# PMD Build Begun **URL:** \ **Category:** Builder's Forum\ **Created:** [December 1, 2019, 6:18pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/pmd-build-begun/47314 "2019-12-01T18:18:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Steven\_Ross1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@Steven\_Ross1](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Steven_Ross1)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2019, 6:18pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/pmd-build-begun/47314/1 "2019-12-01T18:18:30Z")
Hello all, I'm new to this forum and to boat building so just checking in to say hi and to share my excitement about building a Passagemaker dinghy. I'm not a wood worker and have never worked with epoxy so I'm sure this will be a challenge. I began today with epoxying the rub rails together and already said a few choice words while trying to get the scarf joints glued, aligned and clamped. :-) We'll see how they turn out in 24 hours. I'm sure I'll have questions along the way, so thanks in advance for your patience. Steve, in San Antonio, TX. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Maccotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@Sean\_Maccotter](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Sean_Maccotter)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/pmd-build-begun/47314/2 "2019-12-01T18:42:17Z")
Hey Steve, pretty much in the same Dinghy with you. I’m doing my first, (jimmy skiff II) I have worked with wood all my life though, just never in a heated shop/garage! Carpenter/GC for 30 yrs. I’m the Building inspector now. Much easier on the back! First time is first time though and I did my share of cursing with the first few puzzle pcs. I read around this site and glean a ton of good advice and tips to make this process doable and fun ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Ross1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@Steven\_Ross1](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Steven_Ross1)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2019, 9:56am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/pmd-build-begun/47314/3 "2019-12-02T09:56:10Z")
Thanks for the reply, Mac62, and I wish you the best in your build of the Jimmy Skiff II. I seriously considered the one as well...she is a beauty!  ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Larsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Chris\_Larsen](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Chris_Larsen)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 9:29am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/pmd-build-begun/47314/4 "2019-12-05T09:29:26Z")
Hey Steve, Congrats on your PMD build!  Sounds like you're in the home stretch.  I finished my plans build just over a year ago.  I'm happy to share any experience I gained along the way. I went with mahogany rub rails finished bright and had to do two scarf joints on each side, so it took four days for that step.  I learned the hard way to clean up as much of the epoxy as you can before it hardens... ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Ross1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@Steven\_Ross1](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Steven_Ross1)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/pmd-build-begun/47314/5 "2019-12-16T17:46:24Z")
Thanks Captain Skully, but I've just begun. In fact I think I just made my first blunder. Epoxying together the bottom did not go so well: [https://www.dropbox.com/s/h94cfdv0dnrbkrs/2019-12-16%2016.17.41.jpg?dl=0](https://www.dropbox.com/s/h94cfdv0dnrbkrs/2019-12-16%2016.17.41.jpg?dl=0) You can see that the puzzle joint was not seated well. I don't think I can recover from this without getting the plans, cutting another bottom out and trying again. Such a bummer...but I am new to all this and bound to make some mistakes. ---
