i550class.org

It was easy to apply on. Tried to roll on a thin coat for a medium texture finish.
Used a one litre can of KiwiGrip white, with some left over for touch up when needed.
Next work on either the interior and paint it or install the deck components or both.

That looks outstanding, Marino! I'm not huge on product endorsements, but I'd go on record...on camera in fact....to endorse Kiwi Grip. That S*#t is de bomb!

Marino, You’re boat is looking fabulous !!!

To Tim F. and Tim K. Thank you.

boat looking great! nearly there by the looks of it!

Thanks Marko, the list is getting shorter, but still a long way to go.

It's been a while since since I last posted anything. Life seems to dictate what needs to be a priority.
Well, with the help of a friend we were able to bolt on both the foot step holders and chainplates in place. The chainplates from the bow were placed 115 inches to centre. Because of this the lower spreaders were lengthened to 46 inches. The upper's will be 30 inches long. I needed to have new spreader support brackets made to fit the viper mast. Made by KLACKO SPARS( original supplier of spars for C&C Yachts).

I plan to use the following diagrams. One from CEMEHOB and DWYER MASTS as a guide.
The boat is now under cover for the winter months and will be working on my keel strut and rudder. Hopefully we will have reasonable days of working weather to do a few things on the boat.

Have to post the diagrams separately. The spreaders.

The spreaders from Dwyer.

CEMEHOB'S spreader spacing.

DWYER DM4 mast layout.

DWYER DM5 boom.

Helpful guide on selecting the correct line by NEW ENGLAND ROPES.

My basement is now become my workshop.
This where I am shaping my keel and rudder to NACA 12 shapes. I am following steps taken by others, by cutting grooves in the wood with a circular saw. Then using an electric planer and hand planers to shape the two.
Will do a carbon layup, following steps taken by Warren for both rudder and keel.
Also been to " Marine Cradle Shop" located in Sutton Ontario about the trailer.

Nice work! Don't worry about adding strength or weight to the bulb or foil. The boat is not going to notice a few extra pounds down below. Trailing edges are the toughest to make, and get beat up the most while trailering. Make up some guards that slip into the keel box, I think there are examples on the Melges 24 group site.

Due to family responsibility and the time lost in trying to get my money back, I have decide to purchase the keel strut, rudder and cassette from CCI. They keep their word and delivered quality products. Pleased with what they have done. Now I am waiting to hear from MARINE CRADLE SHOP about the trailer. Will place a photo when I I pick up the trailer. I thank Warren for his help on passing to me the necessary templates for the rudder and keel.
When I was going to make them.

Wow, those look terrific, Marino. Glad to see you are back on track after the set-back.

Thanks Tim, happy to be back. A cold uninsulated garage is no fun. Well the next item to display will be the trailer I ordered through "MARINE CRADLE SHOP" and motor mount. This was ordered eight weeks ago. Will post when I picked it up.

Latest pictures of my i550 with deck gear on. Waiting for an order from FOGH Marine that includes the 10mm pintles and blocks for the articulating bow sprit system.
Hopefully the parts will arrive this coming week. Then drill the necessary holes and install. More to follow as progression moves along.

Views of my i550.

OK, I'm jealous!

Looks terrific Marino! How far off you think you are from launching it? Days? Weeks? Months?

Seconds?

IF I am lucky and all falls in place and there are virus restrictions, maybe September or October.
Also if I can get at least 8 guys to help me get it out of the garage. I will have to bribe them some way?

I think I usually enlisted 4-5 other fellows to flip the boat...it's pretty light and using ropes slung under the boat, like three pairs of one guy on each side, we could lift the boat and move it incrementally on a heave-ho strategy. Actually just myself and one other guy were able to get the boat off the ground and on to a trailer using a system of levers, logs and a LOT of towels to keep from scuffing up the boat.

As a reward I always threw some Italian sausages on the grill and had a case of beer in the cooler. Made it festive and fun!