Flats Stalker 18

[Shamrock kid]

Then I flipped it back over and started fitting the rub rails on.

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This is made up of three layers of 1/4" plywood. they will be laminated together and glued on. Right now they are just screwed on.

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I ran out of strips and need to rip out some more. But I knew this already and will continue on tomorrow.

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[neon14]

This boat is coming along nicely. Cant wait to see how you build to deck and rig it out.

Oh and thats a pretty nice looking shop your working in

[Pesco]

Very nice. If youre in the Houston area i would volunteer to help out.

[Shamrock kid]

This boat is coming along nicely. Cant wait to see how you build to deck and rig it out.

Oh and thats a pretty nice looking shop your working in

Thanks! Yeah I can't wait to get to that step as well. Nothing is in ink yet, just kinda figuring it out as I go. Lots of ideas in my head what I want to do. Guess we'll see what actually makes it.

Very nice. If youre in the Houston area i would volunteer to help out.

I'm in Corpus but thanks, feels like I've just been sanding lately. Fairing sucks!

Got the rub rails laminated and glued on tonight. But forgot to snap some pics. Now that the rub rails are on I get to coat it with quick fair and sand some more. I'm hoping the quick in the name means it sands quicker then epoxy.

[Shamrock kid]

Well I'm still sanding. But I think Im making headway. Its hard to tell, some times it seems like one step forward results in two back. Anyway I plan to start with the quickfair tomorrow. The boat takes on a different look with the rub rails on. It looks more like a boat.

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Not the best pic but its a phone camera. After sanding all the way around I wiped it down with water. If I can ever get it faired I think the primer will really make a big change.

[Shamrock kid]

Building on one little step at a time. Started with the Quick Fair this weekend. Really like this stuff now I'm wondering why people just don't start with this to begin with.

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I'm mixing in small batches just so I don't waste any. Its not really pricey I just don't like waste. So its a two to one mix, I use a tablespoon and a half tablespoon to measure it out. mixing three of each. I guess its giving me about a third of a cup of putty. Tool of choice for this is my 8" drywall knife. I sand the blade before each use to make sure there isn't any hard stuff on it.

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This is the second coat after sanding the first. I really like this stuff it applies easier, sands easier, and all around is easier to work with.

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I like the way its turning out so far. I'll let this dry then sand again tonight.

[Shamrock kid]

Building on, got the first coat of primer on today. Looks allot different but it also shows were its not quit faired.

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It was getting hard to see what was fair and what was not. But now I can tell just by looking at it.

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Its also good to see it in one solid color. Makes it seem like I'm actually making progress.
Now I got to fix the spots that need help. Then I'm going to put a layer of epoxy and graphite on the bottom. Stay tuned!

[Hirsch]

Look forward to seeing the final. Very nice.

[Shamrock kid]

Look forward to seeing the final. Very nice.

Thank you, I'm looking forward to it as well. I'm working on a couple spots that needed more fairing. Then going to coat the bottom in graphite. The plan is to get it done this weekend. We'll see how it goes.

[Shamrock kid]

Building on, got the first coat of graphite on her bottom.

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Got two more coats to go. Then the big flip!

[Shamrock kid]

Building on.......did the big flip tonight.

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I'm still not sure if I like the sheer, but its really to late. At this point I would have to redo the rub rails and that is not an option.

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I think they will grow on me. But it feels good to get to this point. Now I get to start the inside. Also got the motor on the way. Should be showing up midweek, stay tuned to see what I'm going with. I did the whole 2 stroke verses 4 stroke thing. Did allot of research on the two and I've had past experience with both. And there is so many things to consider. But bought this because of price.

[Shamrock kid]

Building on..... I got the inside cleaned up and the rub rail tops plained down even. Not much to show pic wise. But whats a post with out pics!

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Since flipping it I had added carpet to the jig to keep from scratching the finish coat on the bottom. I notice how slick the graphite is. While plaining the rub rails I almost pushed it off the jig. So I had to add some ratchet straps to keep it planted in on the jig. I got under the jig to see how the graphite coat was curing. I snapped this pic cause it looked cool. You can see the reflection of the extra carpet laying under it. Looks like a mirror.

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Hope to start the inside fillets, and glass tapping this week. Then possibly glass the inside this weekend.

[Shamrock kid]

Well have not had a chance to work on her this week. But..... I got a delivery today.

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I could not wait to open her up. Felt like a kid on christmas. Only this is a big boy toy, gotta love them!

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And finally the motor of choice is.......?

