Sail, Salt and Sawdust

Arctic Circle Sailing 2011 - Norway

2011-07-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

Just back from a fantastic sailing trip up in the Arctic Circle in northern Norway. Here are a few of the photos from the trip sailing on 'Velvet Lady' (a 55' Oyster) from Bodø around the Lofoten Island area.

At this time of year there is 24 hour sunshine, so providing the weather is right it's great for both sailing and photography.

These cod heads appeared to be hung up to dry in every little harbour we entered, sometimes on a truly commercial scale.

Peace and quiet!

Above - a slightly more traditional build in the spirit of this photo blog.

Colleen having a 'cold moment' in the arctic (which is allowed I think if you have come straight from Texas).

To me these big skies just lend themselves to b&w (above Bodø and below a Henningsvaer landscape).

'Texas John'

Joyce and myself fly the flag.

For a short video of the trip by all means have a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxBqAMZI1zY to enjoy some more Arctic Circle sailing.

Launch Day

2011-06-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

Launch day finally arrives and it seems a long time ago since we set up the moulds to start this home build project

The wind picks up and some small waves form to allow this kayak to start to perform in the conditions she was designed for.

Time for some distance and the start of hopefully, many happy hours of paddling. At this stage all the hard work becomes very worth while. Although perhaps a wooden Greenland style paddle will be the next project to compliment my new kayak.

Completed Kayak

2011-05-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

Finished at last!

Aft hatch

Rudder system in place (and partially down)

The build team

Finally get to leave the workshop (next stop the water!)

Varnishing at last

2011-05-02T04:40:00.001-07:00

Varnishing at last!

The final coat! Next 'fitting out' and then in couple of weeks will be the first opportunity for 'launch day' with a bit of luck.

This is also the time for making up some of the small components both in wood and metal. Above is a brass plate to protect the pointed bow from any future knocks. This was shaped from a straight bar and then heated and bent around a former of the correct shape. Below is a lifting toggle for the stern end.

The dull sanded surface of the epoxy takes a sheen again with the start of 5 coats of two pack varnish.

'Stacking' layers for varnishing the inside of the hull and underside of deck in one operation. No room to spread out horizontally, so vertically is the only way!

Rudder and Sanding

2011-03-27T03:23:00.001-07:00

Rudder or no Rudder? Opinion on rudders & kayaks appears a little divided. For me, I decided the preference was if I was going to fit one, I wanted it to be at the build stage before the kayak was finally assembled. This appeared to be the way to get the neatest job. I also decided on buying a commercially designed fitting with some 'proper' engineering. Smart Track appeared to be the one for me so it was ordered and delivered from across the Pond. Even had the pleasure of paying duty before customs would release it (which was a cost addition which I had overlooked). The fitting looks well designed and strong and folds up out of the way when not required. I purchased from this link http://www.clcboats.com/shop/products/boat-gear/kayak-footbraces-rudders/smart-track-rudder-system.html Finally a day off work coincides with dry weather and the opportunity to take the kayak outside to sand down the epoxy. All sorts of health and safety warnings I regularly ignore, but I had no intention of mixing my lungs with fine epoxy dust in a confined space!

So 'the Kayak' has temporarily lost its sparkle and shine as the epoxy gloss is lost, to be later replaced with some tough 2-pack gloss varnish.

The deck is still separate from the hull until the inside of the hull and underneath of the deck get varnished. Roll on spring and some varnishing type temperatures. This build has now been going (I think) for nine months or so, (on and off), so time to get out on the water!

A Rainy Day gets the Cockpit Collar Completed

2011-02-13T12:54:00.000-08:00

A rainy day finally sees the sixty piece Ash collar around the cockpit shaped and finished. There has been almost as much work in this as the whole of the rest of the deck (or this is how it feels). Worth it in the end though.

The mahogany 'keystones' nicely divide up the pieces of Ash in the top laminate. All in all, nine layers of 3mm build up the height off the deck.

Yes we really have finished this part of the build. Now back to fitting out the rest of the kayak and once some warmer weather arrives it will be on with the varnish and out on the water!

Not a bad weekend, kayak building today and yesterday the first paddle of the season for my wife and I, this time in two of the plastic members of the fleet. And very good to see the ice has gone from the water!

More Progress

2011-01-30T10:57:00.001-08:00

It's always the final fitting out which takes the time, but the Resolute is coming together slowly.

