Glassing!

Today I got around to getting the port hull forward deck glassed. I wanted to start the starboard hull, but we have a large cold front coming through, and the rain was starting to fall as I finished up the port section. As can be seen in the photo, I have a couple of bubbles where I couldn't get the glass to smooth down. The upper deck stringers are a little larger than the plans suggested for a solid foothold while bouncing around, and it was a bit ambitious to hope that everything would lay smooth. It's no big deal though; I'll sand the area out tomorrow and put a couple of patches over the spots and have everything covered. This was the largest area I've ever glassed at one time, and I think it went ok. Unfortunately it's supposed to be super cold for the next few days, so I'll have to wait to try again. I'm planning to glass around the sheer stringers with both the deck glass layer and the topsides layer to have nice protection around the impact areas.

So many fillets!

Forgive me for not posting more these past few weeks, but the work has consisted of small details that don't really show. I have finished all of the cabin top fillets along with small fillets along the stem and skegs and the upper deck stringers. I guess it should go without saying that I'm really tired of fillets and have been putting them off for a while. Once I started them, I got a good system going that actually made the whole process enjoyable. This should help a ton with doing the beam fillets! I've also gotten all of the hatch coaming pieces cut out and ready to go after coating. I plan on sanding the fillets smooth tomorrow and finishing the day with a first coat of epoxy in preparation for glassing on Monday. It's finally coming together! I also cut out holes to fill with epoxy on the rudders to keep the lashings from touching bare wood and cut out the notches for the tillers.


For anyone interested in easy fillet making:


Mix 3 oz epoxy
Mix in 3/4 cup silica and 3/4 cup wood flour
Place a zip loc bag in a plastic cup
Scrape fillet mix into bag
Twist up bag like you would for cake icing
Cut a small hole in one corner of bag
Apply and use a radius tool to make a smooth fillet

Fillets!

Well I have been avoiding the interior cabin top and hull to deck joint fillets like the plague for a while now. Something about epoxy icing in a zip lock bag while inside a cramped Tiki 21 hull with little room to maneuver seems like a terrible proposition! With the cool Fall weather, though, I started in on them today. Much to my surprise and despite not touching epoxy for the past ten months, the process went really smoothly. The starboard hull is done on the inside except for the anchor locker. I plan on knocking the rest out and the port hull in the morning while it's still cool. I have also sanded the decks down and faired in the miscellaneous stitch holes and started fairing the cabin top to deck joint for a nice rounded edge. She's starting to get a little bit sexier!

 

I stuffed the spinnaker and life jackets in the vent hatch holes to mitigate sanding dust intrusion.

Back in the US!

Well I finally made it back, and brought Beto out for a little sunbathing today. Plans are to start back on her on Monday. Stoked!

America de Central

Well I've been working down in Central America along the coast for a couple of months now, and I'm so stoked to finish out this work with a bunch of funds to start voyaging. I mapped out what's left on Beto, and if I work hard it should only take about eight weeks to get her in the water. After starting the project, going through some very heavy life experiences in the middle of it, and finding my drive again, I feel this break is proving very beneficial towards the re-kindling of my Tiki 21 dreams. I came close to posting her up for sale last year, but there would be no point in giving up and making all of the work I've put into her so far meaningless. Adding to my stoke-factor, living on the Caribbean side of Central America to this slower pace, seeing others out actually cruising, has done everything to solidify and inspire me to get Beto on the water. For now I'll just keep renting Hobies and growing the funds...

Gorgeous Water out at the Islands

 

 

Anchored Out

 

There Are Worse Places to Make Money...

Doing a little work before I leave out on the 5th

Well I wheeled Beto out of her current storage room berth to let her have some fresh air. I've been working on sanding the forward decks down smooth and getting the fillets inside/underside of the cabin top done. An orbital sander really need to be purchased at this time! All that's really left on the outsides is fillets along the upper deck stringers and underneath sheerstringers, filling the gap along the keep and rounding it, rounding edges of decks, hatch coamings, and final fairing/epoxy coat for glass. It sounds like a lot, but really shouldn't take toooo long.

I gave the trailer some fresh 12" tires. Beto likes being back outside. 2015 she will be afloat! I decided against windows as it would be just one more area to worry about keeping sealed, and I think it would look a little weird with the dodgers that will be fitted. Still debating on installing a beaching skid along the keel. I also ended up going with 19X24 inch hatch openings to which a sliding hatch will be fitted. A 10" ventilation hatch will be fitted at the forward section of the cabin top. 

Merry Christmas

I have decided not to sell Beto. I can't let life's problems stop the dream! That being said, I'm now looking at a Spring 2015 launch date. I have to work out Of the country all year, but will come back with an enormous cruising kitty, ready to get her finished and get sailing!

 

Current Home for Beto

 

Finished trailer in a day and a half. I'm going to make better cradles eventually, but for now she rolls fine.