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Its a Yammy baby! 25hp four stroke.
I do like 2 strokes because they are lighter, get out of the hole faster. But I've never liked the way they idle, the noise, or worrying about the oil not injecting right. Or mixing the oil in the fuel if you choose to disconnect the oil system. I know the four strokes are heavier, and are slower on the hole shot. But they idle so much nicer, are quieter, don't smell like burnt oil. Plus four stroke yammies just sip fuel. But really I couldn't pass up the deal. A dealer in Florida had some left overs motor that they needed to move. Motor and shipping was just over $2000. I was looking to pick up a used one on craigslist. But someone mentioned to me that then I'll just be getting someone else's problems. I thought about that and decided that if at all possible I would look for a new motor. This is a 2010 but its never been used and comes with a 3 year warranty from Yamaha. I think I made a good buy and now I just want to get this girl finished and on the water.

[Shamrock kid]

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One more just because!

[MR2brad]

Nice! We had a Yamaha four stroke on our past boat, and it ran like a champ.
Fuel efficient and you could barely hear it at idle. Can't wait to see how the boat performs.

[JaimeInTexas]

Okay, okay, enough of the break. Get back to work.

I do not have a place where I can build anything. I live vicariously through some of the build projects I have seen. Man it is looking good.

[Shamrock kid]

Nice! We had a Yamaha four stroke on our past boat, and it ran like a champ.
Fuel efficient and you could barely hear it at idle. Can't wait to see how the boat performs.

Can't wait either, I got so much more to do. I want to be patient and do it right. But it's hard not to throw it together and get on the water.

Okay, okay, enough of the break. Get back to work.

I do not have a place where I can build anything. I live vicariously through some of the build projects I have seen. Man it is looking good.

Lol, I hear you. Enough B.S. with work I got a boat to build. Damn work keeps getting in my way. Early mornings and 14 hour days have slowed me up this week. But I plan to get back to it real soon. Thanks for the comments and compliments.

[Shamrock kid]

Building on......tonight there wasn't much photo worthy. But I snapped a few anyway. I sanded down all the inside seams in prep for fillets. Then I measured and set the stringers, and frames in place. So I could mark their locations. This will come in handy later in the build.

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After I got all those marked I took them out again. Then made the inside bow fillet. But before that I primed the seams with epoxy.

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Made the fillet and laid the glass tape wet on wet. Two layers of tape overlapped by one inch.

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I'm hoping to get all the inside fillets and seams tapped this weekend. But I made a huge mistake forgetting to place an order for more epoxy. I have about half a gallon left. I'll see how far it goes. I don't really want to pay the kings ransom by buying it at West Marine. Stay tuned..........

[texasproud11]

Excited to see the finished product

[Nano-Skiff]

Really nice.

[Shamrock kid]

Excited to see the finished product

Thanks, me too!

Really nice.

Thanks, I always welcome compliments and comments as well. Helps keep me motivated.

[Shamrock kid]

Building on...... but as expected the mistake I mentioned earlier of forgetting to order more epoxy bit me. I ran short of finishing the inside fillets. I was working wet on wet. Meaning that after building a fillet I let it set up just slightly then laminated the glass tape over it. This is suppose to provide a much stronger joint. But for me this means allot less sanding. I not real fond of sanding and the less I do is fine with me. There is enough sanding already involved in boat building.
Here's is a stern fillet. Nice smooth 1/2" radius.

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Here is the stern seam's and keel seam filleted and tapped. The keel was filleted as well and has three overlapping layers of 6" biaxial tape. The stern has just two layers of tape.

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I didn't have enough epoxy left to make the chine fillets, and seams. Thats what I get for not properly managing my project. But all in all at least I got some nice clean work done on her.

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Next step is to finish the seams and then glass the inside with biaxial fabric from stern to bow. Stay tuned......

[Shamrock kid]

Okay finally building on......

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The supplies I ordered on Monday showed up Friday evening. Just in time for some filleting and glassing. After I sanded down and cleaned up the seams I already made. I finisher the chine seams with a fillet and one layer of 12oz biaxial tape. Then laid 7 yards of 12oz 50" wide biaxial fabric. Laid it all wet on wet, not fun and thats allot of mixing and spreading. Glad its over with.

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From this angel it doesn't look like the stern got glassed but it is.

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The lines I drew on earlier in the build are perfectly visible through the glass. And they should come in handy with the next step.

[Shamrock kid]

The next step.....
After the inside glass set up I laid the stringers back in and with the marks already there it was easy to line them up. I used the frames to hold everything lined up. Also used pieces of tongue depressors to space the stringer off the hull.

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Then I tabbed the stringers in and let them set up.

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After the tabs set up I removed the frames again. All this back and forth is making me dizzy. Then you guessed it filleted and glassed the stringers. Well one at least, the other will have to wait. I think I'm almost over the hump.

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[Johnny5455]

Wow that's cool!