PHOTOS
Construction In Process
(Hull # 001)

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This boat being built for Larry Swim of Oak Park, NS.

After purchasing the new full planing hull mould from Colindale Boat Yard in Cape Breton, some work need to be done on it. G & A Fibreglass Ltd. guys work on the mould to get it ready for hull building in February.  This worker is working on the top on the bow.
Another worker from G & A working on the sides and stern of the mould.  The sides of the mould are being built up and the hull is being worked to give new hulls a fine, smooth finish.
Another worker, working on the stern.
G & A's boss working on the back of the mould.
More work on the mould has taken place. Places are filled in and sanded, creating a smooth surface.  The sides were built up and the seam must be smooth and indetectable.
Closer view of the filling and sanding work.  These guys do a great job, this mould will look great when they are done.
A worker takes time out of his busy day to pose for the camera.  Masks are necessary doing this kind of work.  With the mask on he's barely recognizable, but we know who he is. 
With the fill and sanding work done, the mould is sprayed with a dark grey primer coat.  It's starting to look real nice now.
Final touches are put in various areas of the mould to ensure full coverage.  Staging must be used as the mould has been built up and is very high.
More touches sprayed on by worker wearing a mask and head cloth for protection.  The fumes during this process are very strong and masks must be worn to protect the lungs.
Workers spray touch ups near the bow and beginning of the keel.
View of the beginning of the keel.  Shiny areas are places which are still wet.  This primer coat is a dark grey but the final coat will be orange.
This side is done, and the workers are ready to apply the primer coat to the other side.
View of this side, completed.  The mould seems huge when standing next to it. It is 44' 7" feet long and has been built up.  After this the mould gets sanded.
After the sanding is complete, the guys spray the mould the final color, orange. This color will have to be waxed 12 times before we can use it to make hulls.
Another view of the spraying.  A long shot from the other end of the building.
Here is one side almost completed. There is plastic on the top side to protect it while they spray the bottom.
A close up of the final mould color.  This coat will be sanded down until it is perfectly smooth and shiny.
One side of the mould completed with the final color.  Sanding this down will be done next. Once both sides are done they will be left a while to set.
Mould is complete and, waxing begins. Staging is required as the mould is high. Except for one, these are the same workers who lay up the hulls.
Twelve coats of wax must be applied to the whole mould. The wax being applied is clearly seen in this photo. No one waxes the same area twice to ensure no missed areas.
Another view of the waxing process.  After this is completed we will be ready to build our first hull, which is being built for a local fisherman and will be finished by Daniel's Head Boatbuilders Ltd., our sister company.
Once the mould is waxed, G & A Fibreglass comes to spray paint the chosen boat color onto the mould.  Once this is dried the workers begin laying up the hull.  The first piece is placed down and rolled.   Two workers roll it out with metal rollers.
While the workers are almost finished rolling the first piece the sprayer sprays the next section.  Another worker has the roll of fibreglass matt ready to roll out over the sprayed area.
A closer look at the spraying process.
This is a close up shot of one worker rolling out the fibreglass in the skeg section.
This photo shows the first layer (skin layer) of fibreglass has been laid up on the floor section for both sides of the mould.  The floor must be done first to give the workers a place to stand while doing the sides.
After the floor sections are done the sprayer cleans the spray gun with acetone.  He is very diligent in keeping his gun clean.
The floor sections have dried.  The sides of the right half of the mould have been laid up by workers standing on the floor sections.  A worker is now beginning a side piece on the left half of the mould after the stern piece has been rolled.
With the floor piece and sides done, workers go back to the right half of mould to put another layer on the sides and floor.
Laying up the bow.  Our sprayer sprays the piece while a worker up on the catwalk waits to lay another piece.
Working on the other half of the mould.
Another view of working on the other half of the mould.
Workers laying up the final piece on the mould.
Both sides have been finished to buyer specifications. The next step is to put the two pieces of the mould together so the workers can do the glassing in the keel.
View from the stern of the two finished sides.
View from the bow end of one of the sides.
The two sides of the mould is almost together.
Worker making a small adjustment so both sides fit together evenly.
View of the bow showing the two pieces almost together.
Worker starts laying fibreglass pieces in the bow end of the keel.
Fibreglassing in the bow end continues. Balance is everything.
While one worker tackles the bow, a few others take on the stern end of the keel.
This is the most difficult part of the keel to glass, as the keel is narrow and deepest here.
Fibreglassing the stern end of the keel continues. Our crew work like a well oiled machine.
Fibreglass pieces being prepared for being laid in the stern end of the keel.
That fibreglass piece is now being sprayed with the resin mixture beforehand.
Another piece of fibreglass is laid over the first sprayed piece.
Stiffeners called Bilge Strings are fibreglassed to the hull.
Workers prepare the fibreglass pieces to apply to the Bilge Strings.
Shot focusing on a Bilge String.
Worker applies fibreglass pieces to the inside of the skeg.
Close up of worker rolling out the inside of the skeg.
To make room in the shop to remove the hull from the mould, a smaller mould, the fly bridge, must be moved outdoors. Photo of boom truck lifting it to move it into place.
Our master carpenter helps manoeuver the fly bridge mould to it's new outside location.
Final positioning to set it into position where it will be covered with a tarp to protect it.
