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First Run at Skinning the Chuckanu When last we left the Chuckanu, she was fully formed, but bare. This week, we'd try to cover her.
Earl and his son, Chad, were walking the docks when I got to the Boathouse on Friday. They are builders - Earl is having Chad help him build an 18' tug. They were appreciative of the Chuckanu.
There are different schools of thought on treating the wood of a Skin on Frame. Some people say the boats will be stored inside, upside down, almost all their lives and need no treatment. Others can't leave well enough alone. I asked around and people said a well respected recipe for wood treatment is equal portions spar urethane, mineral spirits, and boiled linseed oil. I had the linseed oil, but needed to buy the other two - yes, that's $15.99 for a quart of spar urethane and $15.99 for a gallon of mineral spirits. Life on the coast . . .
Mix 'em up and paint 'em on. I started on the bottom - in case I screw it up, nobody will see it while I am learning.
Sam dropped by to ask about the Boathouse. I put him to work.
Sam was a great sport - I hope to see a lot more of him. He is a mechanic by trade, and those are useful skills. Photos by Bob.
Boat Turnings are big event - you usually invite friends over and but pizza. For the Chuckanu, not so much.
Starting on the topsides.
This is a really good picture - the afternoon sun sets things off quite nicely.
There we go - total coverage. The mixture is only shiny where the grain is flat, otherwise it soaked in very well. It's very sticky and stinks to high heaven - plus, if you get it on your skin, it burns.
Next morning, things had mostly dried. Conventional wisdom says to use this 1/3 1/3 1/3 mixture correctly, you are supposed to give multiple coats over time until the wood can soak up no more. I am not wise.
Tools for skinning: Electric stapler with stainless steel staples, hot knife (from Harbor Freight) and a heat gun (also from Harbor Freight.) Watch for sales, or be smart and buy real tools from reputable retailers.
Draping - it pays to take your time and line things up.
I didn't show the stapling process - essentially you start in the middle and work out while alternating sides - all the time pulling as tight as you can. Use LOTS of staples. Trim the excess.
Stitching the ends is fun - use a Table Stitch first. The cloth is so slick and the "thread" is so smooth, I went ahead and did a lock stitch.
Roll up the excess and do a whip stitch. See how nice and neat they were at the top?
Pull as hard as you can and there are still wrinkles - that's where the heat gun comes in, but not today.
I still have to pound in the staples - easy enough when you hold a sledge against the back and tap 'em in with a hammer.
I think it looks pretty just like that.
That, my friends, is a Boathouse. Next week: More skinning.
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