New FS 18 Build

[TJS Redchaser]

I've got some more work done on the inside and played around mocking up a potential polling platform and grabrail design.

Got the some frames glued and filleted in with a draintube.


Transome Knees and cleats for rear deck



Frame A with cutout, drain hole and cleats for front deck. I plan on keeping a small anchor in the front area with acess from a small triangular shaped hatch.


Faired the front compartments with quick fair then painted with epoxy with white pigment. Took three coats of pigmented epoxy. I'm not sure if I'm happy with it, I don't like the deep weave of the unfaired glass. Seems like it will be hard to clean. Don't know if I'll fair more or just paint it with bilgecoat:doh: .




Got the front and rear decks set on and hatches cut out of the front deck.





I added two more chase tubes that will go under the floor in addition to two small ones that will run under the gunnels. I plan on running the water line for the live well through one and the other one is for just in case.


I am going to extend the front deck similar to Bayport Bob's FS 18 but will use the area for a livewell and Fish box. I'm thinking through how I'm going to pour in some floatation foam to make round corners and whether to have one lid or two split lids. That way when you reach into the livewell you don't have to open the fish box and let out the cold air. This area below will be split into two compartments with drains out onto the deck or out the side.



Now for my bright idea . Didn't work quite as planned but gave me a few ideas. I plan on using pipe insulation to make a composite poling platform and grabrail much like Joel did on his FS 17. I am going to use pipe insulation as I think the pool noodles are a little too big in diameter for this boat. I had this bright idea that if I ran flexible wire through the middle I could bend them to shape and mock up the tubes before glassing them. The result is below. They really didn't hold a shape like I hoped they would.






That's it for now. I've got a little more work done on glassing in the frames under the floor. As soon as I get the cleats glued on I'll pour the foam. I'm tossing some ideas around on how to make the hatches drain and drafting some options for the polling platform, shape etc.

[TJS Redchaser]

Did a little drawing tonight. I'm trying to decide if I like a shorter polling platform in front of the motor or the standard taller one that would be more over the motor. Decisions, Decisions . But hey it's better than sanding.

[longrod]

Man ,you have been busy.Does the extended deck give you an extra foot ? I was thinking of doing the extend deck on mine also, but who knows.With the poling platform in front of the motor ,will you have enough room for the tiller extension? I also like the way you have the grab rail on to the side of the boat.Looking good! So whats next on the agenda?

[TJS Redchaser]

Longrod,

Yes the extended deck gives you roughly an extra foot. When you lay out the front deck the plans have you scribe a section to cut out that becomes part of the cockpit. With the extension you go ahead and cut it out but it essentially becomes the lid for the new compartment. Yea, what ever I go with tiller swing will be an issue to deal with. There is a production boat company that builds a similar boat that I won't mention. Seems there was a big bru ha ha here on using a picture of one of their boats as an example. Anyways they have a lot of boats with the shorter platform in front of the motor. But I'm thinking it's because that boat is a little narrower and the lower center of gravity helps with tippiness. All of the FS 18's I've seen on here have the full size platform which is what I'm leaning towards.

Up next (hopefully this week) taping in the floor frames, gluing the cleats under the floor and pouring the floatation foam. I've got to make a definitive decision on where I want the livewell before I pour the foam and get the floor set in.

Yours is looking good. It will be nice to have someone to bounce Ideas off of.

[shine]

Just an FYI, you will need a lot more CF if you go with a less diameter pipe. Stiffness is exponentially increasing with the diameter of the tube. All that means is you may not be able to do the cantilevered platform.

[TJS Redchaser]

Joel,

Thanks for the heads up. So it sounds like with the smaller diameter tube I'll need maybe four layers of the CF? I think I remember you used two CF and 1 fiberglass on yours. If I have to add more material and have four legs as opposed to two I might not see any weight savings. Probably why you went with your design. Might be what I should do, more simple and less weight.

P.S. Any idea when you will be getting more of the small diameter CF sock in? I was looking around and found Basalt sleeving that seemed like it might be a good replacement for the fiberglass sleeve but I'm not sure.

Oh now I understand, I had to google Cantilever

[TJS Redchaser]

Got some more done on the inside.

Floor cleats glassed in and two chase tubes in place. I might take one out to save weight.


I got the floatation foam poured in. It didn't go as far as I thought it would so I have to buy another kit. I think it was a little too cold in the garage. Next time I am going to warm the foam up prior to mixing.



For the time being I'm out of epoxy and pour foam so I decided to go ahead and cut out the gunnels and frames ( vertical rod holders)





Here's a good look at the future livewell/fishbox


Here's a 7' rod to get an idea how long the cockpit is. I don't fly fish (yet) so that's the longest rod I carry. I might add rod tubes going under the read deck though just in case.


The gunnels sure seem to make the cockpit smaller. I'm glad I decided against a built in center box for the livewell/fishbox. I think you would bang your shins trying to walk around. i'm considering making them a little narrower like 6" instead of 8". I doubt I will ever walk on them anyway.

[longrod]

Yeah ,i dont htink im catching up to that! That looks good man.i assume you just use the cutouts in the front deck as the hatch lids.I think im going to just get some plastic hatches and make them recessed, so they are flush with the deck.Im too lazy
to make them from scratch.I would add the rod tubes if it were me going into the front & rear bulkheads.But you know ,i never leave my fly stick together when im underway anyway.I just break it down to 2 pieces.But it looks like only 2-3 foot will be in the rod tubes.Man ,i cant wait till i have those kinds of decisions to make.I do got a question though, how much fairing compound did you use for the hull bottom.I bought 2qts plus hardener.You doing all the inside white also? Keep it up ,its looking damn good.

[TJS Redchaser]

Alright my second foam kit arrived today so I got the rest of the foam poured in and am ready to glue the floor in next.

Used a handsaw to level the foam down and then ran over it with the belt sander.

[longrod]

Lookin good! There is light at the end of the tunnel for you.