Fiddly Bits

One thing I have found is that boats do not come with square corners.  Well, I suppose if I built a barge or a box boat, such as a PD Racer, I might find some square corners, but a double ended sharpie like the Teal comes with virtually none.

With that means cutting lots of odd shaped pieces, including some that are all odd angles, such as the blocks for holding the thwart that would normally serve as the entire mast step.  Mine's a little different, but still needs someething to mount to the hull.  To that effect I wound up making two blocks with no right angles.  I was at least able to use some old chine stock that James had leftover, but even the angle on the top of it had to be adjusted to suit--this on a 4" long piece of wood and no vise handy.   Enter the solution (see picture) but don't try this at home!

Sometimes you just need a little dab to do ya.  Using a plane like an old style box grater was what worked in this case--but watch your fingers!

All that fuss for what?   Well here's the part in action--note the thwart sits a little forward, but this thwart and mast step are sort of placeholders and will (eventually, if not sooner) replaced.

  I suppose one other neat tool to have for this sort of work is a chop saw that can cut compound angles--well if this was a trade, you betcha.  May as well toss in a shaper, edger, planer, sander and ..........  the list is endless.  Still, if you want to, go nuts.