Lightning - 15097 update

[Carl Simmons]

The fiberglass layer is just about complete, there have been delays because of rain (one of the hazards of building outside).

Here are a couple of pics...
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid33/p70e4b89a658087ecd175080e0e8f8f9c/fd3e8f4b.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid33/p2394b68969a45d984dd1ecfa2bb2032c/fd3e8f45.jpg

I'm hoping to finish the hull and turn the boat over by the weekend.

Carl.

[tnert]

Looks great Carl. I personally don't have much interest in the glassing, but I can't wait to see it right side up. I've been looking at my Lightning upside down now for a while and need some inspiration. Please keep posting.

[Shalfleet]

She does look great, and I can see than the glass will keep her well protected. Are you planning to race or cruise? I expect she would make a nice camp-cruiser with a few reef points. I once tried to keep up with a Lightning in my 22' tupperware sailboat but had no chance, she pulled cleanly away and made me very envious!

[Carl Simmons]

The plan for the boat is primarily crusing. There is a local club with about a half dozen fiberglass lightnings I may race with some but that would just be for fun and the experience. I plan on adding most of the controls to fine tune the sails (also flaten them in strong winds) but will keep them in the center of the boat. This way I can keep the boat fairly clean of control lines but still tweak the sails somewhat.

As far as the fiberglass, I used it for two reasons. The first was to get the hull thickness up to 5/16" which is the minimum for Lighnings. The second was for strenght since I used a single sheet of 1/4" marine plywood to cover the hull.

Carl.