Mississippi River Skiff update: OarLocks

The pinion of the oarlocks are set 12.5 inches past the edge of the rowing stations.
This is the distance we find best for the stroke geometry in this hull.  If they are set farther abaft you get less reach forward with the oar.  Farther forward and it is too tight.
There is a lot of variation of opinion on the best distance, this is our opinion and our boat.

This weekend we will be sanding the interior to prep for varnish and working on the oars.

Here is a picture of the oar blanks (and a Greenland paddle).  The Ash and cherry look good together.

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.

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