Preview: How to Build a Caledonia Yawl, Part 37 – Mast Steps & Partners

9 Responses So Far to “How to Build a Caledonia Yawl, Part 37 – Mast Steps & Partners”

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  Daniel Simonds says:

  I’m following Geoff’s advice for locating the mast steps using a plumb bob from the mast partners. I’m happy with my setup, but finding some puzzling discrepancies in Oughtred’s drawings (I know…sacrilege). The Construction drawing yields rake angles of 4-4.5 degrees. But the Sail Plan measures 6-7 degrees. This difference amounts (for the mainmast) of about 7″ at the masthead, which seems worth pausing over. To reproduce the Sail Plan rake, will require locating the mast step about an inch forward of the Construction Drawing location.

  I seem to have 2 (maybe 3) choices:
  a) respect the Construction Drawing (4 degree rake)
  b) respect the Sail Plan (6-7 degree rake)
  I can’t do both, but could (I suppose) split the difference.

  Any advice?

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    Geoff Kerr says:

    The joys of too much information… I really can’t offer any insight here. Perhaps a direct inquiry to Iain would prove definitive. I’ve always use the construction drawing, probably because it it at a larger scale and might be easier to get good measurements? Seems to work…

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      Daniel Simonds says:

      A good answer – thank you!

      This, and some other feedback on FB, seem to confirm this to be mostly an aesthetic choice. I think I’ll be following the sail plan, as the rig looks easier to nudge forward later than to nudge aft. And (mostly) because it probably doesn’t matter too much.

      Thanks so much for this excellent video series. It has proved extremely valuable and encouraging to return to during my build.

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  John Haughey says:

  Hi Geoff, I have just started watching your fantastic videos, and am halfway through one of Iain,s Penny Fee designs, I noticed you had no issues with applying a thickened epoxy mix straight onto a cured epoxy coated surface..Would you recommend sealing the inner hull with epoxy and then fitting all the extra timber work such as cleats for thwarts and floor timbers and bulkheads? If so would those areas need abraded?
  Thank you
  John Haughey

  • 

    Geoff Kerr says:

    I do generally epoxy seal the entire interior of the hull, although the timing can be before or after all the various bits are added to the hull. I always prime end grain and plywood edges with unthickened epoxy before bonding with thickened stuff. Bonding to cured epoxy is fine if you are using a non-blushing epoxy. With those I often give it a quick sanding, if only so I can make legible pencil marks. If using an epoxy that blushes (amines on the surface after curing) then you must by all means wash and sand prior to secondary bonding.

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  mark bratton says:

  Hi Geoff I am building a Caledonia Yawl thanks to you guys making this series. My first “boat” build, but a life long woodworker and I have built a CLC kayak from a kit. I am locating my mast step and partner. The plans are pretty straightforward as to distance from stations for both locations. I am getting a mast rake angle of about 5 degrees. Is this accurate? any comments on mast rake for a caledonia?

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    Geoff Kerr says:

    You are way ahead of the curve in realizing that the rake is important, and driven by the relationship between the partner and the step. I have always thought the challenge to be that I never remember to draw in the station lines on the inside of the hull before I take it off the molds, so those offset distances can be a bit ethereal. Another way,or a good double check is to level the hull on both axes…(providing you marked the waterline) and use a plumb bob to measure the offset between the center of the mast at the partner and the center of the step mortise.

    I don’t imagine degree or two either way will be noticeable as you sail. The only encounter I’ve had along these lines was with a friend and homebuilder who had misplaced the halyard attachment point to the lug yard, throwing the center of effort waaay off. He was literally unable to tack. He was so cool that he had his screw gun aboard, and had the fitting relocated in about two minutes…

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  Geoff Kerr says:

  The mainmast step bears on the keelson/inner stem as well as the garboards, epoxied to all three surfaces and with healthy fillets at the joint with the garboards. The waterways alongside the inner stem are maintained…check these and clean out the squeeze out as necessary. I also throw in a couple of stout screws, but they probably only serves as clamps while the epoxy cures.

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  Zoran Glozinic says:

  If I understand this right, now the mast step is only supported on its sides parallel to keelson and it is resting only on garboards….. I would personally rather see it sitting on garboards AND keelson… and maybe create waterways on both sides of keelson…. if possible I would like to have Geoff commenting on this, either here or emailing me at zoranglo at gmail dot com.
  I am REALLY very happy to have this video series available for watching….. and did you guys consider making a DVD out of it, so we can have it and pop it in our dvd player/tv any time we need – somewhere in the shop corner or living room ???? my best regards to all of you from the frozen canada :) Z.