Chebacco News 62 – 11 years and counting, a cedar strip build

Received from Dennis Gamble recently:

I live in Marshfield, Wisconsin, and have been building my Chebacco for about 11 years now.  After completing a Bolger Gypsy back in 2004, I decided I needed something a bit larger.  I did not enjoy the sanding of epoxy required for the tack and tape method, so I decided to build my boat using sawn frames and chine logs instead. 

I first lofted the boat full size in my basement on ¼ inch gypsum board.  I then built the frames, inner stem, centerboard and case.   The frames and stem are of douglas fir. The next step would have been the strong back, but I didn’t have a large enough space to set the boat up at my previous residence.  So the frames and centerboard went up into the garage rafters for a couple of years until I moved into my current home. 

I have a double garage now, about 22 feet deep.  The strongback went up in the right side stall, and the boat has lived there ever since.  My hull is constructed of 3 layers.  The first 2 layers are ¼ inch by 1.5 inch cedar strips laid on a diagonal at 90 degrees.  The outer layer is 1/8 inch meranti plywood.  The hull is covered on the outside with 4 oz fiberglass cloth set in epoxy.  I will not be fiberglassing the inside. In retrospect I would probably have used plywood for the hull, as this is a fairly labor intensive method of construction.  Also, my hull is not as fair as it could be.  This did not become apparent until after I had glassed, painted and flipped it onto it’s trailer.  I will repaint with a flat finish rather than re-glass.  I have been using ½ inch MDO for the cockpit, deck and cabin construction.  All exterior horizontal surfaces will have a layer of 4 ounce fiberglass cloth set in epoxy.  I am using thickened epoxy for exterior glue joints.  I have been using PL Premium construction adhesive for most interior joinery. 

Progress has been slow but steady.  I added a heater to my garage a few years ago, which has allowed me to work through the Winter.  I try to work on the boat a little every day, but probably average only 5 hours a week.  At my current pace, I’m probably 3 to 4 years away from launching.  I haven’t taken many construction pictures, and have lost track of some of the earlier shots, but here are some newer shots.  More shots at https://saildubay.club/boat-building-project/