AFAD - North Shore Sailing Dinghy & Smith Island Skiff

Casey starts the breast hook pattern

Cutting & steaming the sassafras made the small boatshop smell like sweet rootbeer

That's a large clamp for a small boat

Chris, Casey, Bernie & Doc John fit one hot piece of sassafras

Chris & Casey push & pound to get 3/4 x 3/4 frame to fit

Bernie & doc John then judge the fit

Chris takes that steaming wood across his knee.  Don't try this at home.

She's looking pretty from above

The Smith Island Skiff components are being installed. We do go from one project to another as time & necessity allows or forces.  That's AFAD - many small steps that lead to some small crafts.

Plenty of seating for family & friends.

Paint covers most & bright work (varnish) will show some of the woods

Two black locust stumps become knees, breasthook, quarter knees.

Naturally seasoned and fallen black locust from Ranchland in Earleville, MD will soon be crafted into extra strong supports for the Museum's Apprentice for a Day Baker North Shore Sailing Dinghy. Thanks Rick for the donation, and for sawing the wood.

Two stumps of black locust, naturally seasoned from up in Earleville, MD from Ranchland farm. Rick Carrion has more to bring now. But for now, this wood is perfect to use for the next step in the Apprentice for a Day boat...building the knees, quarter knees and breasthook of the small lapstrake skiff.

See how the patterns for the knees match the wood? Rick explained how the wood's natural grain makes it perfect for the small 'knees' or support pieces, in the Museum's North Shore sailing dinghy now under construction

 — with Rick Carrion and Jenn Kuhn.

Detail. Black locust is strong and rot-resistant - perfect wood for building a boat and for strong knees, quarter knees and breasthooks

Rick's almost done on stump number two, which will be used for the boats breasthook.

The end result, at least for now. The breasthook pattern matches the grain of this piece of wood. A breasthook is a thick piece of timber in the form of a knee, placed across the stem of a ship to strengthen the fore part and unite the bows on each side.

 

Baker North Shore Sailing Dinghy is advanced. Jenn & Chris worked with Carl Bergeron, Joe Nemec & volunteers on 17 & 18 March

Carl drills with Doc's direction while Chris picks next tool

Centerboard box rough cut

Casey checks seating for box

First rib/frame of sassafras is steaming hot

So many hands on one piece of sassafras

Dr. Joe & Dr. John check the placement of the next frame/rib

Casey & Doc add another clamp

Joe steadies the skiff while Casey & John work

Carl & Joe enjoyed the day & helped at AFAD

Chris gave the thumbs up as he checked the first ribs

Boatyard updates: Apprentice For a Day Boat, Rosie Parks' new cutwater fit & Installation, and Spring Cleaning

The boatyard continues to carry on, even after the loss of such a wonderful friend. Here's a  few updates from the past two weeks. We've been busy!

The first rib was steamed and put on the AFAD skiff on Sunday, March 18. Shipwright Journeyman Chris Sanders and Apprentice Jenn Kuhn are taking charge of this weekend public boatbuilding program.  

The Museum's buyboat the Mister Jim goes up on the rail in preparation for our busy season.

Shipwright apprentices Jenn and India are doing a little spring cleaning aboard the Museum's pot pie skiff and Old Point.

The port side covering board is up on Rosie (March 9) 

Rosie Parks' deck restoration has begun. First step: creating and shaping a new covering board.

Rosie's new cutwater kerfed to the pattern lines. (and Marc with a chainsaw)

Journeyman Chris Sanders chopping out the kerfed wood.

Chris planing to the pattern lines.

The cutwater is ready for its dry fit.

Like a glove!

India and Chris move it into place.

The cutwater is ready for its final fit and installation.

Rosie's new cutwater is now installed!

New Youtube Video: Rosie Parks Restoration Update, November, 2011 - February 2012

Four months of incredible hard work condensed into five minutes! Hard to believe huh? The Museum is ahead of schedule on the Rosie project, thanks to our AWESOME shipwrights and volunteers and a mild winter that allowed more work to be done. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0w6RZrzohk&list=UUTpubPatBF0F6YC-OKp4l-g&index=1&feature=plcp

Dan's last plank and finishing the Baker North Shore Sailing dinghy and the Dunston's Smith Island Skiff

Dan Sutherland left the small boat shop on Thursday, 16 February 2012 with the number 6 planks on the Baker North Shore Sailing dinghy. On Friday, the sheer planks were finished, temporarily fitted, refitted and then scarfed.  We left that afternoon with them clamped on the table to set up overnight and fasten on Saturday. That was not to be.

Here are some views of the last planks & the continuation of the build, in Dan's honor. The Dunston's are also excited about their Smith Island Skiff.  It is close to being completed, from the boat builder's viewpoint.  We have felt him looking over our shoulders & providing advice as to how to finish this craft. Dan taught us many things about boat building and life. Now we need to confirm that we have learned & remembered some part of what he could do with muscle memory and his deep knowledge as a Master Boat Builder.

There were labels for each photo. I'll add them next week, since my own operator error did not save them this evening.  Dan would not need labels.