We have lost count how many lamination's of Ash are going into shaping this cockpit surround.

This final layer gets the decorative treatment with some keystones of contrasting mahogany fitted in.

Time for a break from the workshop and back out onto the water for a January much needed winter sail! Will share the therapy of last weekend here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhsg_9WHXs8

Cold Temperature Epoxy

2010-12-12T13:40:00.000-08:00

The trouble with winter boat building is it gets cold at night, just as we are ready to glue!

My solution is some bent water pipe, a sheet of polythene and some tube heaters (not to mention every cramp in the workshop).

Here the cockpit surround, or at least the base of it (formed by 32 strips of ash) is finally shaped to the compound curves of the kayak deck. The hatch frame is also complete.

Hatch and Cockpit

2010-11-28T11:43:00.001-08:00

The frame is shaped and sanded up using the hatch as the pattern. It will eventually get glued back under the kayak deck, to form a lip to take the hatch and gasket. There is still one more frame to make to strengthen the hatch itself.

The temperature outside has now fallen below freezing, so all gluing operations need local heat to keep the temperature up for the epoxy to set. Little polythene tents help with a couple of tube heaters below.

The hatch frame needs laminating and shaping to the compound curves of the deck. So once again the deck is used as the mould with polythene underneath to prevent the whole lot sticking to the deck.

So far there are 36 pieces of Ash in the cockpit surround. This has been laminated up in 3mm Ash.

The surrounds are now being shaped up one at a time with a roiling bevel required around the inside. Eventually they will be glued to the deck and more layers of Ash added to the top to form a lip for the spray deck skirt.

Cockpit and Hatch

2010-11-24T12:23:00.000-08:00

The cockpit shape is carefully marked out over the deck in exactly the right position (I hope!)

A jigsaw has made light work of forming the two holes

The cockpit frame is being laminated in 3mm Ash. The first three layers here involve eighteen pieces and as many cramps as possible. We had cut this dead Ash tree down years ago from a neighbouring field. Kayaks were probably not in mind at the time but it's ideal for this job and bends well around the hull shape.

Internal Glass Sheathing

2010-10-31T13:25:00.000-07:00

The two halves now fully sheathed in glass

The resin is added and once again the cedar shows through the glass.

The glass cloth gets laid out along the inside of the hull and deck.

Cleaning up the inside of the kayak ready for sheathing.

Separating the deck from the hull became something of a problem for several hours, as some epoxy had found its way down from the deck to glue the two halves together too soon!

Once separated, the glue from joining the strip planking together must be removed.

Glassing the Deck

2010-10-23T14:24:00.001-07:00

Deck Sheathing

The deck has finally got completed and glassed today. The decorative stripes have been formed with some yellow pine and by selecting some particularly dark strips of the cedar.

Hopefully not too many runs and I just hope we can get the deck back off the hull once dry for completing the inside.

A glass shroud stretched across the deck and ready for the resin to dissolve the binding layer and turn the glass transparent once again, as if by magic!

Bear Mountain Kayak

2010-10-03T12:24:00.000-07:00

Time for another boat build!

On and off through the summer we have been working on building a 16'6" Resolute strip plank kayak from the Bear Mountain design catalogue.

'Swift' my home built sailing canoe also on this blog, was made using a completely different construction technique (lapstrake, epoxy clinker). So this strip planking in western red cedar and some yellow pine, sanded smooth and then sheathed in glass and epoxy is all new to us.

Cutting the rebate for the final outer plank is a fairly demanding job to get a good looking result. So far so good.

A scaffold frame around the kayak allows temporary timbers and wedges to hold each plank in place while the glue dries (without messing the deck up with staple holes).

The hull is finally turned over to start forming the deck around the moulds, which for now are still left within the hull.

The glass sheathing seemed to go OK and provides a hard wearing but clear finish over the timber. It will gain even more strength once the hull is glassed on the inside.

Once sanded smooth, everything needs to be clean before glassing the hull.

The planks go on, one by one around the station moulds.

The stems are laminated up in oak and held in position with the rest of the mould structure.

Each mould is cut to the exact shape and carefully set out in exactly the right position on the strongback. A mistake here will end up with a strange looking (and poor performing) kayak, so it's worth taking some time and care over this stage.

