06/08/2011
Progress on Lamoine’s first Electric Lobster Boat
After a bad bump in the road–an off-brand of epoxy which hardened to a chewing gum consistency and then stopped–Eleccentricity is taking shape. The bottom is done except for bottom paint which goes on just before launch, and the sides are on and glassed. On June 6, I plucked up my courage and cut a rectangle out of the bottom where the outboard lower unit will emerge.
My friend Jim sent me some bronze oarlocks so I will have an option when the batteries run down. I am looking forward to “the big flip” which will hopefully occur today. In order to do this I am building a cradle to support the boat upright. If there are pictures of the flip below it means it has happened!
I had pictures of the process but my camera stopped talking to my computer so I have no way to get them out. These pictures were taken with my video camera. The boat is so big and heavy (eighteen feet long, seven feet wide and so far, 275 lbs.) that I can walk all around inside it without tipping up the eight foot long cradle. The flip was scary. I was worried the ropes I suspended it from the ceiling with would pull the ceiling down. This process was at the limit of my strength.
It will barely fit through the door!
I’m still sort of making things up as I go along. I have no clear idea of how I will outfit the interior. I could build a standing-height bridge and cuddy cabin but that would create quite a lot of wind resistance. I’m anxious to get it in the water with all the batteries and motor in place so I can check the “trim”, how it matches up to the theoretical waterline, before I choose where to add superstructure weight. Send me your ideas!
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Filed under Lamoine, Out on the water by on Jun 8th, 2011. Comment.
Comments on Progress on Lamoine’s first Electric Lobster Boat »
This is amazing progress, and to think I was there looking at it just before the nerve-racking flip. Continued good luck with this inspiring project!
What a cool boat-builder brother I have!