Welcome to Nixie Marine's shop log
This is the shop log showing what we've got going on. If you're interested in finding out more about these builds, get in touch!
Teardrop Trailer
We took some time this spring to build a teardrop trailer, designed by Chesapeake Light Craft. It comes in a CNC cut kit. Assembly is a little involved, but it comes with a step by step instruction manual that makes the process straight forward. The camper shell is built from thin okume plywood, puzzle scarfed to length and stitch and glue assembled, sheathed in fiberglass for strength and weatherproofing. The shell can be mounted on a wide variety of small boat and utility trailers. We opted for a lightweight aluminum Trailex trailer customized to the footprint of the the teardrop shell. I spent a few weeks this summer living out of it – it’s dry, cozy, and with a six inch mattress is a big step up from tent camping. Over the winter we’ll finish out the interior and add a foam headliner to give it a little insulation and reduce condensation.
Interior Build
It’s been a while since I’ve updated on the Candlefish build. We’ve been working on the interior, bulkheads, seats, & compartments, as well as the final trim work.
Roll Over
This weekend we rolled the boat right side up. This is a major milestone in the build!
Epoxy and Glass
Well, a lot has happened since the last time I wrote an update on the progress on the Candlefish 16. She’s just about ready to roll over! Let’s have a look at what it took to get here.
Stitching on the planks
The next step in building the Candlefish 16 is to get the strongback built, carefully position the bulkheads, and stitch the planks on. At this point, she starts looking like a boat.
Starting a new Candlefish 16
In late August, we started building a new Candlefish 16. This is a spec build, not for a particular customer (want it? get in touch!).
The Candlefish is a Sam Devlin designed tiller steered open skiff. It’s available in 13, 16, & 18 feet, with several variations of interior layout. We’re building the “Bridge Deck” version, which has a seat and a large storage space in the middle that divides the boat into forward and aft working spaces. The Candlefish can also be built with a casting deck or a fully open hull. We think the bridge deck will make a great platform for on the water work like small scale lobstering. She’s built by stitch & glue out of marine grade plywood, sheathed in Dynel fabric, for a sturdy & rigid boat. We expect a fast, dry ride With a 20 HP outboard and plenty of cargo carrying capacity (in fact, Sam originally designed the Candlefish 13 to carry half a ton of moose).
We’ll be keeping a log of the build here, and on instagram as @nixie_marine.