an infrequent repository of mostly new stuff
building a pair of 19th century gunning skiffs
Strip detail, glassed inside
Passed another big milestone this weekend. After 36 hours of work, both hulls are glassed inside, and that should be the end of the fiberglassing marathons.
I decided to embrace the staple holes and didn’t bother trying to fill them. They’ve become invisible to me already. They’re a basic part of the construction process anyway, seems dishonest to try and hide them. Continue reading “That Inner Glow”
Richard Scofield , Boatyard Manager, and
Peter Thatcher, with the Second Oldest Melonseed
The next phase of construction starts a series of tasks for which there is very little instruction. There’s a lot of latitude in how you go about these things, and every builder seems to approach them in slightly different ways. Like it says on the old explorer maps of The Known World, beyond here there be dragons. It’s a good time to see what other people have done and plan ahead, so I took a day off from work to do a bit of research in St. Michaels, Maryland. Continue reading “Field Research”
Hardware River along The Plank Road
My grandfather used to say that, given enough caulk and putty and paint, he was a pretty good carpenter. Of course, after beer-thirty, his skills diminished considerably, and one could rightly accuse him of boasting, but before noon he could cover up even pretty big mistakes. Me too. Continue reading “Journey to the Interior”
South Deck, Glassed and Trimmed
It’s been an eventful week. Besides the big storm and flood, boat building and Independence Day celebrations, the dogs cornered a groundhog that drew blood before we could separate them, and one night cornered a skunk, which ended just as you’d expect. Emily did the requisite tomato juice bath at 2 in the morning. At least the basement is mostly dry after a week of running fans, which now are doing double duty dissipating the stink. Continue reading “Decks Glassed”
Storm coming
On the way home the sky looked both beautiful and ominous. Over the fields the clouds were piled high in all directions, dragging skirts of rain and lightning, looking bruised and petulant. I stood out by the fence and watched until the rain came in spatters. What I saw was imposing enough I felt compelled to take pictures, but had no idea what was coming. Only a few days into summer, and already the thunderstorms have arrived. Big ones. Continue reading “Weather Eye”
Batteau Anchor and Sweep Oarlock
Scottsville is over 150 miles from the coast. The western horizon is rumpled by the Blue Ridge and, beyond that, the Alleghenies. It’s a small town of about 500 people, give or take, situated in horse country at the northern edge of what was historically a tobacco growing region. Not exactly the kind of place you’d expect to find a hot bed of traditional boat building. Continue reading “Batteaux”
Rough Sanding (earplugs in for safety)
For Father’s Day I got to work on the boats all weekend, and the girls made a donation to the sail fund. Beats the heck out of getting a tie.
I had Friday off, too, so made good progress – finished planking both decks and did a full round of rough sanding with the antique belt sander. Even so, I’d wander down between other chores, just to have a little look, but it’s hard not to pick up a tool. Terri caught me doing bit of sanding sans OSHA approved footwear. Continue reading “Decks Planked”