Stir Ven @ 43°S: April 2012

What this is about

We live by the D'Entrecasteaux Channel in Southern Tasmania. It, and much of the Tasmanian coast, offer amazing cruising possibilities. Previously, we owned an old, sturdy and fast 33 ft Huon pine sloop that we loved. The things it didn't offer - easy portability to other waters, shoal draft, beachability and the simplicity of dinghy-like sailing - are the things we gradually craved more and more.
For at least a few years I have thought that I should build an open, or mostly open, 20-something footer that would satisfy these urges. After much looking around at designs, we finally settled on the Stir Ven.
She is beautiful, fast, seaworthy, floats in 25cm of water and is designed as an adventure boat on which one can spend a few nights.
We hope she will be ready for use by the summer of 2012/13!

Monday, April 2, 2012

fit out progress

Just to prove that I have been working, here are some pictures:

I put in the beam and drain structure in the lazarette. I also painted the inside first so I wouldn't have to crawl in to do it. The bottom of the lower deck is also painted (except for the gluing regions). I have used wattyl DTM-985 again as I will in all lockers and the bilge areas. This paint is great. Direct to epoxy, it is primer, undercoat and topcoat in one. If you thin it to 10% of L760 thinners, you can roller it with a long nap roller. You get a slightly rough but incredibly tough surface which is suitable for these areas. It is also a high build paint so it will cover blemishes and glass tape weave, etc

lazarette drain complete

I decided that I want the boat to be stronger so I have incorporated cement! :0

So the bridge deck is on.....

bridge decks glued on

and I also painted these lockers first for easier access

internal lockers painted

I realised that I had forgotten to attach the little doubler/supports for the cockpit shelves prior to filleting the bulkhead/hull joins. Francois said that they were not required structurally but just an easy way to support the shelves. Instead, I have supported the shelves with battens

cockpit shelves installed

Now, I am adding the support beams for the helmsman's (i.e. my!) seat before I finish epoxying the side rear buoyancy tanks.