Careful work. Built to last.

One of the biggest lessons was the importance of properly fairing the moulds, which can be achieved using a torture board. At the time, I was completely oblivious to this little-known detail. Getting the moulds right at the beginning makes a huge difference further down the build and ultimately affects the accuracy and fairness of the hull.

I also learnt the value of cleaning up excess glue as you go. It saves a lot of time, mess and frustration later. For this build, I used staples to hold the strips together while the glue cured, but knowing what I know now, I’d use an alternative clamping method to avoid the extra work of dealing with staple holes.

The epoxy and glassing on the inside of the hull could definitely have been better, and the rattan seating was another area where I’d improve the finish. There were also a few firsts for me at this stage of my career – steaming and shaping the gunwales, and applying gold leaf to the name.

Jenny certainly wasn’t perfect, but she was a fantastic Every mistake became a lesson, and every lesson has gone into the boats I’ve built since. My first boat and the project that started everything. Jenny certainly wasn’t perfect, but she was a fantastic teacher. Every mistake became a lesson, and every lesson has gone into the boats I’ve built since.