Building an Opti with my grandson

[parkstone bay]

I don't know enough about Oppies (UK-speak) to be authoritative. But, I do hope that, when you've finished, she measures! You MUST get a Class measurer involved, if you/grandson ever want to race it. Otherwise all you'll have is an Oppie-shaped dinghy. (a pal of mine was a Class measurer for a UK class, let's say ABC one-design. A guy had built one as a 3-year project and the end result looked lovely, but, sadly he'd missed a measurement requirement at the forefoot, which was, in effect, irreparable. My pal was almost in tears when he measured the boat and he had to tell the builder that this beautiful object wasn't an ABC one-design)

[mjscottinnc]

As I've said before, it's being built to class specifications. With that said, being a class boat is so far down on the list that watching epoxy dry is higher up.

Racing isn't what all people, including the young, have to have.

My goal is for him to sail and come to love it. If he wants to take it to a competitive level, god bless him. I'll watch and cheer.

[mjscottinnc]

Turned the hull, epoxied the Daggerboard Trunk, mis-cut trunk repair, and seams. Monday we fiberglass the seams and fair the hull.

[mjscottinnc]

Hull; seams glassed, faired, sanded, 2 clear epoxy coats. Daggerboard thickness reduced to meet spec, stop battens made of white oak. Daggerboard and rudder shaped, stained, and epoxy coated. Rubrails made of white oak and dry fitted. Turning the hull tomorrow to finish the interior work. About 2 - 3 weeks until hull painting.

[JPA Cate]

Looking good! Is the grandson getting excited yet?

Ann

[mjscottinnc]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Looking good! Is the grandson getting excited yet?

Ann

Oh yes. He has already named the boat, drawing graphics for the hull in his sketch book, figuring out how he is going to go to school (starts Monday), go to football practice, and work on the boat during the week. It will all workout.

[JPA Cate]

Like I said before, good on you both!

Thanks for answering!

Ann

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by mjscottinnc

Oh yes. He has already named the boat, drawing graphics for the hull in his sketch book, figuring out how he is going to go to school (starts Monday), go to football practice, and work on the boat during the week. It will all workout.

Fabulous, so glad for the two of you.

Hope you have some lake or the ocean near, so that he can sail a lot and as often as he likes.

Enjoy!

[Fore and Aft]

mjscottinnc I was just thinking wouldn't a custom wrap with your grandsons graphics be so cool. A Google search shows me there's a company already doing it.
The last paint job design on our yacht was a family competition which the wife won. Same with the yacht name, we each put a name in a hat and the winner was picked.
Cheers
https://www.optiwraps.com/custom-wraps/

[mjscottinnc]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

mjscottinnc I was just thinking wouldn't a custom wrap with your grandsons graphics be so cool. A Google search shows me there's a company already doing it.

The last paint job design on our yacht was a family competition which the wife won. Same with the yacht name, we each put a name in a hat and the winner was picked.

Cheers

https://www.optiwraps.com/custom-wraps/

We have something already in mind, I’ll post pics when it’s done.

[mjscottinnc]

The 97% completed Opti hull gets to experience its first tropical storm. The biggest risk is being hit by a falling tree limb. First of many, I have no doubt.

[JPA Cate]

Oh dear! Too bad you can't stow it inside the house on the 2nd floor!

The only good news is that the strongest winds are confined to a small diameter, and that it is moving fast.

Hope y'all stay safe and well.

Ann

[mjscottinnc]

Finished making the last pieces today (maststep components). Woodworking and hull assembly complete. The next steps are to finish sand, paint, and add graphics. I decided to get a bit fancy in the end. The mast step base is hand-cut spruce, mast recess with drain cut on the CNC, and the retaining ring is white oak cut with a stepped tenon joint epoxied to the base. I also cut an anti-abrasion flange for the mast thwart using 3/4" starboard. Sighted in the mast mounting components using a PVC pipe.

[Spot]

Awesome!

[mjscottinnc]

First coat of interior paint, it's finally starting to look like an actual boat. Exterior paint starts on Sunday and then graphics.