Geodesic Airolite Classic 14 - Hull #19

This boat will be built with a spruce frame, ash ribs, and western red cedar accents. It will be covered with Ceconite Dacron fabric, making for an ultralight yet tough boat.

Length:  14 feet 
Beam:  48.5 inches
Weight: ~60 lbs.
  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  The boat is done!

    The boat is done!

  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  Kick up rudder.

    Kick up rudder.

  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  Classic 14 Sailboat.

    Classic 14 Sailboat.

  •  Construction Gallery

    Construction Gallery

  •  11/5/17 - The build starts by ripping the wood into stringers, ribs, and the keelson.

    11/5/17 - The build starts by ripping the wood into stringers, ribs, and the keelson.

  •  11/8/17 - A strongback is set up.

    11/8/17 - A strongback is set up.

  •  Two parts of the transom are created and fiberglassed.

    Two parts of the transom are created and fiberglassed.

  •  Temporary forms are set up.

    Temporary forms are set up.

  •  11/11/17 - The keelson and 10 stringers are placed on the temporary frames.

    11/11/17 - The keelson and 10 stringers are placed on the temporary frames.

  •  11/13/17 - The first few ribs are steamed and epoxied in place.

    11/13/17 - The first few ribs are steamed and epoxied in place.

  •  All of the ribs have been steamed, bent, and pushed into place.

    All of the ribs have been steamed, bent, and pushed into place.

  •  11/17/17 - The boat is removed from the temporary frames.

    11/17/17 - The boat is removed from the temporary frames.

  •  11/19/17 - The overhanging ribs are cut off and inwale spacer blocks are epoxied to the gunwale.

    11/19/17 - The overhanging ribs are cut off and inwale spacer blocks are epoxied to the gunwale.

  •  11/20/17 - The inwales are epoxied in place.

    11/20/17 - The inwales are epoxied in place.

  •  11/21/17 - The meranti breasthook is installed.

    11/21/17 - The meranti breasthook is installed.

  •  The meranti transom knees are installed.

    The meranti transom knees are installed.

  •  11/22/17 - Seat support pieces are test fit.

    11/22/17 - Seat support pieces are test fit.

  •  11/28/17 - The modified aft seating area is created out of paulownia and cedar strips.

    11/28/17 - The modified aft seating area is created out of paulownia and cedar strips.

  •  The forward seat is made from cedar strips.

    The forward seat is made from cedar strips.

  •  11/30/17 - The daggerboard trunk is epoxied together.

    11/30/17 - The daggerboard trunk is epoxied together.

  •  Forward seat is ready to be fiberglassed.

    Forward seat is ready to be fiberglassed.

  •  Forward seat.

    Forward seat.

  •  12/8/17 - The underside of the wood frame is sealed with epoxy and the keelson is fiberglassed.

    12/8/17 - The underside of the wood frame is sealed with epoxy and the keelson is fiberglassed.

  •  12/12/17 - The daggerboard trunk is epoxied in place.

    12/12/17 - The daggerboard trunk is epoxied in place.

  •  1/2/18 - The top piece of the daggerboard trunk is epoxied in place.

    1/2/18 - The top piece of the daggerboard trunk is epoxied in place.

  •  The forward seat is epoxied in place.

    The forward seat is epoxied in place.

  •  1/8/18 - The floorboards are cut and fitted.

    1/8/18 - The floorboards are cut and fitted.

  •  1/9/18 - The mast partner is laminated from several pieces of hardwood.

    1/9/18 - The mast partner is laminated from several pieces of hardwood.

  •  1/10/18 - The daggerboard is sanded and the handle shape is cut out.

    1/10/18 - The daggerboard is sanded and the handle shape is cut out.

  •  1/11/18 - The skeg is laminted from two pieces of marine plywood.

    1/11/18 - The skeg is laminted from two pieces of marine plywood.

  •  1/12/18 - Oarlock brackets are shaped from pieces of walnut.

    1/12/18 - Oarlock brackets are shaped from pieces of walnut.

  •  Mast step and oarlock brackets sealed are sealed with epoxy.