Hurley 2470 Sailing

2010-09-30T10:13:00.000-07:00

Somewhere between sailing on an Oyster 55 this summer (see Artic Circle Sailing) and my recent addition of a home built sailing canoe, there sits my trusty Hurley 2470. Here's a flavour in photos of 'Concord' sailing. With a home port of Milford Haven on the Pembrokeshire coast this provides some excellent sailing opportunities and normally a trip once a year across the Irish Sea to the Emerald Isle.

Autumn, first light

Waterford, Ireland

Too cold for sailing!

The Irish ferry needs to be dodged several times a day

One of many favourite and unspoilt anchorages

Docks by night

The Smalls lighthouse

Rigging the new multi purpose genoa

Annual maintenance is very much part of the deal with boats (stripping the antifouling back to the gel coat ready for applying 'gelshield' took for ever last winter).

Some work gets a lot more interesting than scraping the hull, here I rope my Father into making some new wash boards and a sliding hatch for Concord.

Very smart and well sub contracted out on this occasion.

Over the fourteen years which I have owned my Hurley, a large proportion of the fittings have been replaced. This has included fitting a new engine, completely re-wiring the boat, some structural strengthening under the mast, replacing rigging. All jobs which have provided me with some good experience, the odd headache and an empty wallet (even though I complete all maintenance and improvement work myself).

For me a big part of the sailing is the access to the wildlife which it provides. Inquisitive seals always like to check out the boat. Also puffins appear fairly relaxed in our company.

A cliff walk from an anchorage always presents some photo opportunities.

A telephoto lens ensures that others are viewed but left undisturbed in their natural surroundings.

Rivers & Lakes

2010-09-20T11:51:00.000-07:00

What's this, could my wife be gradually getting into boating? With Rivers and Lakes on our doorstep, we are now both having some mid life crisis involving canoes!

Looks fairly happy in a boat, now she has her own!

Made it to the other side!

Camping trips now involve at least 3 boats for the 2 of us.

Norwegian Waters

2010-09-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

Just back from a 730 nautical mile trip from Bodo, up in the Arctic Circle down to Bergen, on an Oyster 55 (something of a contrast to my own smaller fleet of canoes).

Jackie dressed for Arctic Circle sailing and on the helm.

The land appears to instantly disappear into truly deep water allowing the coasters to almost skim the mountains, north & south, up the Norwegian Coast.

This coast is just peppered with rocks, with long stretches 15 miles or so out!

There were two highlights of this excellent trip for me and this was the first, diverting to explore the Svartissen glacier.

It's not every evening you pick up a mooring for the night at the foot of a glacier.

My watch on the helm!

Onoy Island

One of the Arctic Circle marks

Into Kristiansund to sit out some gale force winds in the forecast. I liked Christiansund, which was a good job as we spent several days here. The forecast around Statt headland (our next obstacle) turned to Storm force 10 and clearly that was not the place to be (so Kristiansund and surrounding anchorages became our base for a few days).

My second highlight was chancing on a wooden boat centre, including some real gems. The one that took my eye particularly, was the Colin Archer yacht 'Christiansund' and I would love the chance of a sail on one of these Norwegian classics sometime in the future.

For anyone wanting to see these heavy displacement historic boats (which formed the first lifeboat service for this coast), have a look at this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmI5_nrJ58k&feature=channel

A design above which has clearly influenced Iain Oughtred (designer of my sailing canoe on this blog) with some of his other great designs.

The moorings in crystal clear (but cold) water were something very special.

The Storm and Gales gradually went although the next 300 miles were sailed mainly in force 7, near gale conditions and with some big seas hard on the quarter. Surfing down these waves will be something to remember. The body clock during these passages had to get used to four hour watches, four hours off, repeating this cycle. This was definitely an interesting experience, particularly eating and putting sailing gear on, while the yacht rolled heavily down the waves. Sleeping was not a problem (at least for me) well tied into the berth with lee cloth in place to keep me there.

We eventually arrive in Bergen at first light.

A place of:

Fish

Dried fish

Photogenic wooden buildings and great views down over the city (below)

A really good holiday and for anyone else interested, Velvet Lady sailing comes highly recommended http://www.velvetadventuresailing.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=1

Quick video below (until I find time to edit the main video together), with Michael on the helm.

Sailing Canoe "Swift"

2010-03-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

First sail of the season

First sail (and swim!) of the season. It's a long time since the canoe was in the build stage in the workshop (see earlier posts) so fitting in a first sail in March has got 2010 boating off to a good start. It also made a nice change from the current maintenance work and stripping down antifouling in the boatyard. It is a great deal more picturesque and better for the lungs).

