Thank you Chris for your comments. Progress is temporally on hold at the moment because it has been too cold in my outdoor workshop at the back of the garage - basically because I'm trying to be careful with the electricity bill ! As you probably know prices for gas and electricity have unfortunately gone through the roof! I think I will use epoxy with no fibreglass on the inside of the hull (where possible) and like you say use varnish on the outside. Thanks again. Duncan

Hello Duncan
From what I can see from the photo`s looks like a good job you are doing, Amati as well as being one of only a few companies making kits today are doubly unusual in that they seem to like lovely wood. I have completed a couple of their kits, the small cruiser and the Bella yacht both turned out well with good straight grained wood in the box.
As far as preservation of that which you will be unable to get at after completion all I would recommend is if you are not completely happy using epoxy then several coats of good varnish is a simple cost effective way of achieving much the same thing.
I am very interested in seeing the model completed, there are not many modellers that do not like the lines of a Riva.
Regards ChrisG
Sorry I had no intention to confuse but I now realise that the Bella Yacht and the Diva were in fact Aeronaut models and not Amati. I have only bought plans from Amati. Its very much an age thing, my memory is going along with many other things but looking at some others I have little to complain about.
Unlike you I am fortunate in that the `boss` has allowed me the use of a spare bedroom for a play room and only have to go to the garage on occassions for things like rubbing down and smelly grp work or painting. I think it was a calculated move on her part as I am no longer within reach of the on/off tv switch so she can watch her share of rubbish.
Regards ChrisG

Hi. Thanks for your comments. I must say I cannot fault the quality of the kit. All the wood and fittings are top quality. I think the instructions are bias towards a display model and the motorisation is more of an after thought! My wife bought the kit and the motorosation kit for my 70th birthday as I've always drewelled over the beauty of these boats. I just hope I can do it justice! I've also got an Aerokits RAF crash tender which I originally built in my 20's and refurbished during the 1st lockdown. I've now added a spray rail along the waterline which has improved its performance and stops it getting wet through! Cheers Duncan

It looks like you have put a lot of work into her. It's a shame that things are not like the plans advise. I started to build the AeroNuat Sports Boat. That is not a very good build boat. The side stringers are to frail to do a nice strong build. It is a similar hull to the early Aerokits Sea Hornet. The sid and bottom skins I was able to use small brass pins for fitting as I did with the 34" RAF Crash Tender. I got the side skins onto the AeroNaut hull but the bottom skins were too small. And I used a build board that was with the kit. I have fitted the small 380 style motor that it advises. It would be hard to fit that once the bottom skins are on. I shelved the build for now as I got disheartened with it. It has now stood on my mancave window sill for 18 months or so. I wish I had got the Sea Hornet again. I felt the £80 I spent on it was a waste. They seem to use cheaper and thinner wood 🤔and charge the earth for it now. ☹️ I hope you get to finish your boat successfully.Happy building.🚤🚤

I built this kit some years ago but found it too small and heavy to be a practical runner once fitted with 2 motors batteries and esc etc Nice to look at for display only though

Hi Duncan,
Looking foward to your updates.
The Riva is one of my many favorites😁
Trev