The build starts with assembling the keel parts. There are four parts in the central part, with two superb scarf joints. This centre; part then has three parts each side added to give it some strength and create the rabbet. The keel can be ballasted with stainless steel or lead. I'm opting for brass. To give the keel some rigidity during construction I used the wooden ballast shape in the ballast slot. I taped it in with masking tape strips.
Now the anticipated tricky bit. I practised with a dry run using the first four ribs and the keel. the first three ribs are very wobbly and the fourth gives it some stability. The glue will probably help as well to keep it all together.
It is essential to have cleaned up all the ribs where they connect the keel and base board. It is also vital to have them set out in the construction order, easy to hand. I arranged them like this. NOTE the numbering uses Roman numbers, be warned.
It actually worked very well following the instructions, with the glue assisting to keep the bits nearly in the correct place, I was able to get the fourth rib in place. The first and second ribs are individual pairs, the third and fourth are single spanning units.
It also helps using plenty of glue in the construction board, it allows lots of adjustments to be made.
Eventually I was happy that all the ribs were correctly located in the keel and the base board.
Like here :- this is the sixth rib in place. The bow stem is also glued into the construction base. The clamps are from flower shop, and are wide and strong enough to hold the ribs to the keel. The large black clamps are to weigh the bow end down.
Each rib seems to be easier to fit as I progress, tucking the rid slot up into the keel slot, then walking the ribs ends slowly to their slot in the base board where they pop into the "pond" of glue awaiting them.
