Day 0 (Sunday – Aug 27, 2023)
Nice but long drive to Brooklin Maine – took scenic route via St Johnsberry VT and across Presidential Mountains, much nicer than over to 95 and just Interstate driving.
Standard WBS orientation and quick visit to shop for Introductions etc…
Day 1 (Monday – Aug 28, 2023)
Quite a bit accomplished today, set-up molds on strong back, transom, stem, shear clamp and stringers shaped and temporary installed. Arch Davis is really experience designer/builder and enjoyable instructor. Hard to tell from this photo, but those stringer compound miters to stem quite challenging at first – Arch showed some tricks to make much easier – not certain if I would have figured out on my own.
Starting Point – Simple Strongback
Keel and Stringers Test fitting – everything goes on and off 3 or more times before epoxied in place
Day 1
Day 2 (Tuesday – Aug 29, 2023)
Very busy/long day – everything epoxied to boat, keel/stem/transom bevels cut in preparation of planking. Arch works to much higher standards than last years Beach Pea project. My arm is sore from so much planing. This boat is closer to being a traditional build than modern glued-lapstrake technique. Arch is the 80 year old guy on the right.
Day 2 – Keel beveled, Stringers on, 2nd Transom Layer Glued up
AFTER 6 DAYS OF NON-STOP WORK, I HAVE LOST TRACK OF THINGS – WILL FIGURE OUT NEXT WEEK WHEN BACK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE – FOR NOW WILL JUST DUMP SOME PICTURES IN BASIC ORDER FOR LAST FEW DAYS AND NEXT WEEKS WORK
I volunteered to do the garboard plank ends to the transom as it is a difficult thing and wanted to be certain I understood so when needed for my Penobscot 14 I could do well. Turns out the other guys on team don’t really want to do so I am the official plank/transom guy. A bit challenging, but I definitely got figured out.
Laying Out Plank Ends
My Specialty – Plank Ends To Transom
This is a basic scarf joint which is used to make 14ft planks from 8ft boards.This one almost done, just a bit more tweaking needed. The instructor (Arch Davis) uses a No 4 plan for almost everything. This is a bit different than most builders but after a week of planing almost exclusively with it kind of like size and how quickly you can remove material.
Basic Scarf – FYI That’s 1/4 inch Okume Plywood
Keel and Stringers Test fitting – everything goes on and off 3 or more times before epoxied in place
Outer Stem Cap – Lots of Clamps
Lots of Clamps Needed in Boatbuilding
How well the plank ends tie into stem is used by builders to judge the quality of the boat. The technique rebates the plywood to a feather edge at stem, tapers back 12 inches in a rolling bevel to accept the plank above. It is very difficult to execute properly. This is a nice one – only 11 more to go.
Gains (or Rebates if your a Kiwi) – very, very difficult to make
Scarfing directly on boat – very unusual approach but worked quite well.
SUNDAY – SEPT-3-2023
Finally a day off – nice breakfast (WBS food kind of sucks) at only open place. Did a little exploring – here’s a few local pics.
Little Deer Island Bridge
Brooklin Boat Yard Bay
Wooden Boat School – Waterfront Building, From Dock
Back to work on Monday (Labor Day – 2nd week)
Last Plank On, Centerboard Slot Cut and Keel beveled flat
Finally right side up – that’s the strong back holding things in alignment
Planked and Finally Rolled Upright
Leveling Centerboard and Begining To Set Floor/Seat Beams
Stem – I personally carved the left side scallop! (and both stem bevels)
Five hours for me to fit the breasthook – biggest challenge was getting chamfer of top surface – note: I didn’t glue up blank, would not have used wood with that sapwood line in this part
Seat Supports and Centerboard Bracing going in
Ready to Install Floors and Seats
Front Floors – Last Thing I Finished before Class Ended – they look great now, will be better when edges rounded over and varnished
As far as we got – Doug has a fair amount to get done before he can launch
SUMMARY
After 2 brutal weeks putting this together with Arch (designer/master boat-builder) I am no longer certain the larger version of this boat which I have already started is the right one for me. This is more of a daysailer that will live a sheltered life out of the water and stored under cover when not in use. More like a classic car that is used for Sunday drives and nothing else. I want something more like my truck that can be abused (fished in/dog trips) and not worry about the varnish etc… Will decide over the winter if I am going to stop my build and just start a Doug Hylan 15-ft Beach Pea (boat I build last year – or maybe that McInnis Bateau I’v had my eye on last 10 years or so)
Arch Davis is a great old school craftsman and held us to the highest of craftsmanship – skills that are easily transferred to all of my woodworking – boats and furniture. It was a long 2 weeks, enjoyed just about everything but probably my last trip to WBS as not really that much else to learn for what/how I build.