**Author:** ![Laszlo\_Morocz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Laszlo\_Morocz](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Laszlo_Morocz)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/pmd-build-begun/47314/6 "2019-12-16T17:56:27Z")
Coldaddy, There's at least 2 ways to recover. You can use a heat gun to soften the epoxy, peel everything apart, clean it up and try again. Or, you can grind the high side down smooth, fill the other side with epoxy/woodflour mix and put a couple of layers of 6 ounce glass on each side extending at least 6" to either side of the joint to reinforce it. A coat of paint at the end and no one will know. I'm sure other builders will have more suggestions. All is not lost. Good luck, Laszlo ![](https://ucb50463c1abba332c4901148fdc.previews.dropboxusercontent.com/p/thumb/AAqC734YPE-eRPrgPbYQoJQ7lJw3s3gnM6BiI7ZiJcho6R3sySRO06_M0PhbHLk579eyvyG5jYpDqPYSmLCYrNLUJ3-LZD5YmBj28PWiVZscS3CcAyXIwPHtKZP-3FhdeLJsA3riFLWk6kszakiDGWst8m_-571yNjx10SMQwzBp-GFGRamEB0YUzbPB_JX4E8nHlysnOV-Wli12IFxMHXV9B9IaIAg8FOvidv84-uzZl1R2VqRaedztRhyuZ_KEYYnJ-br9B_c_pEeLcykweocvzVxCVr4VIaMq_wdKdnFZyh_CcQqiPtVKdEoh7AH7SmN0IfNlxj3TCbfeClfLt0J65pVloJIJIYCqpcEhgM7f8xSwAvvXlg8qVigrrm32n9eM8DmKSdZTXz5ctcRKG2sWE2oZgAKMNnT4iKm4UytBjtTbKCMPDEMpXA5L7aKWpxMuAlbSZPjmtZLouLkvAGJkWRGYnjnzCcI0bpu-e-00OJ4zed6ZM-zAfYQjhZ0U6b8H0RaGsungNOiTGoTEnd88MdPCpNClolhkL99ir16HlUEu2o2e2VjEZytcePPjXyE3w2d4hAbZHJwvpy24gMy_d13K78MffxSHko1O8Xa1lE2FdLt4q9hSEbbXpOTkesbVCSSoivuaXLK8PPMc7fnl8F9rdGvscw6bc1WmWvoKU5afnYdHMHuGhPMH8fXEMTxJxQeK0s2GmuY8V-uT76ifY-ziVVhTHkqJHeM-sHgVuqDT-N3RXPFDHT5c868dH_qvnFoeyZ9sIyJWZoIsRV056BzN-ZCkLDM6hdMdgo6HLd1b_-vFAIRiadWHVHDUsMnp8kZUsS8ejVjPN2_BZrHkw9UOdw5mVPQlTWWzL-2kwK5tIXKM3sI-V5xloeRTM4rvApHp4wFRx5-D_qlrPCwGCT7U3pqw2HqnYEallhZLcvl05bYrPGr0C9V2OFOL7c2ROPctkaullJMbzbKG5F9O2wTcIqX9Cblq1EIJuy8agPVpoVxlLHSKer2FgwFEoUH-ElrXDqdMFqQNBUAhiIb9IAWDckwiwlGqTIrZyWA3lir-9_jfBqpGGcsjKIEgXcsW-RASUbloS8GvhSCC8DdyWm76517JUz87VemBPmuy2oaK_xCXfOH2KKUNtE3un1Lgz8z86iW2RekTWwFAtIcI40y3dqRIzAJl5qsLzFu01eDR4Iw18PA2ulbyHs5sR_nXbT2_lSguI-Ufi_F7pDTY466H5JKVX6iO7v48J-1cGqeEzk6JNJ2uxHdIFNxiWhn_LgiwjQZRJfti9R405xNEEu68ID1VSgPIjqOLotqQaAS8zxWV1CIrW6mGP0B-YYX2M3_TGcLGBzRVa5rhooP7meO5Jp9UDWtXSWgoetc0p7vT0OZAdAAkOduuPjuN3yqhuX1o3322jVMvKByg5LrFnhH1Nyl2VN-QmtfaATuLxQwD5yhubMDgcOSyHweD1OTfIli_IhE15CsORjRMWrT7zWQLN2N0KKr7Y9KMcBWuXLMq-2x9mS7IsZwqKb3q41IPRXlXhUhU6wW2HoxcSsK1AfEB4W8WUYL_NiCl6MePrHsggYMHJFyih1PMx-ygGIE/p.jpeg?fv_content=true&size_mode=5)   ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Ross1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@Steven\_Ross1](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Steven_Ross1)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/pmd-build-begun/47314/7 "2019-12-16T22:13:27Z")
Thank you Laszlo, you have encouraged me! I'll give the heat gun method a try tomorrow. Many Thanks! It's so good to have access to the helpful folks on this forum and not be completely alone in this. Steve  ---
**Author:** ![Jeffrey\_Hoeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Jeffrey\_Hoeper](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Jeffrey_Hoeper)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 10:54pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/pmd-build-begun/47314/8 "2019-12-16T22:54:26Z")
Cured epoxy is amazingly sturdy and strong. But it is also (as Laszlo suggests) amazing how easily it softens in high heat. I don't even have a heat gun and could disassemble some badly aligned parts with my wife's blow dryer.   It's such fun working with wood and fiberglass. Everything can be fixed! ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Maccotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@Sean\_Maccotter](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Sean_Maccotter)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 12:34pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/pmd-build-begun/47314/9 "2019-12-17T12:34:32Z")
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**Author:** ![Sean\_Maccotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@Sean\_Maccotter](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Sean_Maccotter)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 12:40pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/pmd-build-begun/47314/10 "2019-12-17T12:40:00Z")
Hey Steve, when I did my first pieces I concentrated on keeping the topside as close to perfect as possible, and then put plastic over it and laid a 2 by 4 over it with two 20 lb weights to keep er flush. I didn’t pay much attention to the underside but the mess wasn’t anything that 120 grit sandpaper couldn’t cure. Sean ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Larsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Chris\_Larsen](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Chris_Larsen)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2019, 8:57am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/pmd-build-begun/47314/11 "2019-12-20T08:57:37Z")
If I understand correctly and you don't have the plans, I _highly_ recommend getting them.