Keeping Busy – Frame C, MDF Extension, and a Lucky Find

While I’m still tracking down suitable pine wood for the frames and stringers, I haven’t been able to start assembling Frame B just yet. But rather than sit idle, I decided to keep the momentum going by starting to draw Frame C.

I’m being careful not to draw too many frames on the same MDF board—things can get messy and confusing quickly. So I’m taking it one step at a time. In the case of Frame C, though, I immediately ran into a small problem: the MDF board isn’t tall enough to fit the full height of the frame, which extends further than Frame B.

That meant I had to build an extension for the board. It was the perfect excuse to finally use the table saw completely on my own for the first time—a bit nerve-racking, but it went smoothly. I cut a strip of MDF about 35 cm wide, which was just enough to give me the extra drawing space I needed. I also cut a few narrower strips to serve as backing plates, then glued the extension to the original board.

First single-handed use of the table saw!

While I was looking for something heavy to press the boards together while the glue dried, I came across a pile of lead weights tucked away in a corner. Naturally, I thought about the keel, which I’ll need to cast later in the build. I asked the boatyard owner if those weights were up for grabs—he said yes! So, just like that, I now have my lead for the keel, which is a big win.

Glueing backing plates

Those lead weights might go into my keel!

I also asked about sourcing wood for the building jig, and it looks like I may be able to start that part next week. Meanwhile, I’m finalising an order for the pine wood—but I’ll share more details about that in the next post.

For now, I’m happy to have kept things moving. Even the small steps feel like progress!