Chesapeake Bay Skipjack by shawn32671 - Midwest Products - Small

[shawn32671]

I Thought I'd take a little break from my other builds and try the Chesapeake Bay Skipjack by Midwest Products. So far I have the keel and decks finished. More updates to follow soon.

 

[trippwj]

Nice start, Shawn.  Very handsome looking boat!

[shawn32671]

Thanks Wayne...This should be fairly simple to build since there is no planking. Just pencil drawn fake planks on deck and sheet wood for sides of hull.

Edited September 19, 2013 by shawn

[shawn32671]

Just a quick update. Added decks to keel, pretty slow going so far I know.

 

[The Sailor]

Very nice start, Shawn. I really like boats like this one.

Edited September 20, 2013 by The Sailor

[shawn32671]

Thank you for the kind words.

[shawn32671]

Just a quick update. I have the sides added, final fitted and trimmed and bow blocks added. I always hated carving large blocks on balsa aircraft kits I'd done. I'm always afraid I'll remove too much material no matter how careful I am. Hopefully I'm more successful with this.

 

[shawn32671]

Last update for today probably. I just added the bottom and trimmed and finished that. Now I'm dreading the next step of carving and finishing the bow but it's gotta be done. So on to that.

 

Edited September 28, 2013 by shawn

[shawn32671]

Well I put off attempting to carve the bow blocks until late last night and this is as far as I dare go with rough cutting. The remainder I will use sanding blocks. I was amazed I didn't mess it up.

 

Edited September 29, 2013 by shawn

[egkb]

Having never seen this boat built before I was wondering why they didn't just continue the 'flat' bottom pieces right up to the bow? if you follow me.

I too like these smaller boats, there is something 'comforting' or 'personal' about them that seems absent on the large ships (to me anyhoo )

 

Eamonn

 

BTW best of luck with the carving/sanding of the bow block piece.

E

[shawn32671]

Yeah I don't know why they couldn't have just had the whole bottom covered in the 1/16" ply either but I'm hoping it turns out ok. I had considered just adding the ply at the front instead since there is plenty of extra scrap pieces to do so...I still may just pop off the blocks and try that but i'll see how finishing the bow turns out this way first.

Edited September 29, 2013 by shawn

[shawn32671]

I finished the bow blocks and got a little more of the ship done. The bow sure turned out better than I'd expected.

 

Edited September 30, 2013 by shawn

[Kenneth Powell]

Great job on you build. I did this same kit and really enjoyed it.

[shawn32671]

Thanks Kenneth, I'm getting a lot more done today. More update photos soon and I also posted a slideshow video on Youtube for anyone interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAp0kIHvR3M

[egkb]

Nice wee video montage of a nice wee build..

 

Eamonn

[shawn32671]

Thanks Eamonn

[pete48]

Hi Shawn, I have thought about building one of these yours looks real good . Great job on your build log

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[shawn32671]

Thanks Pete, it's been a fun project so far. I haven't done any more with it since my last update but plan to work on it more this weekend. I just finished a Midwest Products Peapod lobster boat I'll be posting about later.

[rynmss]

Hello,

I am going to be starting this build soon, and found your build. Have you made any progess since the last post? It was coming out real well! I always like to read a few builds before I start a ship, but info on the Skipjack seems hard to find.

Ryan

[shawn32671]

Thanks for the comment....Not since my last update Ryan, I had started a couple other projects and now a banged up finger is keeping me from building at the moment, hopefully my finger heals fast so I can get back at it.

[grsjax]

Hello,

I am going to be starting this build soon, and found your build. Have you made any progess since the last post? It was coming out real well! I always like to read a few builds before I start a ship, but info on the Skipjack seems hard to find.

Ryan

Howard Chapelle's books have a lot of information on Skipjacks.  "American Sailing Craft", American Small Sailing Craft" and "Notes on Chesapeake Bay Skipjacks" are all good references.

[shawn32671]

I decided to get back to work on this kit now that I'm done with my Fantail Launch II. Next in line to do is paint the hull so let's see how my second time ever painting a water line goes. No complex curves to mask off here so it should be a piece of cake. Picture of hull masked off and ready for paint below. I'm thinking of satin burgundy Krylon spray for the lower, semi-gloss white Rust-oleum Ultra Cover brush on for above the water line and clear lacquer for the deck.

 

Edited December 21, 2013 by shawn

[shawn32671]

So far so good.

 

 

 

[shawn32671]

Just a quick update, I just finished painting the hull along with an orange pinstripe (the pinstripe was another "first" for me). Next I start final assembly, I will post more as I progress. Thanks for looking. I also posted a YouTube video of the build up to before I had it painted so anyone who'd like to see.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maCyuAwvdqs

 

 

 

 

Edited December 21, 2013 by shawn

[pete48]

Looks good Shawn, It seems that you are hooked on boat building

[shawn32671]

Thanks Pete and yes I am totally hooked. I got a little more done tonight as seen by the pictures. Not a lot really but the cabin is done. Note the burgundy centerboard and brass centerboard pulley.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2013 by shawn

[3sheets10]

Great work Shawn! The paint job looks awesome. I am really impressed with your work sanding out those blocks. They look to be nice and even. That is not an easy task. 

[shawn32671]

Thanks 3sheets, those bow blocks were indeed a pain. ;-)

[cdogg]

Looking great Shawn. Love the Midwest kits! Can't wait to see more.

[shawn32671]

Thanks Casey...I love Midwest's kits too, great plans sheets and excellently illustrated instruction manuals. Last update for tonight...