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Looks pretty fair so far Pascal. Going to be much sanding to do first or will you laminate the outer hull with glass first?
Building Starfish 26... First sail!!
- Thread starter PascalG
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
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I m going laminate the inside of the hull first at least the upper part since that can be done while planking continues (I have to wait about 2 hours before unclamping). Also, we can work on the inside of the hull while standing on the ground since the bottom is still open.
Outside, Wood will be sanded fair and then covered with a single layer of 8oz eglass above the WL. This is the tricky part aince i wantvthe wood to be visible. Below WL there will be 2 layers of 9oz Sglass and since it will be painted tolerances are higher and I can use filler as needed
Bruce, thanks! Yes looks are important on this project and I think I got the sheer and stern taper right. Cabin height will not be set by a target headroom number (this is a day sailor after all) but by gradually building it up until I feel it looks just right
I am also planning the details which make a big difference. Rubrail will be similar or close to the traditional Herreshof design (wide plank with a double curved profile) and varnished toe rail. back of the cockpit will round so that it s all one big U shape seat... And more!
The clamps are home made... I had to find something long enough but also which will follow the curving of the hull. It just a piece of 2x2 with a notch to hold the plank and another piece of 2x2 on top with an embedded nut. Then the thin cable links it all with a cable clamp. I apply pressure manually, set the cable clamp and the crank down the bolt which pulls the upper 2x2 and applies a lot of pressure. Works very well....
Outside, Wood will be sanded fair and then covered with a single layer of 8oz eglass above the WL. This is the tricky part aince i wantvthe wood to be visible. Below WL there will be 2 layers of 9oz Sglass and since it will be painted tolerances are higher and I can use filler as needed
Bruce, thanks! Yes looks are important on this project and I think I got the sheer and stern taper right. Cabin height will not be set by a target headroom number (this is a day sailor after all) but by gradually building it up until I feel it looks just right
I am also planning the details which make a big difference. Rubrail will be similar or close to the traditional Herreshof design (wide plank with a double curved profile) and varnished toe rail. back of the cockpit will round so that it s all one big U shape seat... And more!
The clamps are home made... I had to find something long enough but also which will follow the curving of the hull. It just a piece of 2x2 with a notch to hold the plank and another piece of 2x2 on top with an embedded nut. Then the thin cable links it all with a cable clamp. I apply pressure manually, set the cable clamp and the crank down the bolt which pulls the upper 2x2 and applies a lot of pressure. Works very well....
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
- RO Number
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- 12,214
Gaff rigged! Wooden spars, jib will have a boom too and be self tacking
The whole thing is about a no hassle, simple, comfortable sailing experience. I m not interested in a racing boat with a sleek narrow hull, big genoa, etc. one thing I always hear about sailing is that it s too complicated, and it often is with performance features I don't want. For a while we were looking at used sailboats but then most non racers are cruising boats with huge cabins nobody ever used and a small cockpit were 4 people can barely fit.
So hopefully this will turn out to be the ideal boat for us... Mostly a day sailor but maybe an overnighter in winter when it s cool. Enclosed head, fresh water to shower, etc...
The whole thing is about a no hassle, simple, comfortable sailing experience. I m not interested in a racing boat with a sleek narrow hull, big genoa, etc. one thing I always hear about sailing is that it s too complicated, and it often is with performance features I don't want. For a while we were looking at used sailboats but then most non racers are cruising boats with huge cabins nobody ever used and a small cockpit were 4 people can barely fit.
So hopefully this will turn out to be the ideal boat for us... Mostly a day sailor but maybe an overnighter in winter when it s cool. Enclosed head, fresh water to shower, etc...
A well rigged boat is easy to sail but we can learn about sail performance from the racers. I agree with all you say except for the gaff. It certainly looks traditional but IMO adds complications when reefing and raising sail and provides poor upwind performance. A few extra feet on a sloop rig mast with lazy jacks is what I would consider.
- Joined
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most of the planking has now reach below water line where the rest of the bottom is Divinycel cored glass. Starboard side bottom panel is glued in and filleted to the frames. Panel was installed with one layer of glass on the inside, to keep it rigid enough and avoid "waves", yet flexible enough to follow the curved hull contour. Outside will be glassed with the rest of hull.
boat and stern sections will be planked all the way to the keel, as more of these sections are visible and wood needs to be visible.
Blue tape is approximate waterline
working on the fold down transom design... This will make it a low easier to get in and out of the water (a year round thing here in Miami...). Cables are just temporary, I'm going to use arched SS tubing which will retract into the stern compartment. They will serve as support for the platform, but also as grab rail for the swim ladder...
Cockpit seen from the cabin door. aft corners have been cut to accomodate curved backrest which will flow seamlessly all around the cockpit. there is 20' of seating space in that cockpit!
boat and stern sections will be planked all the way to the keel, as more of these sections are visible and wood needs to be visible.
Blue tape is approximate waterline
working on the fold down transom design... This will make it a low easier to get in and out of the water (a year round thing here in Miami...). Cables are just temporary, I'm going to use arched SS tubing which will retract into the stern compartment. They will serve as support for the platform, but also as grab rail for the swim ladder...
Cockpit seen from the cabin door. aft corners have been cut to accomodate curved backrest which will flow seamlessly all around the cockpit. there is 20' of seating space in that cockpit!
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What ballast will the boat have? Will there be a keel shoe or will the ballast be internal?
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can't believe i haven't posted any updates since February! project is moving a little slower than i want, had a busy charter season this winter...
inside of the hull is tabbed and glassed. I'm about to start glassing the outside after i finish shaping the bow and do some fairing below waterline where the wood meets the foam core.
stem shape isnt' final, top section will be trimmed before glassing:
inside of the hull is tabbed and glassed. I'm about to start glassing the outside after i finish shaping the bow and do some fairing below waterline where the wood meets the foam core.
stem shape isnt' final, top section will be trimmed before glassing:
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
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i'm trying to work out all these details and features we want. it's nice to be able to get in and out of the water or jsut being able to sit back there close to the water. the fold down platform will be supported by a pair of arced SS tubes which will retract in and out of the hull, that will double as grab rails when using the swim ladder...
same with anchoring, as you can see in the previous pictures, the roller and and chute is built into the bow. I designed it around the anchor (22lbs Bruce), the windlass will be installed below deck so that the foredeck is clear of "stuff". I'm also going to use watertight hatches under the cockpit seats so that stuff like lines, fenders and PFDs stay dry (what a novel concept)!
same with anchoring, as you can see in the previous pictures, the roller and and chute is built into the bow. I designed it around the anchor (22lbs Bruce), the windlass will be installed below deck so that the foredeck is clear of "stuff". I'm also going to use watertight hatches under the cockpit seats so that stuff like lines, fenders and PFDs stay dry (what a novel concept)!
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Looks great! Is that fold down swim platform a typical option on the Starfish, or did you design it? Great idea!
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
- RO Number
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Well... Since I designed the boat, I guess that means i designed the platform 
. I came up with the idea while sailing Sabrosa, the catboat, we were going thru the mooring field and looking at boats realizing none of the smaller sailboats had easy access to the water unlike the bigger ones. Obviously a fixed platform wouldn't work on a small sailboat so a fold down transom was the way to go.
. I came up with the idea while sailing Sabrosa, the catboat, we were going thru the mooring field and looking at boats realizing none of the smaller sailboats had easy access to the water unlike the bigger ones. Obviously a fixed platform wouldn't work on a small sailboat so a fold down transom was the way to go.
