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This is a very “raw” finish of the bottom planking. Lots of work yet to do but all the wood is now on the bottom portion of the hull. I have sanded the high spots a bit but I have a few glue bulges to grind down. The glue is harder than the wood so I need to go carefully after them with probably a mini sanding disk or drum.

Next I will apply a thin layer of something (yet to be decided) surface filler like Bondo to fill the depressions. I am thinking to put that off until I get the side planking installed. There is likely to be some more bumps and bruises before I get it totally covered with wood.

At this point the instructions say I can dismount it from the building board. I am almost afraid to see what the joints look like inside the bilges. I will probably have to clean up some runs inside and probably add glue fillets where gaps exist. Pictures later on that work. The entire inside will be coated in epoxy surface sealer to preserve and waterproof the wood. A lot of the present glue joints will be a lot less noticeable and most will be concealed from outside inspection. I’ll know what’s in there…

I have seen some boats where the builder must have used casting resin to seal their interior hulls. I first thought they had painted them white but after doing some castings of my own I realized what they had done. Casting resin starts clear and turns white as it sets. I don’t want that look in my hull. Epoxy will set up clear.

I could paint the interior cabin areas white if I choose, but I reserve that decision for a lot farther down the construction path.

The work shown here was actually finished shortly after the last post. It has taken me this long just to get it posted.