the pieces firmly clamped with spacers to prevent something breaking as I got to the end of the cut.

Clamps and Spacers

And here is the result.

In Two Pieces

After I cleaned up the edges it was interesting to compare the starboard and port chine fillets

Starboard Fillet

Its a lot bigger than I thought it would be, but should be OK.

Port Fillet

This about what I expected. So then I sanded the edges flush and rounded them, puttied in the gaps in the fillets and glassed the outsides of the middle bulkheads. I spend the rest of the day whittling on one of the oars

Lots of Shavings