The Birth of a 'Centennial Spray' in New Zealand!

Early July 2001, and we have the stern tube glued in place in the hull. The plywood and bracing will be removed when the epoxy has cured. The rest of the keel deadwood will be built up around the tube.

As was the case with the inner stem, we laminated the outer stem on the floor. This provided for easier cleaning and dressing of the final structure, prior to permanent fitting onto the hull .

With the stern tube in place, we've started to build up the keel deadwood. Each layer is shaped as required prior to lamination onto the hull.

The laminated outer stem has been fitted to the hull, and additional layers of timber have been laminated to act as a base for the ballast keel. The pale line running around the hull near the waterline is a shallow (1mm) rout taken out to accept the overlap of fibreglass cloth for the sheathing layer.

The keel deadwood has been built up to the level of the ballast keel, and the small wedge forward of the lead position has also been attached. The dark area of the hull is a layer of fairing filler (epoxy resin and microballoons) applied over the glass sheath.

With the deadwood laminated up over the stern tube, the remaining layers could be assembled off the boat for ease of shaping. Once completed, this structure will be laminated onto the boat aft of the ballast keel position.

The next run of glass cloth has been applied. As with the sheathing already completed, a layer of fairing filler will be applied over the glass, as an aid in final surfacing, and to prevent "print-through".

The last remaining deadwood has been laminated into position on the keel of the hull. The deadwood will still require fairing and fibreglassing prior to painting. The heel, (which will support the rudder) will also require modification to accept a sturdy bronze casting. The position and size of the lead ballast keel can now be seen. Also, surfacing filler has been applied over the last run of fibreglass cloth. As most of this area will be below the waterline, a Microlite compound has been used (the lighter coloured filler) instead of Microballoons (the darker coloured filler). The final area of hull will be fibreglassed and faired when the keel deadwood has been completed to its final shape.