tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15356747049840395972024-03-13T16:20:31.020-04:00Building "Dark Secret"John and William Atkin's 18'7" Hardangersjekte.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-27046825725269447312014-04-05T10:53:00.000-04:002014-04-05T17:07:40.948-04:00A Proud Day... Yet another diversion from ongoing Dark Secret stuff.<br />
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A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the launching of a new 13' wooden skiff. It was built by the Engineering Club at St. John's Prep, in DAnvers, MA. The project was led by Marcus Soule, Physics teacher. What a great day. It was a raw and blustery March day, but spirits were high.<br />
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I am a passionate proponent of the value of a hands-on project like this in the educational experience. Aside from the math, science, history, and other curriculum related subject matter, there are also societal skills that can't be taught in any way other than by being part of a group involved in a challenge - teamwork, accountability, work ethic, and perseverance are just a few of the things that seem to have fallen through the cracks in the current educational system. Every step of the way, a boat builder uses the known to determine the unknown. It's like a giant geometry proof. Kudos to the entire team for doing such a nice job and meeting their deadline.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3-p9DLEZwHJsFjGUeyOLGul4Jvq4TOP2xac-ZKZ_VkFJr9Wk1NXA25cbhxFhRQohRY-DoWgWmFzJGI-8bajincTIvsY65katQQd-r5s33nLrZFqrEa2EIMAaJE_GG6fjOyS2JH8LYDc/s1600/IMG_20140321_134427824_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3-p9DLEZwHJsFjGUeyOLGul4Jvq4TOP2xac-ZKZ_VkFJr9Wk1NXA25cbhxFhRQohRY-DoWgWmFzJGI-8bajincTIvsY65katQQd-r5s33nLrZFqrEa2EIMAaJE_GG6fjOyS2JH8LYDc/s320/IMG_20140321_134427824_HDR.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoRtCvNHRn_M2zf8cqnn2ZmYjHN-I8pWv-nAkOJvLTnmursBlzbbI5lvFmHVDUQ-GgdDJa9AQy2UFSTyF5P-2Trq7y7epQJ1J1-t1bpDOVkMhegI2zsvOsZAUPzL9adhLKUZ-YuwdzZw/s1600/IMG_20140321_134601396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoRtCvNHRn_M2zf8cqnn2ZmYjHN-I8pWv-nAkOJvLTnmursBlzbbI5lvFmHVDUQ-GgdDJa9AQy2UFSTyF5P-2Trq7y7epQJ1J1-t1bpDOVkMhegI2zsvOsZAUPzL9adhLKUZ-YuwdzZw/s320/IMG_20140321_134601396.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgIQrZHkT9qTacxNgSNnarndm_Fc4_kR3eOyzh9c6Nt31cRLUvTYoALNogxyBHEIkoIQyuBqc-8Zq1jhV_DmMJamsJjHohxSNO3tKbgguhto1dyFudeWXN5tKT_c06aeETOEXsOidlNM/s1600/IMG_20140321_140123243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgIQrZHkT9qTacxNgSNnarndm_Fc4_kR3eOyzh9c6Nt31cRLUvTYoALNogxyBHEIkoIQyuBqc-8Zq1jhV_DmMJamsJjHohxSNO3tKbgguhto1dyFudeWXN5tKT_c06aeETOEXsOidlNM/s320/IMG_20140321_140123243.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The boat is "Sissy Do," by Glen L. Here is a link to the designer's study plan:<br />
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https://www.glen-l.com/designs/canu-row/sissydo.html<br />
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Marcus contacted me and Tom Perkins at Wise Marine prior to the start of the build, and he picked our brains a few times during the process. As a result of this contact, we are happy to be involved in another St. John's Prep course offering - Summer Boat Building. The three of us (Marcus, Tom, and I) will be instructing amateurs in the building of a small fleet of "Cartoppers" designed by the late, great Philip C. Bolger. Choosing the appropriate boat for the course was something of a process. I'll cover that process, and the design in detail at my other blog:<br />
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http://rickscustomjoinery.blogspot.com/2014/04/cartopper-joy-of-simpicity.html<br />
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Here is a link to the summer course(near the bottom of the list):<br />
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http://www.stjohnsprep.org/page.cfm?p=9541<br />
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Herre is a link for info on Cartopper:<br />
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http://www.instantboats.com/cartopper.htmAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-47212619893639017662014-03-13T07:57:00.000-04:002014-03-14T17:31:32.912-04:00Pipe Dreams...Yachting FantasiesSo,<br />
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I keep slogging away at the ever-growing list of things that come in front of spending quality time with/on the people/things that matter to me. It occurred to me the other day that I am spending far too much time working and not enough time enjoying what I am doing (or being compensated). Everybody in the New England yacht service industry says, "You made a lifestyle decision when you chose this as your career path." I LOVE what I do, but not eating is not a quality lifestyle decision.<br />
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I have been wracking my brain to come up with alternate ideas. I have had a few in my day. Some of them are actually workable, unlike my "cement-tires-and-rubber-roads" scheme. <br />
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I submit one that is marginally applicable to the subject at hand here: I once had an idea for a "Shit-box du Jour" desk calendar. Like most of my ideas, it got absolutely no traction. It was going to be a page-a-day calendar with a photo of a not particularly collectible car accompanied by factoids associated with that particular vehicle. Debatably a cool concept, but how many car geeks are there out there who would actually use a desk calendar, and how many of them care about the fact that Milton Berle drove one of the most beautiful and ostentatious shit-boxes in history, a 1962 Chrysler Imperial convertible, in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWaTMMQKV-Ogr6QDX3gInDFhOUn1FbX_RDyZQ9fIoE-d9myvm2C5Pib2sdfwrDht9plrzYDmcFTeTkxDEatsvrDhzrLvAU6gVBL_kZhQcpFV_zhc6UVxnpph4q6Q-eiV4NqTbGJK-73w/s1600/Imperial_Crown_Convertible_1962_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWaTMMQKV-Ogr6QDX3gInDFhOUn1FbX_RDyZQ9fIoE-d9myvm2C5Pib2sdfwrDht9plrzYDmcFTeTkxDEatsvrDhzrLvAU6gVBL_kZhQcpFV_zhc6UVxnpph4q6Q-eiV4NqTbGJK-73w/s400/Imperial_Crown_Convertible_1962_1.jpg" /></a></div>My niche marketing ideas extend far beyond plywood faerings. By slightly tweaking the Shit-box du Jour model, I have come up with something I'm going to give an honest shot.<br />
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How does this tie in to what I bitched about in the first paragraph? I don't exactly know. That's up to "my public." <br />
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Drum roll, please...<br />
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"<b>14 Million Boats To Build Before I Die</b> <i>(and the unquestionable reasons behind building each and every one)</i>" I know - it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but it's exactly what it says - A blog posting of a yacht design from a bygone era and a flimsy justification for it to be built today along with my pithy, if ill-informed, commentary. God knows I have spent more than enough hours with my nose buried in the musty pages of old boat books, and there are SO MANY of them that I want to build. <br />
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The plan is to set up a stand-alone blog page for this endeavor, but here is a preview of the first posting:<br />
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"Haven," by William Atkin. Here is the link to the Atkin & Co site for the study plan with the designer's commentary: http://www.atkinboatplans.com/Cruisers/Haven.html <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLeMELqgXlmxquXDZFgMHqKFujdnebm3vn80JLolH4-L9eDZwff5doJIELuFYzryc1tYO6RNn3_iV5-cWpUKjHqnfcs7_hBd9Aw_jM6Mg3XosOuHcIUrIjSEokF664dUC27agjrqGGC0/s1600/Haven-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLeMELqgXlmxquXDZFgMHqKFujdnebm3vn80JLolH4-L9eDZwff5doJIELuFYzryc1tYO6RNn3_iV5-cWpUKjHqnfcs7_hBd9Aw_jM6Mg3XosOuHcIUrIjSEokF664dUC27agjrqGGC0/s400/Haven-1.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPep-peccqNeTS7_UvN2XqmYPwcB_Dd3UJvC2YfUvMaAHeEhgQ-dNzlcaXdrFaXURVfc1hitBdURehaCws1nHAgz_81uR2_GAQo5-iOQc8H2HG1Z7e8ulrPw3mOhAdG-E-Q7lUNeB-wyE/s1600/Haven-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPep-peccqNeTS7_UvN2XqmYPwcB_Dd3UJvC2YfUvMaAHeEhgQ-dNzlcaXdrFaXURVfc1hitBdURehaCws1nHAgz_81uR2_GAQo5-iOQc8H2HG1Z7e8ulrPw3mOhAdG-E-Q7lUNeB-wyE/s400/Haven-2.gif" /></a></div><br />
My In-Laws have recently retired. My father-in-law has been talking, in a very what-if kind of way, about building a boat to travel the canal system in New York state, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. He has done a nice job building the fleet of boats that we currently enjoy, but this would be his biggest build. Further clarification of the "mission" is needed but I think Haven could be the perfect boat (with some alteration). She was designed during World War II for aircraft rescue service. Her dimensions are: LOA 29' 9", beam 8', draft 1' 10". Mr. Atkin intended her to have 175 hp (they measured it differently then) and an estimated speed of 35 mph. In the commentary that accompanies his design, he states that the planking is to be two layers of 1/4" plywood. It looks do-able...<br />
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As drawn, the open arrangement won't work for an extended trip, even for the most intimate of couples. A simple, rectilinear deck house could transform this easily driven hull into the perfect craft for the task at hand. Something like you'd find on a pre-Depression cruiser like Mer Na.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dYDm0eqkXNe6wrCslm1pqcmFLkfnkISf9t-oDU6YnMPT9yjgYx080tt4OAMlyCIwAfGTqcqQ56-TKlO43Y4UP6o9EKWZkOnjt6596maSYRMdbB6SVChyY2wMY5G3948hdcNoA8ZVw3Y/s1600/mer-na1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dYDm0eqkXNe6wrCslm1pqcmFLkfnkISf9t-oDU6YnMPT9yjgYx080tt4OAMlyCIwAfGTqcqQ56-TKlO43Y4UP6o9EKWZkOnjt6596maSYRMdbB6SVChyY2wMY5G3948hdcNoA8ZVw3Y/s400/mer-na1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Clearly one couldn't travel the canal system at 35 mph. Even if you could you wouldn't get to see much along the way, and the fuel costs would put a trip that is already a fantasy squarely in the realm of ridiculous. By installing a 60-80 hp diesel you'll get "lobster boat" speed and she'll sip fuel, not guzzle it. You'd have to build her on a strict diet to keep weight down, particularly in the house. I think I'd build that from something other than teak. As pretty as it is, it's heavy and pricey. Plus, varnish sticks better to mahogany anyway. Plywood could work here, too, but I don't know whether I could go that far. The look is the look. I think bevelled-edge glass is mandatory.<br />
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The rudder shown will need re-thinking. As drawn, it looks perfect for a planing hull. At displacement/semi-displacement speeds, she'll need more area. Many of Mssrs. Atkin's power boat designs show an outboard, transom-hung, rudder. I don't think that would be out of place here. There are other advantages that come with this arrangement: simpler (cheaper) fittings, one less hull penetration, easy service without hauling, etc. Scaling off the drawing, it looks like he shows a 14 or 15" prop. I don't know whether we'll get enough out of a wheel of that size. There's another change.<br />
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I like the plumb transom, but maybe I'd curve it. I think we crossed a line some time ago - we aren't really talking about the same boat anymore. Let's just call it what it is - a "new" design based heavily on the the work of a master from another day. All of these changes add up. If they work well together, then we have to share the credit. If they don't, then we take all of the blame. <br />
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Even if you worked a miracle with the interior arrangement, I doubt you'd be able to cram in anything more than a head compartment, two comfortable seats (long and wide enough to nap), and some stowage. With only 4' 5" of headroom, a galley down there is out of the question. Is there enough room in that wheelhouse for a galley? Perhaps. The engine box would make things difficult. <br />
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In short, if Haven is the answer to the un-asked question, then the voyage will have to be structured around the above-noted limitations. Day-trips from B&B to B&B will be the key to success, comfort, and marital bliss. An occasional overnight aboard can add some adventure. <br />
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Will any of this happen? Highly unlikely. Will I be excited to help it become a reality? You bet!!! Will it take care of the paragraph 1 issue? No. I wouldn't charge them a dime. <br />
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So ends the first of what I hope to be many postings like this. They will get a home of their own. Stay tuned. <br />
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BTW - If you see the "Shit-box du Jour Calendar," it was my idea. Fat lot of good it did me...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-22275107632673043942014-02-02T15:44:00.000-05:002014-03-13T15:51:24.444-04:00Some back story, and rudder hardware ver. 2.0No photos this post. <br />
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It's looking like castings are going to be prohibitively expensive. This is good and bad news. I am going to use fittings from Ducktrap Woodworks for the upper pintle and gudgeon. The lower fittings will be fabricated from sheet bronze. Everything will interact, fit, and work the same way as described previously, and the lower fittings will pretty much look the same. They just won't be cast.<br />
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Now I'd like to cover the back story on the origin of Dark Secret's name.<br />
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Being primarily based in Gloucester, I am constantly bumping into history. It's a great city, full of (mostly) hard-working and resourceful people. One of our local heroes is Howard Blackburn. Some of you may have heard of him, but I suspect that his story is only locally well known. I'll hit the pertinent points here. All of the following comes from "Lone Voyager" by Joseph E. Garland. It's a great biography of an incredible man.<br />
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Howard Blackburn came to Gloucester from Nova Scotia. He was born in 1859 and was the fourth of eight children. He quit school at the age of ten and was "bound out" to a Mr. Reed to learn cabinet making. His desire for a life at sea led him to run away eighteen months later. He was returned to Mr. Reed's shop, only to leave again. He spent the following winter in the woods as a lumberjack with ax and saw. At twelve years old, he was doing work that most of us modern grown men would find beyond our limits. At the age of thirteen, he shipped out as a green hand on a square-rigger bound for Funchal, in the Madeiras. He landed in Gloucester in 1879, twenty years old.<br />
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I quote from Garland:" Those years had made him a man in every dimension. A monkey aloft, a bear at the end of a line, an ox at the oar, and a fox at the wheel, he had a genius for the sea that was sharpened to a keen edge by experience. This tough, handsome goliath, hard-drinking, fun-loving and handy with the girls was ready for the truest test of the sailor - bank-fishing on a Gloucester schooner." In January, 1883 he signed aboard the Gracie L. Fears for a halibut trip to Burgeo Bank." <br />
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About three days out of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, the Fears arrived on the Bank as snow was starting to fall. It was just before dawn and it was bitter cold. Six dories were lowered into calm seas and a light southeast breeze. Each dory held a crew of two and the gear required for fishing. Each crew would row some distance from the "mother" and go about the business of dory fishing. They set their gear and rowed back to the Fears for "mug-up." After a couple of hours the captain became concerned about impending weather and ordered the crews back over the side to haul their gear and get back. The southeast breeze freshened, died, and then came up as a squall from the northwest. Most of the dories had made it back but Howard and his dory mate, Tom Welch, were now to leeward of the Fears, separated by a fierce wind and blinding snow.<br />
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They pulled and pulled and pulled but could not make it back to the schooner. By nightfall the snow had stopped but the wind still howled. They could see the torch hung in the rigging of their destination, and it was just as far to windward as it was before. All through that night they alternated between riding at anchor and rowing toward safety while the waves and spray filled the dory and froze. When dawn came, the light was nowhere to be seen. Blackburn and Welch were alone, 60 miles or more south of Newfoundland.<br />
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For two days they battled the wind, the seas, and the freezing spray. During a stint of bailing the dory, Howard's mittens went over the side. When Howard noticed his fingers starting to lose sensation he wrapped them around the handle of his oars and left them there long enough to freeze into position. He removed the oars from his frozen hands and went back to bailing.<br />
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Tom Welch was having no easy go, either. At one point, when it was his turn to bail, he told Howard that he couldn't see. "What's the use, anyway?" he said. Just before dark on the second day, Howard called again to Tom that he needed help bailing the dory. There was no response.<br />
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Again, I quote Garland: " There was a lull in the heaving sea. [Howard] picked up the body, staggered aft, and dropped it in the stern. He clawed off one of Tom's mittens and tried to put it on. His hand was too swollen and distorted. The freezing spray wrapped the body in a winding sheet of ice. Its weight raised the bow and steadied the boat. It was ballast.<br />
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"For the rest of the night he bailed and pounded ice. When he could, he slumped in the bow, his claws between his legs and his face down out of the wind and spray. Suddenly a wave would flood the boat and he would drag himself back to bailing."<br />
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By dawn of the third day, the wind was down and the seas had calmed. Howard wrapped his frozen fingers around the oars and began pulling for Newfoundland. He rowed all day, his frozen hands coming apart before his eyes, Tom Welch keeping silent company in the stern.<br />
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Two more days and nights of misery brought him to safety. He had lost all of his fingers, most of both thumbs, and his feet to frostbite. After a lengthy convalescence, he returned to Gloucester which he called home for the rest of his life. After some time ashore, he went back to sea, but kept returning to Gloucester. <br />
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In 1899, he settled on the idea of sailing across the Atlantic alone. At that point, only five men in history had succeeded in that endeavor. One of those men was captain of a Gloucester fishing schooner.<br />
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I quote Garland a final time: "His name was Captain Alfred Johnson, but the world knew him as "Centennial" after the twenty-foot dory he sailed on a dare from Gloucester, MA to Liverpool England to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of American independence in 1876. It took him 66 days, and he nearly lost his life in the attempt. When he got back to Gloucester he returned to fishing like a sensible man, and to anyone who asked about the voyage thereafter he growled that he'd been a damned young fool.<br />
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"Nevertheless, it was a contagious kind of foolishness. Johnson had hardly returned from England when two young brothers from nearby Beverly, Asa and William Andrews, went down to Gloucester and bought a nineteen-foot dory which they named Nautilus and sailed to Cornwall in the summer of 1878 in 49 days.<br />
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"It took ten more years for William Andrews to make up his mind to try it alone. The man was a born promoter, though at first not much of a sailor, and he built a fourteen-footer named Dark Secret for a theatrical show in New York and got the New York World to sponsor him. Dark Secret was a leaky boat and after two months at sea he gave it up in the mid-Atlantic. He was plucked from his tub by a passing bark."<br />
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Andrews, now a Captain (though he nevere had a crew of more than one), tried again three years later (1891) in the fifteen foot Mermaid. After 61 days at sea, he was rescued 600 miles short of Portugal. In 1892, he succeeded aboard Sapolio. She was a fourteen-and-a-half-foot canvas-covered folding boat that made the trip from Atlantic City NJ to the south coast of Portugal in 84 days. It was an advertising stunt for a soap manufacturer. <br />
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The other two successful trans-Atlantic sigle-handers at the time were Rudolf Frietsch who sailed his forty-foot schooner from New York to Ireland in 1894, and the one and only Joshua Slocum who, in 1895, left Gloucester aboard Spray and headed east. His crossing was the first leg in a 38-month, 46,000 mile journey around the world alone.<br />
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Mr. Blackburn wasn't just a great sailor. He was a fixture in the community of Gloucester, a friend of the poor, and a hero to many people for many reasons. I highly recommend Mr. Garland's book.<br />
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So, in short, my Dark Secret is named after a shoddy vessel from a failed endeavor that was undertaken for petty reasons. It is my belief (one of them, anyway) that exceptional people can be inspired to do great things by seeing average people succeed at trivial things, and vice versa. Just as Howard Blackburn's passion was fed by the (eventual) success of Captain Andrews, it is this decidedly average man's hope that my eventual success will help to inspire someone great to do something truly monumental.<br />
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Keep on pulling... <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-47852503352399283332014-01-22T15:31:00.000-05:002014-01-22T16:52:45.931-05:00After much dragging of feet and extensive over-thinking...My postings appear to be coming less and less frequently. This frequency appears to be inversely proportional to my desire to be finished with the pretty short list of open items remaining on Dark Secret. One of the big ones is covered here: Rudder Hardware.<br />
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Much head scratching, napkin sketching, and general brain-storming has brought me to the point where I am. Casting patterns have been made for all four pieces of rudder hardware. I think they'll work nicely. I have a list of functionality issues that have to be addressed in order to consider this a success.<br />
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1. - Rudder must ship and unship safely, securely, and reliably without tools.<br />
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2. - Rudder must operate fairly precisely, but with enough "slop" to allow for the fact that upper and lower fittings are not in line with each other.<br />
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3. - Fittings must look proper for this application- yachty enough to be worth the time and effort but rustic enough to appear proper on what was, traditionally, basically a farmer's boat. <br />
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4. - Not ridiculously expensive.<br />
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I'm pretty sure I have addressed the first three. We'll soon see about the fourth.<br />
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As you can see in the photos, there are four fittings - two gudgeons (mounted to the stern of the boat), and two pintles (mounted to the rudder blade). The lower gudgeon (V-shaped with tapered edges) is to be riveted to the lower stem at a point roughly 2" below the waterline. The upper gudgeon is to be screw-fastened to the stem just above the point where it goes from tapered to square. Both gudgeons will be bored for a length of 5/16" bronze rod. The rod will follow the curve of the aft stem from the lower gudgeon (brazed into this fitting?), and pass through the upper gudgeon. Rod will terminate at a point (to be determined) some distance above the upper gudgeon. <br />
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The lower pintle pattern shows how I plan to ship and unship the rudder. The "split fingers" allow the 5/16" rod to fit between them. Rotating the fitting 90 degrees grasps the rod securely. The upper pintle is bored for the 5/16" rod. Shipping the rudder will work as follows: with the rudder lying on its side, engage the rod between the fingers in the lower pintle. Rotate the rudder to vertical and drop the upper pintle onto the rod that projects beyond the upper gudgeon. The lower pintle remains free to slide up and down on the rod, but as long as the upper pintle is engaged it can't release the rod from between the fingers.<br />
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It's not an original idea. I copied it from other boats (Nutshell Pram, Dyer Dhow, and other small craft) but have not seen it done on a boat of this size. I may have to come up with something to keep the rudder from floating up and disengaging the upper pintle. There might be enough mass in the portion of the rudder that is above the waterline to overcome the flotation of the immersed area. I don't know, yet.<br />
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Will I be able to ship/unship the whole shebang from inside the boat? I doubt it, particularly since there will generally be an inflated bouyancy tank in each end of the boat whenever she is used for sailing (for any distance, anyway). The good news is that if I have to unship before beaching I can do so in ankle-deep water. If I have to switch from sailing to rowing while underway the tiller will be lashed in place on center or handed to a crew member.<br />
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All in all, I think I'm good to go. <br />
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In other areas of the project momentum waxes and wanes. I was fortunate to get a few days of rowing in last summer. Build-up of finishes continues. Gooseneck is installed on the boom. Shrouds are spliced but forestay needs another go 'round at the think tank.<br />
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We got a new sill under the barn last summer. Part of that project involved re-building the door opening. The doors are back in the opening but are currently screwed in place in front of Dark Secret. Hinges are being welded and will be installed shortly. At that point I can get her out of the barn and into someplace warm enough to tackle the last couple of coats of varnish. If all goes according to plan (good luck with that), I'll be sailing this spring.<br />
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More to come...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuUJBsOaiNg1BXOznDufuamf9_6C0ZXtfHRBZ3Iyrms2xQ75TCzhGaQaJ1nfk1qxGSses3qDMT3Mr4DaXJOToa38y_IMOrm-XmF5NQCSRwhwzfVUjVxXUjS6bAODP4c8qVQaL0xozIhs/s1600/photo-164.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuUJBsOaiNg1BXOznDufuamf9_6C0ZXtfHRBZ3Iyrms2xQ75TCzhGaQaJ1nfk1qxGSses3qDMT3Mr4DaXJOToa38y_IMOrm-XmF5NQCSRwhwzfVUjVxXUjS6bAODP4c8qVQaL0xozIhs/s320/photo-164.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaus1BpuDHNPzRzcZYX8SF8Ol-DDkaE18d6gv-5fpyZ7Ni7iJChg50AOIwCHL4_OxI50oxOWfRxTW_wUxtvn1Wo6hJpq_kBBv9QxzEAR9wVgj5WXs_2bEpjeZYTe7O9U_lJpa74_X8Co/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaus1BpuDHNPzRzcZYX8SF8Ol-DDkaE18d6gv-5fpyZ7Ni7iJChg50AOIwCHL4_OxI50oxOWfRxTW_wUxtvn1Wo6hJpq_kBBv9QxzEAR9wVgj5WXs_2bEpjeZYTe7O9U_lJpa74_X8Co/s320/photo+5.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWfrJ9beHnODF1rKLvsUKy064rFXXyCWnqt4CWNhzSL2nLAsX0wKA8OvTbcAKC7qt0HUK3PUP9-VDekwZ7kpLWlhYLckg8QztPQpko-daPx73GcyMhs6yGq_lii1ZIc6h5kgV5iBGZ_c/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWfrJ9beHnODF1rKLvsUKy064rFXXyCWnqt4CWNhzSL2nLAsX0wKA8OvTbcAKC7qt0HUK3PUP9-VDekwZ7kpLWlhYLckg8QztPQpko-daPx73GcyMhs6yGq_lii1ZIc6h5kgV5iBGZ_c/s320/photo+3.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLSfqHbsgOIW11iJf1PX0yKpLDcsdLyE5C9W09odfrAEk3P19kLMh2xL1epDNfdd02TjEJtDkRIsJ6KXTVFnSA2PISvLX4T6flGcuEiCzDoAoUTk7Gck26Whq5OvtqaV7jKIlBoTjfhU/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLSfqHbsgOIW11iJf1PX0yKpLDcsdLyE5C9W09odfrAEk3P19kLMh2xL1epDNfdd02TjEJtDkRIsJ6KXTVFnSA2PISvLX4T6flGcuEiCzDoAoUTk7Gck26Whq5OvtqaV7jKIlBoTjfhU/s320/photo+2.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3RpIWdJ2pyH01ru-XGUJDNMnPIHp0Qop2aeXS0kj-gtS3yMWtBZfOKwNvpWrRux1gBxzP7J9QMxAzndWSPXmT_q1vzkT4_ZclZB9NhMRsPZYilxM0OrvPmSGIAtwhfAYflBYFqW2gpk/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3RpIWdJ2pyH01ru-XGUJDNMnPIHp0Qop2aeXS0kj-gtS3yMWtBZfOKwNvpWrRux1gBxzP7J9QMxAzndWSPXmT_q1vzkT4_ZclZB9NhMRsPZYilxM0OrvPmSGIAtwhfAYflBYFqW2gpk/s320/photo+1.JPG" /></a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-40450683470864723672013-03-24T15:54:00.000-04:002014-01-23T15:37:56.307-05:00Still kickin'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkNZY96Ak5MJ2CCdjM1Bh4dm5VP6BxAfPtRZtv6HvGxr1lms4wA8M16SyZWYqxRz_CcBPVrmtQ8UDnroamEFggE6lCjNAa5xvEyEq8AikbqcAHXqf30ha_E_-dlEJfdXebyyw2Qx2vQc/s1600/bridal+party+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkNZY96Ak5MJ2CCdjM1Bh4dm5VP6BxAfPtRZtv6HvGxr1lms4wA8M16SyZWYqxRz_CcBPVrmtQ8UDnroamEFggE6lCjNAa5xvEyEq8AikbqcAHXqf30ha_E_-dlEJfdXebyyw2Qx2vQc/s320/bridal+party+photo.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ-yOFOV6maK-bh2RY0Rq64dAWQ6t1oxSyTl6KCfunZ3lpJ5ypJ4RR_6sVYn_3huk3k6Q1ymXdne9CW7gxgPE5c80aK_fNOx4o1lZsfONhemd-w5E2pJllwX3z0zvxWGT30x7f34WpKc/s1600/interior+painted.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ-yOFOV6maK-bh2RY0Rq64dAWQ6t1oxSyTl6KCfunZ3lpJ5ypJ4RR_6sVYn_3huk3k6Q1ymXdne9CW7gxgPE5c80aK_fNOx4o1lZsfONhemd-w5E2pJllwX3z0zvxWGT30x7f34WpKc/s320/interior+painted.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdyfjMWZGv1LocwSYLfk7qvckwzD6PCZEkAnCM6zTMaxfoj1YsZmKH1leuXFPDLKleKlbPDWPDDRQgXt2ItG6yi1Gr4GZBeR7co1MWPX-cYV75xrR5OiUZB9DpZ_0yXpHqI8lQBbU_ug/s1600/rough+rig.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdyfjMWZGv1LocwSYLfk7qvckwzD6PCZEkAnCM6zTMaxfoj1YsZmKH1leuXFPDLKleKlbPDWPDDRQgXt2ItG6yi1Gr4GZBeR7co1MWPX-cYV75xrR5OiUZB9DpZ_0yXpHqI8lQBbU_ug/s320/rough+rig.jpg" /></a><br />
Hi all, Lest ye think I have abandoned the project, here is a quick update on Dark Secret. <br />
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I had her in the shop for a couple of weeks in Essex, MA where I have been working. I managed to get a few things off the list. Interior has been painted to final coat. Frames still need a coat or two before the interior is a wrap. Rails are ready for "final coat" (it's never the last one) and topsides have received some attention to get at least one more coat. She looks great, finish-wise. I have lowered the sole panels (aftermost panel needs a tweak at its forward end) as discussed in a previous posting, and have made the blocks to raise the oarlocks. Carpentry-wise there is still a bit to do. <br />
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As you can see in the photo, I have pretty much worked out the rig and rigging details. I need to mount gooseneck hardware to mast and boom, finish shaping the yard, and build up finishes on the three sticks. The yard will get wrapped in leather where it crosses the mast, and I'll wrap the inside of the partner with leather (or suede) where the mast goes through. <br />
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Sole panels need some kind of a simple hold-down system that doesn't require tools to undo. I have ideas on this, but have yet to execute... <br />
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There are some rigging details yet to be addressed: All of the splices at the masthead are done. I need to determine a final length for the shrouds and forestay and splice the lower ends. I have sourced the pelican hook that I will use on the forestay. Note that the rig photo shows the halyard going through a small block hung from a lizard (correct term?) at the mast head. I think I am going to switch to a sheave morticed into the spar. It will help to keep the yard inboard, where it belongs. I'll probably still need some kind of bridle to keep it snug, but I'll launch without and see what I get. <br />
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I have procured all of the other needed hardware for the boat, except rudder hardware. I am still scratching my head on this. I have yet to find a set-up that will work for this application. I have a design together for a custom hardware package that is pretty slick, but I don't know if I want to go to the trouble of fabricating the parts. It's a comparatively simple arrangement (once it's installed), but there are seven pieces of metal to fart around with, plus whatever I do for the end of the cross-arm at the rudder head. I have said it before, and I'll say it again - "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing." I'll do up a sketch of the hardware package and post it next go-round. I promise that it won't be a year between postings. <br />
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I hope you enjoy the photos. The black and white photo is from an article in Maritime Life and Traditions, #19 on Norwegian faerings. The first half was in #19, the second half in #21. It's a great article and has been a source for answers to many of the questions I have had during this process. At any rate, notice the seksaering in the foreground. There are 13 people in it!!! I have a scan of the article. It's a good read. I'll send it to whomever asks. <br />
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In the short term I will be removing the shrink-wrap as soon as I am confident it is done snowing. I'll varnish the rails, paint the topsides, install the interior parts and oarlocks, and I'll put her in the water somewhere and enjoy her before the waterfront gets too busy around here. She'll need to come back out to attach the rudder hardware, but by then I will have worn out my welcome wherever she will have been sitting. <br />
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Happy Spring!!! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-14986477972886527442012-05-15T18:46:00.000-04:002012-05-15T18:46:36.306-04:00Living the dream...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a bit more than a year since I last posted, and what a year it has been. The house we bought in Maine has turned out to be every bit of the work we thought it would be and then some. The rental cottage out back is pretty much ready to show to prospective tenants( I need to hang towel bars, varnish the stair treads, and other punch list items, but the interior is, for all intents and purposes, done). The main house remains a wreck. I spent the winter "camping" in two rooms. I left the thermostat set at 52 degrees to keep the pipes from freezing and spent much quality time in front of the wood stove in the kitchen. Thank God we had a mild winter this year...
Dark Secret languishes in the barn. She has not received much attention in the past year. I am incredibly lucky and grateful to have a barn where she can spend the winter, but oooohhhhh the plans I had for what I was going to accomplish this past winter. The bottom line is that there are not enough hours in the day. I took a job at Wayfarer Marine in Camden and moved up here full time in October. My incredibly patient and loving wife still lives in the Gloucester house and still does the ungodly commute to Boston every day. We are trying to keep our "eyes on the prize," but neither of us is ecstatic about being married and 200 miles apart. Then again, I think there are days when she wouldn't have it any other way.
Despite the lack of progress on Dark Secret, I have not been idle during the last year or so. The house has a new 200 amp service, the barn has received some much needed shoring up (permanent solutions forthcoming), and the previously mentioned rental cottage is nearly done. I have (mostly) painted one side (the most challenging side) of the exterior of the main house. It has been such an eyesore for so long that I thought I would start at the street side for the benefit of the neighbors. So much has contributed to declining property values over the last few years that I figured a bit of neighborhood improvement couldn't hurt the abutters' portfolios.
I really hope that I can post some Dark Secret-related progress in the not-too-diastant future, but I still have a HUGE list ahead of me to accomplish before the snow flies next winter.
Think happy thoughts for us. It's going to be a tough pull but we know it will be worth it in the long run.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-39013264975920652512011-04-10T15:30:00.000-04:002011-04-10T16:07:11.185-04:00Getting back in the swing of it<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTJKaJcFpmrKmp8__8WyO_ADp3GM7eNtqJNcn6qSIAHmkdSnUSzt8i2C9vMn7UmuoIrQyMTPxwC86KXi3Yw7ppfNoRux61bnh9fWNSBVj2BAmTsMVx59W5ZldlihEkQNa7QF8LdpvUco/s1600/Harvey+Mills+portrait+001-1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTJKaJcFpmrKmp8__8WyO_ADp3GM7eNtqJNcn6qSIAHmkdSnUSzt8i2C9vMn7UmuoIrQyMTPxwC86KXi3Yw7ppfNoRux61bnh9fWNSBVj2BAmTsMVx59W5ZldlihEkQNa7QF8LdpvUco/s320/Harvey+Mills+portrait+001-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594047218584962834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3KjO-810lJRB5FYQUf9L9ojD33EAbmpvGQVkVr-o8hO2roLQzXS344LH7IqOpR-BvYAxWP_hyphenhyphenZRmE6qHjqY0bWhE8L7pAJ1E9TEXdFadaA4N2dtzVNHRItPcvskqZHsSM5fIgBPADbQ/s1600/mast+in+floor.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3KjO-810lJRB5FYQUf9L9ojD33EAbmpvGQVkVr-o8hO2roLQzXS344LH7IqOpR-BvYAxWP_hyphenhyphenZRmE6qHjqY0bWhE8L7pAJ1E9TEXdFadaA4N2dtzVNHRItPcvskqZHsSM5fIgBPADbQ/s320/mast+in+floor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594047213160969058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIh1T-FNceEir7C9YJ9HsXJS8Fbs-vp7BiLkC8yT-KEZ2E1fINMNukvl2xJVQgfh_z5Q9Kx4QHZEAkg-pBJGdRvQMlatAhckJAAW2KrGZo4xBc1TAvUoR7rcZGws0ZP6Hi7Wi8p03kk0k/s1600/mast+in%252C+high.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIh1T-FNceEir7C9YJ9HsXJS8Fbs-vp7BiLkC8yT-KEZ2E1fINMNukvl2xJVQgfh_z5Q9Kx4QHZEAkg-pBJGdRvQMlatAhckJAAW2KrGZo4xBc1TAvUoR7rcZGws0ZP6Hi7Wi8p03kk0k/s320/mast+in%252C+high.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594047210521350242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPleye58SoXqsyihVQOSw4jFqWkThKvucr_x3ceW0YPwLOJfOFX2HY_ZwIYp8K-MjqdgAYe17hI71Yop8Kh-CVVjs6F2x9o3yQDvL1jym1BPzTZ318w1RtxFIqU3ZoIkRGBUc8MayDcM/s1600/partner+step.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPleye58SoXqsyihVQOSw4jFqWkThKvucr_x3ceW0YPwLOJfOFX2HY_ZwIYp8K-MjqdgAYe17hI71Yop8Kh-CVVjs6F2x9o3yQDvL1jym1BPzTZ318w1RtxFIqU3ZoIkRGBUc8MayDcM/s320/partner+step.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594047207193104354" /></a><br />It's been pretty busy. Aside from the usual goings on at the boatyard with the covers coming off of customers' boats and the long-awaited closing on the Thomaston house (The portrait to the right is Captain Harvey Mills, who had the house built ca. 1860. Watch for a separate blog site for the house restoration project coming soon), I have also pulled Dark Secret out of hibernation. She weathered the winter with no issues so I am moving forward with the remainder of the list.<br /><br />Today I cut the mast thwart, morticed the step, and test fitted the mast. The rake is specified at 5" in 10', or 1:24. The height of the mast thwart at the centerline is 17 7/8" from the top of the step, so 1/24th of that is just a tick under 3/4". Once I cut the thwart for the mast (I scaled the location of the cut from the plans), I measured the distance from there to the station and added 3/4" to establish the cut for the mortice. There are a million ways to lay this out, but I find simpler is better.<br /><br />I think she looks great with the mast just sitting there. I left the mast square from the step to just above the partner. It goes to round where the gooseneck mounts. I have not decided whether to wrap the leather around the mast or the partner. I'm looking for advice on that one.<br /><br />Speaking of goosenecks, I have spec'ed the remainder of the hardware for the boat. The gooseneck will be coming from Ballantine's Boat Shop in Cataumet, MA. They make a beautiful fitting for use on the 12 1/2 that they build. The rudder hardware will be coming from Duck Trap Woodworking, Duck Trap, ME (more on these fittings in a later posting), and the blocks will be from Rieneck's, Hull, MA. The hardware from this outfit is absolutely jewel-like. Unbelievable fit, finish, and overall quality. The down side is that none of these fittings will come on the cheap. Such is life. A former co-worker once told me, "Anything worth doing is worth over-doing."<br /><br />Interior finishes are the next items to tackle, as well as finishing the remainder of the spars and rigging. I am going to lower the height of the floorboards. If you look at the drawing of section 7 that I posted earlier, you will see that the sole is shown above the throat of the frame by about 1 1/4". I used this height as a starting point to lay out the panels, but as I mentioned previously, the rowing ergonomics don't really work that well for me. Lowering the sole will drop my knees out of the way for a much more efficient and comfortable stroke. When that is done, I will take her out again and determine whether I need to also raise the oarlocks off the rail.<br /><br />Dark Secret will remain on Cape Ann until she is done. This gives me something to work on after hours during the week. Friday night to Sunday afternoon will be spent at the Thomaston property getting it ready for occupancy. Once I get the barn floor shored up properly, she'll go up there so I can sneak out for a quickie when time and weather permit. <br /><br />Stay tuned. I'll be back at this much more regularly now that spring has sprung.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-9518261973101653132011-02-06T12:43:00.000-05:002011-02-06T13:15:39.944-05:00As if I need more to worry about...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w3vC1iJnxWgiEiZPaQzxPeS-qNXsG0GyD4H0HLXLR8oxVPcfXVJ4gWgRoUk3k_QJjnNBOPygs3kg4NpUvTdlz_qw5GdaGy-3VfhaN0_UMxsAudtjjMuElWRLcW8e5P6cQ8rA9YsZZog/s1600/Scan+1.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w3vC1iJnxWgiEiZPaQzxPeS-qNXsG0GyD4H0HLXLR8oxVPcfXVJ4gWgRoUk3k_QJjnNBOPygs3kg4NpUvTdlz_qw5GdaGy-3VfhaN0_UMxsAudtjjMuElWRLcW8e5P6cQ8rA9YsZZog/s320/Scan+1.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570641318885279714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqFpLj0QM62yAA5efJXCKD1vAxTKDn5YqwaGm4ifv2V5AUw8tZtmcyp05wuWQ_IaXH9phz9RTQowOJ2t0tuKrk0WfpTsWkD1jtedhY7uqKrTtiJG6ohY1_-WVsk4gBOnDMVMRQPCHkTI/s1600/Scan.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqFpLj0QM62yAA5efJXCKD1vAxTKDn5YqwaGm4ifv2V5AUw8tZtmcyp05wuWQ_IaXH9phz9RTQowOJ2t0tuKrk0WfpTsWkD1jtedhY7uqKrTtiJG6ohY1_-WVsk4gBOnDMVMRQPCHkTI/s320/Scan.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570641312534475378" /></a><br />Once again, this newest post has very little to do with any real progress on Dark Secret. We are due to close on the Thomaston house early next week. We've been hustling to pull together a bunch of loose ends related to that undertaking, and I continue to do a couple of small side projects to bring in a little bit of extra funding. This will be my last chance to do that for quite a while. Between shoveling snow, putting food on the table, and getting all of the other things handled that need attention, there just aren't enough hours in the day. <br /><br />Dark Secret's rig is progressing. I'm nearly done with rounding the mast and getting out the other two spars. I have finalized a design for the rudder hardware, and have sourced oarlocks that are more appropriately sized for the task at hand. They'll get ordered when I have a couple of nickels to rub together.<br /><br />In order to keep from going insane, I have been thinking about the next boat to build. I have it down to a very short list of two possibilities. One of the candidates is Pete Culler's "Gracie," a 15'6" work boat designed for the Concordia Company, and the other is shown in this posting. It's William Garden's design # 683. It appears in his "Yacht Designs II" as "24' 6" Canoe Ketch." I ordered plans from Mystic Seaport, and the more I study them, the more I love this boat. She's got a wholesome aesthetic, and a (relatively) high-performance bottom. Mr. Garden makes a few remarks about the rig in the commentary that accompanies the study plan in the book. The boat was designed for an area "with lots of wind." He suggests that a short bowsprit and longer mizzen boom, or the taller main as drawn can be fitted for other areas. I have a rig from a 19' Corinthian that will work wonderfully for the main, and a Widgeon, or similar sailing dinghy, will provide the mizzen. The fractional rig from the Corinthian will necessitate a bowsprit and a longer mizzen boom to put the center of effort where it is shown.<br /><br />I've been working on a model of her and the stern is a beautifully executed bit of design work. I'll post a photo when the planking is done. <br /><br />This time last year I was preparing to pull Dark Secret off the building jig. I thought I'd have been done with all of the remaining details by now. Oh,well...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-1012029311912589822010-12-19T07:34:00.000-05:002010-12-19T07:55:01.537-05:00Good news and bad news...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhfK3XRe0kOyCEvuBrp13jPOJiqDXEMhCcs4LnkOGcA6a3WX2H6nPxTOLCyRCSGkpVhUhf_DrZzesfncdxqcnGO4oUiYRhLlG5_KRZ3y-9AqX2Z8ifpbyFzJd5jvrVTewDHybjwW_GG4/s1600/IMGP1398.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhfK3XRe0kOyCEvuBrp13jPOJiqDXEMhCcs4LnkOGcA6a3WX2H6nPxTOLCyRCSGkpVhUhf_DrZzesfncdxqcnGO4oUiYRhLlG5_KRZ3y-9AqX2Z8ifpbyFzJd5jvrVTewDHybjwW_GG4/s320/IMGP1398.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552375604258462242" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNcQMkOT0GRV0ytdfFZLZpsFmnIj1mRZd2RKWUM8ptP8sMWL3bp1SWYbSLju2-FAYKy4DNaOImdHfPeZpdwHXxsyIABJiBq-ecBj_DX82lAxPE3il4cX4qaMSQTTFP7ZSoEBeZNz8Awo/s1600/IMGP1395.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNcQMkOT0GRV0ytdfFZLZpsFmnIj1mRZd2RKWUM8ptP8sMWL3bp1SWYbSLju2-FAYKy4DNaOImdHfPeZpdwHXxsyIABJiBq-ecBj_DX82lAxPE3il4cX4qaMSQTTFP7ZSoEBeZNz8Awo/s320/IMGP1395.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552375599593804786" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIz0EX6_mM-JpLeQ5P1lhxpXXjNjUgLHuVGnrlr2486hb-Td4j86dJvAvvSEOAq2E56oKVzI5lPC4au3FyndKdWnDD37Hx8H2JGKnuGx4Rxufuxca-ofnYDswRRQvrZYWHGpvAsUAeZA/s1600/IMGP1394.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIz0EX6_mM-JpLeQ5P1lhxpXXjNjUgLHuVGnrlr2486hb-Td4j86dJvAvvSEOAq2E56oKVzI5lPC4au3FyndKdWnDD37Hx8H2JGKnuGx4Rxufuxca-ofnYDswRRQvrZYWHGpvAsUAeZA/s320/IMGP1394.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552375596006089890" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGdvK-frtl14HUUJ2bmvujRg_hbYblOAi3JjsEson4uhCavREcPg6hNvbvEeyBFSwOx8rWX_-h7B1HuS963G_DTPO6jXvEWVCY_BnfZYuK4YrBw2RmEclO_JURhJsPX0WPajxAAgJasc/s1600/IMGP1397.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGdvK-frtl14HUUJ2bmvujRg_hbYblOAi3JjsEson4uhCavREcPg6hNvbvEeyBFSwOx8rWX_-h7B1HuS963G_DTPO6jXvEWVCY_BnfZYuK4YrBw2RmEclO_JURhJsPX0WPajxAAgJasc/s320/IMGP1397.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552375140145569074" /></a><br />Not much to post this time related to Dark Secret's progress.<br /><br />This just in from the Careful What You Wish For Department - it looks like we got the Thomaston, Maine house after all. We expended a great deal of resources back in the spring getting everything together to buy the property before foreclosure. We did our due diligence, inpections, title search, paperwork, financing, etc., etc., but were unable to stop the foreclosure process.<br /><br />At that point, it went into a big bucket of other properties that needed leg work. We were told that there were dozens of properties in line ahead of it and that it would not get any attention in the forseeable future. We offered to move forward with our purchase, but were told "There are procedures that need to be followed."<br /><br />With winter setting in, they apparently decided that they are not in the business of owning properties like this, so it was put up for auction. We secured the winning bid and are now anxiously awaiting a January closing date.<br /><br />The up side is that by waiting out the process we were able to get it for significantly less than the previous price; the down side is that we lost an entire summer that would have served to deal with most, if not all, of the exterior weather-tightness issues. This is not insurmountable, but it means that I'll be up on the roof periodically shovelling out one section between a second-story addition and an original dog house dormer. As you can see in one of the photos, snow, ice, and rain will pile up in there and wreak havoc. That entire section will be re-configured during renovation anyway, but we need to avoid damage to other areas that will be remaining intact.<br /><br />So there will be dedicated shop space in the barn for all of the tools, projects, parts, lumber, etc., but there is a LOOOOOOOOONG hill to climb before we can occupy the house. <br /><br />I figure I have about a month to finish Dark Secret's spars, rigging, rudder, hardware, and finishes before I get shut down. There is also stuff to get done on the house in Gloucester (Anyone interested in a Cape Ann two-family?). Strider is, unfortunately, on indefinite hold. No time for cruising, anyway.<br /><br />Wish us luck. Stay tuned for further developments.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-75220924864672407222010-11-20T13:25:00.001-05:002010-11-20T13:30:18.424-05:00Last run before the snow flies...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbn9WvXJVUgJkBvOt93ZrsLdF1bIFTyuQ8qYRipZP42PHrpwcETsPoURS9ZpZJEdmwAi84ttqLevzjNGHy5Fcc-a6UkWUr1vb2bS-J15OxW3K1bfZEZNTfrPdh95Mr-EoMXurchwoeGo/s1600/allan3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbn9WvXJVUgJkBvOt93ZrsLdF1bIFTyuQ8qYRipZP42PHrpwcETsPoURS9ZpZJEdmwAi84ttqLevzjNGHy5Fcc-a6UkWUr1vb2bS-J15OxW3K1bfZEZNTfrPdh95Mr-EoMXurchwoeGo/s320/allan3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541700882292999570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFGa0FyCLYTQxtbKN9olBYT461mPeseGfHhsNPI4LfvF5SYslFMtljinBr7Aa5mG_uyWyqrf1dueMgg-D2LgjHMbgz7HStJFpwwpKRYveDVdaz9vkhJS0FYpX-oRlgg3iQBb4rg6mklM/s1600/allan2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFGa0FyCLYTQxtbKN9olBYT461mPeseGfHhsNPI4LfvF5SYslFMtljinBr7Aa5mG_uyWyqrf1dueMgg-D2LgjHMbgz7HStJFpwwpKRYveDVdaz9vkhJS0FYpX-oRlgg3iQBb4rg6mklM/s320/allan2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541700845623144530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr71v8f-tVYt6rbVLRJy2VxOGYiL-hLijnDOip6O514yeI6oDgiE-4upO0edkg_6sQLD5BVwac2gSmdFri3ZcXMMhQflUvaF0Up3HsU5OjnLpmcX1NdKBQFUlhC7RIwRy-LJwiUZb22Ak/s1600/allan+1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr71v8f-tVYt6rbVLRJy2VxOGYiL-hLijnDOip6O514yeI6oDgiE-4upO0edkg_6sQLD5BVwac2gSmdFri3ZcXMMhQflUvaF0Up3HsU5OjnLpmcX1NdKBQFUlhC7RIwRy-LJwiUZb22Ak/s320/allan+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541700835864357042" /></a><br />Dark Secret resides on her trailer. I am preparing to continue with finish build-up, rig construction, and the other remaining items.<br /><br />Here are a few photos of her underway. <br /><br />Be sure to check out my new blog on Strider's re-power. <br /><br />I'll be back periodically during the winter for updates here.<br /><br />Thanks.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-47390229238016366182010-10-24T09:20:00.000-04:002010-10-24T10:09:06.863-04:00Much more betterer!!That was the ticket. The "new" oars work like a charm. My fingers are numb from stitching the leathers on, but this morning the wind died down so I took her down the channel to the mouth of the harbor. She rows like a dream!! <br /><br />I need to tweak a few things:<br /><br />1.) The oars need buttons - Turk's Heads, or leather, I haven't decided. I also need to remove a bit of material from the inside of the oarlock horns. The diameter of the oars with the leathers is a bit snug in there. <br /><br />2.) I need blocks to elevate the oarlocks about 1" - 1 1/4". My return stroke is a bit wonky, and a small change will go a long way. I have some beautiful locust scrap for these.<br /><br />3.) Depending on how she feels after making and installing the aforementioned blocks, I may make a new thwart to move myself forward an inch or two (see below).<br /> <br />4.) Some kind of rack for an adjustable foot rest is in order. Frames in a traditional faering are spaced a bit closer together (35-ish inches vs. Valgerda's slightly larger dimension - I have not measured it recently, but recall it at about 38") so that a rower can brace his feet aginst them. As things are now, in order to brace my feet against the frame, my torso interferes with the end of my pull. A foot rest may also eliminate the need for for moving the thwart forward.<br /><br />As you can imagine, with the exception of the first item, all of the above changes affect each other. Trouyble-shooting 101 says that one should change one item in a system at a time and check results. This holds especially true here. <br /><br />I don't want to change the geometry too much to suit my rowing technique as I fear I may lock myself into some bad habits. I have never rowed any real distance before. Obviously I have rowed out to a mooring numerous times, but these distances were a matter of a few hundred yards or less. I have never rowed any "quality" craft other than a brief excursion on a sliding seat shell, in which I was a danger to myself and others, and a few mornings on my father-in-law's Gloucester Light Dory. As with anything worth doing, I will need lots of practice before I can begin to do it "right."<br /><br />If anyone in the Cape Ann area wants to come down and offer some coaching, I'll be happy to get the input. <br /><br />I'll keep her in the water for another week or two, and she'll get hauled for the winter. <br /><br />I'd like to continue with building the rig, rudder, hardware, and other remaining items, but I'll need to take a hiatus from the Dark Secret project to get some other stuff done over the winter.<br /><br />The Thistle needs to have her centerboard trunk out and back in, as well as a significant amount of finish work, Strider's re-power and topsides projects need to get wrapped up (there are many more winters' worth of work to do on her before she is done, but I need to get her back in the water next year), and, most importantly, I have to get a short list of projects done at the house so that my wife doesn't kill me. She has been extremely patient through this project and I don't want to blow it with her by de-prioritizing real priorities.<br /><br />My hope is that by carefully managing my time I'll be able to get all of it done. I'd like to do the Small Reach Regatta next year with Dark Secret, but there are never enough hours in the day. Something has to give. If I need to back-burnerize anything on the list, it will be the Thistle.<br /><br />I am hoping to conscript someone to get a few shots of Dark Secret underway. We'll see how that works out...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-14410067479661926042010-10-18T14:37:00.000-04:002010-10-18T14:59:17.492-04:00Modification of the situation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwBPRb72N-0zsFnI2ElHxuZ7CK3X4t3WDPhQgb1qhyphenhyphenlu8UoWna1JNzcg11nEyNKiIR4YWZXU2XruZZzprXd8LYY-_ykuMenB1nkRkJTIEFrm2u_rxi7OBqwi-I3nM-KjjSGce5TPAym8/s1600/oars+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwBPRb72N-0zsFnI2ElHxuZ7CK3X4t3WDPhQgb1qhyphenhyphenlu8UoWna1JNzcg11nEyNKiIR4YWZXU2XruZZzprXd8LYY-_ykuMenB1nkRkJTIEFrm2u_rxi7OBqwi-I3nM-KjjSGce5TPAym8/s320/oars+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529461473427597634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYGF0RiPACwTRGEs_ZymfSQ5mJA-a-xfKiqrqZXseqtGPdca6_youPQz5O_IUzCz-fzVZu_LkPytEq4UQnmWngoNzF0LBrrOcIrBzuSMkmV__7DMnSY5EecZwde45WFjZbbu-dI1fRQA/s1600/oars+1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYGF0RiPACwTRGEs_ZymfSQ5mJA-a-xfKiqrqZXseqtGPdca6_youPQz5O_IUzCz-fzVZu_LkPytEq4UQnmWngoNzF0LBrrOcIrBzuSMkmV__7DMnSY5EecZwde45WFjZbbu-dI1fRQA/s320/oars+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529461461177254722" /></a><br />After having rowed Dark Secret with oars that were way too short, I decided to rectify the situation. At one point I was told, "I've got a long pair of oars in the garage that you're welcome to use." People have become so accustomed to the crappy short oars that are sold these days that a 7 1/2' pair seems long. <br /><br />I made a piar of oars about ten years ago. The were for a tender that I used for getting out to a boat I used to own. The oars were about 6 1/2' long, crudely spooned and way too clunky. They were so miserable in hand that the only use they ever really got was as curtain rods in the house I rented in East Gloucester. <br /><br />They are made of local spruce, obtained as a "staging plank" at my local lumber yard. I had a chunk of native spruce left over from getting out the spar blanks for Dark secret, so I figured that I'd make the best of things and cobble something together.<br /><br />I lopped off the handles and cut a nice long scarph (16:1) on the bandsaw. I cut matching scarphs in the new loom blanks, dry fit things together a few time to get the run just so, and glued them together. I let them sit overnight and began shaping them the next morning. They came out pretty decent for the comparatively little bit of time I have in them. <br /><br />I took lots of material out of the looms, particularly near the blades, and I lightened up the blades as much as I felt I could. My goal was to get the balance point as far inboard as I could. I may have to let in a small chunk of lead to get it where I want it. <br /><br />The stock I had on hand limited my overall length to 9' 8". I'd like to have been able to go longer, but Manchester harbor is pretty tight. I'm concerned about getting through the mooring field with my 19' 4" beam (9'8" x2), let alone the 22' or so that I had as a target. <br /><br />I'm building up finish on them during the next few evenings, and getting some more varnish on the boat, too. I'm going to re-launch at the tail end of the week and then call it a season.<br /><br />More photos soon, as well as feedback on rowing with better oars.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-80172108235607465282010-10-11T19:15:00.000-04:002010-10-11T19:36:18.512-04:00More launch day photos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr57p9Sl26qZ6JCYPaCAl36Sh3n3-ZN1-36rLjLfrthykCAZSA-Jk3yXS60DdlFbMbXfyOdKlMlUWwl23Wrj_mYTmW3Gg9U5ybAV9qBDeoiPjU8w-7PNKFIisxTmF7e0hyphenhyphen73TrOZd1cuU/s1600/DSCF0320.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr57p9Sl26qZ6JCYPaCAl36Sh3n3-ZN1-36rLjLfrthykCAZSA-Jk3yXS60DdlFbMbXfyOdKlMlUWwl23Wrj_mYTmW3Gg9U5ybAV9qBDeoiPjU8w-7PNKFIisxTmF7e0hyphenhyphen73TrOZd1cuU/s320/DSCF0320.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526936318302683234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhrYtss-fGr2LQS-iqzpxx60ANz0qyrnX1DrSkCqKJNtPaq8WBHgZY0GwtdF0qdE9jTMRvfR5Hk_0H_nwsJlKIJP0Nlp9Zvft6GPqUQwcrQrlQFGKnqyyZQfPlAWXr7cZT515RMeSHas/s1600/DSCF0319.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhrYtss-fGr2LQS-iqzpxx60ANz0qyrnX1DrSkCqKJNtPaq8WBHgZY0GwtdF0qdE9jTMRvfR5Hk_0H_nwsJlKIJP0Nlp9Zvft6GPqUQwcrQrlQFGKnqyyZQfPlAWXr7cZT515RMeSHas/s320/DSCF0319.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526936315812451650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6Un8fV9S2id_KYNHVIUB9pjWg8IEGYsli2jAn2k7ErAYxbvGvkSNXKS7OrJtGS46oskLUKRADaBIqz_pf513RYHajcScc4YjPT1tBAfogOO12P1osp1qnA3K-6ThrVkt1ULnoGUdonY/s1600/DSCF0313.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6Un8fV9S2id_KYNHVIUB9pjWg8IEGYsli2jAn2k7ErAYxbvGvkSNXKS7OrJtGS46oskLUKRADaBIqz_pf513RYHajcScc4YjPT1tBAfogOO12P1osp1qnA3K-6ThrVkt1ULnoGUdonY/s320/DSCF0313.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526936312076864082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8R3DRA2sA8kjsEEbuHL5cdKV15rId5XD8QaEmqlyJKZniP0SSOFtpPwwltUQLFWy8yjeoarY9UJI3DOeaTLf2JkovxDbb2qQVDeDcUtzDTBMZW6Y93_IvrDmK9sywZo5FfX8BPfZht4/s1600/DSCF0310.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8R3DRA2sA8kjsEEbuHL5cdKV15rId5XD8QaEmqlyJKZniP0SSOFtpPwwltUQLFWy8yjeoarY9UJI3DOeaTLf2JkovxDbb2qQVDeDcUtzDTBMZW6Y93_IvrDmK9sywZo5FfX8BPfZht4/s320/DSCF0310.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526936306010742546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqUTq5s8kKChyphenhyphenTfO4AO9hs2vbxUkz9EmiEc-_SpIgoS89R2R2ydMocWrqniBqW0XcjEZlzTN9xybwvign9-ZieY8wPFnogQgQHKpzYun3EiFmwuohs6civKoCyTpagV60zwxnvSkbccM/s1600/DSCF0307.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqUTq5s8kKChyphenhyphenTfO4AO9hs2vbxUkz9EmiEc-_SpIgoS89R2R2ydMocWrqniBqW0XcjEZlzTN9xybwvign9-ZieY8wPFnogQgQHKpzYun3EiFmwuohs6civKoCyTpagV60zwxnvSkbccM/s320/DSCF0307.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526936300115827906" /></a><br />Here are a few more photos from this afternoon. Enjoy.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-23188871727042224112010-10-11T15:28:00.000-04:002010-10-11T16:39:40.208-04:00Made it by the skin of my teeth.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXR3bQU32K1ox7gCoHAs2-_lhwoDHAsFoq2yBCYdws2tyjlAtw2SSBzpkMV4_pAVe2xpcHKJCRzjwx-MqLtsgQ82MZF7dyMSjsbPLs3k7giWiKAegUe16u28GqKJdMrkxYGZFLndmPGg/s1600/IMG_20101011_135810.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXR3bQU32K1ox7gCoHAs2-_lhwoDHAsFoq2yBCYdws2tyjlAtw2SSBzpkMV4_pAVe2xpcHKJCRzjwx-MqLtsgQ82MZF7dyMSjsbPLs3k7giWiKAegUe16u28GqKJdMrkxYGZFLndmPGg/s320/IMG_20101011_135810.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526889754124409042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tsPE4nEKWEZc9giC-ZjgcYfuTn_fBFaj3M4LEd8Xqz6a90vYw0pEp4SsPsdYQnohl_619adF0Tht93ziR4HwDI1FoX7yCaHBagCsxMNrEbQxuMkSXXz39WnKQ-prngsFaOaDIwI8AIY/s1600/IMG_20101011_135909.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tsPE4nEKWEZc9giC-ZjgcYfuTn_fBFaj3M4LEd8Xqz6a90vYw0pEp4SsPsdYQnohl_619adF0Tht93ziR4HwDI1FoX7yCaHBagCsxMNrEbQxuMkSXXz39WnKQ-prngsFaOaDIwI8AIY/s320/IMG_20101011_135909.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526889749178329906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdk3snRqEKIUseniro3r6JZCBmh2WHDg4u79piP4oIvHhGquIunqlcerx_uM7oOvQX6M-7sRLxiducV7nwJ3sK9SdFDvvrIGtSr-jRocSpfjPfjl47j2sIHTOljDo6H9pD9kV_SmH9HM/s1600/IMG_20101011_140011.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdk3snRqEKIUseniro3r6JZCBmh2WHDg4u79piP4oIvHhGquIunqlcerx_uM7oOvQX6M-7sRLxiducV7nwJ3sK9SdFDvvrIGtSr-jRocSpfjPfjl47j2sIHTOljDo6H9pD9kV_SmH9HM/s320/IMG_20101011_140011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526889743512763170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1RX0NZI3f3O1UzvvuftsbFQDizaCiHFAyCVJRXv9fyDO-AzAfRFF5v-C0Lbt2g9PKFNSEFZ9kt8HdpnpsxWn6DmmDDj4aQIRL2myYBLBDsjAXr4WINw0bjitzLhZ6YyuTjHjAbKL0EA/s1600/IMG_20101011_140025.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1RX0NZI3f3O1UzvvuftsbFQDizaCiHFAyCVJRXv9fyDO-AzAfRFF5v-C0Lbt2g9PKFNSEFZ9kt8HdpnpsxWn6DmmDDj4aQIRL2myYBLBDsjAXr4WINw0bjitzLhZ6YyuTjHjAbKL0EA/s320/IMG_20101011_140025.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526889736850801602" /></a><br />I pulled it off. A few marathon days, a couple of pounds of coffee (more than a few adult beverages) and quite a bit of slogging through some pretty tedious, but necessary, tasks and I got Dark Secret in the water. I got her in on this afternoon's tide. <br /><br />It would have been sooner, but I had an incident with the varnish on the sheerplank. I masked the rail for stain and sealer. When I pulled the tape I lost a bit of varnish. DO NOT USE FINELINE TAPE ON VARNISH. I misunderstood the instructions from Kathy, the varnish queen at Manchester Marine. I was only supposed to use the fineline tape along the edge where the transition from stain to natural occurs. Chalk that one up to experience. Fortunately, the stain was not disrupted, so I was able to repair the edge of the varnish and apply a few build-up coats. I'll block the whole thing down flat when she gets final finishes.<br /><br />But that's enough negativity. What a great day!!! I got up early and handled the last batch of pre-launch punch list items. I gave the ballast/keel joint a final once-over to fair everything in, hit a coat of red lead on any bare spots, and then hit them with bottom paint. I assembled the floor boards (I LOVE the way the stain turned out on them) and seats. I rigged up a quick sling so that I could launch with the fork truck, and then I went home for breakfast and to wait for the tide. When I got back to the yard I made a quick set of turn buttons to be sure that the thwart didn't kick out from under me, tied off the oar lock horns, and in she went.<br /><br />I purposely kept the event low-key. I have been told that it's bad Ju-Ju to do do any kind of a launch "ceremony" more than once. I don't want to deprive Dark Secret's ultimate owner of the privilege of making a production of the launch, should he so choose, so I am referring to today as a sea-trial. One of my co-workers was on site so he operated the fork truck while another co-worker looked on. I would love to have had my wife there, but today is not a holiday for her.<br /><br />I gathered up some gear (bilge pump, life jacket, anchor, VHF), double-checked to be sure that the water was staying on the outside, and took her for a row. Unfortunately, the longest oars I could muster up are only about 8 1/2 feet. That being said, Dark Secret rows absolutely beautifully. It's pretty blustery here today, and my rowing technique leaves much to be desired, but she goes right where you point her and tracks straight as an arrow. Even beam to the wind (as long as she is moving) she goes where you want. I was going to head for the outer harbor but it was getting a bit fresh for me. I stayed inside and picked up Strider's mooring for a break and a sip of rum for me and Neptune. Incidentally, 2010 is the first time since 1971 that Strider did not sit on her mooring. I got to use it for about 20 minutes this season. The row back up the harbor was dead upwind. I was concerned from the get-go about the windage in the bow. That beautiful sheer line has to come at some price, right? I was amazed at how she stayed pointed where I directed her. <br /><br />I look forward to obtaining, or making, a right and proper set of oars for her. I was initially thinking 9' would be plenty but I'm not sure now. If anyone in the Cape Ann area has some long oars that I can try, I'd love the opportunity to test drive them and make an educated decision. <br /><br />She'll stay in the water for the remainder of the week. That will give me a chance to get some photos of her underway, and to stage a nice shot in the marsh for the "Launchings" page in WoodenBoat. I'll be heading to work early every morning to get in a row while it's calm. I think this week is probably the last of the decent weather. When she comes out I'll handle top coats on all the interior surfaces, obtain and install the forward set of oarlocks, and bore the bench and step for the mast.<br /><br />I am heading back to the yard to get some more pix now that the sun is lower in the sky.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-89287520151138741162010-09-30T17:54:00.000-04:002010-09-30T17:58:47.463-04:00Sherman, set the way-back machine.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjejg3SKaIRnj52iAuXmHpVBVlddMXBqsy57n0yBAq6YkZ6G520zsxvUaW5kv3P2Dhyg6T5UDIgwNWLQgRjmRvNe_Off2sPLkSl1npI4QfhyRXohXN62fisV9nIjL32jO3iFpFle4cDSE/s1600/keel2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjejg3SKaIRnj52iAuXmHpVBVlddMXBqsy57n0yBAq6YkZ6G520zsxvUaW5kv3P2Dhyg6T5UDIgwNWLQgRjmRvNe_Off2sPLkSl1npI4QfhyRXohXN62fisV9nIjL32jO3iFpFle4cDSE/s320/keel2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522829339860640866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYf_ywaltpeAfXkksoK80oGS_HqO5sT2Y3-CHKi4EjZXSs0_9oj7R902Rj5OeQQ85wgVoD3l6-7zY9w7zJIvs3KLGN3MyKRYAm0pQIfAHd64F-nOg60L3DWbDTuB0HEeWwCQLUm0qtgc/s1600/keel1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYf_ywaltpeAfXkksoK80oGS_HqO5sT2Y3-CHKi4EjZXSs0_9oj7R902Rj5OeQQ85wgVoD3l6-7zY9w7zJIvs3KLGN3MyKRYAm0pQIfAHd64F-nOg60L3DWbDTuB0HEeWwCQLUm0qtgc/s320/keel1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522829330014571746" /></a><br />These photos are from back in the spring. I was still optimistic about getting her in for some summer usage, but 'twas not to be...<br /><br />I post them here to show a clearer picture of the final keel configuration.<br /><br />Back soon with more.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-90625005148723957702010-09-30T16:26:00.000-04:002010-09-30T18:09:38.446-04:00A major milestone...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R3r1_GTsC_OaSKyU0YywFZkHuMMGoQPu-so9LLL4hdt-gNlLZIS0rpcaCn8nJpUG1lB0-gPIXNz2fbDBrwcN8NeZvnLR5p13W-xGl0CQfLgSon2PqpIs_TGsA9pYHhAHuMKr_94Q-4Q/s1600/fiddlehead.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R3r1_GTsC_OaSKyU0YywFZkHuMMGoQPu-so9LLL4hdt-gNlLZIS0rpcaCn8nJpUG1lB0-gPIXNz2fbDBrwcN8NeZvnLR5p13W-xGl0CQfLgSon2PqpIs_TGsA9pYHhAHuMKr_94Q-4Q/s320/fiddlehead.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522826863542843298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8PB2eGiZ0FJyqghJ9C7IyrvwQOzPoqZDd-X5JpZff478inR3aMgWf0rulL-M5AqO6iu5_Uvms8OHi8qiAY76erlDCLQjjidar_CKeY65NPzwBSKZUFLH0HWbVKh9ZebD9a-aC9SOCrI/s1600/primed2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8PB2eGiZ0FJyqghJ9C7IyrvwQOzPoqZDd-X5JpZff478inR3aMgWf0rulL-M5AqO6iu5_Uvms8OHi8qiAY76erlDCLQjjidar_CKeY65NPzwBSKZUFLH0HWbVKh9ZebD9a-aC9SOCrI/s320/primed2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522826857021007954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0d54xxmLDhcOh49O28TgmeIYwi9prqL-iLh84qQuEIMT-HnLr_FTZnl-ceGNG0ETBvEuudM-2IEIgiziooU7V7wcIjNY1xv91ov9MqdTD6AZlByEEwl9Le0zd5gIq3S2B20m9tHBBr_w/s1600/primed1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0d54xxmLDhcOh49O28TgmeIYwi9prqL-iLh84qQuEIMT-HnLr_FTZnl-ceGNG0ETBvEuudM-2IEIgiziooU7V7wcIjNY1xv91ov9MqdTD6AZlByEEwl9Le0zd5gIq3S2B20m9tHBBr_w/s320/primed1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522826849238653522" /></a><br />Fall in New England. It is an unbelievably beautiful time here, filled with things that we expect every year - true to form despite what they have managed to accomplish in recent seasons, the Red Sox have been eliminated from post-season play (anybody, ANYBODY, knock the Yankees out), the air gets crisp, and the customers' boats start to come out of the water for their winter spa treatments.<br /><br />I have been ridiculously busy. A few weeks ago I filmed an episode of <span style="font-style:italic;">Smart Boating</span> with Paul Jermain. It is a locally-produced show that airs on community access cable channels in the Cape Ann area, as well as a few other places. We had a blast filming it and it aired this past Tuesday. His website is www.smartboatignus.com and there are a twenty-some-odd episodes available for viewing there. Our episode was #85, so it isn't up yet. I am going to see what I can do about posting the video.<br /><br />As you can see from the photos, I have primed the interior of Dark Secret. That means, for all intents and purposes, the hull carpentry is done!!! HUZZAH!!! There is still a looooong punch list of items to handle, but I no longer need the layout lines and witness marks that have been staring me in the face since she came off the set-up.<br /><br />The three aft sections of sole are done, complete. I got a few questions about the hole I left in the 'midship sole panel. This was installed so that one can remove a small lift-out to pump the bilge without having to remove any camping/picnic gear stowed on the sole panel. I wrapped up the lift-out today. I still have to bung the two panels either side of the mast step (these are the only panels that will be fastened in place), bevel the forward-most section, and I have to put in the fillers atop the frames between the panels. Once that is done I need to fab and install a hold-down system for the panels. I'm still scratching my head on that one.<br /><br />Carving the stemhead was a welcome diversion from a hectic schedule. It pales in comparison to Brandon's incredible carving work on his Valgerda, Ravn, http://valgerda.blogspot.com/2010/04/pain-damn-thing.html , but I'm sure I got no less joy doing mine than he did his. I need to shape the aft stemhead (likely a simple ogee) and then I can stain, seal, and varnish the remainder of the exterior brightwork. <br /><br />All of this brings me to the following point: Come hell or high water - I WILL BE ROWING DARK SECRET COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND!!! There is still plenty to do before she can be called complete, but the snow will be flying here before we know it. I have to put her in and test her under oars. <br /> <br />I also got a request for a half-model from a boatyard customer. He has had me make a few for him in the past. This one is a J-42, much simpler than the 6-meter I recently did for him. That one was a bear to get just so... I'll dig up some photos of those projects.<br /><br />Next post goes backwards to show a few shots of the final keel configuration before ballast installation. I don't want to dwell on this, but I got a request for more shots of the final profile.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-31301009096341721612010-08-28T17:05:00.000-04:002010-08-29T21:11:46.064-04:00It's been a grueling summer...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZK50vhGyxDp1PJr-o-ReINPt1wATYU9V6TDkeSDyLTmG3hfEIYL4hHqbL7iqtqp1YsYItAIFesEv2N1UZWhCJBBUvGKjFKfR7YvFEbRYQscbaLHpmk8difqhiw5ktRQJ2YjTv7xaWw8/s1600/stability+scan.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZK50vhGyxDp1PJr-o-ReINPt1wATYU9V6TDkeSDyLTmG3hfEIYL4hHqbL7iqtqp1YsYItAIFesEv2N1UZWhCJBBUvGKjFKfR7YvFEbRYQscbaLHpmk8difqhiw5ktRQJ2YjTv7xaWw8/s320/stability+scan.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511004156322314178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsI4sue5LnFTX3eI0r76GXti98QTy3MXyg9Y_IC0tDQvz9-vEi1qV6-jGG7F4_mPZGZ57u11MY0l-2fx9H_yirB0SNWOxb3MMvj6AL-u3ekLBy1mfgGcblG7VzPHFrsiluE3aJoI7ytQ/s1600/interior+bow.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsI4sue5LnFTX3eI0r76GXti98QTy3MXyg9Y_IC0tDQvz9-vEi1qV6-jGG7F4_mPZGZ57u11MY0l-2fx9H_yirB0SNWOxb3MMvj6AL-u3ekLBy1mfgGcblG7VzPHFrsiluE3aJoI7ytQ/s320/interior+bow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511002252803503282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKV05s3ZytSovnXOL3j6CFDmb8tlYRUWhgZTh4VQyrUwSfBnWipMAQofQ7UuQiJZiW7k4QJZJHPQaZrrTR-tjW_5J7r0ZGzVMii7ScECOEw1FTfgWS2k51uxbIK7kcoFR5AMCTYFFrC8k/s1600/rail+detail.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKV05s3ZytSovnXOL3j6CFDmb8tlYRUWhgZTh4VQyrUwSfBnWipMAQofQ7UuQiJZiW7k4QJZJHPQaZrrTR-tjW_5J7r0ZGzVMii7ScECOEw1FTfgWS2k51uxbIK7kcoFR5AMCTYFFrC8k/s320/rail+detail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511000095637262882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHy6eD1PmRbUqaXl0TPxzEOlgR75X-YpZfJPZT7Kf1cyUB33d_XKhWtYKo9819Vgk9v3CmMBgvfHHVM9fdFX8zWO8_MvGFVuMcUWtXmlEqhZa5zLnVhIRk8OjDvIqMZ02KXGlLsuOk-o/s1600/interior+wide+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHy6eD1PmRbUqaXl0TPxzEOlgR75X-YpZfJPZT7Kf1cyUB33d_XKhWtYKo9819Vgk9v3CmMBgvfHHVM9fdFX8zWO8_MvGFVuMcUWtXmlEqhZa5zLnVhIRk8OjDvIqMZ02KXGlLsuOk-o/s320/interior+wide+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511000091890176450" /></a><br />Sorry I have been away for so long. Last post was just before Memorial Day and here it is a week before Labor day. Where does the time go?<br /><br />Lots of project work at the boatyard: a stern rebuild on a 33'Bertram, re-glaze the entire wheelhouse (9 large windows)on a Lyman-Morse 53, various and sundry break/fix projects, and regular day-to-day boatyard operations have kept me pretty busy. There is also the work that has been going on on Strider. A complete topsides strip was necessitated by the fact that one could wrap sandwiches in the sheets of paint that were peeling off. It was a bear of a project, but it is behind me now. She sits in the shed, drying out.<br /><br />Before I get going on the Dark Secret stuff, I need to apologize for the misuse of the term "metacentric height" in a previous post. This will be clarified (I hope) below. <br /><br />My sincere hope is that this post will forever quash the debate about the keel on Valgerda. I have primarily been using two sources for the data on stability calculations: Chapelle's <span style="font-style:italic;">Yacht Designing and Planning,</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Skene's Elements of Yacht Design.</span> Both books talk about stability as applied to larger vessels (closed systems in which items that will affect a hull's stability remain in fixed positions) as opposed to small open boats (open systems in which all moveable items will have some effect on stability). Chappelle talks about stability in a very conversational, "touchy-feely" kind of way. Skene's takes a much more direct and quantifiable approach. It is entirely math dependent.<br /><br />The short version of the conclusion at which I have arrived is as follows:<br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight:bold;">The height of the keel has a very small effect on the lead casting's contribution to stability. In fact, the difference is negligible.</span> The LCG (longitudinal center of gravity)of the casting, as designed, is approximately 14 1/2" below the DWL at a point about 1/3 of the way between stations 5 and 6. This point is marked on the lines plan by the termination of the arrow drawn from the noted casting dimensions into the casting in the profile view. The traditional keel I have fitted to Dark Secret puts the LCG at 11 3/4" below the DWL. <br /><br />Here is where the math/geometry gets funky. Pay attention. The 'midship section when the boat is at maximum heel has to have the same immersed area as the section when the boat is at rest. More accurately, the volume of the boat does not change as it heels, so for all intents and purposes the area of any given immersed section will remain constant through changing heel angles. When this heeled section is calculated, you will see that the heeled waterline runs from a point just below the, let's say starboard, rub rail (it better be below the rail; there's no deck) to a point just outboard of the rabbet on the port side. By finding the center of area of the heeled section and squaring up from it until it crosses the at rest centerline, we determine the metacentric height, for whatever that's worth.<br /><br />Now for the martini shot: by plotting the distance between the heeled centerline and the a line squared up to the heeled waterline from the keel's center of gravity, we are able to do a simple force x distance calculation to see what the lead does for stability. By comparing the shallow keel to the deep one, you will find that the difference is something on the order of 24 ft./lbs. As I said previously, sliding my 200 lb. ass 1.25" to windward will more than make up for any "lost" stability.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight:bold;">While we have quantified the the keel's contribution to stability, its primary reason for being is to bring the boat down to its lines.</span> The traditional faerings had heavier scantlings, and were expected to earn their keep by hauling stuff from here to there. In the absence of both of these factors, the lead is required.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight:bold;">The very low aspect ratio of the keel as drawn is not likely to contribute in any significant way to windward performance.</span> Period. Make of this what you will, but for me there just weren't enough pros to outweigh the cons when making the decision as to whether to retain the keel profile as designed. Mr. Atkin himself says that windward performance, even with his "improved" keel, will be limited.<br /><br />By the time I was done at the drafting table the drawings I had were an absolute mess. I have posted a much simplified (and approximated) version of the above math exercise. There is a much clearer explanation of factors influencing stability located here: http://www.codecogs.com/reference/engineering/fluid_mechanics/ships/stability_and_metacentric_height.php <br /><br />As far as the photos are concerned, all of the parts inboard of the rub rails are dry fitted. Inwales, mast bench, mast step and floor timber still need to be permanently installed. I laminated the mast bench to a slight curve. This is purely for looks. With the strong curves elsewhere throughout the boat, I was worried that a straight mast bench would appear to have a sag.<br /><br />The mast is glued up, tapered, and eight-sided. The blanks for the remaining spars are milled. <br /><br />I have been working on the short list of what boat to build next. I'll cover that next time.<br /><br />And, finally, Brandon Ford has been building a Valgerda of his own out in Oregon. He recently launched her. Check out his blog here: http://valgerda.blogspot.com/<br /><br />Congratulations, Brandon. Nice work.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-82245110120307444952010-05-28T18:20:00.000-04:002010-05-28T18:40:06.940-04:00For your viewing pleasure...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlreHhyphenhyphenwRiCgTFyE4LYLveJGQogpCdL9-u4pBa1Q_pcXY6QdPV2nGFOFaN57f1zY_XMHX5Vn7A-GuFNOYSQh3VvpE0jkQWpX4i9ueLGSSfaEuFaBm75zjfkLu2zZ1yoYguChQ09oX2zYk/s1600/port+quarter+first+coat.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlreHhyphenhyphenwRiCgTFyE4LYLveJGQogpCdL9-u4pBa1Q_pcXY6QdPV2nGFOFaN57f1zY_XMHX5Vn7A-GuFNOYSQh3VvpE0jkQWpX4i9ueLGSSfaEuFaBm75zjfkLu2zZ1yoYguChQ09oX2zYk/s320/port+quarter+first+coat.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476452938104516594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwN2x0nDIAvo9Zgp04gDkwQHgUgjZtBqm1BzkXxdVn2wh5twRqau6NqFUY12dfp678jP06WteVC5MhOlbu9kqkDqXkmeq44NxztiejgYEKYnMdlcr0odV2ZEbtC8BSXKftukFO0rFUXA/s1600/port+bow+first+coat.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwN2x0nDIAvo9Zgp04gDkwQHgUgjZtBqm1BzkXxdVn2wh5twRqau6NqFUY12dfp678jP06WteVC5MhOlbu9kqkDqXkmeq44NxztiejgYEKYnMdlcr0odV2ZEbtC8BSXKftukFO0rFUXA/s320/port+bow+first+coat.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476452932637991138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UzM4_n2V4mZJoMnhS9j3nmWlnT3Np-VfyAp2vF6cq7CTlYcIVJfutDx5liSrODyYGpvlPr8qucZhBc7t2xlzr4z3wmHUPcjGfCVXYi1yhzaH_N7JfcydZrAXMZ4GufE65CmG_L9um-c/s1600/bow+first+coat.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UzM4_n2V4mZJoMnhS9j3nmWlnT3Np-VfyAp2vF6cq7CTlYcIVJfutDx5liSrODyYGpvlPr8qucZhBc7t2xlzr4z3wmHUPcjGfCVXYi1yhzaH_N7JfcydZrAXMZ4GufE65CmG_L9um-c/s320/bow+first+coat.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476452926926283666" /></a><br />While I finish up the work at the drafting table and the tiresome math associated with the next post, here is a quick update to show current status.<br /><br />Everything is in "first coat." I had to re-stain the sheer plank. As soon as I touched it with 180 grit, it got way too blotchy to do anything but go backward as far as I needed to. I rolled on two coats of Epifanes Wood Finish Gloss (no sanding required if re-coated within 72 hours) to get enough thickness to sand for further build-up. Note that the stem heads are not stained, nor are the rails. I will stain and seal these parts when the inwales are complete. <br /><br />Batten keel is pretty much wrapped up, ballast is going on next. I'll build a cradle and lower her for fitting of inwale, sole (thanks Crocker's Boat Yard for the white cedar), and thwarts.<br /><br />The only other update I can think of is that I placed an ad in the upcoming (June 15th) issue of WoodenBoat magazine.<br /><br />We are going to Maine this weekend. I will assist in the launching of my father-in-law's boat and then I will be blissfully boat-free for the rest of the long weekend. Just kidding. I'll be chomping at the bit by noon on Sunday to get back to the project.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-6440086850539186952010-05-16T12:23:00.000-04:002010-05-16T12:44:53.820-04:00Check another duanting task off the list.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkC_csLUcN3jq5hzTMHNa3E0J2tiVS9khSuYrAD_GD6j0MHlqy-Ch3WbaaS0jzpn_oXnI6wDJa8DghxoC_mIF8ui85XBgduS43fV347g5ARfuIHBh4qjpfMHkqWHuO0xx5Vn8dFLVJwY/s1600/keel+casting.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkC_csLUcN3jq5hzTMHNa3E0J2tiVS9khSuYrAD_GD6j0MHlqy-Ch3WbaaS0jzpn_oXnI6wDJa8DghxoC_mIF8ui85XBgduS43fV347g5ARfuIHBh4qjpfMHkqWHuO0xx5Vn8dFLVJwY/s320/keel+casting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471909470583839778" /></a><br />I was dreading casting the ballast keel. It wasn't that bad. I set up the turkey fryer (we bought it from Northern Tools, or Harbor Freight, I can't remember which) and the stew pot that comes with it. It melted 120 lbs. of lead in about 30 minutes. It was important to me to be able to melt and pour the whole shebang in one shot.<br /><br />Use the proper filter for your respirator, and wear long pants and boots. <br /><br />This casting is about the upper limit for what I would pour myself. Anything bigger would have been worth the expense to sub out. <br /><br />The process was pretty straight-forward: build the form (I allowed a bit of extra height so that I can cut off the "slag" that forms on the top of the pour), gather your safety equipment (including a fire extinguisher) fire up the cooker, and babysit the fire. When the whole deal is melted, scoop out as much of the junk that floats to the surface as you can, and have a buddy help you dump it in the form. I did not cover the plywood sides of the form with anything. They smoldered and got pretty charred, but I didn't think that they would go up. I hung out near the fresh pour until it stopped smoking (just to be sure that the form did not ignite) and that was that.<br /><br />After about a half hour, the temp had dropped to around 170 degrees (as measured by our IR pyrometer), so I moved the form inside and stripped the sides. I was amazed at how quickly the casting cooled.<br /><br />The plan is to fit, fair, and bore the casting while the boat is inverted, and attach it when she is righted.<br /><br />Body work and prep continues on the topsides and bottom.<br /><br />Next posting will be pretty math-intensive. Be warned.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-63246058414301158232010-05-09T10:01:00.000-04:002010-05-09T10:51:34.243-04:00I feel much better now!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3ErQ7Cq0eN3WPnTXK4Ev7zLfJyyAbwahRl9DzIOhy-irPwR9pmDYCepAwpAYl_VgPclYyFiI6uJ2RuXflFTvyorNre0Lh1QeVJF0HJ5i4J139IX_8GOXSoc4GAu39NX6oa1PnS8ucnM/s1600/keel+rough+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3ErQ7Cq0eN3WPnTXK4Ev7zLfJyyAbwahRl9DzIOhy-irPwR9pmDYCepAwpAYl_VgPclYyFiI6uJ2RuXflFTvyorNre0Lh1QeVJF0HJ5i4J139IX_8GOXSoc4GAu39NX6oa1PnS8ucnM/s320/keel+rough+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469282602520814450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1WKmazhtzQYN30XVz9nedVV6ZRzJIqWH-2LI3uwXJILrL5zE1BdzP7x7pJXip19Xkc3ruIlZ_50r4vicuPzgGXKA4Wh8cpn7o-nY2xbXcfj_cw2Q_aZBCvTSQSCIjQbqvZ3ncLvxcVA/s1600/keel+rough+1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1WKmazhtzQYN30XVz9nedVV6ZRzJIqWH-2LI3uwXJILrL5zE1BdzP7x7pJXip19Xkc3ruIlZ_50r4vicuPzgGXKA4Wh8cpn7o-nY2xbXcfj_cw2Q_aZBCvTSQSCIjQbqvZ3ncLvxcVA/s320/keel+rough+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469282595652259858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h3IlzRm00gGlRNbnLG0TCJN3n2ZBdUCoFXRXYIDWgUDxBqhAxb-e2XjjP-c5qe46aE7uD8nSVcuSydjxDAZ2i8BZfB3kxrHDsA8fn47RCIgD65bO-8-Sn-gbGKD7vlKNlNg0LnlTDCs/s1600/fwd+rang+dry+run+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h3IlzRm00gGlRNbnLG0TCJN3n2ZBdUCoFXRXYIDWgUDxBqhAxb-e2XjjP-c5qe46aE7uD8nSVcuSydjxDAZ2i8BZfB3kxrHDsA8fn47RCIgD65bO-8-Sn-gbGKD7vlKNlNg0LnlTDCs/s320/fwd+rang+dry+run+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469282584656108402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzGtfVf_S0y5xIOTg8-Em6hl-_dEXaUiVViPd3IWxXhpXyIXoSwPzitrsci_ZXGOFeWYUfRVbOKGxgIMg_Z94fmTQZo1KE87M1BWXiCFydtMCjmhdTPejLvK_elUYSEkACoAF_z1AYrg/s1600/fwd+rang+dry+run+1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzGtfVf_S0y5xIOTg8-Em6hl-_dEXaUiVViPd3IWxXhpXyIXoSwPzitrsci_ZXGOFeWYUfRVbOKGxgIMg_Z94fmTQZo1KE87M1BWXiCFydtMCjmhdTPejLvK_elUYSEkACoAF_z1AYrg/s320/fwd+rang+dry+run+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469282578694146546" /></a><br />There. It's done. I made the decision, committed to it, and moved forward. I feel twenty pounds lighter. The keel has been milled, fitted, relieved for the ballast casting, and dry hung on the boat. The photos show it before it got tapered and relieved.<br /><br />For all of my bluff and bluster in previous posts, one would think that it would have been easier for me to actually do it. It wasn't. I take very seriously any significant change made to somebody else's work. I know as much about the finer points of yacht design as I do about Santeria. I did not make any of my decisions regarding these changes willy-nilly, particularly the keel profile. They are all the result of careful math, long hours of research, and tapping the expertise of many respected marine professionals. Special thanks to Messrs. Taylor, Crocker, Ford, and Prescott for the advice and encouragement to move out of analysis paralysis.<br /><br />Forward rang is laminated and dry-fit to the boat. This part is a much tighter bend than any of the others. It is about the absolute limit to what 1/8" laminates will do without breaking. As a matter of fact, during the dry run, there were a couple of ominous cracking and popping noises as I sucked the last of the curve into the stack. Note the ridiculous number of clamps near the center of the part. I let the stack sit in the form overnight. When I removed it, there were three laminates with short grain that had begun to spilt. I pulled them out of the stack and replaced them with straighter-grained pieces. The lamination went without a hitch. It was a wrestling match, though.<br /><br />I fitted the part this morning. All went well, but one of the laminates blew out while radiusing the edge. It is getting a localized repair and will be installed tonight. I'll glue the outer keel in place, too. <br /><br />I have re-thought the installation method for the outer keel. I am gluing it the same way the rest of the boat is assembled. I will still run a line of centerline pinch bolts, but epoxy here makes me feel that much more secure. I'm committed, anyway, and removal of the outer keel will involve a sawz-all no matter how it is hung. <br /><br />Tomorrow, I have to re-locate the project so that final coats can go on the boats surrounding Dark Secret. I will take the opportunity to flip her, prep and prime the bottom, and carry the topsides work to a first coat of black paint. Come to think of it, if I melt, pour, and hang the lead, paint the bottom, and finish the topsides, then there's no reason to have to invert her again. Unless she's in the way of paying work...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-13225672074766728642010-05-06T19:09:00.000-04:002010-05-06T19:40:30.039-04:00Putting some of the dark in Dark Secret<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqe7wWJxlaNqm1r6ztJd-kxGYa8dxMUDW53LMTjQ06poAtTPLxsUDvPegk5Pvb_22OA5XRbhIdHMOo2016s5_BNf2Vmrwmc52v2ERPiW9FUfpDk1K7swLXnXFOyaQf0O2r9oKzQ4S518/s1600/first+coat+bow.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqe7wWJxlaNqm1r6ztJd-kxGYa8dxMUDW53LMTjQ06poAtTPLxsUDvPegk5Pvb_22OA5XRbhIdHMOo2016s5_BNf2Vmrwmc52v2ERPiW9FUfpDk1K7swLXnXFOyaQf0O2r9oKzQ4S518/s320/first+coat+bow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468305674590251618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHAD3GimcUoIasRPtjsM0Gosmz1pYAUjTbVN4dGWtGN-hf6xhuWH9Ax2auduoFyDny2j2ALJGecLwzkP2-oatz09VhhEuBaK-erhDUJVmZDO_tWwVH2s2Qa_7BL6B_vx9wxaUkKnu-RA/s1600/first+coat+stern.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHAD3GimcUoIasRPtjsM0Gosmz1pYAUjTbVN4dGWtGN-hf6xhuWH9Ax2auduoFyDny2j2ALJGecLwzkP2-oatz09VhhEuBaK-erhDUJVmZDO_tWwVH2s2Qa_7BL6B_vx9wxaUkKnu-RA/s320/first+coat+stern.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468305663248050610" /></a><br />I decided to switch gears for a couple of days. As I said in an earlier post, the middle third of a project like this involves quite a bit of work and the boat basically looks the same at the end of the day as it did in the beginning. <br /><br />I elected to do a first go-around on "body work" to prep for a coat of primer. I filled all of the screw holes (I thought), and tended to a bunch of miscellaneous dings, clamp marks, and the like. I knew that a first coat would expose more blemishes, and it did.<br /><br />The meranti plywood I used for planking really drank up the primer. It will take at least three coats to fill the grain enough for paint, particularly if I go with a black topsides paint. No matter the color choice, I recommend a grey primer for the first coat. Think of it as a guide coat. When you sand it, the sanded areas will show lighter, thus highlighting missed screw holes, scratches, and tear-outs that will show up as dark spots. Fill them, sand them, and re-prime. Sand this coat of primer (the first real, full coat) to be sure that you got everything, and you can switch to a white primer from here out if you are painting a light color. Prime as many times as you need to for grain filling and uniformity. It pays off in the topcoat application. We'll cover that in a week or so (I hope).<br /><br />I'm going back to slinging goo for the next few days. Forward rang is ready to laminate, and the inwale is a multi-piece part. The change of pace was a welcome respite.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-25345392881005194382010-05-04T14:44:00.000-04:002010-05-04T14:52:18.313-04:00Pictures only<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjux3ZDtXp-1cAumSZXHqO406qheYyn7bZoJjn6A6muVNBk93o-2EQty3FH_MG6R640mcz9g-4UorD2E2DYZ3O9ZJWAu9fzYLs8YV6KR_RNB31yVhaav7XRHx1rmKa4v9f570JxiYzCBpE/s1600/stbd+bow.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjux3ZDtXp-1cAumSZXHqO406qheYyn7bZoJjn6A6muVNBk93o-2EQty3FH_MG6R640mcz9g-4UorD2E2DYZ3O9ZJWAu9fzYLs8YV6KR_RNB31yVhaav7XRHx1rmKa4v9f570JxiYzCBpE/s320/stbd+bow.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467489579788848386" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVI_4WW4Nfhzv1TYRpYlYjvGiTx94o16VjvORdKezygFLeV3ZQPKRBcMV5A4m1fzhcD3JrmGJXFDK72VpiGFBXBXQ6Oh8wSXCA1Q1I8EOPQDrUpBLLWasiZWp5zDt0FnX9dfd8sHA2Qbc/s1600/port+oblique.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVI_4WW4Nfhzv1TYRpYlYjvGiTx94o16VjvORdKezygFLeV3ZQPKRBcMV5A4m1fzhcD3JrmGJXFDK72VpiGFBXBXQ6Oh8wSXCA1Q1I8EOPQDrUpBLLWasiZWp5zDt0FnX9dfd8sHA2Qbc/s320/port+oblique.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467489571914180594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae9ZxU0eM4csra_79dYwYiKs4xhdVFJBouZyWBtwmjJ1IcpBi6MqCIxaePTitkUtQDDZFxHar0wdEM28ew_ig_4jdqntzTL0xVJaWtriVnIOTJa7BqmqzqZ95eo4Bgfkv08nppUdLOWE/s1600/wide+out.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae9ZxU0eM4csra_79dYwYiKs4xhdVFJBouZyWBtwmjJ1IcpBi6MqCIxaePTitkUtQDDZFxHar0wdEM28ew_ig_4jdqntzTL0xVJaWtriVnIOTJa7BqmqzqZ95eo4Bgfkv08nppUdLOWE/s320/wide+out.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467489569405768226" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrTr7oD4V1SToyZmagERlvcSY0oM0AzIaBx4ptoX1t1qka0RrCWzuHqNNuwKfl70evxA4leHxla3RR4A-t8-VPtK4N0XSmukFiu-XfJw3ML79GxfeZA5gWXY2Rz43E61IKEygZ1HpThc/s1600/aft+rang.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrTr7oD4V1SToyZmagERlvcSY0oM0AzIaBx4ptoX1t1qka0RrCWzuHqNNuwKfl70evxA4leHxla3RR4A-t8-VPtK4N0XSmukFiu-XfJw3ML79GxfeZA5gWXY2Rz43E61IKEygZ1HpThc/s320/aft+rang.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467489563781100818" /></a><br />In an effort to compensate for the atrocious Droid camera, here are a few higher resolution photos taken with a borrowed camera.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-31303463607673099192010-05-03T17:20:00.000-04:002010-05-03T18:50:30.369-04:00I can almost taste it...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgKD82TAAGz3mrJLw7mGP6tq3jXb5U_rPPOMWTtHTjoMuuY9Ad-itBLZRBTsvp4IMf3jOjXYv9fyI19DKfVKWkDl_KYdUKDSpTLIOr7TSxRZCepWTktMWGIneZlP9zFejy7JJtHTKCx0/s1600/aft+rang.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgKD82TAAGz3mrJLw7mGP6tq3jXb5U_rPPOMWTtHTjoMuuY9Ad-itBLZRBTsvp4IMf3jOjXYv9fyI19DKfVKWkDl_KYdUKDSpTLIOr7TSxRZCepWTktMWGIneZlP9zFejy7JJtHTKCx0/s320/aft+rang.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467179136745854866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzuhe7Kpt9arqTOLMvndeP2xn-0aTmuFPuru30PP6wAiFh9jP5K5qWtn_arAW7IQRgsneiVUwQth46lOmF3CortC-ig_bPyqSDYlvuEZes6yOoeLA8iOeg3Qag_sVvegCjAbYQoYvA2U/s1600/raw+hull+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzuhe7Kpt9arqTOLMvndeP2xn-0aTmuFPuru30PP6wAiFh9jP5K5qWtn_arAW7IQRgsneiVUwQth46lOmF3CortC-ig_bPyqSDYlvuEZes6yOoeLA8iOeg3Qag_sVvegCjAbYQoYvA2U/s320/raw+hull+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467179130507188434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8MLzM48RGNqQu0BnkOSQCQa3cDf449mwrYuNZfyE9nYT0C5ttXGz-Bqfm8JF3Cxb8QZDMpEJZM04SCQXe2ltVVKdGdQS60YHDtrCdV9ehAD-jro_p0IyAfkWgB2gPTkX2CmY25lcouE/s1600/raw+hull+1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8MLzM48RGNqQu0BnkOSQCQa3cDf449mwrYuNZfyE9nYT0C5ttXGz-Bqfm8JF3Cxb8QZDMpEJZM04SCQXe2ltVVKdGdQS60YHDtrCdV9ehAD-jro_p0IyAfkWgB2gPTkX2CmY25lcouE/s320/raw+hull+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467179122336439650" /></a><br />Ahh, springtime in the boatyard. Every day is Monday. You can't even look forward to Friday because that is the day that everything hits the fan for weekend deliveries. It has been tough to keep momentum going for the past couple of weeks. It seems like the last thing I want to do after the whistle blows is climb on another boat; even my own.<br /><br />Somehow, I have managed to brush the chip off my shoulder and get quite a bit done on Dark Secret. Both outer stems are on, sheer is finalized, port and starboard rubrails are on, and the aft rang is in. This afternoon, I rolled her in between a couple of the big girls at the yard and took her back off the trailer. She is pretty much on her lines, but I still need to tweak her fore and aft a bit.<br /><br />In the absence of an owner other than myself, I have procured the stock for the outer keel. It is going to be as described previously. See the link in my previous posting for info on that. I don't want to re-hash the keel argument again. Templating for that timber begins this week, as well as the lamination of the forward rang.<br /><br />The outer keel will be installed with an adhesive bedding compound, not epoxy. If somebody steps forward and wants to own her with the Valgerda keel, I can more easily remove the part to install the extended skeg. This is the only "structural" part that will be assembled that way. Obviously, the lead ballast will be bedded with something out of a tube, too.<br /><br />This brings up an interesting aside. I realized this morning that there are very few fasteners in Dark Secret. All of the plank fasteners were temporary. Other than the #8 x 5/8" screws holding the rails on, the entire boat so far relies solely on glue joints. The screws affixing the outer stems were left in place, but they are basically redundant. They functioned as clamps until the glue cured. All of the joints in the boat's assembly are bare mahogany to bare mahogany. This is one of the best scenarios for epoxy to perform to its best possible characteristics. There will be a half-dozen or so 5/16" bronze bolts to affix the outer keel and ballast. That's about it for fasteners in the structure, other than affixing hardware.<br /><br />I am truly, madly, deeply, ass-over-tea kettle in love with this boat. I will not be inconsolable if she remains my concern for the foreseeable future. I will exhibit her at some regional shows with the hope of building another boat for someone else (I'd love to do Bill Garden's <span style="font-style:italic;">Eel</span> with a laminated frame at each station and epoxied lapstrake planking. That stern would be a knockout). As long as I don't lose sight of why I started this in the first place, I'll be OK. It's not about having another boat; there are too many on my plate as it is. It's not about selling it; money is relatively easy to earn. This is about being the guy who does what he says he will do. And the process.<br /><br />This has been one of those extremely rare instances in life when the reality far exceeds the fantasy. It doesn't happen often. That thing you are thinking about doing - building a boat, or asking a wonderful woman to marry you, or raising a child, or making a sundae - I urge all of you; invest yourself fully into it. Whatever it is.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-41744337037874962802010-04-10T13:33:00.000-04:002010-04-10T14:31:54.888-04:00Closing in...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIzA0DM0fV12oUDl2wRhfDxPB24SJAxaEuuWRPuyhgeycVRix4qHiHSqDmi8lunB1znCDXrl4ZPburyboq7xlcg5qDmXlqgwsq6IDyTW9pMxroafa9H3uXGLjcTW3dkcSPlfl2I6_Pdo/s1600/aft+bottom.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIzA0DM0fV12oUDl2wRhfDxPB24SJAxaEuuWRPuyhgeycVRix4qHiHSqDmi8lunB1znCDXrl4ZPburyboq7xlcg5qDmXlqgwsq6IDyTW9pMxroafa9H3uXGLjcTW3dkcSPlfl2I6_Pdo/s320/aft+bottom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458577848991731890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w_ahxEmadxYNI81505b2HQIo-75wOc10KM70GLnVU5IwMoyLiGqxiCEx18tNWAuHvJAtJUCgSI9c5YGszl1R556WINFWstaZqM4Ukw1sQsk0DPBX8EpWM5Rk_kEwQ9tsNvZsmmlWQN8/s1600/nice+old+stern.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w_ahxEmadxYNI81505b2HQIo-75wOc10KM70GLnVU5IwMoyLiGqxiCEx18tNWAuHvJAtJUCgSI9c5YGszl1R556WINFWstaZqM4Ukw1sQsk0DPBX8EpWM5Rk_kEwQ9tsNvZsmmlWQN8/s320/nice+old+stern.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458577847723302850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6o0IPU807uG01stIpdKYL9cZIy9RwQ3GkyVZomlCzYWHrxmFEPzrUJ4yQreGfYJQF5W484Z1hao61PuV151E9Ikn-jyKdHtJG4p2XifsEbmhbD6ufkz2KnrOjJG0_rmenbDVXyjn6SQA/s1600/outside+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6o0IPU807uG01stIpdKYL9cZIy9RwQ3GkyVZomlCzYWHrxmFEPzrUJ4yQreGfYJQF5W484Z1hao61PuV151E9Ikn-jyKdHtJG4p2XifsEbmhbD6ufkz2KnrOjJG0_rmenbDVXyjn6SQA/s320/outside+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458577835153094338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPEP85rdORtE3murN5YjmyTb5DiI4WVFXtCHhOVaUazF0O8DA_XFzST9ie3gMtigU50SQrgpD6TGHShru-Wvj3NyJ_aNYOBxJYjVTQzMhyphenhyphenvSbMrtzy5sWIfK9x-eB3GFL-uPnAsVBCes/s1600/outside1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPEP85rdORtE3murN5YjmyTb5DiI4WVFXtCHhOVaUazF0O8DA_XFzST9ie3gMtigU50SQrgpD6TGHShru-Wvj3NyJ_aNYOBxJYjVTQzMhyphenhyphenvSbMrtzy5sWIfK9x-eB3GFL-uPnAsVBCes/s320/outside1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458577829605962290" /></a><br />She is really starting to come together. I have both outer stems in place (not in the photos taken outside), and I am laminating the rangs this weekend. Rails are fitted and need final shaping. <br /><br />As promised in the last entry, I have posted "side-by-side" photos of the stern of a traditionally built faering and that of Dark Secret. Be aware that you are looking at the rudder in the photo of the traditional boat, that is NOT a skeg. The hollow in the garboard is clearly seen. Compare that shot to the one of Dark Secret. Obviously the hollow is not nearly as pronounced (there is quite a bit more than what shows in the photo, but I couldn't get the angle right). It doesn't seem like that big a deal, but ask any lobsterman about the difference in a "built-down" boat versus a "skeg-built" boat. Motion, comfort, load-carrying ability, and speed are all affected by this seeming small difference in hull shape. I say it again, it is my belief that the inability to coerce compound curves into sheet planking stock is likely to be the prime contributor to the presence of the skeg as drawn by Mr. Atkin.<br /><br />For your viewing pleasure (and just in case the photo I used is protected by copyright), here is a link to the site from whence the photo came. It is a Wooden Boat Rescue Foundation listing page: <br /><br />http://www.woodenboatrescue.org/faering--%20oselver.htm<br /><br />Note that there is no lateral plane offered on this boat, other than the batten keel.<br /><br />Moving on, I have had a couple of inquiries on the terms of sale for Dark Secret. As a rowing boat, finished in desired colors, outfitted with bow and stern bouyancy bags, anchor, manual bilge pump, and one pair of 9' Shaw and Tenney oars, the asking price is $8,000. As a sailing boat, all of the above plus spars, sail, rudder (with custom cast hardware), and standing and running rigging, the asking price is $12,500. <br /><br />I was only half joking in the previous entry about trades. My wife and I are in the process of purchasing an antique home in Thomaston, Maine that needs major attention. We will need, and are open to trades for any of the following:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ladders, staging, scaffolding</span> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Stationary power tools</span> (table saw, joiner, planer; already have dust collection and portable power tools) <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tractor/mini-excavator with back hoe</span><br /><br />Other items will be considered. Interesting vehicles (two- and four-wheeled), 17-22' center-console skiff (an 18' Tripp Angler would be ideal), diesel inboard launch 25' or smaller. These items can (and probably should) be "projects" to be considered for trade. <br /><br />Marine art, artifacts, and antiques, musical instruments (vintage synthesizers, small grand piano [no uprights, please], electric and acoustic guitars and bass guitars). If you think you have something I might be interested in, let me know.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I can't do an outright trade. Any trade will have to come with some cash. There are bills to pay. <br /><br />Hull should be largely complete as of the next posting. I'll be moving on to the sole, inwales, and thwarts. <br /><br />Stay tuned.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1535674704984039597.post-59335329116182731122010-03-30T20:41:00.000-04:002010-03-30T22:51:31.918-04:00On modern construction methods for traditional boats, and what makes a faering a faering...No photos this time. Patience, Grasshopper...<br /><br />There is a very passionate group of people out there who have been discussing, off and on, the virtues and vices of Valgerda and her skeg. These discussions invariably lead into a debate over whether or not she can be considered a "true" faering. I am going to weigh in on both of these issues here.<br /><br />First off, I completely understand why Mr. Atkin drew the skeg as he did on Valgerda; protection for the rudder when beaching, lateral plane for sailing, and as deep a position as is reasonable for the small chunk of lead to do its job. I'm sure there were other considerations, too. That being said, it is clear that one can either build Valgerda as drawn, or one can build a Hardangersjekte, but you can't do both (at least not in the same boat). It is my opinion that Valgerda was designed as a sailing boat that will row when needed, as opposed to the traditional faerings that were built to be rowed, but were sailed when the opportunity presented itself.<br /><br />I can hear your hackles rising from here. Settle down...<br /><br />It is my desire to build a faering. A long, drawn-out search for designs with any degree of authenticity turned up some traditional boat plans, complete with the hewn garboards and grown-crook frames, or modern interpretations of faerings, most of which are too small for my liking. I kept coming back to Valgerda as she is the best documented design in her size, she is GORGEOUS, she is specifically designed for modern construction methods, and of the modern boats she is the truest to the traditional hull form. Except for that skeg. For me it was a no-brainer: build that beautiful hull and put a "proper" batten keel on her and you'll really have something.<br /><br />But what will I be giving up without that skeg?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Stability?</span> - Not really. A 110 lb chunk of lead hung (as designed) approximately 15" below the metacentric height on a hull whose heeling abilities are limited by very low freeboard and lack of decks can only generate so much righting force. I, as crew and moveable ballast, will provide most of the required righting force by sliding my 200 lb. ass a bit further to windward. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lateral Plane?</span> - Yes, but so what. It's not like I'll be banging around the bouys with the hot rod boats. That's why I have the Thistle. Mr. Atkin was very clear in his article for MotorBoating, and the commentary that accompanies the designer's study plans reiterates, that this is primarily a rowing boat that will "sail upwind after a fashion." He also states that "expert sail handling" was required in travelling any distance in boats of this type. It is a conscious choice that I made to give up some windward ability in favor of a well-mannered rowing boat. Read through what Howard Chapelle has to say in American Small Sailing Craft about the peapods that were sailed by the island lighthouse keepers in Maine. Many of these boats were sailed long distances with no centerboards, leeboards, or other appendages. A 4" batten keel provided all of the lateral plane. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Rudder protection?</span> - Yes. This is probably my biggest concern. Rocky Maine beaches can, and will, do a number on the bottom edge of a rudder. Properly designed rudder hardware will allow me to quickly ship and un-ship the rudder, but a kick-up or sliding arrangement will not be appropriate for this application. This is another carefully weighed compromise that I have made. <br /><br />There is also a group out there who insist that without the grown-crook frames and hewn garboards, it isn't a faering. P'shaw!!! While I am envious of anyone who has built a faering with traditional methods, I am also realistic about how this boat will be transported, used, and stored over her lifetime. Epoxied lapstrake planking and laminated structure is the method that makes the most sense in this situation. <br /><br />I will grant that there is a level of twist and hollow to the garboards of traditionally built faerings that is unattainable in a plywood-planked boat. Mr. Atkin came very close with Valgerda. A hollow garboard contributes immensely to sail-carrying ability. Was Valgerda's lack of this feature the main reason for the skeg as designed? Quite possibly. Next posting will feature photos to show the contrast between the stern of a traditionally-built faering (believed to have been built by The Apprenticeshop) and that of Valgerda. You'll see what I mean.<br /><br />At any rate, hull form is what defines a boat like this as a type, not construction method. Aside from hull form, here are a couple of other characteristics that are specific to faerings: <br /><br />1.)These boats are very limber, due partly to the lack of breasthook and the inwale ending at the rangs. <br /><br />2.)Maximum beam is well forward of 'midship (cod head, mackerel tail - be aware that you are looking at the chines, not waterlines in plan view. Make a copy of the lines plan and draw in the waterlines. It's more pronounced than you think it is).<br /><br />That's all I have come up with at the moment. Let me know what you think. <br /><br />Limiting the definition of "faering" (which is a pretty loose term; Norway has as many types of faerings as France has wines) to traditionally built boats is ludicrous. A Whitehall is a Whitehall, whether it's cedar, oak, and bronze or carbon, kevlar, and nomex.<br /><br />So, that's where I stand on these matters. Big whup, right?<br /><br />Thanks for getting all the way through this. I'll be getting more current photos up shortly, and I'll be back to posting more regularly soon.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422347070157609514noreply@blogger.com0