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Keelson laid on Star 45x

Well... I'm committed now. I epoxied down the keelson this afternoon so there's no turning back. The first Star 45x RC Sailboat is under construction!

I started today with epoxying in some supports between the two radio tray sheets. This is so the sheets won't be squished together when I screw the servo in later. I milled a piece of oak to 1/8" x 3/8" and cut sections to fit. I'd have preferred mahogany but I couldn't find any in my shop. Instead I found a piece of oak instead. Not sure where it came from and normally can't stand oak. But these pieces will be mostly hidden and I needed a hardwood for the other supports so this will have to do.

In the picture below you can just make out the two support pieces that frame the servo opening between the two radio tray sheets.

Star 45x RC Sailboat radio tray and keelson

Then I added other supports. There is one that runs near the sheer-line that the stays will eventually bolt through. I doubled these up by epoxying a second piece on top of (which is actually "below" the support when the boat is eventually flipped over). In the end, these supports for the stays will be tripled up when I add a third piece to the top of them after the boat is rolled over. Also added the piece that runs between frame 4 & 5 near the bottom between the two radio sheets. There are cutouts for all of these and it should be pretty obvious where the support pieces go. Clear coat them with epoxy and slip them in place. Be careful not to break the frames.

Then I clear coated a piece of 1/8" x 3/4" cedar that I milled last night and epoxied it down as the keelson. Using only frames through frame 8 makes for a very gentle curve and much flatter bottom than the original frames. I hope it looks OK later on! Fingers crossed.

Star 45x RC Sailboat radio tray and keelson

I'll let that dry completely and then the next step is to add the side stringers, chine logs, and then the half-frames.


Peace!

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