Ernie, The Oar King

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Ernie, The Oar King

For as long as I’ve been on site, Ernie has been making the most beautiful hand-carved oars in St. Augustine. He is now on his 10th and final one and I suggested that, when done, he take a nice vacation…maybe he and the missus take a cruise. He looked at the Chalupa and chuckled and said, “Hmmmmm, we’ll see.”

Ernie at his spot

Ernie at his spot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last oar taking shape

The last oar taking shape


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Movin On Up

Work continues as we work our way up the frame and our skeleton is looking more like a boat everyday

The starboard bow plank, cut using the spiling batten as a template, is in place and resting overnight

The starboard bow plank, cut using the spiling batten as a template, is in place and resting overnight

John, Gordon and Alyn fitting a starboard bow plank

John, Gordon and Alyn fitting the end of a starboard bow plank


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Volunteers

The excitement of building the Chalupa has even had the local wildlife chirping. Here a lovely young lady stopped by to offer help but, unfortunately, she lacked the upper body strength to be of much use~

Peacock sent packing~

Peacock sent packing~


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Back To The Shack

Not all work involves the boat. Fred and Pete are adding shelving and other amenities to the shed to help organize all our equipment and tools.

Fred and Pete adding shelving to the shed

Fred and Pete adding shelving to the shed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fred wondering why the tall guys are working inside without hardhats!

Fred wondering why the tall guys are working inside without hardhats!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pete fitting a shelf

Pete fitting a shelf


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Plowing Ahead

Work continues as we build up the hull. Using a plywood spiling batten we cut and shape the next plank.

Port bow stay in place to be used as a template for a plank

Port bow spiling batten in place to be used as a template for a plank

Alyn and Gordon work on the Starboard side stay

Alyn and Gordon work on the Starboard side spiling

Starboard stay in place

Starboard spiling in place

Gordon, John and Alyn discuss strategy.

Gordon, John and Alyn discuss strategy.

Marking the Starboard stay

Marking the Starboard spiling


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Happy Birthday Ernie!

Our Master Oar Carver Ernie Stanford came to work on his birthday so we had to show him some love. Maury’s wife Phyllis and Jake Gruber brought Donuts and coffee for the birthday boy! Here’s hoping that we have a birthday every week!

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Ernie and Jake

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Alyn, Phyllis, John, Gordon, Jake and Ernie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alright!, Alright! Back to work!

Alright!, Alright! Back to work!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Checking the Fit

The planks are clamped on, marked, taken off, shaved, put back on, clamped and marked again. Sometimes three or four times or more before their good. Here John and the crew work on the aft port garbard…

John checking the turn

John checking the turn

Maury, John, Gordon and Alyn

Maury, John, Gordon and Alyn

Maury, Alyn and John

Maury, Alyn and John


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It’s not always hard work

We don’t, very often, get the opportunity to lay down on the job but when we do WE STILL WORK! Here, Maury is screwing in the garbards with 2 1/2 inch stainless steel screws! Yea baby!

Maury securing the garbard

Maury securing the garbard


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Umm….

Sometimes it may seem that up is down and bottom’s up but believe me we know what we’re doing! However, we are asking for volunteers for the inaugural boat launch…

If we roll over at least the seats will still work~

If we roll over at least the seats will still work~


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Sept 16, 2014

Some miscellaneous pictures from the day…

John cutting out a "weep hole" along the bottom of the Fore Mast Seat. The orange paint is Marine Lead Sealant.

John cutting out a “weep hole” along the bottom of the Fore Mast Seat. The orange paint is Marine Lead Sealant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gordon “The Grinder” shaping a floorboard for the garbard

Thwart Master and master story-teller Pete telling the story of St Augustine’s beginning

John and Maury planing out hollows in the garbard to hug the ribs

John and Maury planing out hollows in the garbard to hug the ribs