Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Exciting News
Today's been a bit of a flurry here at the shop. Colleen Jones (and cameraman Steve Berry) from CBC News spent the morning here asking questions to the result that we are supposed to be on the news tonight. They were very kind and gracious. We stumbled over the answers and they patiently asked them again to get a better shot. Can't wait to see the result. Wish us luck!
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Students in the shop
Something new today.
A couple of weeks ago, I had a bit of a brain storm. Bit of a hurricane really. We have been trying to figure out how we are going to finish out the inside of Lena Blanche and what her deck design will be like. We've been keeping track of some of the things we'd like to have and where things will go like the galley and salon, heads and storage and, of course, bunks. Nothing definite, you understand, but we know these are essentials.
Digging deep in my poor wood laden brain, I remembered that we have a dear friend who teaches brilliant students at the Architectural school in Halifax. So I asked myself, "Self, do you suppose they need a different kind of project to occupy them for part of this term. Something they could sink their teeth in, be a little experimental with, dive into a new world (so to speak). Hmmmmm".
So I called Emmanuel and ran the prospect past him and asked what he thought of the idea. Long story short a week or so later we had 6 students crawling through our "little" schooner taking measurements with machinery used in surveying but higher tech and much greater usability and asking all sorts of questions about the vessel and her needs.
Here are some of the pics from that day.
Noah and Emanuel (outside of vessel) going over drawings and labeling vessel parts in sketches.
In the vessel deciding which points of the vessel they're going to use as a benchmark for their project
Setting up to use the bottom of the clamp as their baseline for the machine. They also used every 4th frame to fill in the dimensional aspects.
Ben, Tomas and Dean (brown t-shirt).
A couple of weeks ago, I had a bit of a brain storm. Bit of a hurricane really. We have been trying to figure out how we are going to finish out the inside of Lena Blanche and what her deck design will be like. We've been keeping track of some of the things we'd like to have and where things will go like the galley and salon, heads and storage and, of course, bunks. Nothing definite, you understand, but we know these are essentials.
Digging deep in my poor wood laden brain, I remembered that we have a dear friend who teaches brilliant students at the Architectural school in Halifax. So I asked myself, "Self, do you suppose they need a different kind of project to occupy them for part of this term. Something they could sink their teeth in, be a little experimental with, dive into a new world (so to speak). Hmmmmm".
So I called Emmanuel and ran the prospect past him and asked what he thought of the idea. Long story short a week or so later we had 6 students crawling through our "little" schooner taking measurements with machinery used in surveying but higher tech and much greater usability and asking all sorts of questions about the vessel and her needs.
Here are some of the pics from that day.
(back row l-r) Noah Jacobson, Tomas Ramos, Robert Cuthbert
(front row l-r)Ben Weiss, Ben Angus, Dean Dumaresq, Emanuel Jannasch (Professor)
Dalhousie School of Architecture
We are so excited to see what these fellows come up with. When they're all done, then we'll share what they have drawn up with all of you.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Welcome to fall.
So it's time for an update. Hello to all those who we hear follow the blog from all over. Hope you all had a great summer and a beautiful fall. We are loving being able to work every day without sweltering or freezing.
We are on the 4th strake from the sheer. Whoo hoo! Now when kids ask if the vessel would float RIGHT NOW if it was in the water I can honestly tell them yes. You can tell from the pics that she is getting that finished look to her hull. Notice the wine glass shape of the stern and the thickness of the planking as it borders the transom.
Port side looking forward from the rudder.
Taken from the cutting room. Notice the trunnels as yet untrimmed.
Knightsheads. The planking is getting up there.
Looking aft of the port side. All of the trunnels will eventually be trimmed and the whole side sanded.
We are on the 4th strake from the sheer. Whoo hoo! Now when kids ask if the vessel would float RIGHT NOW if it was in the water I can honestly tell them yes. You can tell from the pics that she is getting that finished look to her hull. Notice the wine glass shape of the stern and the thickness of the planking as it borders the transom.
