Building RYD-16.9 Rocky - Hull 21

[LP]

Hey John.
I've been following your build with great interest. Have you made any progress since your last post? It's looking great.

 

[John Theunissen]

G’day LP,
Thanks for your interest in my build. One never knows who is looking unless they make a comment.

I had some time over the Christmas/New Year break to make a little progress. I finished the temporary construction of the remaining bulkheads, gave them a coat of epoxy, and have started to permanently fillet them into place where they belong. I’ve attached a couple of pics to this post to illustrate.
With PAR no longer with us, I’m kind-of feeling my way a bit with the build, and to be honest I have been vacillating between the rig plans that I originally ordered from him (which was the Bermudan Ketch), and the later plan set that I purchased for the Gaff Sloop. I’ve more or less reached the point in the build where I need to make up my mind.
So, as a bit of lateral thinking, I’m contemplating building flexibility into the construction so that I can accommodate both rigs (would really be a variation of PAR’s other Gaff Ketch rather than the Bermudan Ketch). I have been looking at the Vivier/Chase design for Jewell (Yawl rig) and there is a very neat rudder-tiller arrangement that enables one to locate the mizzen mast out of the way, but it does mean I would have to play with the sail plan to achieve a similar lead to what PAR had designed.
Any thoughts or advice is welcomed.
Regards, John T.

 

[LP]

John,

Thanks for posting the photos. It good to see others in a project of this nature. I had to go revisit Vivier's website to see Jewell. Vivier does some nice designs. That would certainly be an option to built that type of mizzen step and rudder design. I would caution aganst changing Paul's plans too much, but I won't preach. He has an interesting solution to a centerline mizzen and rudder combination with Rocky. It sounds like you might have some engineering background so the changes could be something that you could do easily. The biggest caution I have would be to avoid additional weight. Paul was very weight conscience in his designs.

It looks great. Keep up the progress. People really do progress notes.

Cheers.

 

[John Theunissen]

G’day LP,
Thanks for your insights and your wise words as regards modifying existing designs. In PAR’s Rocky Bermudan Ketch design the mizzen is offset and there is a metal linkage arrangement between the tiller (which is located at the aft bulkhead) and the rudder. I would rather a direct drive approach which the Jewell design provides. Anyway, food for thought in terms of where I go next with the construction. Also, as you say, weight is a challenge for me - Paul did already comment on that, and this is surely not going to be the fastest Rocky out there once built, but I am trying to measure my naturally conservative tendencies in construction.
Present focus is on the centreboard housing construction and fitting - a real trap for novice boatbuilders like me. I was planning to permanently install all of the bulkheads and then move on to the next phase, but fortunately I realised that unless I constructed and fitted the centreboard housing before installing the cabin bulkhead, there would be no way of getting the housing into its position. Like a game of chess - you have to think several moves ahead. Here are a couple of pics of the weekend endeavours.
Regards, John T.

 

[John Theunissen]

Greetings,
It’s been a while since I posted updates on the build - I’m conscious that one needs to maintain balance, and life is not just about boat building, so I’m ok with the very incremental nature of progress .
I’ve had a week off after Easter, and managed to move things forward which was very satisfying - here are some pics showing the centreboard trunk completed and epoxied in position, the cabin, bridge deck and cockpit bulkheads in permanent position. The hull was pretty firm before this, but is now extremely solid. My cousin assisted with some metalwork to strengthen the landing of the tabernacle.
Regards, John T.

 

[John Theunissen]

Greetings,
Long time no post. Life gets in the way, but I enjoy every little bit of time on the project. Here are some pics of where I am up to. My son and I moved the hull off the strongback to gain more head-room in the shed for working - used a couple of chain hoists coupled with a lifting platform, worked a treat. The focus then shifted to working in the cabin and framing the internals. Presently cutting out the berth/seat tops.
Regards, John T.

 

[John Theunissen]

Greetings,
Slow progress, but enjoying the journey. I’m making progress in the cabin interior, installed flotation and have now bonded the berth top to the hull.
Regards, John T.

 

[John Theunissen]

Greetings,
Happy Easter! Working from home and staying home during these challenging times does have some advantages - I can do more on the boat. Here are some pics of recent progress. Had to soak the fore deck pieces in hot water to take the bend. A great pity that PAR is not around to monitor and comment on the build. Regards, John T.

 

[John Theunissen]

Greetings,
Still under home isolation so more opportunities to progress the build. Here are a couple of new pics.

Focus is on the cockpit, but I’ve also cut out the cabin sides, need to clean up the edges and epoxy coat etc.

I had to perform some remedial work in the cabin, in that the portable toilet dimensions (smallest I could buy and had designed the space around) weren’t exactly as advertised , so had to remove the cross section (see earlier pics for reference). Don’t want to do that again, removing epoxy fillets etc. in situation is not fun. I have to reconstruct another cross member because it supports the forces imposed on the centreboard.

Anyone for pool noodles? I’m using them for buoyancy under the cockpit sole.

Regards, John T.

 

[John Theunissen]

Greetings,
Some time has passed since my last post, and there has been some progress so here’s where I’m up to now. Still working on the cockpit area, lots of carpentry but it’s nearly done. I decided to put a slight angle on the seats which added some complexity but I’m glad I did, as it hopefully should be more comfortable on the water.
Regards, John T.

 

[John Theunissen]

Greetings,
Eating the elephant, one bite at a time . I’m thoroughly enjoying the time to work on the boat this year while in lockdown. My son Ross and I have made good progress with constructing the coachroof. I was somewhat challenged by the curves, but very pleased with how it turned out. Another weekend or two and we’ll have it fixed in place. The timber for the mast has been delivered (hoop pine) - very straight grained and no knots, so plenty of variety in the remaining tasks.
Regards, John T.

 

[John Theunissen]

Greetings,
Just following on from my last post - here are some pics of the coach roof in place and the cabin sides attached. I am encouraged when a few weekends work results in visible changes in the structure .
As I’m approaching the mature stages of the build (still a lot of work ahead with the tabernacle, mast, spars, centreboard, rudder, tiller.....), I can’t help wondering whether there is anyone else out there also building, or has built this design. Would be good to know I’m not the only one.
Regards, John T.

 

[John Theunissen]

Greetings,
Starting work on the companion way hatch guides, and estimation of the vessel’s buoyancy - this will need to be updated further down the track. Hopefully I’ve calculated it correctly.
Regards, John T.

 

[brendan gardam]

love your work . looks great.

 

[John Theunissen]

Thanks Brendan, much appreciated. It’s really nice to receive comments on the build.
I see you’re in Victoria - I’ve never had to register a boat here before (our previous build was a CLC Northeaster Dory which didn’t require registration), how fussy are they with the type of buoyancy material? I started using polystyrene with coats of epoxy and paint (which should be impervious to petrol etc. because of the protective layer) and then switched to using closed cell foam. Given some of the other areas of over-governance in our region, I’m wondering whether this is going to be a problem.
Regards, John T