Since the plan is for the entire poop deck to be able to lift up to access the electronics, I had to make a foldable boom. Found a metal picture hanger backing with a hole on either end that I was able to bend around my mizzenmast and secure in place with Super Glue. Drilled a hole through my 1/4 inch oak dowel boom. Cut the ends off two regular pins and stuck through either side, using Super Glue to keep them in place inside the boom's hole. The boom can now swivel up to allow the poop deck through it.

Secured the mizzenmast servo to the deck with Marine Epoxy. Simple, but seemed like a big step to me. I also covered the connecting wires to the servos with Marine Epoxy in the hope that will increase its waterproofing. After it had dried I yanked the mizzenmast around with some force to test how strong it was. Seemed good, but time will tell if it can hold up to wind gusts.

Drilled the painfully large hole through the poop deck to allow the mizzenmast's mounts through... painfully large... but I couldn't figure out any other way to do it since the sail servos were so tall. Not sure how I'm going to conceal it or waterproof it... but it works.

Cut my main mast from a 1/2 inch oak dowel. Cut two mounting disks out of oak, drilling a hole through one to run the mast through. I inserted two pins into the bottom of the mast to help keep it in place with more than just the wood glue.

Inserted four pins into the bottom of the mounting disk to coincide with holes on the servo's wheel. Then glued with the Marine Epoxy. Finally I glued the servo to the deck, which seemed like a huge step to me. I'll figure out some kind of wooden box/barrel/crate structure to conceal/waterproof the servo with later.

Btw the model with its electronics, masts and spars weighs about 16 pounds now. At some point I'll have to water test with some weights to see how heavy a ballast I'll need to stick on the keel. Hoping I can just glue it on... and hoping my super large keel doesn't come off lol.

Week 24