Starboard side looking forward
We are going to keep working this fall until all of the planking is finished. Hopefully we'll be able to heat a small portion of the boat and do a little work this winter. We will need to coat everything with sealer and paint and then put the wooden ceiling (planking) on which should go faster than the exterior planking. We are trying to decide how to divide up the area below decks and have a few ideas. We plan to have the interior all drawn up before we put in the deck beams.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Stanchion Posts
All the stanchion posts are in and sealed and cut off. We moved the interior walkways out by the sides of the ribs making everything less cluttered in the bilge. We are going to sand and paint the posts white and then drop the staging to continue planking.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Stanchion Posts
We have planked as far as we can before we move our staging planks..... so before we do that we are installing our stanchion posts which will be planked over when we continue the planking. They are looking fantastic.
They will be sealed, painted, cut off, and routered. They are made of 4 x 4 solid oak and they will support the top rail.
We will then drop our staging about 3 feet and continue with the planking. There are about 7 strakes left to do. Whoo hoo!
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Visitors
What a fantastic day we had. We have many visitors come through our shop each year and we are always thankful for the wonderful people we have met while building Lena Blanche.
Today we had the Antique Tool Collectors Association come to visit.Some are not only tool collectors but boat enthusiasts as well, much to our surprise. It was a great afternoon with us showing and describing how this vessel is going together as well as a visit through the foundry and through our workshop basement where we rebuilt the engines for the Lena Blanche and built our little skiff boat as a winter project. These fellows (and one lady) showed themselves to be people of great knowledge and experience in so many different areas.
We demonstrated some trunnel making and then got a couple of guys to work driving them in the planking.
They surprised us with a present. They presented us with a slick that is over 100 years old. They had a leather sheath made for it and I can guarantee that the blade is razor sharp. A slick is a large chisel that is used by just pushing it through the wood, there is no mallet involved.
The weather agreed with us today and it was sunny and warm so we even got a chance to stand around outside and have a chat after the tour.I always love hearing about the grandfathers who were boat builders and about the different trades and hobbies that people pursue. It was a great opportunity to reminisce about our maritime history and different trades that you don't see very often nowadays and to hear stories that keep them alive in our memories. We also got to talk about the crafts and woodworking skills that so many of these men keep active with in their daily life.
Much thanks to them for their visit and for the slick. It will hold a place of honour in our boat shed and in our hearts.
Today we had the Antique Tool Collectors Association come to visit.Some are not only tool collectors but boat enthusiasts as well, much to our surprise. It was a great afternoon with us showing and describing how this vessel is going together as well as a visit through the foundry and through our workshop basement where we rebuilt the engines for the Lena Blanche and built our little skiff boat as a winter project. These fellows (and one lady) showed themselves to be people of great knowledge and experience in so many different areas.
We demonstrated some trunnel making and then got a couple of guys to work driving them in the planking.
They surprised us with a present. They presented us with a slick that is over 100 years old. They had a leather sheath made for it and I can guarantee that the blade is razor sharp. A slick is a large chisel that is used by just pushing it through the wood, there is no mallet involved.
The weather agreed with us today and it was sunny and warm so we even got a chance to stand around outside and have a chat after the tour.I always love hearing about the grandfathers who were boat builders and about the different trades and hobbies that people pursue. It was a great opportunity to reminisce about our maritime history and different trades that you don't see very often nowadays and to hear stories that keep them alive in our memories. We also got to talk about the crafts and woodworking skills that so many of these men keep active with in their daily life.
Much thanks to them for their visit and for the slick. It will hold a place of honour in our boat shed and in our hearts.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Coupla New Pics
Since last week we have put on the gunwales, breasthook, and quarter knees. Next come rising,thwarts, after seat and forward cuddy.
We also got a plank fastened on Lena Blanche and will be adding another today. Stay tuned for more pics in the next few days.
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