    Mast step and oarlock brackets sealed are sealed with epoxy.

  •  The edge of the daggerboard is coated with a layer of thickened epoxy.

    The edge of the daggerboard is coated with a layer of thickened epoxy.

  •  Mast partner is fiberglassed.

    Mast partner is fiberglassed.

  •  1/14/18 - The undersides of the floorboards and mast partner are sealed with epoxy.

    1/14/18 - The undersides of the floorboards and mast partner are sealed with epoxy.

  •  The daggerboard is fiberglassed on one side.

    The daggerboard is fiberglassed on one side.

  •  1/16/18 - The aft floorboards are epoxied in place.

    1/16/18 - The aft floorboards are epoxied in place.

  •  The forward floorboards are epoxied in place.

    The forward floorboards are epoxied in place.

  •  The flipside of the daggerboard is fiberglassed.

    The flipside of the daggerboard is fiberglassed.

  •  Oarlocks are epoxed in place.

    Oarlocks are epoxed in place.

  •  1/17/18 - The mast is test fit.

    1/17/18 - The mast is test fit.

  •  The mast step place is determined.

    The mast step place is determined.

  •  Mast step is epoxied in place.

    Mast step is epoxied in place.

  •  1/19/18 - The boat is almost finished!

    1/19/18 - The boat is almost finished!

  •  2/16/18 - Pieces of spruce are scarfed together to form oar blanks.

    2/16/18 - Pieces of spruce are scarfed together to form oar blanks.

  •  2/24/18 - pieces of spruce are epoxied to either side of the shaped oar shaft.

    2/24/18 - pieces of spruce are epoxied to either side of the shaped oar shaft.

  •  Angles are cut in the blades.

    Angles are cut in the blades.

  •  Thickened epoxy is applied around the tips of the oars to increase durability.

    Thickened epoxy is applied around the tips of the oars to increase durability.

  •  The reef patches are sewed to two panels.

    The reef patches are sewed to two panels.

  •  3/5/18 - All the panels are sewn together.

    3/5/18 - All the panels are sewn together.

  •  3/13/18 - pieces of ironwood are epoxied to the bottom of the daggerboard.

    3/13/18 - pieces of ironwood are epoxied to the bottom of the daggerboard.

  •  The first two kevlar fibers are strung and tightened on the hull.

    The first two kevlar fibers are strung and tightened on the hull.

  •  The ironwood is sanded smooth to match.

    The ironwood is sanded smooth to match.

  •  3/16/18 - The entire hull is laced with kevlar strands.

    3/16/18 - The entire hull is laced with kevlar strands.

  •  The skeg is test fit.

    The skeg is test fit.

  •  3/18/18 - The ironwood pieces of the daggerboard are reinforced with fiberglass.

    3/18/18 - The ironwood pieces of the daggerboard are reinforced with fiberglass.

  •  A gudgen spacer block is epoxied to the transom.

    A gudgen spacer block is epoxied to the transom.

  •  3/19/18 - The rudder is test fit upside down!

    3/19/18 - The rudder is test fit upside down!

  •  The first side of the rudder is fiberglassed.

    The first side of the rudder is fiberglassed.

  •  The first sides of the oar blades are ready for epoxy.

    The first sides of the oar blades are ready for epoxy.

  •  The rudder is saturated with epoxy.

    The rudder is saturated with epoxy.

  •  The oar blades are saturated with epoxy.

    The oar blades are saturated with epoxy.

  •  3/20/18 - Holes for the footbrace are drilled.

    3/20/18 - Holes for the footbrace are drilled.

  •  A fill coat of epoxy is added.

    A fill coat of epoxy is added.

  •  3/23/18 - Construction is complete! The boat will get the dacron skin next.

    3/23/18 - Construction is complete! The boat will get the dacron skin next.

  •  Classic 14

    Classic 14

  •  Classic 14

    Classic 14

  •  Classic 14

    Classic 14

  •  3/26/18 - A new mast is scarfed together from two pieces of Douglas Fir.

    3/26/18 - A new mast is scarfed together from two pieces of Douglas Fir.

