Thanks Thomas! It’s getting more nicknames as times goes on - fuselage, dog house, ark, coffin…
I’m going sailing for a couple of days in my slow monohull in light winds to remind myself why I’m building a proa, and to celebrate finishing one big piece.

It’s been a year since I started building. I don’t know how much I’ll get done before spring, since I don’t have a heated, dry work space.
I’m currently fashioning the stem/keelsons for the vaka. Then the bulkheads will attach to them, and then the hull panels will go over. I know I overbuilt the bulkheads that support the akas and masts, and they will probably rot before they break. Oh well. I don’t want to build them again for this boat.

I’ll have more pics in a couple of weeks. Work and other activities are slowing my progress, but that’s OK.

I built two stem/keelson assemblies, and a jig for cutting the 8” PVC pipe for the ama (the thing in front of the plastic drawer unit). I also built the first of four hull panels for the ends of the vaka. I had a hard time deciding on the profile for the ends. Hopefully they will look ‘proa-like’ and be easy to put together without a strongback.

I cut the pipe for the ama today using a jig to guide the circular saw. Then I finished off the cuts with the hand saw. Hard work, but the cuts look good. Next I’ll cut sheet PVC to match, then have them welded on.

Here’s the ama with the end caps welded on. It weighs about 50lbs (23kg), and is about 13’ (4m) long. I still need to install a drain plug - to get rid of any built-up pressure on condensation.

Slowly but surely…
I’ve built the rudder housings. Since these will probably be wet all the time, I plan to seal them with Titebond III before painting. I also need to add the push-pull tiller arms.

Initially, I’ll use Laser daggerboards for the blades, so they need to rotate through about 270 degrees.

Here’s a photo of one rudder attached to its frame. I still need to reinforce the ends of the horizontal arms so they don’t split when the rudders are loaded in use.

I’m finally back to building outside. One end of the vaka is taking shape.
I debated for a long time whether the deck at the bows should be level, or have some sheer.
I found a couple of nice hatches on Kijiji for the foredecks. Turns out the seller was the wife of Don Martin, designer of the Martin 242 sport boat. Very cool.

More slow progress on the ark, er, proa. I’ve sealed the first of the vaka end sections and am ready to paint inside the hull. Then I’ll add decks and a hatch, then paint the outside after as little sanding as possible.

I agreed to help ‘clean up the back yard for summer’ which means no building for a while. The boat shed becomes the party room. Such is life in a small space.

The proa piece is now in our living room while my we clean our back yard and re-stain our deck.
I’ve got the deck hatch framed. Almost ready to paint the insides.
I’ve decided on a name change. This proa is not EZZE. It is LOL - either labour of love, or the other meaning, or maybe both. :o)
Anyone in the Vancouver area want to do some rough carpentry in their spare time for a little cash and free boat rides?

One end of the vaka is nearly finished, just final sanding and painting, and installing the hatch cover.
Then we’ll clean up the yard for summer entertaining.
I realized that there’s other stuff I can work on in the background until the yard’s available again.
I hope that I can get the other vaka end build before this sailing season is over.
This building during summer instead of sailing is agonizing. Not no sailing, just greatly reduced sailing.
No sailing would be crazy…

Looking good, Curtis !

Little by little it all gets done. I like the shape…not easy to do in a small vessel.
And I’m all for the lumber yard approach. It’s amazing how strong and rigid everything becomes when all the bits and pieces are bonded together.
Keep up the good work,
claudio

Thanks Claudio, I appreciate the encouragement!

I had a very productive weekend, and completed the vaka end section. As soon as the sealant around the hatch stiffens (3M 5200) I’ll put this section into storage and clean up the patio.

I plan to start assembling the last vaka piece (a mirror image of this one) later in August. Until then, I’ll start working on bits for the deck and outboard sled.

I have this week off work, so I’m trying to finish building my proa. I got the keelson, frames and side panels joined yesterday on the last vaka section. Today will be hatch framing and bilge and bottom panels. I’ve also built an outboard sled and made a start on the outrigger deck. I’ll post some pics later this week.

It’s been a productive week so far. The last vaka section is assembled, less decks, and I’m going through the tedious process of sealing all the gaps. Epoxy would be way faster than Titebond III, but go with what you got…
I finished building the deck this evening, and I started on the akas too.
I won’t finish everything this week, but it feels good to make such quick progress.