A few more photos.  Even by my standards, progress has been slow, not in the least because I took a day off to go and buy some second-hand douglas fir.  I have discovered that as a boatbuilder I'm a compulsive worrier about running out of framing timber.  It's eye-wateringly expensive here - even second hand.  The 7.6 m of 200 x 50 that I bought set me back $786.  My only consolation is that it would cost four times as much to buy it new.  That being so, I would like to place on record my very heartfelt thanks to my friends Cathy and Peter who had given me a douglas fir beam taken out of their house.  It's 3.27m long by  280 x 85.  So with all that wood in stock, I should be able to sleep more easily at night!

I've been working the the forward cabin.  There's been a lot of tooth sucking just recently while I try to decide exactly what I'm going to build on the starboard side.  It's all slightly different in reality than even with the model, but I'm starting to get an idea.  Unfortunately, it involves drawers - not easy things to make well.  So I've been pottering along around the edges a bit while I get my nerve up!  The latest photos are here.

Ah, this explains why I haven't been getting my Sunday morning fix of photos of beautiful, glowing woodwork. Will you be moving over to the lockers on the other side of the forecabin now? 

Annie Hill wrote:Graham, you are really too kind.  One of the reasons I wanted to build in wood is that it has the overwhelming advantage of always looking beautiful at every stage of the build, so that it keeps on inspiring me.  Most other materials are unattractive until the boat is coming towards completion (although I do realise that beauty is in the eye of the beholder).

I had to laugh (to keep from crying) when I read this Annie.  My days are currently full of prickly aluminum slivers and chips.  Despite washing, my long underwear seems to be slowly accumulating them.  Thus, sitting has now become an exercise in acupuncture.  Although aluminum is more pleasant to work with than steel, I'm desperate to get to the interior fit-out so I can switch to wood.  Thanks for the inspiring pics from Siblim.

Graham Cox wrote:

I've been looking at the latest photos of SibLim's interior fitout, Annie.  It's a work of art!  It may take you a long time to finish her, but you'll have the rest of your life to enjoy her beauty.  I wish I had your patience.  I'd love to build something like her, or maybe a 25 ft version of that cute Chapelle boat, and spend the rest of life mooching around the Bay of Islands.  The Chapelle design would be close to my ideal "retirement" boat, with the cabin carried further aft to create an internal control station, and the aft mast moved forward a bit to create a proper junk schooner, but I fear I don't have enough time or energy left for such a project, and if I did build another boat it would be rather rough and ready.  You are a star!!

Graham, you are really too kind.  One of the reasons I wanted to build in wood is that it has the overwhelming advantage of always looking beautiful at every stage of the build, so that it keeps on inspiring me.  Most other materials are unattractive until the boat is coming towards completion (although I do realise that beauty is in the eye of the beholder).

I'm not so much patient as paranoid: I've seen too many wood/epoxy boats suffering rot because the builder was too rushed to apply those extra coats of epoxy.  Indeed, professional builders would find it very difficult to charge out the hours to their customers, so I completely understand why this is one job that is skimped.  Unfortunately, it is probably the most important part of ensuring the boat's longevity.

I can understand both your wish to build the ideal 'retirement' boat and your reluctance to take on the task.  But SibLim could be built a lot more quickly than this, so don't give up yet!  I am going to fit a pram hood so that I can handle the boat from inside in the rain and inclement weather - just in case.

I've posted a few more photos.  I'm finally doing something in the interior of the boat, which is something of a boost to morale!  I've decided there's not much point in showing a progress report, because you can barely see any of the interior from either forward or aft.  So I'll just show the latest photo: