OD16 in Virginia

[waltk]

I am starting on an OD16 and have a few questions. I am using butt boards for the joints between sheets, and using the 2 plywood stringers option.

1. The plans say to glue the stringers to the Sole first, install battens and braces, then glue on the bottom and keel sides. Looking thru the forum (OD16 & OD18) I don't see anyone that built it this way. I'm thinking I would glue and biaxial tape the stringers and braces to the bottom first before installing the sole and keel sides. Any thought on this?

2. Regardless of the order of question 1 above, do I notch the stringers for the butt boards in the bottom and sole? Or should I glue the stringers in flat, then glue in the butt boards between the stringers, (or cut the butt boards into three pieces, leaving space for the stringers to set directly on the bottom and sole).

Any help or comments would be appreciated.

[cape man]

Build it from the bottom up. The sole will be one of the last pieces of wood you'll lay down. Cut the butt blocks for the bottom to fit in between the stringers.

Don't have my plans anymore, but that's how I built my OD18.

[Pudgey1922]

The plans now are definitely different than how many were built on here in the past. I followed the plans and did the stringers first and joined the seams in between the stringers with two layers of biaxial tape.

The plans now are not build up from the bottom like they have been in the past.

I am currently at the stage where I am fiberglassing the inside floor. I will be flipping it to finish the bottom soon. Woohoo!

[waltk]

Thank you both for your comments. I will proceed with a bottom up build. Currently have the bottom cut out and gluing the stringers together. I have to wait another week or two to get my 1/4 inch plywood for the sides. I have the 1/2" already and have been working with that.

[waltk]

UPDATE:

I have another question concerning the transom. According to the notes the transom goes between the sides, but does it go over the bottom board or behind it? The plans show double red lines on the bottom of the transom with no explanation.

Also I'm trying to mix my epoxy like the tutorials however I keep getting excessive air bubbles in the mix. Could I be mixing to little or too much? Can lower temperatures be a factor?

[jbo_c]

Cool temps will make the epoxy more viscous and apt to hold some bubbles in the mixed epoxy, but it shouldn’t cause bubbles in your layup as they usually pop easily when the epoxy is spread thin for laminating.

Not sure if you’re referring to bubbles in your mixed epoxy or layup.

Jbo

[cape man]

The transom sits on top of the bottom and inside the sides.

[waltk]

Cool temps will make the epoxy more viscous and apt to hold some bubbles in the mixed epoxy, but it shouldn’t cause bubbles in your layup as they usually pop easily when the epoxy is spread thin for laminating.

Not sure if you’re referring to bubbles in your mixed epoxy or layup.

Jbo

Actually getting bubbles in both the mix and after I spread it.

[cape man]

Hot air. Hair dryer or even a propane torch lightly passed over it.

[waltk]

I am trying to post some progress photos but can't seem to figure out how to post a picture. When attempting to upload a photo to the builder's gallery I get an error saying "there is no album where you are allowed to upload files". When I select create/order an album, I just get a death spiral that never ends. Any advice in dealing with this would be appreciated.