  •  The Ceconite dacron is draped over the hull.

    The Ceconite dacron is draped over the hull.

  •  3/27/18 - The mast is fiberglassed on three sides.

    3/27/18 - The mast is fiberglassed on three sides.

  •  The Ceconite has been heat shrunk and secured to the gunwales.

    The Ceconite has been heat shrunk and secured to the gunwales.

  •  The skeg is screwed into place and glued with 5200.

    The skeg is screwed into place and glued with 5200.

  •  The first coat of paint is applied to the dacron to waterproof it.

    The first coat of paint is applied to the dacron to waterproof it.

  •  3/29/18 - The second coat of paint is applied.

    3/29/18 - The second coat of paint is applied.

  •  A rubstrip is laminated from several pieces of walnut.

    A rubstrip is laminated from several pieces of walnut.

  •  3/30/18 - The rubstrips are saturated with epoxy.

    3/30/18 - The rubstrips are saturated with epoxy.

  •  The rubrails are test fit.

    The rubrails are test fit.

  •  3/31/18 - The mast partner and tiller are varnished.

    3/31/18 - The mast partner and tiller are varnished.

  •  The rudder is varnished.

    The rudder is varnished.

  •  The daggerboard is varnished.

    The daggerboard is varnished.

  •  The oars, spars, and rubrails are varnished.

    The oars, spars, and rubrails are varnished.

  •  First coat of varnish is applied.

    First coat of varnish is applied.

  •  The opposite sides of the oars and spars are varnished.

    The opposite sides of the oars and spars are varnished.

  •  4/4/18 - The daggerboard is test fit.

    4/4/18 - The daggerboard is test fit.

  •  4/8/8 - She fits on the new trailer nicely!

    4/8/8 - She fits on the new trailer nicely!

  •  5/25/18 - New sail track is tested out.

    5/25/18 - New sail track is tested out.

  •  5/27/18 - Pieces of the new kick-up rudder are fiberglassed.

    5/27/18 - Pieces of the new kick-up rudder are fiberglassed.

  •  5/28/18 - The kick up rudder is test-assembled.

    5/28/18 - The kick up rudder is test-assembled.

  •  More parts are fiberglassed.

    More parts are fiberglassed.

  •  7/1/18 - The parts of the kick up rudder trunk are epoxied together.

    7/1/18 - The parts of the kick up rudder trunk are epoxied together.

  •  7/2/18 - The kick up rudder is assembled for the first time.

    7/2/18 - The kick up rudder is assembled for the first time.

  •  The rudder is mounted on the boat for the first time.

    The rudder is mounted on the boat for the first time.

  •  The kick up feature works great.

    The kick up feature works great.

  •  7/19/8 - The old fabric covering is stripped off.

    7/19/8 - The old fabric covering is stripped off.

  •  Bare bones again.

    Bare bones again.

  •  8/3/18 - The side seats have been cut out.

    8/3/18 - The side seats have been cut out.

  •  8/6/18 - Extra floor boards are fiberglassed.

    8/6/18 - Extra floor boards are fiberglassed.

  •  8/8/18 - One more set of floorboards.

    8/8/18 - One more set of floorboards.

  •  8/13/18 - New Ceconite Dacron is laid on the hull.

    8/13/18 - New Ceconite Dacron is laid on the hull.

  •  The fabric is heat shrunk onto the hull.

    The fabric is heat shrunk onto the hull.

  •  The fiberglass is saturated with epoxy.

    The fiberglass is saturated with epoxy.

  •  View of the bow.

    View of the bow.

  •  8/15/18 - The skeg is epoxied in place.

    8/15/18 - The skeg is epoxied in place.

  •  8/28/18 - A piece of Ceconite is used to cover floatation foam mounted under the stern seat.

    8/28/18 - A piece of Ceconite is used to cover floatation foam mounted under the stern seat.

Click photo for slideshow of selected photos of the construction process.

Link to full construction gallery.
Stacks Image 193
Video of this boat sailing.

Click on thumbnail to play video.
Stacks Image 202
Video of this boat sailing.

Click on thumbnail to play video.