Day 6 and a half - Warp factor 3

Tea Count: 0
Injuries: 0
Stickiness Factor: 5/10

Time spent: 1 hour

I just can't bring myself to count this as day seven yet. Just one hour after work and before tea tonight I got the second bulkhead framework glued together ready for sanding and routing at the weekend. You'll have noticed the new "Stickiness Factor" register above I hope. I thought it only appropriate to record this as it's fast becoming one of the major factors and difficulties of the build. That epoxy has to be the stickiest stuff known to man. Once it gets on your fingers, you're stuffed. It gets on everything you ttouccch annd itt taakess hhourss tooo geett ittt offf...LOLLL. For those who are still concerned about my pliers by the way, I'm afraid they are doomed never to pli again.

So, first the bad news. Bulkhead number one, which as you remember I screwed into place last time out, has now developed a warp. Unfortunately that does not mean that my canoe will capable of near light speed (pause while the non trekkies google warp speed). Instead it means that the bulkhead has twisted in shape slightly vastly increasing the likelihood of said canoe taking on water and sinking like a rock. Whilst the warp is only slight, and I suspected this might happen once the epoxy had cured properly, it does reduce dramatically the chances of the two bulkheads meeting sufficiently to be water tight. I'm clinging on to the slim hope that once the joining bolts are in place I can screw them together tightly enough to bring the bulkheads into line! Watch this space.

So now for the good news. With ever increasing likelihood of a sinking to watch I have decided on a launch date of March 17th for those interested enough to come along. I can hear a bunch of people complaining already as I had mentioned the 18th. Sorry folks it has to be the 17th. This is one day before my 45th birthday and sounds like a totally suitable day on which to drown. The reason for change folks is...drum roll please Pete...PARTY!!!!

So fingers crossed it'll be ready for the big launch and I'm already looking forward to a weekend of sanding...