New crew

Making Paddles

2010-02-21T05:07:00.000-08:00

Time for a pair of single paddles for Swift

The excellent book by Warren and Gidmark provides some good tips and offsets to mark out various designs. I choose the 'Sugar Island' design and glue up blanks in Ash, with some mahogany decorative stripes and protective strip glued accross the end grain.

The blanks are marked out from a centre line, measuring out to each offset dimension and then joining up the points with a clean curve.

The next job was to cut out the profile in plan.

I will revert to imperial measurements as that's what provided in the design book. So the blanks were glued up to an even thickness of 1 1/4" (being the maximum thickness of the stocks). As the paddles will only be 3/8" at most there is plenty of waste. I choose to router the worst of this off before hand planing.

There is still plenty to go at with a smoothing plane, block plane and spokeshave. Once I have my 3/8" thickness (9 mm) in the centre and paddle endges which are shaped down to 3/32" ('say' 2.5mm) I move onto the opposite end and start to shape the grip.

The candle on the bench was left over from a wedding reception and keeps the bottom of the planes moving well over the timber!

Most of the shaping on the stock and grip is completed with a sharp spokesave and the Ash works relatively easily.

The finished grip.

And the finished product! The double paddle made at the same time as Swift last year was varnished, so I will try oiling these ones and see which proves to be the most practical finish.

Completion

2009-12-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

Sails Up!

An almost invisible repair complete, so back in business for some winter sailing on a very flooded welsh lake.

Passes inspection from wife - declared seaworthy.

Launch Day

2009-10-17T13:25:00.000-07:00

Launch day finally arrives

Weather and launch went perfectly, the sails for the Gunter rig set the Iain Oughtred designed MacGegor canoe off perfectly. I remained the right way up and out of the water for the duration and 'Swift' lived up to her name.

Nothing of course ever quite ends as planned in boatbuilding and my reluctance to risk damaging the varnished deck by over strapping the canoe down to the trailer was to have disastrous results. 'Swift' I noticed (after the launch) had damage to her hull, where she had lifted and must have slammed down onto a point load on the trailer rollers. I have now learnt a difficult lesson in this respect and boat building has now instantly moved to boat repair.

On a more positive note, she is a fine little boat and once over this frustration and what we intend to be an invisable repair, I'm now up for some winter sailing.

How could I let this happen.

Sails Up

2009-10-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

A boat trailer for Swift

2009-09-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

Checking the masts still fit

Introducing the 'lightweight' trailer. Two thirds of the way through the build I finally accepted the canoe was not going to be a car top model (it had grown too heavy!). We designed a trailer and went to a local agricultural engineer for the chasis to be welded up. A fine trailer it is, but the theme of heavy has continued with this element of the project. So trailer replaces roof rack and tractor may now be added to the canoe accessory list.

Wheels, loading rollers and towbar, all bolted on.

In case this entry gives the impression all is complete and ready for launching, not quite. Some annoying runs in the deck varnish now need rubbing out and further coats of varnish applied. Also some further fitting out yet.

Paint & Varnish

2009-09-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

Work continues to shape the cockpit coaming (laminated in Ash)

The first coat of varnish on the deck (the hull is protected from splashes by a curtain of newspaper!)

Both the outsde and inside of the hull painting is now complete

Deck & Lee Board

2009-08-16T23:00:00.000-07:00

The hull is primed

Time to cook up some lead to cast into the lee board

Masts, spars and paddle are hung from the ceiling for their first coat of varnish

Glueing the deck on (later to be varnished).

Painting the inside of the hull

Setting out the sails

2009-07-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

The paddle blanks glued and starting to shape up in sitka spruce with decorative mahogany 'stripes'.

Fitting the folding rudder

The floorboards are now fitted and backrest and seats fit into a variety of alternative positions.

Time to test the sail measurements and spars. All seems ok.

Seats & Brass Stem

2009-05-31T12:13:00.001-07:00

Shaping and positioning the seats. These have a number of alternative positions forward and aft and also need to fit in with the position of the steering foot pedals, (plenty of measuring and trying out, before we finally commit ourselves!)

Some nice shiney new bronze rudder fittings (specially made up for this job) arrive from the very helpful 'Classic Marine'.

A brass stem band (to protect the keel) now fitted and running the entire length of both stems and keel).

