"El Bow Wrestling..."

Has been a while but I haven't sit still. Tossed in the side boards and as expected the bow section is the hardest part. As I am inexperienced with aluminum bending, stretching and fixing I had to try a few strategies.

Slowly I am nearing the finish of the bow. Every next inch taking a bit more time and new approaches 😉.

Starts looking like a ship isn't it? Far from watertight though.

the craddle

Ok. Very exiting moment: how will the bottom sheets will fit in the cradle.

I had my doubts of course considering the struggle with the center board trunk and keel. On the other hand the way of building permits some margins so I tossed in the sheets and start fitting and tacking.

It surprised me to see that the aft and the front got together quite reasonably.  The mid section with the trunk needs some adjustment but I expected that. For every next build I certainly recommend a new design for the trunk and keel section. But I'll come to that later.

What about eye sight...

Sometimes you encounter a personal "awareness" that almost feel spiritual...
I did today.

No it's not something magic but in fact something stupid!

When I started welding lessons I discovered that I had to get used to the sight behind the welding helmet. As I hadn't any experience before I accepted the "scene" as it was and that I had to train myself in observing the welding process.

During the lessons I discovered that  multi focal glasses aren't ideal. At reading distance the lower part of the glasses were looking exactly where the window of the helmet stopped.
So I used a cheap reading glasses and it worked.

A few lessons later I discovered that I had issues with keeping distance of my head to the welding process. Slowly creeping into the weld and not getting a clear focus of course.
So I decided to buy standard reading glasses a higher figure than my own. And guess what...

 

A new world opened up!!!. Welding is so relaxed now. I can see everything happening in the weld.
I wished I discovered this months ago.

Well, my welds made a shocking improvement again so I am happy.

Learned the first important lessons

I really had some tough struggle welding the centerboard trunk & keel section.

I know that aluminum deforms when welded and I guessed that as aluminum is quite bendable I could correct this afterwards... Not so!

I learned that when this construction is welded it is enormously stiff and strong (which is positive as well of course). I also learned that complex constructions deform in unpredictable ways.
I had to consider more tack welds and a smart welding order. And I even may consider another design of the parts when I build this ship again.

Fortunately I could correct this trunk & keel within acceptable limits but that took several hours.
First I tried to bend the deformed parts resulting in more severe deformation in others parts, leading into too big gaps to weld and a kind of "modern art" in the end.

After a night sleep I decided to cut out the "modern art" and inserted a new piece. That worked out quite good. Welding the new piece deformed the side of the trunk again which I could prevent by cutting a few slits in the trunk to absorb the heath deformation and weld them afterwards water tight again 😇.

The section is not finished yet but hope that the most difficult part is done by now 🙏.