General up date on fitting pout of the Little Mai dinghy

                                      

Now ready to be flow coated 

Flow coated and the stern seat in position ready to glass in position

The bow seat glass work now flow coated and ready for the inspection hatch to be fitted and the hardwood strips to be fitted on the top 

Glassing in the keel backing pads then ready for the next stage to be done.

Starting to glass in the backing pads

The whole of the backing pads glass over with two layers of 2 oz CSM 

looking forward to the bow seat / buoyancy tank all we have do now is glass in the stern seat / buoyancy tank. Then fit the centre seat blocks and then lift it out of the mould to fit the inwales and gunwales. 

Progress update on the Little Mai new build

 Starting  dry fitting the bow seat buoyancy tank   

Then glassing it in position 

Trimming back the edge of the matting while it was still in a semi cured condition  leaving a neat edge.

Setting up the stern seat / locker with a spirit level in both directions athwart ships 

Then fore and aft directions before getting ready to glass it in position.

The second apprentice continuing to shape the handle of his paddle

The second apprentice learning to use hand tools as chisels to shape the shaft of his paddle

Carefully using a paring chisel to continue to shape the shaft of the paddle near to where the blades are going to be glued on to the shaft to continue the next stage of the making of the paddle.

How the shaft of the paddle started 

Now getting closer to the finished shape

Now sanding the the final high spots off the shaft 

As a company we employ disable young people to help them achieve their goals of becoming boat builders as we find they practical talents which would otherwise be lost.

Starting to glass in the transom pad the bilge keel baking pads and the bow eye pad

Starting to glass in the transom pad for the outboard motor and then glass in the aft seat which will be a buoyancy tank as well, also glassing in the starboard bilge keel pad.

Glassing in the bow eye backing pad and then will be able to glass in the bow seat and buoyancy tank.

Making patterns for floor bearers

Making patterns for the bottom of the floor bearers so that a floor can be laid down while working on the inside of the dinghy

A number of patterns made, now just have to line them up in the boat and mark off the tops

Using a piece of plywood to work on in the dinghy at the moment, however soon to be replaced with floor bearers and a temporary floor  

The second apprentice working on making an paddle

First the apprentice had to mark out the piece of ash he was going to use for the shaft for the paddle

Then cut out the paddle blades 

Once all the pieces with cut they had to be put through the planner thicknesser to get them to the correct size 

The make a start on making the shaft round by using the same method you use to make a round mast from a square piece of wood

Having cut the blades for the paddle leaving on a bit for cramping up which once the glue as set can then be cut to close to correct size to plane and shape the paddle.

Finally getting to the end of cliching the last of the nails in the ribs

Getting to grips with the last few ribs that need cliching up  

 The inside getting a good clear up so it will be ready to fit the floor bearers and then the floorboards 

Just the last few ribs in the bow to finish off, there is an end to this job sometimes.

Starting to fix in the plywood and other backing pads

Fixing in the outboard pad on the inside of the transom so a reasonable size outboard can be fitted

Fitting the backing pad for the bow eye 

Fitting the bilge keel backing pad for the keel bands to be screwed into when they are fitted.

A quick update on progress on the Mai-Star Class dinghy

Cleaning up the forward end of the dinghy before fitting the last of the ribs in the bow.

The new ribs now made and ready to fit in the bow, when they are done the ribs will all be finished and then a start can be made on the rest of the fitting out.