Sunday, October 11, 2015

The Starling Project - Part 39

Laminating up the new tiller. A tiller was the only bit of gear missing when I bought the boat. I have laminated five alternating layers of white pine and mahogany. This alternating of contrasting colours always varnishes up well.

With the painting of the hull completed the  boat is now right side up all and all the hardware is being fitted.

A final coat of 'Storm Grey' finishing gloss paint makes the cockpit look smart. To protect the varnish I  taped out the cockpit slates and the cockpit beading at the deck level. I am now able to count the number of jobs to complete on both hands, which is a good sign.

2 comments:

Dan Gurney said...

I am happy to see your Starling right way up again; it's so much prettier. I've always loved the look of a laminated tiller. Modern carbon fiber or aluminum just don't have the same appeal to me. You are doing a fine restoration job on old 133.

To record my new post-surgery interests, I've started a new blog: www.estuaryist.blogspot.com. I hope you'll stop by and check it out.

Alden Smith said...

I have visited your very interesting new blog and left a comment.

Thanks for your encouragement. I feel I am getting very close to completion. It's a great time to be finishing with summer coming on with a vengeance.

I agree with you regarding natural materials for boats. A wooden boat beats exotic materials hands down any day in my book - although I do choose some synthetic materials such as synthetic sail material and ropes over canvas sails and manila ropes.