Category: Melonseeds

Weekend’s work – half hulls 

 

(to start of project)

I am the Bungie King. With wooden fingers.

Bungie chords in different lengths, and with lots of places to hook to, seem to apply the right amount of flexible pressure, over large areas, to pull the strips together snug. Since I plan to finish the insides bright, random staple holes would be unsightly, otherwise you could just use more staples. Also, the bungies ease the strips most of the way flat without breaking them. Bungies with large plastic hooks don’t mar the wood. The wooden fingers, with a spring clamp applied, hold the strips flat against the form. Fast and easy to apply. Problem solved.

Continue reading “Slow Stripping”

Clamping improvisation

 

(to start of project)

Put on 24 strips in seven hours today, which is pretty good, cooking right along in a groove. Then I hit a curve, came to a stop, and decided it was a good time to quit for the day.

Cedar strips bend very easily in one direction – back and forth – which is what makes them so wobbly. But they don’t bend much at all in the other direction. Add a twist and it really gets fun. The first twelve strips up the hull are pretty much flat runs, bending in the easy direction, so these went up quick.

Continue reading “Fast Stripping”

 First strip planks in place

 

(to start of project)

 After two months of careful preparation, it’s crazy how fast the planking goes up, and how quickly what was only abstract art becomes a physical boat.

An extra set of hands, like those of a daughter home from college, really help. When those hands have to go back to school, you have to improvise. These snug fitting “fingers” hold the gluey strips in place as you work your way back with the staple gun.

Continue reading “Planking”

Hey! Remember me?

 

(to start of project)

Notes to self:

1. Check measurements twice, again.
2. Pay attention to wife.

Some things bear mentioning over and over again.

Continue reading “Measure Twice, Cut Once”

Inner Transom 

 

(to start of project)

 Yellow Pine smells like Georgia.

And Sandalwood incense.

And the rosin in my grandfather’s fiddle case.

Continue reading “Transoms and Then Some”