A WOODENBOAT NET PROJECT FILE
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Mitch and John were doing a bit of finishing work to Truant, She goes in the water next weekend and we are wanting her to look nice on launching day. Little touches can make a big difference to a new boat for the big event and we were leathering the spars, making the parrels for the balance lugsail and fitting the cleats and fittings to control the rig.
1 decided to leather the mast partners , that is the reinforced hole in the foredeck where the mast goes through. There is about 25mm of timber here, and to ease the point loading on the alloy spar a leather padding is a good idea. This series of photos shows how 1 did the job.
First of all 1 used the timed off piece of leftover tube from the mast to outline the hole in the deck, then allowed another 3mm (1/8 in) in radius for the thickness of the leather plus a little working clearance and carefully cut it out with a jigsaw ( sabre saw ). I then sanded the inside of the hole smooth, and after rounding the top and bottom edges over painted the inside with two coats of epoxy resin.
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#1 First 1 cut a strip of rough chrome leather 75mm ( 3 in) wide and plenty long enough to go around the mast with some to spare. Nothing fancy in the way of tools, just a chisel and a straightish piece of wood.
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#2 Next 1 wrapped the leather around the mast section and marked the leather where it overlapped and cut it to length.
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#3 The leather was then set into the hole to cheek for length.
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#4 this 80mm ( 3 and a little bit inches) hole looked about right divided into 12 around its circumference so here it is marked out with 25mm ( 1 in) deep "petal'.
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#5 Again, with the chisel the leather is cut.
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#6 Trimming the petals corners off to make them look tidy. 1 don't normally have my hands positioned like this, only when 1 want the camera to be able to see. Mind your fingers and keep yourself safe when working with sharp things, it is not only power tools that bite
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#7 Once again checking the fit, note that the join in the leathering is at the front where the load will be least.
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#8 Ready to apply the contact glue, note the rubber glove to keep it off my skin.
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#9 Spread on the leather first and then smear it onto the inside of the partners. Leave it for a few minutes to go tacky .
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# 10 I am tacking it into place with 3/4in x 16 g ringed boatnails, copper tacks are the traditional things but 1 had none in the workshop right then and the boatnails hold better so that's what 1 used
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#11 Starting the tacks, note that I have started opposite the join in the leather and am getting several started before setting them down hard.
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#12 Only two nails to go, I am applying a little extra glue under the petals as 1 go.
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#13 With the leathering finished I am trimming it a little to fit the deck eye for the boom down haul. Doesn't it look nice!Do spend a little time finishing your boat , the small things can often make a big difference in how she looks.
John WeIsford.
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