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.