Marc LaFrance

Male

Orlando, FL

United States

Profile Information:

I am:: A home builder
What boat (s) are you building or do you own?: I am currently building a Tiki 30. I have built a Kauffman and Ladd Pilot Cutter, a "36 'Benford Ketch" and a Sam Devlin "Winter Wren" which I currently own.
Country, City, and State?: Orlando, Florida, USA
About me or us?: I am not currently a professional boatbuilder, but I have built some other boats professionally and done boat repair in the past. I received my plans for thr Tiki 30 in Feb. 2010 and began part time construction in mid March.
Looking to?: Learn from and share with other wharram enthusiasts.

Comment Wall:

Rogerio Martin

Marc. That's not my boat, it was my first experience in a Tiki. My wife and I flew from Rio de Janeiro to Florianopolis in southern Brazil to sail on the Tiki 26, a friend. I am starting to do the shopping wood for a 21

Good Winds

Apr 11, 2011
paul anderson

your work is of a good quality marc and so clean,well done.

Jul 3, 2011
Rogerio Martin

Marc you are 3 or 4 months in front me...I'm close the bunks of the frist hull now. And start another hull in next week. Your finish is much better then my. I still don't like my finish level. One ask: where your toilet ?

Jul 4, 2011
Mawibo

Hi,

First, let me congratulate you for achieving such a high standard of work.

My question is what makes your fillet so dark? they look nearly black.

What do you use to thickened the epoxy?

Cheers, C.

Sep 17, 2011
Marc LaFrance

Thanks for the compliment and for reminding me that I'm still building a boat. Been so busy trying to stay afloat, that I haven't been able to work on her for months. The fillets are wood flour. Maple, purchased from Raka

Must be the the photos, it turns a dark brown in the epoxy. Seems to make a good, strong joint.

Cheers to you.

Sep 18, 2011
John James

Marc I have benefited much from all your construction pictures will borrow the interior sheer clamp of wood instead of slimey epoxy .TINEY INTERIOR space is more like an airplene cockpit than yacht.

Jul 14, 2012
John James

so what I ment tosay was thanks for sharing knowledge thru pics.What is your thoughts on interior finish .Is that varnish topcoat or would you roll a final coat of U.V. RESISTANT epoxy and call it done?Maybe both/

Jul 19, 2012
john james

marc Im worried that sandwich deck might cure too flat and imovable it must curve to cabin side also corkscrew slightly.Is this a problem? Maybe I should try laminating the topmost skin in place?

Sep 2, 2012
john james

ThankYou Mark could not have done it had I not had your good pictures to go bye plans seem really pretty in adequate in a lot of ways. Your pictures helped me a lot what do I do next let's see some pictures of your progress

Feb 22, 2014
Marc LaFrance

This site has been a fantastic resource, I'm sure, to everyone who is building, repairing, sailing or thinking about a Wharram cat. Myself included. Thanks to you and everyone else.

Feb 24, 2014
john james

Wow 78 mm must leave the beam well up above the deck. I was thinking to just clear the deck I think 55 might be enough. Having a hard time with these blocks

Mar 13, 2014
john james

Are your inboard blocks higher than your outboard ? I'm beginning to think I should just hold off on this whole process until I get the beams made and see what I need in order to make them all mate up together.

Mar 13, 2014
Marc LaFrance

I agree. It's not possible to get a fit without having the curved beam. As for clearing the deck, it's not that far off. It's that, with the camber of the beam, the bottom just keeps rising.

Mar 13, 2014
john james

Yes Mark I see!! actually I hadn't even noticed that the forward Beam is curved on the bottom.This would complicate things even further. I must keep my magnifying glass close at hand ,and Remember Mr. Wharrams helpful words of advice about holding very tightly onto the saber saw and not sticking your fingers in the way of the blade as it goes up and down! Did you build your forward beam before fitting it with Deck block?

Mar 14, 2014