The Build
We’re documenting the process of getting Scout built. Follow along as she goes from order form to fully-equipped sailing vessel!
"Scout": the Name is Official
Since the sea trials back in late September and early October, Scout has been hauled-out by Garcia and winterized for the season. While she has been sat on the hard in the French shipyard, one of the final tasks before we set sail in the Spring has been to confirm her name and port of registry - and then have it all marked on her transom.
Handover
After having been gently lowered into La Manche, it’s time for Scout to get to know her new owners - us! In northern France’s last few days of summer, we finally climb onboard, and start the lengthy handover process from the Garcia yard.
Scout gets her Saltwater Splash
I had a chance to settle into, and savour, the French lifestyle for a couple of days before the ultimate joie de vivre, namely the splashing of Scout. The symbolism of this was significant in that, what had initially been merely a dream-like vision some years ago, had — after careful planning — now become a reality. Scout will no doubt be hauled out and splashed many, many times throughout her life, but the first time is full of extra excitement and a little trepidation (a.k.a. any leaks…?).
Days Away
Scout is not quite finished, but we are now down to the last few steps of the build. She is due for her first swim in the English Channel in just over a week, and the race is on to complete the final fit and and finish.
Scout has Skin (and more)
Today was a big build milestone for Scout. She finally made an external appearance in readiness for the stepping of the mast, and was dressed for the part, too.
Top and Tail
Scout is about a month away from splashing into the English Channel. The yard is racing on the interior and the remaining systems. Most notably, Scout now has a roof!
Woodworking
The wooden flooring and walls are starting to go in, and as a result it’s getting easier to visualize the inner layout of Scout. The electronics network has been started, and there have even been a few important developments up top.
Lots of Progress
We just had a huge drop of new photos from the yard and the progress on Scout has been incredible! There are too many photos to include in this post, but here are a few of the highlights. Every system seems to be coming along quickly and we have fun every week trying to work out what is what.
The Fuel System
Boats have a number of critical systems, whether electrical, navigational, or water and sanitation. But when the wind isn’t blowing, or you need to maneuver in tight spaces, the engine system is the one you care about most. And, in turn, an engine is nothing without the fuel system!
Painting Done; Interior Begun
Scout has moved from the paint yard to her final construction spot. That doesn’t mean she’s anywhere near finished yet! But the paint is done, and we expect that the interior work will now begin in earnest.
More Coats
It turns out that there are more coats of paint required than we realized. So not much other progress to report on apart from a few successive shades of grey!
Staying Warm - And Cool
Whilst preparing the exterior paint, the yard is multitasking. On the inside of Scout’s hull, the insulation is going in. The top of this rectangular frame will be the raised dining table floor so you can also get a sense of how much storage there will be under the cabin - for water, fuel, food, and maybe wine!
Getting Dressed
It’s been over a month since the last update from France but Scout has been on the move! After the welding finished in Condé-sur-Noireau a few weeks ago, she has been moved 100 miles or so to Cherbourg, and is currently in the paint yard, awaiting her first outfit.
Scout Has Holes
Another week, another update from the welding yard in Condé-sur-Noireau. It looks like this was a week of cutting holes! We have a few new photos showing the details.
Front Of the Line
As the construction progresses, the hulls seem to move forward in the factory, and Scout now sees daylight! It seems like this first part of her conception is starting to come to an end.
The Right Way Up
After a short interlude, we just got a new series of photos from the welding factory. There’s a whole lot of new progress to share - and no more having to turn our phones upside-down to imagine what’s going on!
Skin on the Bones
Scout is coming along quickly, and now has a hull to speak of. Time for a cheeky return trip to the factory see whether things have progressed. And so they have…
The Electronics
Scout is barely more than an aluminium skeleton, but we’ve already been thinking ahead to what is going to be installed on and inside her. As the build progresses, we’ll share some of the decisions we’ve made about the layout, the rigging, and various other systems - such as those for the electrics, water, and propulsion.
Back To The Welding Factory
It’s time to share the next set of photos from the welding factory. And work is continuing apace.
Hull Construction Beginnings
Scout is now more than just a name! This week the French welding factory started the construction of Scout’s super-sturdy aluminium hull. There are various stages to the metalwork welding phase, from plasma cutting, forming, assembly, plating, turning over, finishing and finally sanding - who knew! Once all the stages within the metalwork phase are complete, the hull will then be transferred to the Garcia shipyard in Cherbourg, France, to start on the follow-up phases of construction. We expect the metalwork phase to take about two months or so.
An Update
Well, it’s been over a year since we set up this website and shared the news that we were buying a new boat called Scout. But 2020 wasn’t exactly a normal year, and so you might be wondering what’s happened to this project!