BS: Who builds wooden boats?

Subject: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 Dec 15 - 01:12 PM

My Dear Husband (DH) and I have built four wooden boats. Well, he builds them and I help.

I wonder if any other catters build and use small wooden boats.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: Megan L
Date: 02 Dec 15 - 01:23 PM

Dauvitt learned the skill from his uncles who were the boat builders for his mothers island they made the Orkney yole which was a clinker built boat when you look at them sitting in the water you can see their Viking ancestary.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: Stanron
Date: 02 Dec 15 - 01:28 PM

In the past I built two or three small boats and sailed them, also a canoe and small tender. I'm too old for all of that now. Still I've got some pleasant memories.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Dec 15 - 01:31 PM

What sort of 'wooden boats'? The term could mean a myriad of different things.

Could you elucidate further, please?

Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 02 Dec 15 - 07:52 PM

Cal-Gael (I think that's how it is spelled) is a charitable organisation based in (Govan?), Glasgow.
Organisation was set up to help people acquire new skills and self esteem through building wooden boats -- quite large ones, like Viking longboats>
_ I have to say I am writing this off the top of my head, I should have checked all the facts first - - apologies. But anyone interested should be able to find out the correct facts online- - -

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 02 Dec 15 - 07:59 PM

I once helped a traditional Lunenburg dory. It required great craftsmanship , I was thrilled to be part of it even if all I did was sand, paint and sweep. She is still afloat and is called "Wishes and Dreams", lovely, yes ?

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 02 Dec 15 - 08:24 PM

I've built a sailing kayak [forms available for free, PM me] and maintained several others as well as completing and building several whitehalls, both for myself and for Floating the Apple, here in New York.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Dec 15 - 09:18 AM

My mate John Morgan who is also a folkie has built several at his house in Canada, and is restoring a couple at his house in Yorkshire, one of which said boats I towed around the country a couple of times because he forgot to organise anyone else to do it.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: CupOfTea
Date: 03 Dec 15 - 09:34 AM

Leroy Jethro Gibbs builds them in his basement, though I'm pretty sure he's not a Mudcatter.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 03 Dec 15 - 10:03 AM

I can't work out how he gets them out when he's finished unless he has a setup like Dr Phibes where he has direct access to the River Styx.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: Megan L
Date: 03 Dec 15 - 10:32 AM

ah Manitas how does one get the ship in the bottle or out :)

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 03 Dec 15 - 10:55 AM

I know that one -it's collapsible masts.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 03 Dec 15 - 11:36 AM

Thanks for your responses. The Lunenburg dory and the whitehalls, especially.

The DH has built a ship in a bottle, too.

We have built two kinds of rowing boat - two jon boats (almost flat bottomed, about 14 feet long and very safe) and two Delaware duckers. One ducker was for a friend and didn't last. The ducker is clinker-built.

We have had a hard time keeping the ducker from leaking. And I haven't found it easy to get good, clear directions on using modern adhesives and fastenings on a traditional boat.

We live in the Midwest, and we take our boats on rivers and on the upstream reaches of reservoirs, where the birdwatching is good. Our boats have to survive occasional collisions with undetectable sunken trees. When two people are rowing and one is paddling and the current is carrying the boat, and suddenly you hit a log - then you understand what "shiver me timbers" really means.

We used to subscribe to Wooden Boat magazine but gave up because the emphasis seemed to be on beauty. (What I call the boat in aspic.) There was no place in their world for mud-stained, log-battered, rock-scratched boats like ours.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 03 Dec 15 - 11:40 AM

Our ducker is like the boat in the lower right corner of this page.

http://traditionalsmallcraft.com/Duckers.html

But we put a transom across the stern to save time and in case we ever wanted to put a small motor on the boat.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 03 Dec 15 - 06:24 PM

Ages ago when I was building dulcimers, I spent two weeks at the American exhibit at Expo in Montreal.   There was another craftsman there who built a boat during that two week span. I wish now that I could remember his name. He was an exacting craftsman. He is one of the few people that I remember.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST,Mrrzy
Date: 03 Dec 15 - 07:01 PM

I've heard you can't make any money at it. They aren't just free, they're very free. And easy.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 03 Dec 15 - 07:44 PM

Good one. Mercy. I like that, lol.

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST,Hilo
Date: 03 Dec 15 - 07:58 PM

Sorry Mrzzy , dam auto correct! .

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Dec 15 - 10:38 AM

We don't want to make money. It's a hobby.

Here's a debate that's been going on for a while. I read in a book that it's important to round the sharp edges off the planks of a clinker-built boat. The DH doesn't believe it.

On the whitehalls and dories, was that done?

Any views on adhesives?

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST,julia L
Date: 04 Dec 15 - 10:39 PM

Nik Apollonio, master guitar/ cittern builder also builds wooden boats

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST,Phil
Date: 05 Dec 15 - 04:06 AM

My first build was a cypress 15" flat bottom skiff, scantlings transferred from a Cuban one impounded by the U.S.C.G. (I was raised a child labourer liveaboard a 1928 Matthews Express '65 "woodie" ;)

Rounding over, chamfering, etc:
I always try to avoid a crisp edge under a painted or bright surface. It won't take or hold an even coat; is more prone to chipping and is going to get broken over anyway during sanding; surface prep and/or hard use. Not having to needle nose 2" wood slivers out of your quadriceps is another plus.

Adhesives:
SystemThree for epoxie$ and plain old DAP Weldwood 204 (what plywood is made with.) See also:
Adhesive Bonding of Wood, TB#1512 (USDA Forest Service, Aug. 1975)

Merry sawdust!

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 05 Dec 15 - 10:42 AM

Thanks Hilo, I was rather proud of myself, and surprised at your pre-corrected correction!

Subject: RE: BS: Who builds wooden boats?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Dec 15 - 11:27 AM

thanks for the info and the memories, Phil.

I'll look into those adhesives.