Well, it's been a long haul but my Skerry build is as finished as a boat can be (which is to say I'll be tinkering forever). I thought it was worth posting my results since a) I had literally zero experience with any kind of woodworking or epoxy, and zero tools when I started, and b) the results aren't half bad. So what follows are some random tidbits about my process (which took two years of on-and-off-again work).
I built the scale model first. Perhaps because I started from zero skill and knowledge this was a great investment in time. Getting a bit of a taste for the scarfing, stitching and overall fit of parts (as well as getting to play with rigging and little details) gave me the confidence that I might just be able to pull off the real thing. It also makes a nice display in the hall.
I took every opportunity to practice using the tools. I didn't use any tool without close-watching YouTube videos, experimenting and gaining a little confidence the build wouldn't end in a Viking funeral.
The instructions for the rudder are insufficient. Round the leading edge, test fit the hinges (clamp them in place), and when bending them to fit make sure to keep the gudgeon open enough for the pin. I can't give any advice on the best way because my way wasn't, but luckily it worked out. You will need a rudder keeper -- during the first sail I lost the rudder an average of once per hour.
I treated each epoxy layer as if it was the last to give me the best chance of that last one being a good one (same for the varnish, which was more time consuming than I planned, even though I estimated extra time). One of the epoxy pumps gave-out toward the end of the build, and I found replacements were extremely difficult to find so I just measured with a bartender's glass. It worked. Next time I will wet the wood even more before putting down the cloth, and double-check every inch is wetted. I got 99% of the way there, and my foot will always be covering the last 1% if anyone is looking.
Varnish stinks, but not as much as the thinner (which is genuinely foul). The stop-loss bags are gold, almost mandatory. The advice to "maintain a wet edge, and always brush from dry to wet" is well placed and easier to do than it might sound. Buy at least twice as many brushes as seems rational.
Drill and fill works best on vertical holes, and any hole can be more-or-less vertical with the correct manipulation of the hull (ropes and pulleys are helpful here).
The spacered inwalls look fabulous and are very practical as well. I can lash the tiller to them while launching, or attach a bow line, and run tie downs through while trailering. I have plans to hang mesh bags from them to keep the clutter off the floor. Bending the rails was terrifying, but successful. And, yes, cutting and sanding and epoxying all those little buggers is time consuming. Also, anyone have any ideas to put 60 clamps to use now that I have them?
I chose the balanced lug rig and have enjoyed tuning it. And re-tuning it. And re, re-tuning it. But adding an adjustable outhaul on the boom and running the "vang-haul" line to a cleat the midship thwart allows for pretty sail shape in most conditions. My daughters can still sail circles around me in a full-rig laser, but they're racers and I'm old.
Speaking of the laser, the Skerry fits quite nicely on the same trailer and dolly (one boat at a time, obviously).
I'm calling her "Knock on Wood" for the sailing double-entendre.
There's a lot more, but who wants to read all this?
P.S., thank you CLC! This has been a life dream, and I'm beaming to have something I'm proud of to hand-down to the kiddos.
