Here’s the first fairing planked in the mold. The bottom side of the fairing was done in one piece up to the sixth frame – that should make for a nice smooth underside. From there the foam planks were cut to the width of my big 3″ straightedge to make things fast and easy.

After the inside is glassed and the fairing comes out of the mold, the foam core should take to the shaping tool quite well – I’m using a 12″ shurform and this foam files off easily. Will cut fabric and laminate tomorrow night.

While Dad was in the shop last week we started mocking up options for the boat’s stern section. I’m leaning towards external steering linkage connected to the aft-cabin-top mounted tiller, so the tie rod would run just above a rear deck, shown here in yellow foam core. We need a step (box at left on the deck, and another one cut in to the aft cabin sloped rear wall. I like how the F39 Alice’s Restaurant (up in Puget Sound) handled the cut-in step. There would be a small lower deck for boarding, and mounting the swim ladder, surrounding the rudder mounting “post” structure in the middle of the photo. Engine exhaust would probably exit the hull near the stern, but outside the sloping hull lip on the starboard side. I want the exhaust far back, but I think not actually inside the transom scoop area. Hope to get some pros/cons advice on that…