Skeg installation

The vertical upright is screwed at 90 degrees to the sawhorse. Then a 1/4 inch spacer is put in to match rake of transom.  Skeg is temporarily held in place while epoxy fillet and glass sets up.  Next will be to shape it and fair all to hull. 

Here it is several hours later.  I applied the glass tape to the wet fillet, then after it set applied fairing compound.  Will sand smooth tomorrow, and perhaps apply primer to the entire bottom.  Extra fairing compound was used on the transom as it had a couple of low spots.  Might have to throw it in the water to "find the sweet spot for rowing.  Yes,  an excuse to see it float, although the interior needs considerable work. 

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Day 2 water tests

Day 2 of the water tests proved well worth it.  The row locks as placed are actually 12.5" aft of the rear edge of the rowing seat.  since the seat is 10" wide, it is not issue to just ooch back a little and really pull.  I got the boat up to 4.5kts with some pulling such as stated.  Average speed was around 3 kts with very little (ok lazy) effort.  rowed 2.5 miles in an hour and half with some rod action for largemouth and trout thrown in for good measure.  I figured as long as I was out there, I might as well look for a fish or two. 

The rear seat was exactly 29.5" (my inseam) behind the rowing seat, but proved way too uncomfortable to sit in as situation as it needs to be further forward for comfort.  I removed the cleats I glued in with Titebond II and will glue in some foot braces to do the job as the seat can then be moved forward.  With a passenger aboard the rowing would be done from the forward station.  I just ordered another pair of top mount row locks for the forward rowing station so that I can take a passenger with me. 

Will paint with alkyd enamel this week.  People were looking at me as if I were nuts being out in the lake in an unfinished boat.  Truth is the epoxied hull is sound as is but needs UV protection. 

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