May 23, 2022

Points East Pram Build: step by step

Read about the build process in our post.

The kit parts await us on Day 1 — The kit

Reviewing plans with Clint — Clint reviews plans

Plan details — Plan closeup

Freeing individual parts from the framework. — Cutting parts from main piece

Part of the midship frame freed and ready for assembly — Part cut out ready for finishing

Gluing the two pieces of the bow transom — IMG_7109

Assembling the two pieces of the bow transom — IMG_7116

Bow transom glued and clamped. — bow transom glued up

More parts glued and clamped — Components glued and clamped

Cleaning up the edges on a completed part — IMG_7125

Beginning assembly of the midship frame. Clint explains the process. — Clint reviews plans for midship frame

Carefully laying out the midship frame. — Layout of midship frame

Assembling midship frame

Applying epoxy to the midship frame. — Applying epoxy to midship frame

Assembling the epoxied pieces of the midship frame with screws — Assembling midship frame1

Covering screw holes in the midship frame assembly with bungs — IMG_7132

Attaching the garboard plank to the midship frame. — Midship frame with garboard planks

Closeup of the Tab-N-Lock system that holds the plank in place during assembly. — Inserting wedges in midship frame

Installing the fore and aft bulkheads, attaching to the garboard plank. — Garboard plank with MS frame and bulkheads

Preparing a transom for installation, beveling edges to match the garboard and sheer planks. — More beveling

Beveling the edges of the stern transom — beveling edges of transom

Stern transom, ready to go. — Ali with stern transom

The screws that hold the garboard plank to the transoms will be countersunk. Here, making sure the countersink is correctly matched to the screw. — IMG_7135

Attaching the garboard plank to the bow transom — Clint explains something

Applying epoxy to transom

End of Day 1, bulkheads, transoms and midship frame are attached and secured to the garboard plank. — Transoms-bulkheads-MS frame

End of Day 1, another view — End of day 1

Day 2. Because we won't be using the chine log, Clint programs a series of stitch holes in the bottom panel for stitch and glue fastening. — Clint programming stitch holes for bottom

The CNC machine accurately cuts the stitch holes. — CNC machine cutting stitch holes

The bottom of the garboard plank is planed to a 90 degree angle to fasten with the bottom panel. — IMG_7158

Test fitting the bottom panel. — test fitting bottom

Applying epoxy to the frame edges, bulkhead edges and garboard plank for the bottom panel. — IMG_7155

Applying epoxy. — Applying epoxy before attaching bottom

With the bottom panel in place, copper wire is threaded through the stitch holes and twisted to pull the bottom panel to the frame pieces. — IMG_7169

Epoxy is mixed by weight and then used to create fillets along interior seams. — Mixing epoxy

Creating a fillet in the bow transom. — Creating fillet in bow transom

Closeup of the fillet — IMG_7142

IMG_7139

IMG_7170

Admiring our work so far. — IMG_7182

Attaching the sheer plank. — IMG_7183

Sheer plank closeup. It will overlap the top of the garboard plank, which has been beveled to receive it. — IMG_7184

Cutting the hole for the bulkhead access hatch. — IMG_7200

Interior nearly complete with all planks assembled, as well as knees and seat risers. — Interior with access ports cut

The underside of the stern seat/tank top. This may never see daylight again, but if it does, it will bear testament to the builders of this fine craft! — Signed seat bottom

Bending the rubrail into place. — IMG_7216

Applying a strip of fiberglass cloth to the interior bottom/garboard plank seam. — IMG_7205

The bottom edges of the boat are planed and sanded smooth — Smoothing the edges

Planing the edges around the stern transom. — Planing the edges smooth

The bottom with the skeg and keel runners installed. — Skeg and keel runners installed

Applying fiberglass cloth to the exterior bottom. — IMG_7219

IMG_7220

group-composite-edited

More in Points East Pram

Points East Pram featured at WBS Family Week January 30, 2023
Launching the Points East Pram: DIY done right August 22, 2022
Launching the Points East Pram July 16, 2022