Deck Beams, Carlins & Spars

2009-05-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

Deck Beams and Carlins complete, watertight (or will be) box surrounding mast step.

And now for some spar making, in best quality Sitka Spruce (and most of it ends up as shavings).

Fitting the sheeve blocks in the top of both masts.

Rudder & Transport Problems!

2009-04-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

Dress rehearsals
If we can work out a way whereby one person can get this 15’8” canoe onto the car top, won’t this be better than bothering with a trailer. Also an excuse to see the project in some daylight.

There you go – straightforward. Now off on-line to purchase a roof roller and canoe trolley.

In woodwork terms the weekend has seen the rudder yoke made and fitted to the folding rudder. Also the leeboard shaped.

Floors & Knees

2009-04-07T14:51:00.000-07:00

Floors and knees now in place. As the weight increases with each component, thoughts of car top transport are now being replaced by trailer designs. Not part of the original plan!

A watertight boxing is formed around the mast positions in the forward and aft deck. Copper tube is then set in place to drain any water which will come through the mast holes and take it back into the cockpit. Hopefully this leaves us with watertight bouyancy (and storage) areas forward and aft.

I even get to start bulding the folding rudder - progress indeed. Now to find the bronze fittings to match.

Cockpit Coaming

2009-03-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

Two 3.5mm Ash boards are laminated around the curved carlin to start to form the cockpit coaming. A third plank will be added (and a top lipping) once the deck is in place. Four knees support the carlin each side. The whole structure quickly starts to gain further strength.

Bulkheads

2009-03-02T13:38:00.000-08:00

Bulkheads fitted and making a former to laminate the curved carlin around

Deck Beams

2009-02-23T11:31:00.000-08:00

Setting out the positions for the masts and deck beams.

A breasthook forward and aft. Not strictly necessary I guess in the decked version, but for the small extra weight will add much strength and will also nicely pick up the deck above.

'Canoe Builder Senior', starts to fit deck beams

A small rebate plane helps with cleaning up the inside of the hull

The inside of the hull looking somewhat more finished

Caulking the planks (with epoxy), should add some further strength (and will require even more sanding).

You don’t need to own a green boiler suit to build a canoe! but it might keep you warm.

Keel strip

2009-01-18T11:56:00.000-08:00

Finally planking is complete and we feel as though we are moving forward again. Keel and outer Stems are glued in place ready for some further shaping.

Start again!

2009-01-04T06:38:00.000-08:00

Correction!

So the two offending planks have now been removed (with a hot air gun as suggested by Chris). No chances are being taken second time around, with each mould removed one at a time and slots cut to receive two ribbands running the length of each side of the hull. One ribband to define a fair curve for the top of the sheer plank and one to pick up the lap between this and the lower plank.

Like so many new jobs one learns from experience, and if we were starting off again I would follow the method recently described very well by Chris Perkins in Water Craft magazine (no. 73 Jan/Feb 09). Chris reduces all the mould sizes by the thickness of the ribbands and fits these along the course of the ‘lands’ between each plank overlap. Whether or not this would be different in thicker ply I’m not sure but with 4mm it is well advised.

The photos show we are just about ready to fit the final planks. We have also fitted false decks at both bow and stern to further ensure we end up with some symmetry about the hull.

Turning the Hull

2008-12-21T03:04:00.001-08:00

Another few weekends have passed and we had thought planking the hull was completed. Neither of us is happy with the sheer planks, stupidly glued up in a rush and the end of a long day. More haste ............... When we turned the hull over we found these two top planks are away from several the moulds and in a couple of places have developed a fold, as they have been forced around the compound curves. The next available weekend will see us cutting away several days’ hard work and trying again. Frustrating, especially when other priorities are preventing us from getting straight on with sorting this out and moving forward.

Turning the hull, finally get to see the inside.

More Planks

2008-11-16T22:00:00.000-08:00

And more planks! (8 down and 6 to go).

A full day’s work sees 2 planks scarfed and joined together into 16 foot lengths (ready for the next day). Also a plank on each side cut, fitted and glued into place.

Second strakes

2008-11-09T22:00:00.000-08:00

Second strakes

Having fitted the second garboard plank, the second strakes are also now shaped and fitted. When it finally came to gluing and we had managed to increase the temperature up to 'melting point' and with epoxy mixed and planks coated, all suddenly went dark. We were left in a pitch black workshop with the epoxy rapidly curing on the planks which we had spent most of the weekend cutting and shaping. Epoxying and power cuts definitely don’t mix, but fortunately light was soon restored and the planks were quickly clamped into place.

