I will be buying a kit from Chase Small Craft (CSC) for the construction of my GIS. This is not required, as plans are available from several legitimate sources. I chose the kit route as a way of minimizing the pain associated with scarfing plywood and timbers, and to get closer to sailing faster. I am approaching my 73rd birthday, and some of my decisions reflect that. YMMV.
As I have approached the build, I have had any number of very productive email conversations with Clint Chase on kit contents, options, and tools. I will be going to the 2023 WoodBoat Show in Mystic, CT at the end of next month to finalize the order and make the initial 50% pre-cut payment for the kit. CSC has done some very clever things to improve the average fresh-caught builder's chances of success. Plywood comes in 4'x8' sheets, requiring a scarf to create a 16' boat. CSC uses a puzzle piece alignment and scarfing joint that makes this step much easier than any other technique that comes to mind. Since the contents of the various sub-kits may change over time, please see https://www.chase-small-craft.com/ for details on the kit. Also, to avoid getting stuck in the weeds, production-wise, I chose to have CSC NC cut the daggerboard and rudder. This will provide a much greater chance that the foil profiles will be accurate - a must for good performance.
I confess to being a tool aficionado. Well, that's the nice way of saying that if I had unlimited funds I would probably buy every fancy tool known to mankind. Not having those resources, and wanting to be a good steward of my resources, I only buy tools that have a known, specific, future use. At least that way, I know the item will make its way out of the box at least once. Second, I try to avoid buying what Alton Brown calls "unitaskers", unless that particular tool makes a given job soooooo much easier and is not outrageously priced. I have a number of general woodworking tools already - table saw, router, band saw, drill press, electric drills and drivers, but felt the need to augment that group with others that are more specific to the tasks that will be at hand. Additional tools identified up front:
- WoodRiver Low Angle Block Plane
- Veritas Low Angle Smooth Plane, and additional toothed blade
(Clint uses a Stanley No. 5 with a Hock blade. I think I will get greater control with the Veritas LAS. The toothed blade allows faster stock removal when roughing out the chine logs.) - Shapton GlassStones (plane and chisel sharpening)
(See Rob Cosman YouTube videos for pro sharpening techniques) - Japanese style flush razor saw
- WoodRiver Corner Easing Plane (controlled minor rounding of edges)
- Rockler Dust Right Flexiport Hose Kit (connects Makita 5" ROS to shop vac)
- Eastwood Dustless Sanding Block (5", 11, 16")
- Shinwa 150mm Rigid Zero Glare SS Rule
- Shinwa Saw Rasp Sander SR-30
- Bahco 665 Premium Ergonomic Carbide Scraper
Additional tools will be identified in the narrative as the need for them arises.
