JD, Dory, and Me Makes Three (No Camera)

Due to a severe lack of camera, I haven't taken any pictures in the boatshop in quite some time. This is part of the reason why there have been so few posts (none) since October. The other reason is that I haven't been in the boatshop very much at all. I have however been there a little. And JD has been here since my last post, and he is in fact here, in Olympia today. Which is why I'll be at the boatshop, and also why I'm posting now. Some explanation must be made, pictures or no, of the progress that has occurred and what we intend to happen from here on out. Here we go.

Since the last picture that showed the boat, I've added the next row of planks. This involved cutting a bevel into the top edge of the garboards so that the next plank would lay neatly, and with a good flat gluing surface. Once the mating surface was prepared I made a spiling pattern out of doorskin, and scarphed the planking stock for the topsides strake. Then I had to figure out how to handle the long planks , get the surfaces glued and attach them while keeping it positioned just so. I succeeded fairly well I think, but there's definitely some fixing to be done as we move on to the sheer strake.

Yesterday JD and I devised a system for pulling the lumps out of the topside plank so we can accurately cut the new bevel and fair for the sheer plank. I think we can cut the bevel today. Then we can make the pattern for the next strake. I'm thinking that it would be good to use 1/4 in. plywood for the pattern making, because it will bend more like the actual plank and won't deflect when I'm laying out the pattern to mark the spiles onto the planking stock. This probably doesn't make any sense, but it will when you see the boat. In your gut you'll know that I was spiling, avoiding deflection, cutting bevels, correcting errors, etc. and that it all adds up to a beautiful hull, right?

The big goal is to have the boat moveable by May. I'm going to be really busy, but it's a totally achievable goal. And it will put us well on track to rowing on the Sound this summer. Yesss!