Vagabond 19'-6" Keel Sloop by jonny.amy - FINISHED - Scale 1:20 - SMALL - POB

[jonny.amy]

Hi All,

 

This is my first Scratch Build Log on MSW. I am currently in the closing stages of my Caldercraft/Jokita HM Mortar Vessel Convulsion build, and needed a break from the tiny bits of the build, so I started this build.

 

Background:

 

Since I was a kid, I've been building, modifying, tweeking, and sailing on sailing boats, from Optimist dinghies to large Swan 65's, but my real ambition in life is to build a sailing boat for myself. About 3 years ago I decided that I would build the Vagabond Keel Sloop designed by the Naval Architect Edwin Monk. Vagabond measures 19'-6" (6.00 metres), and the study plans were available in a book called "How to Build Wooden Boats - With 16 Small-Boat Designs", written by Edwin Monk.

 

The design is for a hard chine hull shape, making it easy to build for the novice boat builder, but my intention for my potential full scale build was to soften up the chines, and make her hull slightly easier on the eyes, and quicker on the water.

 

So why build this model? Firstly, it's is to see what the hull form looks like in reality. I can just about read hull drawings, and understand the sheer lines and profiles, but I'm not a boat builder or Naval Architect, so it's not as simple as reading the lines and putting two and two together.

Secondly, I spoke with my mother on Sunday night. She said she wanted me to build her a "little boat" that she "could put on her mantle piece". No matter how many times you say "I don't have the space for another model build", or "I don't have enough materials", you can not say "no" to your mother!

So I had a think, and thought about my aspirations with Vagabond a few years earlier, and decided to do it! I decided to build Vagabond as it seemed like an easy build, with a simple rig, and looks pretty! Meets all the criteria!

 

Build Process:

 

The plans are drawn (or have been redrawn) at a scale of 1:20, so I directly transferred the dimensions from the study plan to the model.

 

Having study plans readily available in the book, and having three strips of 1/8 inch Balsa (3mm Think), I started by tracing over the outline of the keel and main bulkheads, four in total, and doubled them up to make them 1/4 inch thick. Using some square stock balsa I had remaining from my Convulsion build, I used that to square up the bulkheads and attach the deck (1/8th Balsa) to the keel.

 

Because this boat is designed with fairly agressive chines (it was designed in the 50's or 60's, so the chines haven't been 'optimised' like modern day performance yachts), I rounded off the corners of the chines and using the study plans measured out the planks on both sides.

I ran the planks along the bulkheads and trimmed them to suit, pinning and gluing them down when happy. To give additional strength to the balsa, I squeezed a blob of PVA glue on to the planks, and ran it along all the seams between balsa planks.

After the PVA glue had 24 hours to dry, I covered the whole hull in wood filler, to smooth out any areas that may be dipping, and left out any raised areas.

 

I've not taken any photo's at this point as it is has been a "spur of the moment" build, it's only now that I've decided to start a build log.

 

Next Stage of Build:

 

So, my next objectives on the build are to sand the hull smooth, and then plank the hull with the remaining Walnut strips from my Convulsion and President builds. The waterline will be painted white, and the topsides either varnished or oiled. The cockpit and deck will be painted white, and the cockpit coamings and dog house will be planked in walnut as well.

 

I am employing my wonderful Admiral to make sails, as she is a wizard with the needle and thread! I will also build Pushpits and Pullpits from brass for the bow and stern. This is will be the first time I will have soldered brass since Secondary School, so I may be taking a few attempts with this aspect of the build.

 

I also have a fairly limited time scale to complete this build, as my mum wants the model before she goes away on holiday for a few weeks in the middle of April. I'm not sure if I can meet this deadline, but I certainly will try.

 

I will be posting photo's of the build soon.

 

Cheers,

Jonny

[jonny.amy]

Hi All,

 

I've found some photo's of a similar yacht called "Confucius" which seems to be designed with a smooth hull profile, as apposed to the hard chines on Vagabond.

 

 

 

I have also found half of the study I have been working with online. I hope this gives you all a clear indication of my build.

 

 

Cheers,

Jonny

 

[Omega1234]

Hi Johnny

 

I'm really looking forward to watching your ship come to life! She's a beauty; particularly if she's going to be anything as charming and characterful as Confucious is. In many ways, her profile view looks similar to the Herreshoff yachts that Pete48 is building. If you search him up on the Scratch Build Sub-Forum, you'll see what I mean.

 

I hope you can meet your deadline of mid-April though...seems quite ambitious.

 

Good luck and please put lots of updates for us to enjoy.

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

Edited March 31, 2015 by Omega1234

[jonny.amy]

Hi Patrick,

 

Thanks, I decided on Vagabond because of her beauty! I'll look for Pete48's build, and see if I can use his model as a bench mark.

 

I think mid April is a bit of tight time scale for the build, but I'm up for the challenge! I'll be sanding the hull down tonight, and I might start the deck structure and coamings tonight. I'll swing via my local DIY store tonight and buy the necessary parts to finish off the model, like the brass rod for the pushpits, and spray paint for the hull.

 

We have a four day weekend coming up, so I'll hopefully make some headway over the next few days. I really like the colours of Confucius, i.e. dark topsides, and white waterline. A real classic look. I'll get some photo's tonight of the work I've done so far.

 

Cheers

Jonny

[Omega1234]

Hi Johnny

 

Thanks and good luck. You've got a four day long weekend? Sounds like Easter is on its way!

