Glen-L.com

The stained parts did darken with the epoxy, but it doesn't seem as much as the unstained parts. That one section of the rear starboard had some real variation in the mahogany, even before the epoxy, but the epoxy really brought it out. That's what makes wood so fascinating. Although, I do hate the finishing part; I'd rather build than paint.

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Bob
Completed Malahini (launched 6/24/2012)
http://bobsboatbuild.blogspot.com/

Bob, it looks great. The wood color is very eye catching.

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

man its really looking great!

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Built the 17' Glen-L "Sea Knight"

Beautiful work Bob!

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Gayle Brantuk
Vice President
Glen-L Marine
Visit our Blog & Create Your Own!

It gets exciting as things start to come together.

I made my own windshield out of 1/4" plexiglas I ordered from estreetplastic.com. They sell a 24"x36" piece which works for both halves.

After mounting the center piece of the windshield bracket set, I used cardboard to make a rough template. Using that I cut a working template from 1/4 plywood.

These are the two templates. The plywood template can then be sanded and smoothed to match the deck and provide the look you want. I split the plexi on my tablesaw and then used this template to rough cut both halves at once on my bandsaw. Then using the template as a guide I used my router to cut the final shape.

You have to take a little at time but the final cut is pretty smooth. Just a little fine sanding on the top was needed to smooth the edge. Cutting plastic sure makes a mess, though. Plastic chips fly and stick everywhere.

One thing of note: The deck curves were not quite identical. It is not visibly obvious, but when the template was flipped to the right side, there were gaps. So, I had to adjust the plywood template after I made the left side and then route the right side with a tweaked template.

Here's the windshield in place and mounted. The gasket lining the bottom of the plastic is special windshield gasket that I have only found at classicboatconnection.com.

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Bob
Completed Malahini (launched 6/24/2012)
http://bobsboatbuild.blogspot.com/

I also mounted the two hatches that were cut in my center deck section. I mentioned earlier that I actually mounted the hinges before I cut the pieces out. This was intended to ensure that alignment was perfect, which turned out to be true.

I mounted a piece of right angle aluminum to the strongback under the deck to support the opening side of the hatches. I had to trim a little off of the framing of the hatch to clear this piece when the hatch is opened.

The alignment and operation of the hatches works as I had hoped. I still have to mount the stuff underneath. I realize that water will be able to get into these cracks since there is nothing to cover the seam, but I don't plan on being out in the rain very often and the boat will be covered and under a roof when not in use.

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Bob
Completed Malahini (launched 6/24/2012)
http://bobsboatbuild.blogspot.com/

Look's Great, Bob!!!! Looking forward to meeting you and seeing the boat at G6!!!

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

shes looking great I know your getting excited now!!

Thanks. I'm actually getting nervous. I'm more of a builder than a boater. I've never owned a motor boat or did any trailering. So the thought of having to launch it and maneuver it and look like I know what I'm doing is starting to worry me.

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Bob
Completed Malahini (launched 6/24/2012)
http://bobsboatbuild.blogspot.com/

Not that hard to do, Bob!! My experience was way back in high school and very limited, three days of runabout on Lake Powell back in 1994, four days of houseboating on Lake Powell in 2008, and now the Zip last year. Worst thing to happen was slipping off the dock last year. But I won the coveted PDF award at G5. But I know your feelings because I felt the same way. Just do things slowly until you back into the dock. Then you'll learn how quickly you can react.

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

Roberta is right...just take your time and it will be fine. Pick a day during the week when it is not as busy on the water to do your launch and bring someone that is experienced with you to give you advice. If you were closer to the Joplin-Springfield area I'd offer my help...that's about my limit for day trips these days.

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Bill

I told my wife we needed a three-car garage for my projects...she told me to ask her for permission next time before I buy a house.
http://www.unitybuild.net

At some point I intended to make my own cutwater, but to move the project along I put on a strip of 3/4" rub rail to act as a poor man's cutwater. It will protect the stem, but it doesn't have the same classy look or cover some of the construction marks like a full cutwater would.

Since I have a bow eye, I just used two pieces, one below and one above.

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Bob
Completed Malahini (launched 6/24/2012)
http://bobsboatbuild.blogspot.com/

That'll work!!! Why cover up such nice work!!

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

Bob, I still don't have a cutwater. I used Mike at cutwaters.com for my transom bands and was going to use him for my cutwater. But, it was going to be about $500 and I just decided enough was enough on my boat. I bought some 18-guage stainless sheets and plan to make the templates and have someone local weld the halves together. I was going to polish it myself...but I still have not found the time to do any of it. The type of protector that you added was actually common on wooden outboard boats. From what I've seen and from what I was told by Mike at cutwaters.com, many outboard boats have what you made or nothing at all. Century had cutwaters on some of their outboards, but apparently most did not.

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

I think the rubrail looks darn good itself! You dont need no stinkin' cutwater

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My Zip build log...
http://www.vupilot.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/vupilot/Chr ... O0x7SvsQE#

"Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape."