The Sea Nation

Sailing

NOAA’s Blended Global Sea Winds

Kass has shared a resource I’ve been looking for a long time: NOAA’s blended global sea-wind data. Enjoy.

Ikaroa

Too Much Epoxy, Too Much Heat

I mixed too much epoxy at once and watched the exothermic reaction turn it into a smoking block, melting the plastic spatula. For bigger jobs, I’ve learned that less at a time is definitely better.

Journal

Our Newsletter Is Nearly Ready

I’m getting a newsletter started for more news from our tent. Subscribe if you’d like to follow along.

Journal

Help Us Shape the New Newsletter

We’re asking a few questions about what brings tens of thousands of people to our posts. Fill in the survey and help decide what we share in our new weekly newsletter.

Ikaroa

Both Lower Hulls Standing Together

I have both lower hulls standing together for their final sanding, making sure the keels and skegs are absolutely identical. They already look sizeable, though the upper hulls and cabin trunks will take the boat to 11.6 metres.

Ikaroa

Correcting a Plywood Butt Strap

I used a Japanese handsaw to correct one of my blunders: an epoxy-bonded plywood butt strap that was 9mm too wide and left no room for the bottom of a bulkhead.

Ikaroa

Re-checking Bulkheads on the Backbone

Today I re-checked the bulkhead placements on the half-finished backbone in our tent.

Ikaroa

Epoxy Coating Bulkheads and Laminating the Backbone

The monster tent is keeping us warm enough to resume work in the South Coast winter. We’ve started epoxy-coating the bulkheads and laminating the backbone elements together, so out come the nuclear reactor suits.

Ikaroa

Making Room for the Lower Hulls

We had to dismantle the old tent after discovering it was nowhere near tall enough for the hulls. The new, wider tent should give us room to work—and perhaps even keep it above 15°C.

Ikaroa

Cutting Ikaroa’s Backbone from Elite Plywood

I’m getting the backbone parts cut from precious 18 mm Robbins Elite plywood, then moving on to doublers, notches and lower bulkheads. Serious boatbuilding has officially begun.

Journal

Helpful Tips From the Local Laundry

I found some helpful laundry advice at our local laundry: sort tomorrow, wash the day after, fold next week, and iron when it gets real.

Journal

The Shipyard or Corona Question

I was faced with the important question: Shipyard or Corona?

Journal

A Bigger Space, Closer to the Sea

We’ve moved into a bigger space, much closer to the sea—in fact, it’s just outside.

Journal

More Sea Nation Details Are Coming Soon

I’m getting the websites and YouTube updates ready while lockdown keeps us busy. Subscribe now and keep an eye on these addresses for the full story.

Ikaroa

Testing the Maslow CNC on Full-Scale Parts

I finally saw the first pieces of our new 7.5-metre boat at full scale. The Maslow CNC cut a test batch from cheap 9mm plywood, and my translation of the Wharram Designs plans into machine files actually worked.

Ikaroa

It’s a Tiki 38, Number 182

The competition answer is finally out: I’m building a Tiki 38. More precisely, number 182.

Journal

Nimrod, Our Little Lockdown Beauty

Locked away from our boats, I bought Nimrod, a 24ft Falmouth Gypsy, to play with before building the proper one. This post also marks the official premiere of TheSeaNation video channels.

Ikaroa

The Router Bit That Stopped Everything

Our secret weapon was already set up, but a loose collet reduction brought it to a halt. I ordered more router bits and hopefully more effective reductions.