 

Look forward to some photos and more updates.

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[kees de mol]

I will be posting photo's of the build soon.

 

Thanks and good luck with the build. But why such a tight buildingscedule? Take your time to have a great buildingquality.

[jonny.amy]

Kees,

 

The tight time schedule is due to the fact my mum is away on holiday for 2 weeks in Mid April, and I'm due to be spending a "few weeks" away with work to fix a few problems. Whether or not I will be going away with work, I want to be clear of this build by then as I'd like to start my Caldercraft/Jokita Sherbourne build. I work in the Oil & Gas Design Industry, and a present it is fairly volitile (redundandcies left, right and centre), so I may or may not be heading up to a site on the North East Coast of the UK (depends if our Client is willing to splash the cash).

 

I have enjoyed this build so far, and I certainly don't want to rush it, but I'm a bit up in the air with my whole whereabouts at the moment.

 

 

 

Anyway, I spent my evening sanding down the hull last night, taking off the layer of filler I added to the yacht to fair the hull. I then gave the hull a quick coat of Aegean Blue (the chosen colour for the topsides). Having given that 24 hours to dry, I'll give that a quick once over with the sanding block and clean the hull over with a damp cloth.

 

I'll build the pilot house and cockpit coamings tonight before deck planking.

 

Cheers

Jonny

[jonny.amy]

Hi All,

 

Just a quick update....

 

I started deck planking last night, and faired the hull a bit more with some brown wood putty. The deck needs a bit of sanding to make it look pretty, but I'm half way through the deck planking, so that will be done after I've finished.

 

I also soldered the pushpit for the bow last night. I've not soldered properly for about 10 years, so I've done the best I can with the brass tube and solder, but I'm not entirely pleased with the end result!

 

The photo's show the hull shape and the relatively shallow draught of the yacht.

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

Jonny

 

[Omega1234]

Hi Johnny

 

You are a fast worker, indeed! Your hull looks good, as does the start that you've made on the deck planking.

 

Well done.

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[jonny.amy]

Just a quick update, I've finished the deck planking on the yacht, and I've built up the pilot house.

 

I've been busy seeing family all day, so no progress today, but I'll be having a crafts day with the Admiral tomorrow (she like drawing and painting), so I'll get the deck fittings and furniture fitted and painted tomorrow!

 

Cheers,

Jonny

[Omega1234]

Hi Johnny

 

I was wondering how you were going. It looks like you're moving ahead nicely, especially now that you're onto the pilot house.

 

Good luck with the rest of the build, especially as your mother's deadline fast approaches.

 

All the best

 

Patrick

Edited April 11, 2015 by Omega1234

[jonny.amy]

Hi Guys,

 

This is a mostly pictorial update on progress. 

 

I've pretty much finished off the model now, there are a few odds and sods I want to clear up before handing the model over! I'm not going away with work now, so I've got a bit more time to work on the model. I thought about leaving the model as a "bare poles" model due to the fact I couldn't get canvas that was light enough for the sails at the local haberdashery, so I decided to cut up an old work shirt from a company I didn't work for any longer! It worked wonders!

 

These photo's were taken earlier in the week, so things like the cockpit benches have been finshed off! Any way, I hope you enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

Jonny

 

[Omega1234]

Hi Johnny

 

You made the deadline!!! Your mum should be very pleased and proud of your ship, as well as you, of course.

 

I like what you've done with your ship. She's got heaps of character and charm.

 

Well done!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[mtaylor]

Jonny,

 

What Patrick said.  That deserves a place of honor in you mum's house.

[egkb]

Wow nice!! And is that a bowline on the foresail/mainsail heads I spot too !! Wow again.

 

Eamonn

[jonny.amy]

Hi Chaps,

 

Thanks for the kind words! I just about made the deadline! I wanted to put toe rails around the edge of the deck (especially on the bow), but I couldn't get it done in time! Next time I'm down there I might add them to the model, but I'm more or less happy with it!

 

Turns out, the yacht is a near identical copy of the first yacht my grandfather built, "Karina Jo", so mum has decided to share the same name. I believe she's getting a name plate made up at the local locksmiths before she jets off on holiday!

 

I rigged the model with running backstays, which wasn't in keeping with the original design, but from my experience with yachts, is that with the rig so far forward, and the boom being so long, a standard backstay would have been to clumbersome through tacks, catching the boom and snagging on the mainsail. Of course, a modern yacht of this size could probably avoid using a backstay, as main to genoa area ratios are very close (on most boats, the genoa is 110% the size of the main), but on this yacht the genoa would be as little as 70% the size of the main sail, which means the rig is further forward on the model, and the main sail has a longer foot. Therefore giving greater sail area in the main, and elongating the boom, meaning running backstays are required for tensioning the rig under power.

 

Eamonn - those are tiny bowlines on the main and jib halyards!! The "sail cloth" was made with an old work shirt and the head, clew and tack on each sail were made by gluing white card to either side and drilling through with a 1.8mm DIA drill bit. The sails were flaked over a spare length of 6mm dowel, and flakes superglued on top of the previous! Then I transferred the "sail" to the boom and bow, and tied them down.

 

Once again, thanks for all the kind words, it's really appreciated! I found this project to be a bit of a pain in the ar$e due to the fact I was limited on time. But I'm glad I've finished it, but I'll be happy to get back on to Convulsion now, tying ratlines is a breeze compared to this project!

 

Cheers

Jonny