Oriental, NC

For a couple of years I have been a regular visitor to the TownDock.
It is the web site of the town of Oriental, North Carolina.  As an avid sailor I just randomly found this site.  Once I did I was hooked.  It is a very small town on the Neuse river and Pamlico sound.
The excellent web site is like a daily news paper.
My family had this week free so we found a house to rent and made the long drive from St. Louis to check it out. (1017 miles)
It is a great place.  The big protected water of the Neuse and Pamlico sound is perfect for sailing, and of course the weather beats the Midwest.
Unfortunately the skiff was not ready for the trip so we will plan a return visit.
Tomorrow we are hoping to rent an FJ to sail.  It is going to be sunny and 61 degrees!
We might be raising the anchor on Elsah Boat.

Pugh house, our base in Oriental.

Oriental harbor

The NCMM in nearby Beaufort

The Watercraft Center in Beaufort and some of their lovely boats...

At Fort Macon, Beaufort, NC.

Mississippi River Skiff update: lilly pads

Seats are edged with the black oak and installed.  We salvaged an old chair with nice turned legs.  Two of these are used as supports for the two rowing stations.

I like the Johnson Wax building by F.L. Wright, so we set the posts with the taper down like his lilly pads.

The Walnut base that was laminated to the sole of the boat is directly under the center of the seats.  We set a laser plumb on the base to find the spot to drill the seat.

This was marked, the seat was taken to the drill press and a forstner bit was used.  The depth was set at half way through the Walnut. 

Installed

Lilly pad

After both holes were drilled we measured for the turnings and cut them to fit.

Once everything fit tightly, an adhesive fiber epoxy putty was used.  Bronze fasteners will be added to the side blocks after everything hardens.

Mississippi River Skiff update: seats

Today we did the glue-ups for the seats.

Some figured walnut boards are used for the seats and they are edged with black oak to match the gunwales.

The hull exterior will end up with an Interlux Perfection Oyster White paint job.  This will set off the varnished walnut.

The hull is getting stiffer with the gunwales in place, and will get very stiff with the seats installed.

The weather has cooled a lot so we are heating when needed.

The laminations each get a turn in front of the kerosene heater.

Winter !

Rough glue-up of the transom seat.  It will get edging and the profile will get some curves.

Chalks are laminated into the floor to accept and hold in place this great old tank we got.
It will get a refurbishment and a new lease on life.

Ship's wheel

We got a commission for a commemorative ships wheel.

Never had the opportunity to build one before, so we jumped at it.

After looking at two from a nautical antique collection we designed an improved version.

The ones we looked at were light weight with toy looking spokes.

So the new wheel is made of 8 quarter cherry.  Super chunk.

Charlie at Industrial Machine Sales had an awesome lathe part the we are using as a hub.

It's tool steel not bronze, but this thing is going to be hanging on a wall in Missouri.

I did that once. 

MRS update: gunwales / seats

Yesterday we laminated the second layer of black oak to the gunwales.  Instead of epoxy, we used Titebond 3.  I am a big fan of 3.

It has a formulation that has more body to it when it is set.  It also has a dark brown color which disappears in joints.

After the the clamps were removed we went to work with the power planer to bring the gunwale into proper form.

It took about 15 minutes.  According to J Henry, you can't beat power tools.

Later we will dress the top with a sanding block and drill holes for the oar locks.

Tomorrow we will prepare to glass the interior's sides.  Before we start that we just had to see the boat with the seats in, so we cut walnut for the rowing stations.  They were set in and we had a short imaginary boat ride.

Before the seats are installed, both the leading and trailing edge of the rowing station seats will get a black oak trim piece.  The light color of the oak will look great framing the dark walnut.

Gunwale without exterior trim

After a little block sanding it will be ready for a round-over bit.

Walnut seat with oak trim piece

MRS update: hull interior

We glassed the sole and decided to install the seat supports before glassing the interior's sides.

Otherwise we would have ended up with secondary bonds on these stress points.

This will make the glass work more difficult but will yield a stronger boat.

Pieces of cherry were cut to the bevel and curve of the hull.

These were epoxied in place to support the two rowing stations as well as the large U shaped rear seat.

For the bow deck structure, we matched the size of the deck Chapelle indicated on the sailing version of this hull.

Instead of supporting a mast partner, this deck is for storage and a platform for sitting or standing.

It will be great boat for fishing.

A bulkhead of fir ply was cut and tabbed in place.

The deck lid will be removable.  This will be a lockable area and will hold quite a bit.

We are not planning on installing permanent floatation.  I would like the boat to look more traditional.  Instead we will have a removable floatation bladder in the bow deck and a bladder attached under the transom seat.

The gunwales are made of black oak.

We picked up a few boards yesterday.  This morning they were cut to half inch strips.  Their height is 1.25 inches.  Two strips will be laminated to make the gunwale on the interior of the shear.  The exterior piece will be cut and laminate later.

This thickness looks right proportionally and will allow enough room for the bronze oar locks.

Transom seat support

Here are the additional strips of black oak for the gunwales.

Bow deck enclosure.  The interior was glassed prior to the bulkhead installation.