Penobscot 14 ST JACQUES 30 Dec 17 Day Sail

30 Dec 17:

Day sail in December? Why not? We needed one more picture for the Small Boats Monthly January article and an outstanding photographer was handy, so the Skipper wrangled me and the boat for a short jaunt. Image credits to Kaitlynn.

At one point we were rowing and sailing against the flood tide, trying to get into position for the right lighting and boat profile. We got it.

Back to the beach!

Read our Penobscot 14 article on Small Boats Monthly.

Log of ST. JACQUES.

Alcort Sailfish Handrails 27 Dec 17

27 Dec 17:

We make handrails for the Alcort series of Sailfish, the wooden Standard Sailfish, the wooden Super Sailfish and the fiberglass Super Sailfish MKII. The Standard Sailfish handrails measure 28 inches and have 2 hand loops, the Super Sailfish and MKII handrails measure 41 inches with 3 loops. We cut them from cypress or oak. If you don't have a preference, select cypress, it is local, rot resistant, finishes beautifully and we love working with it.

1963 Alcort Super Sailfish MKII SWEETNESS with Skipper at the helm.

1963 Alcort Super Sailfish MKII SWEETNESS

Vintage Super Sailfish MKII handrails.

195? Alcort Standard Sailfish WINNIE with Skipper at the helm.

Alcort Standard Sailfish handrails. The wooden Standard Sailfish was the first Alcort Sailfish, at 11 feet 7 inches it was 2 feet shorter than the wooden Super Sailfish and fiberglass MKII.

Cut a new set of handrails from cypress for an Alcort Super Sailfish, rounded the edges, sanded with 120 grit and drilled screw holes. Shipping to Pennsylvania. Used our handrail pattern to set the width and height cuts.

Cypress blanks cut to 3/4 inch width and 1 1/4 inch height on the 10 inch portable table saw.

Traced handrail pattern onto cypyess blanks.

Cut out handrail shape with DEWALT jig saw.

Rounded handrail edges with 1/8 inch roundover bit on a DEWALT compact trim router. Do NOT roundover the mounting bases. #dewalt

Sanded the handrails with 120 grit pads on a DEWALT 5 inch random orbital sander.

Stacked vintage rail perpendicular above the new rail and marked screw hole location with an awl.

Screw hole location marked with an awl. Screw size is #10 silicone bronze wood screw, 2 1/2 inch length. We use a Frearson head screw similar to what you see on the table purchased from Jamestown Distributors, but the originals had the standard head slot.

Drilled the screw hole with a Craftsman drill press, Fuller combination counterbore and pilot bit. Drill just enough to countersink the head of the screw so hands and clothing won't catch on the screw head.

We use a Fuller combination counterbore and pilot hole bit purchased from Jamestown Distributors to drill the hole. JD sells a nice kit with 4 different sizes, #6, 8, 10 and 12. Ho Ho Ho that's what I got from Santa :). Screw size is #10 silicone bronze wood screw, 2 1/2 inch length, JD sells those as well.

2 new handrails for the Alcort Super Sailfish ready for wood sealer and varnish. Also shown are a vintage handrail and our handrail pattern. Now that I have an old set of handrails I can use one of them for the primary pattern. Wondering why I didn't start off that way today? Well anyway, they are on their way to Pennsylvania.

We make handrails for the Alcort series of Sailfish, the wooden Standard Sailfish, the wooden Super Sailfish and the fiberglass Super Sailfish MKII. The Standard Sailfish handrails measure 28 inches and have 2 hand loops, the Super Sailfish and MKII handrails measure 41 inches with 3 loops. We cut them from cypress or oak.

Cheers!

Penobscot 14 ST. JACQUES 19 Dec 17 Tiller Scarf

19 Dec 17:

Tiller end has a piece of cumaru teak scarfed into it. Fastened with TotalBoat THIXO thickened epoxy. Sanded with 60 grit on a random orbital sander then 120 grit. Varnished with TotalBoat Marine Spar Varnish Gleam Satin. Tiller is cypress, tiller end is cuamru, outer rudder yoke is okoume, inner tiller yoke is cypress. Fastened with silicone bronze screws. Tiller pin is the same pin used on the old style Sunfish rudder.

Log of ST. JACQUES.

Drascombe Dabber VICTORY 18 Dec 17 Leak Repair

18 Dec 17:

Float Test 2 for the Dabber identified a leak up in the stem area. Skipper spotted a loose screw after we pulled the boat out.

Repaired the hole in the stem with Pettit Flexpoxy and put in a new #8 screw. Used the screw driver to hold the screw in place while the epoxy cured.

Float Test 3, the stem leak is fixed but now we noticed 3 very small leaks, 2 coming from keel screws and one at the drain plug. Tightened one screw to stop one leak. Removed a sheared keel strip screw, sealed up the hole with Flexpoxy and put in new screw. Resealed drain plug with Flexpoxy as well.

Log of VICTORY.

Penobscot 14 ST. JACQUES 18 Dec 17 Tiller Repair and Shoal Rudder Blade

18 Dec 17:

We sail in a lot of shallow water and I had too many rudder control lines rigged up for the Skipper to mess with, so why not design a fixed blade shoal rudder for ST. JACQUES? We tried out the Dabber rudder and it worked great, so we cut out a new blade with a little extra added to the trailing edge.

New blade comparison

New blade compared to Dabber blade.

Dabber rudder and new shoal blade comparison. I don't think the Dabber blade is exactly stock.

Sealed the new blade with TotalBoat Wood Sealer Varnish Primer.

All the shoal rudder bits.

The tiller end kept snapping due to some soft grain, so I grafted in a piece of cumaru (Peruvian teak). Cut the old piece out with a Japanese pull saw. Fastened the new piece with Pettit Flexpoxy.

Log of ST. JACQUES.

Drascombe Dabber VICTORY 14 Dec 17 Float Test, Floorboard and Forward Seat

14 Dec 17:

Trimmed the middle cleat to clear the centreplate case flange with a circular saw.

Cut the forward seat to width and beveled the edges to fit with a circular saw.

Trimmed the transom cap to fit with a belt sander, 60 grit and a random orbital sander.

Float test, small leak forward of the keel strip, appears to be coming from a stem strip screw hole.

Cut handles for the floorboards, centered them so the floorboard would be balanced when we have to carry them.

Marked a hole big enough for 4 fingers wearing a glove. Drilled pilot hole for the jigsaw blade.

Cut the hole with a jigsaw.

Made a pattern to send to a friend.

Log of VICTORY.