We’re thrilled to share an update on the construction progress of 39-ft custom yacht Wisp as she comes together at Artisan Boatworks.
The owners recently came up to review the construction and address personal details with the design and build team. It was a collaborative effort to ensure every detail was considered. Designer Robert Stephens was joined by Alec Brainerd builder; James and Kevin from Midcoast Marine Electronics; Toby Teele, independent systems subcontractor; and Ransom Morse, hydraulics provider from Buzzards Bay Boatworks.
The owners led the team to determine exactly where to place the details like foot-switches to power winches, furlers, and bow thruster.
The light-gray blanket draped across the bow of the hull is a serious electric blanket, used for thawing ground before pouring concrete. It’s being employed here to heat the hull—refered to as “post-curing”. 
This technique fully cures the epoxy resin used for the hull construction and sheathing—while the resin dries to the touch in under 24 hours, it continues slowly curing for months if not brought to an elevated temperature, and it slightly shrinks as it continues to cure.
This shrinking can affect the cosmetics of the boat, generating “print-through”, where the texture of the fabric sheathing (and even glued planking seams) can show through the final gloss finish. The post-curing procedure accelerates the curing process to avoid print-through. As the hull will be painted a dark blue, this is especially important, because as soon as the sun hits the hull it’ll increase the surface temperature and cause rapid curing and shrinking, so the texture will show immediately.
Last week, the completed deck structure was hoisted out of the attic through a gable-end door and lowered onto the hull for final fit and installation giving owners and the design and construction team our first glimpse at the final form of the boat.
Wisp is scheduled to launch this summer.
Read more about Wisp: