Author Archives: stau8533

  • -

Thanksgiving Break

Tags : 

We hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving and as the holidays continue we get back to the work at hand. The last of the Caraval planks are in place and the next step will be the attaching of the lapstrake planks. These next planks will overlap each other above the water line by between one and two inches.

Alyn, Clay Gordon and John examine the fit of the last caraval plank on the starboard/fore side.

Alyn, Clay, Gordon and John examine the fit of the last caraval plank on the starboard/fore side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking towards the bow. The last of the caraval planks and floor support boards are seen

Looking towards the bow. The last of the caraval planks and floor support boards are seen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fore/Starboard planking showing, from the bottom: Keel, Garbard plank and three caraval planks

Fore/Starboard planking showing, from the bottom: Keel, Garbard plank and three caraval planks


  • -

The Beauty

Here it is~ Here is what I haven’t noticed before until the newest planks were installed. I finally got down low enough to see why a boat is called “she”. It’s the beautiful curves! It is hard to see and appreciate in photographs but when you are down low enough you can see the curves of her carriage. The garbard plank is parallel to the ground at her midpoint and turned 90 degrees at the bow and stern! BEAUTIFUL!

Curves~ (starboard/aft)

Curves~ (starboard/aft)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curves~ (port/aft)

Curves~ (port/aft)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

beautiful~

beautiful~


  • -

Handy-work

The beauty of this project is that it is so hands-on. No laser-guided tools here…no computers..no forms or presses or molds. Just plans and wood and tools and hands… Human hands

Alyn chiseling a groove

Alyn chiseling a groove

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom and Alyn...just a couple of chiselers~

Tom and Alyn…just a couple of chiselers! (you can see the wood “forms”, one in Tom’s hand and one to his left, that we use to gauge the shape of the impression)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clay "the plank planer" planing a plank (say that 3 x's fast!)

Clay “the plank planer” planing a plank (say that 3 x’s fast!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clay's hands are so fast he has to wear a disguise!

Clay’s hands are so fast he has to wear a disguise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capt'n John marking the next plank for planing and trying to keep up with Clay

Capt’n John marking the next plank for planing and trying to keep up with Clay


  • -

Woodwork

Just some more pictures from the last week.

Clamped plank (note the wood "pads" so that the clamps won't dig into the plank itself)

Clamped plank (note the wood “pads” so that the clamps won’t dig into the plank itself)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starboard/aft side. The orange paint is a lead based paint to preserve and protect the wood from moisture

Starboard/aft side. The orange paint is a lead based paint to preserve and protect the wood from moisture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wedges being used to push down the port/aft plank

Wedges being used to push down the port/aft plank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This clamp is pressing the plank into the aft keep rabbit while being wedged down

This clamp is pressing the plank into the aft keel rabbit while being wedged down

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Port/fore Dutchman

Port/fore Dutchman


  • -

A Rare Sighting Indeed!

Two of the Maritime Heritage Foundation’s hardest workers are secretary Linda Allen and vice-president Roy Jaeger. They recently made an appearance at the site and we were happy to see them! (although a bit nervous too when ‘executives’ show up to check us out~)

Linda Allen and Roy Jaeger

Linda Allen and Roy Jaeger


  • -

Some tricks of the trade~

I’ve learned quite a bit about boat building since joining the crew (although not enough to want to try to build one myself!) In order to squeeze planks together a 2×4 is clamped to the rib just above the newly installed plank and a wedge is pounded in to push the steamed and softened plank down against her sister. The 2×4 piece is tightly clamped, with 2 clamps, to the rib and the plank is clamped and pounded down.

In the middle you see a wedge pounded between a clamped 2x4 and the plank to drive the plank down to the adjoining one

In the middle you see a wedge pounded between a clamped 2×4 and the plank to drive the plank down to the adjoining one

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that the planks are above the water-line they need to be “prettied up” so they are presentable to the viewing public and our Chalupa’s fans. The are planed to a graceful curve on the outer side.

Tom planing a plank

Tom planing a plank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1106141140b


  • -

The craftsman’s touch

It may seem that the planks get cut and then slapped up against our girl but there’s a bit of finessing involved. Like getting a skin-tight dress to fit on a Hollywood starlet there’s a bit of nip-and-tucking involved but in our case it’s more like chiseling and planing (doesn’t sound as spicy I admit)~

In order to fit the planks on the inside (against the ribs) grooves or channels are carved so that the plank will hug the rib

In order to fit the planks on the inside (against the ribs) grooves or channels are carved so that the plank will hug the rib. I used a wooden guide, carved by John L, to get the curve and depth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gordon's fast hand to the left of me

Gordon’s fast hand to the left of me

 

Clay's strong hands to my right

Clay’s strong hands to my right


  • -

Planks for the Memories~

More work and more progress. More planks are being shaped and attached to the Chalupa as her shape looks more like a ship everyday.

Port-aft plank after steaming and clamped in place. This plank will be above the water-line

Port/aft plank after steaming and clamped in place. This plank will be above the water-line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floor boards in the aft section with clamped plank...the first clamp in the upper left is a custom made clamp with a deep opening which we call a "man-clamp" to hold the planks low against the ribs (the C clamps don't grip as deep). Just to the right of the 1st clamp you can see a "Dutchman" cut into a plank and then another  Manclamp~

Floor board supports in the aft section with clamped plank…the first clamp in the upper left is a custom made clamp with a deep opening which we call a “man-clamp” to hold the planks low against the ribs (the C clamps don’t grip as deep). Just to the right of the 1st clamp you can see a “Dutchman” cut into a plank and then another Manclamp on the next rib~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The back of the boat~

The back of the boat~

 

 


  • -

The Mast Step

I was starting to get worried~~The mast step, which the main mast will sit on, had been laying about since I’ve been on site. I had carved the hole in the forward mast step more than a month earlier and kept looking at the main mast step knowing the hole would need to be carved in it at some point too. But, with all that was going on, I left it be. However, after it had been installed and as the planking began to rise, I saw a problem.

We were running out of room!

So, I asked John L if it would be a good idea to cut the hole now before it was too late and he agreed. It wasn’t easy trying to find room for my big body among the ribs to do it but after nearly three hours I’d dug a fairly uniform hole in the live oak seat. Hopefully naval authorities will approve it~

Hole nearly done and the tools of the trade~

Hole nearly done and the tools of the trade~

My trademark orange shorts and leg~

My trademark orange shorts and leg~

Hole dug~~Now what to do? Ah! Look for a mast! (or make one!)

Hole dug~~Now what to do? Ah! Look for a mast! (or make one!)

 


  • -

Work Continues with New Faces

Always looking for volunteers we just had Clay stop in to help and John, an old returning friend, is back after hiatus!

Hey Clay waddya say?

Hey Clay waddya say?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John shaping a "butt block"

John shaping a “butt block”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How'dya like my butt block?

How’dya like my butt block?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alyn carving a rib-well in a plank

Alyn carving a rib-well in a plank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1029140959a