It's All in My Head

I have so many thoughts and plans for Das Boot. They're in my head 24/7.

I was just thinking about why, and I realized that it's because this is probably the only boat I will ever own, and almost certainly the only one I will ever build myself. (In my delusions of grandeur as I've been assembling this, and looking at Wooden Boat Magazine, I've thought to myself, "I can do this. I'm learning so much with this project. I could make a clinker-built skiff. Why not?" And then I look at Uncle John's Bayou Skiff plans, and realize I couldn't even begin to think about a more complex boat.)

The result is that I'm mentally cramming every last idea I could have for a boat into this one (mostly unsuitable) craft. It's a flat-bottomed, calm-water, short-distance skiff. I think the best use for a pirogue is a stationary duck blind in the bayous of Louisiana. It's not meant for much more than that.

But in my spare time (note: this is all the time), I'm daydreaming about how I could add all kinds of maritime accoutrements to her. (Could I add portholes? How hard would it be to carve a figurehead? Is there room for a gun deck? Can the prow be fitted with an ice-breaker? Surely I can fit two masts, but is three pushing it? *)

The bottom line (as Fred keeps reminding me) is this: It is my boat.
I should do what I want, add what I want. I should make it my boat.

The plan, I think, is this: this weekend I will get the bottom on. That is job number one. I need to finish the boat as designed by Uncle John. Make it seaworthy.

I will attach the bottom (probably Saturday morning). Possibly late Saturday afternoon I will seal the inside seams joining the sides to the bottom with an epoxy/sawdust fillet, which will hold it together and make it a Boat.
Easy, right?
Then Sunday, I'll do my first bit of priddying the boat; that is, adding something non-structural, just for visual 'prettiness'. (This is the result of my 3AM thought the other night, which I have figured out how to try to achieve. I got some supplies last night, but realized I didn't get everything, and so will have to go back to Menards yet again. I like going to the hardware store. I like getting things for the boat. But I'm getting tired of driving halfway across town to get some wood glue and a dozen screws, which is what I have to do on Saturday. Hrumph.

But such is the life of a boat-builder.)

After that, I'm not sure. The following week/weekend I can fiberglass the outside/bottom. I think I really should take it out for sea trials before I establish the correct placement for the sail rig.

First things first.

* I've made up most of these ideas for comic effect. But my actual ideas are not that much more far-fetched: I just am keeping them close to the vest at this point.