The hull came out of the mould nicely, and it has a beautiful finish.
A nice front shot of the new hull.  Orange mould can be seen on each side of it.
The truck which will move the hull has backed itself under the hull after the mould is moved out of the way.
After carefully positioning the supports, the very first Novie Scooter is brought out of the building.
Side view of the new hull while being positioned to be backed into the finish shop of Daniel's Head Boatbuilders Ltd. which is located in the same building.
View from the other side which is highlighted by sunlight.
Backing the new hull into the finish shop of Daniel's Head Boatbuilders Ltd.
Preparing the supports which will hold the boat while in the shop.
Worker rides in the hull to tend the chains.
Getting the supports ready.
Shot of the keel area.
View of the front of the hull sitting in the finish shop.
Shot from the keel before the hull is widened.
The hull has been cut on the right side down to the stern.
Support pieces have been placed under the cut area. They will then fibreglass over it to widen this side.
Another view of the widening process.
Workers are now fibreglassing over the support piece area.
Another view of the workers fibreglassing the widened area.
The area is finished, and one worker is just touching the end up.
Once the right (starboard) side is done, they cut and glass the left (port) side.  This is the left side done.
Workers now must join the cut sides to the stern with fibreglass.
Front/side view of hull shape after widening.
Our master carpenter is installing the main bulkhead which is made of Corecell, an extremely strong, lightweight, and  longlasting material.
Two workers fibreglassing another bilge stringer to the floor.  These are longitudinal stiffeners which gives the hull extra strength.
Another view of the fibreglassing of the stringers.
Two workers putting in the  Corecell bulkheads which will be the floor of the cud area.
Our master carpenter installing the rest of the bulkheads while the other two workers can be seen in the background in the bow area.
Front view of the boat shows the new shape of the hull after widening.
Two workers cut fibreglass pieces for fibreglassing the Corecell bulkheads.
Workers fibreglassing the Corecell bulkheads.
Fibreglassing the join section of two pieces of the Corecell bulkheads.
Worker fibreglassing under the shelf area.
More work being done in the bow section.
Bow section looking right on schedule.
Worker sanding area between bulkheads. 
David, our right-hand man sanding the bottom of the hull.  Wearing protective gear is essential. 
Steve, our master carpenter does some measuring in the fuel tank area.
Worker fibreglassing the fuel tank cradle.
Workers glassing under the curbs.
Shot of the crew working in the boat.
Another view of the crew working at various tasks. Looks confusing, but they all know what they're doing.
Our master carpenter laying the supports for the deck now that the fuel tanks have been put in (can be seen under floor).
Work on the floor continues.
Sheets of Corecell have been put down on the left side after being fibreglassed and allowed to dry.
More Corecell sheets have dried and are now ready to use.  A worker stacks them against the wall until needed.
View of deck. Workers take care of finishing up.
Another view of deck and our master carpenter.
The skeg must now be finished. A specially shaped block of wood is inserted into the skeg for strength.
Workers prepare the chop to be put into the skeg. This is a fibreglass/resin mixture.
Work on the back of the house has begun
The house is coming along nicely and is also being done in Corecell per the fisherman's request.
View of the deck.
Shot of the cud where the cupboards and sink will be.  The camera flash reflects off dust in the air.
Nice view of the cupboards in the cud after some further work has been been completed by our master carpenter. 
Shot of master carpenter working in the dining area of the cud.
More work done on the house. Some painting has been started on the sides and in the holds.
Closer view of work on house.  Work is progressing nicely.  The owner of the boat is pleased with the work.
A moment to confer with someone off camera. Perhaps with the master carpenter or the boss.
Long view from the stern of the current progress.
Side view of house.
More work has been completed on the house.
Another angle shot of the house.
Our master carpenter and his assistant install the ribbands.
Workers glass the engine beds.
Another view of glassing the engine beds.
The latest view of work on the house.
Inside the cud, view of the bunks.
Kitchen area in the cud. Varnished oak wood.
Worker varnishing edge of bunk which is over the table.
View out onto the bow from inside the steering house.
Our master carpenter working diligently.
More work has been done on the house.  Workers can be seen glassing on top of the house.
The house has been painted and looks great.
Rubber floor mats are being laid down per the customer's request.
View of the engine.
Table area and bunks have been carpeted.
View of the steering house, looking close to completion.
View from the rear.  Nice burgundy detailing has been added.  This boat is a beauty.
View of propellor.
The name of the boat, done as a vinyl label, has been applied to the bow of the boat on both sides.
On the stern, the vinyl logo for Novie Boatbuilders has been applied. The logo proudly says, "Novie Scooter".
Close up of logo.The bird is a "Surf Scoter" (pronounced sco-ter, long 'o' sound), but the local slang pronunciation is 'Scooter'. Click here for more info on the bird.
View of the stern with the rubber mats installed.
View of house from stern.
Closer view of the house.
Shot of the cud from steering house.
Steering house.
View from the table to steering house and 2 bunks.
View of the cupboards, hand made in oak by our master carpenter.
Boat is complete. View from the outside.
Port side view of boat coming out of shop.  House is extra long on this side per the customer's request.
Rear view of boat leaving the shop for the West Head wharf.
Starboard view at the launch site in West Head, NS.
Launching the very first Novie Scooter, "Chandler & Corbin".
Pulling her up alongside the wharf.
Rear view of the new boat. Employees and friends look on from the wharf.
'Touring' the new boat.
Final checks.

 
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