Cap Rails dryfitted and ready for shaping

The build is nearing completion! Who would have thought that this would take 3 years and then some. Well, it has, but I am really getting excited about the end result. I have just finished a dry fit for the cap rails which are joined together on the boat with 'Birds Beak' joints. For the most part, this worked out well, although there are a few boards that I am going to redo. Next step with the dry fit is to make the outside edges flush with the outer rubrails and make a 1/4" round off on the inner adge. Then I will take off all of the pices and reinstall with epoxyglue before a final sanding and shaping, then clearcoat.

Rubrails and topcaps - the hull nears completion

 Here is the bow showing the 'breasthook'  which is thick concavely shaped brace holding the shape of the two sides of the boat as they come together at the bow. Even the largest of sailing vessels may have one. It has been sanded and shaped so that it is slightly raised at the middle, compared to the sides.

And now the cap rail is started. This shows a 5/16' thick piece  of ash wood cut to shape so that it covers the right side of the breasthook. . it is notched at the front to accommodate the stem.                        

The union of the sheer rail, upper plank edge, and outer rub rail  at the knee supporting the mid thwart. It is sanded smooth, ready for application of the cap rail.

The port side showing area prepped for ash rub rail application. To the right you  see the piece of cap rail for the port side of the breast hook. The bottom edge of this piece will be shaped to fit the aft part of the brease hook. All of the cap rail will overhang the inner edge  by 1/4" and be rounded off.

Shows front of  boat with port piece of breasthook cap rail being fitted.