Cutting the gain – working in 4mm ply all of this needs to be fairly precise. The rolling bevel cut on each of the planks to accommodate the changing angles of the hull shape, then moves into a rebate. This ensures the plank thickness remains at 4mm by the time it hits the inner stem.

Note the clamps and wedges, these worked well as a method of holding the bevels together when gluing. Even if making up 60 or so pairs did take some time (allowing a plank each side to be glued up, on the same day).

Take a break

2008-11-02T18:00:00.000-08:00

Time for a short break from the canoe build. Friday gave me the first opportunity of some winter sailing this year. Cold, cold or very cold? Ice on the pontoons that morning was probably the clue. Apart from a couple of squally showers, this was an almost perfect day for it. The wind increased as soon as I left the shelter of the marina and was soon blowing a steady 6 from the NE and gusting up to 30 knots.

Whoever said Wind Vane use is restricted to long passage making was definitely wrong. My trusted Sea Feather self steering was quickly set. At least a large chunk of my body then went below to get warm, with head routinely stuck out of the hatch watching out for tankers and buoys.

Did I mention the cold?

To add to the theme of sail salt and sawdust, Saturday saw engine oil and grease, as the Beta 10 received its annual TLC. The drain plug on the gearbox requires an ‘out of socket experience’ for my left hand shoulder. Once that was completed, heat exchanger, anode, 2 fuel filters, coolant, oil and filter was just a breeze. Back to epoxy and the canoe next weekend.

Garboards

2008-10-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

Fairing and Garboards

The first garboard plank gets glued onto the hog - planking is underway!

Yesterday we got the laminated stems and hog faired to the moulds and each other to ensure smooth fair curves for planking.

Boat builders and owners need something to worry about; my worries today all concern temperature and glue strength. We can get the workshop warm for a couple of hours after applying the epoxy but it is not practical to keep this up overnight for the full cure time. The first cold snap of the season has arrived so in future, I think glue jobs will need to be limited to the morning.

Anyway the last 3 or 4 days has seen some progress and canoes must wait for a week now as I head to the coast, for hopefully a couple of days of winter sailing (not to mention an engine service in the ‘other boat’). Then back to work, to pay for it all!

Hog & Stems

2008-10-26T05:31:00.000-07:00

Hog & Stems

Indestructible epoxy - epoxy stronger than the wood! Not so! When I cut through the laminated stems to form the scarf to join the hog to, the glue line failed on the uppermost laminate and it sprung apart. Not a huge problem as the addition of more components will only serve to strengthen this, but surprising.

Moulds

2008-10-25T14:57:00.000-07:00

Moulds marked and cut out

Setting out mouds on strongback

Fitting the hog (the timber which will eventually take the keel). It must be straight!

As for the instruction book - what's this all about?

Laminating Stems

2008-10-18T13:23:00.000-07:00

Laminated Stems

The 4mm iroko thick strips are epoxy glued to the pre-shaped moulds. These will form the curved stems at both end of the canoe and join into the hog and keel.

Plywood moulds

Springing the curve to mark the hull shape on the moulds

The moulds to form the exact hull shape at each of the stations are marked out, in this case on 9mm birch ply. These are then cut out on the bandsaw and will eventually be mounted on the building frame.

Design Plans

2008-10-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

This morning to Bristol to collect sheets of top notch 4mm marine ply. At £95 per sheet will I ever dare make the first cut?

The Plans have arrived

The drawings had already arrived several weeks back, so it was good this afternoon, to finally unroll them and plane up some iroko for the hog, keel and laminated stems.

For anyone wanting the drawings the original 19th century design by John MacGregor has been re-drafted by Iain Oughtred, to a modern lapstrake plank epoxy construction. These can be purchased from http://www.woodenboat.com/

Strongback

2008-10-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

Two new ventures:

1] A home build MacGregor Sailing Canoe

2] A wife encouraged/enforced blog

Here goes!

The project in hand (canoe not wife or blog)

The credit for this beautiful canoe (above) apparently goes to Tom Moen (for more details http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?t=1634 ). Hope you will not mind us admiring this image Tom, until our own project kicks off further.

Ready to Build!

So far, we - oh by the way 'we' is my father and I (more on that later) have got the workshop cleared and the strongback built