In engineering we talk a lot about the Minimum Viable Product, MVP. The MVP is the smallest set of features that will allow a product to sell in the market place with the shortest development time. We often list the features and give them a thumbs up or thumbs down on whether the feature is needed. When we are done marketing or sales throws out our list and gives up theirs. Sometimes they are right; sometimes they are wrong. In either case it is a valuable exercise.
So the time has come to define the Minimal Viable Boat, MVB, so I can do what is important to get the boat in the water and wait on less important items. The bulkheads have been installed and I am working on the interior sheer clamp, knees, thwarts, bridge deck and anchor deck. So what do I need to finish to launch Fish Taco?
- Cut the Transom. I need to cut a notch in the transom for mounting the motor.
- Purchase and install the battery. Can’t start the motor without the battery.
- Paint the bottom. The bottom has been primed so I will need at least one coat, preferably three coats of paint.
- Knees. The stern knees and forward knees need to be install to stiffen the boat.
- Breasthook. Like the knees, the breasthook is needed to stiffen the boat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjihLVAMCzg
- Thwarts. The two stern thwarts need to be made and installed. I could build temporary thwarts and replace them later.
- Bow Eye. I will need a way to retrieve Fish Taco onto the trailer so I will need to install the bow eye. I don’t need to install the transom tie downs since I can put a strap over the entire stern.
- Trailer. Fish Taco is too big to fit in the back of the truck so I need a trailer. Two friends have offered the use of their trailers so I can borrow one until I get Fish Taco a trailer of her very own.
Now I get to the list of items that would be nice to finish but are not part of the MVB.
- Drain tube for mid storage. I have cut a piece of 1 inch PVC pipe in half lengthwise and it is epoxied into place and covered with fiberglass. This won’t take a lot of time so I may do it while I am doing other tasks.
- Anchorwell Deck. A piece of 12mm plywood that covers the forward storage area. Not hard to make but a lot of fitting to match the shape of the hull.
- Bridge Deck. The plans call for 9mm plywood but I am thinking of epoxying two layers of 4 or 6 mm plywood to set the curve of the bridge deck. Again not hard to do but a lot of fitting and cutting out the hatch can be tricky.
- Interior sheer clamp. Not part of the plans but I want them because they give you a place to grab if needed. I have scarfed the two interior sheer clamps and are ready to be planned down to size. A whole lot of work is involved so this task may fall off the list for now.
Here is the list of items that I dreading because it includes the sanding. I have to fair, prime and top coat the mid storage and forward storage before I put the decks on so I will do this in sections.
- Sand the inside of hull. Ugh.
- Put QuikFair on inside of hull.
- Sand the QuikFair.
- Prime the inside of the hull.
- Sand the primer
- Top coat the inside of the hull.
There is the Minimal Viable Boat which does not include lights, electronics, down rigger mounts and much more.