Toroa progress

No Photos today though I had one of our chickens come in to the workshop today, she jumped up and investigated my handy work (which she seemed very impressed by) after which she jumped down again and went on her way in search of insects.

I have now finished gluing all the internal framework and kiato supports with all the associated fiddly bits of timber which are intended to reinforce the connections to the hull. My next step depends on a source of plywood which I am currently demolishing from an old hospital utility shed nearby.

All my timber is sourced from recycled native wood from my ever growing collection. I sometimes wish I was as good at collecting money as I am at collecting wood. Perhaps I will build my next proa out of money! On the subject of money this rebuild has just passed the $150.00 threshold and is rising slowly with every tube of glue I finish. I'm working myself up to the purchase of 20 meters of 8oz glass cloth which I'm dreading, (both the process and the spend).

I dry fit all the components including drilling all screw holes & pre-fit screws, after which I sand the mating surfaces and then apply the adhesive. I use square drive screws to hold the components and clamp where possible. Once the adhesive is cured I remove the screws and drill out the hole with a 6 - 8mm drill. I then cut a length of 6 or 8 mm doweling which I coat with glue and drive it in to the hole. This forms a tree nail which reinforces the joint with tremendous shear strength. I prefer this method to leaving screws in the wood. Metal and wood are never very comfortable together, they seem to irritate each other. The added bonus is that the screw hole is filled with wood and this sands and fairs perfectly with the rest of the wood work, no filler needed.

More soon.

Toroa rebuild

Ribs installed at the intersection of the old and new sections, the kiato extensions (splints) are glued on and extend to windward as a permanent fixture of the main hull. The red kiato will be removable and will be lashed in place under the bamboo deck when on the water. I intend to continue transporting Toroa on his side with the kiato and ama removed.
I have yet to cap the extensions with timber after which they will be fiberglassed along with the deck and hull.























The blue painted void will be covered with plywood decking to form a small watertight compartment under the beam at either end. It seemed like good use of the redundant cockpit floor & will add considerable and desirable stiffness in just the right place.


















Diagonal braces will be glued in from the foredeck to the end of the kiato extensions as part of the permanent deck structure, the resulting triangle will be filled in with bamboo decking.



















Dry fit of all components to verify sizes and dimensions.
Note the final scarf jointed infill on the lee gunwale rail


















Paint removed from hull on lee side






















Mast planed and faired ready for glassing.


















Ascertaining height for ama stanchion connection point.

Toroa stretch surgery further pics

Toroa is back in one piece. I'm slowly planking up to the keel line one strip at a time.
I'm using Holdfast Gorilla Grip which gives me the confidence for immersed surface laminating. Even though the hull will be fiberglassed Toroa will sit for extended periods on a mooring so I want to feel confident that the seems will hold even if they get damp from bilge water and capillary soaking through the inevitable scratches in the hull surface.


















9 planks per side in place, working from the mid line up to the keel.








































Ama stripped and ready for ceder strip planking from waterline up.
I've glued two stanchions in preparation for gluing into ama before planking starts.
I'm setting up the stanchions with the same spacing as on Toroa so that I can interchange amas
and connecting structures between both Takapu & Toroa hulls.



















Windward side planking.



















Lee side planking.































































My old companion Takapu is resting against the opposite wall watching progress on Toroa.
Occasionally he whispers in my ear to tell me when I go off track, he's also a wonderful source of inspiration and memories to keep me moving towards my goal of finishing, ready to sail.