Posted by Nigel McC on
URL: https://forum.mymorbic.uk/Notes-on-a-Morbic-Build-in-New-Zealand-tp414p444.html

Slow progress. Though not much else to do given the foul weather in NZ over the last two weeks. Auckland floods caused significant damage, it has been blowing 15-25 knots all week, and there is yet another cyclone on the way, expected to arrive on Sunday 12th February.
But that means more time sanding, fairing, and painting. The hull is now painted, and the brass keel bands fitted, but not tightened yet.

Nineteen millimetre half round brass is difficult to bend, and can kink over the pre-drilled holes. So I annealed the curved sections by heating to colour change, then plunging into cold water. The sections were then wrapped round a former of similar curvature to stem and stern curves. This worked quite well, though I can see a slight lateral curve along the keelson, I don’t think anyone else will notice.
Next stage is to varnish all the bare woodwork – with multiple coats of marine grade vanish. Then I will have a hull that I can row or motor. I’ve ordered the sails from the Phillipines, but they won’t arrive until April. We might have some decent weather by then.