A new start in blogging world.
So, let’s began here..
About a week ago, I received an e-mail from an nice lady in Springfield, Missouri… She contacted me about a dinghy. After a few exchange in e-mail communications, shown her several design offers.
Asked if I could build a special boat for her that is not listed on my site. She sent me a breath-taking photo of Monet Garden Boat. After ooh’s -n- ahh’s of studying the picture. I replied back sure I can….
I drew up the plan on CAD program. Same basic design, color and all.. Based on shape and size she requested. Send a copy of study plan to her.
She approved it. I made a model of it, just to test my plan for the pattern. Mixing up a batch of green color is fun.. Can’t even get it close enough.
This boat is going to be built traditional way, from solid wood planks.. No plywoods, no engineered wood products, and no epoxy or fiberglass. Idea is to replicate the boat as closely as possible.
June 15, 2007
I started on MGB (short for Monet Garden Bateau).
I milled 40 running linear feet of Western Red Cedar planks today. After about an hour and half, feeding the planer.. I smelled like a pencil sharpener (don’t even ask).. Planed cedar planks from 7/8″ to 5/8″ thickness. Just Perfect!! Combination of light weight and flexibility. And a BIG pile of pencil shavings.
Tomorrow I will set up the forms, cut the side boards shape.
June 18, 2007
After rainshower we here today.. I manage to get some snapshots of my progress.
I just got carried away into construction.
There she is, sides are formed. Transom and bow in place.
Wood is slighty damp from the moisture in the air. Forms is handy helper in above photos. Kept it off the ground at a perfect working height. No bending over, or straining to reach across.
Using a “Spanish Windlass” to pull the bow ends together. The last thing I needed is the first thing in the morning is “coffee”. When I let go of wounded up rope and stick. Yup, that how it goes.. Whop whop whop whop, smack…
Later tonight, I will be making frames…..
June 20, 2007
Today I set frames out after a couple of days curing time.. Screwed, glued, and notched for keel.
Then got them in place permanently along with keel.. I used a selected spruce (with no knots) for keel. which it allow me to bend in place without breaking.
That’s one sweet looking transom (tombstone shaped), it’s my favorite.. Found on most of my dories… Tomorrow and the next few days, I will be putting in chine logs, and start planking the bottom……..
June 29, 2007
It been hectic for the last days. Few rainy days, she have been covered under tarp. Rain halt my progress. One of these days, I’m gonna have me a workshop.
I finally got a chance to sit down and add some update.
This project is going together fast, and fairly easy
Okay, I got the chine logs in and keel.. Remove the forms, begin to plank the bottom.
That is one stack of cedar planks ready to be placed on the bottom. It took 10 of 3/4″ X 5-1/2″ x 8 feet cedar planks, to do this bottom. I rabbeted edges for easier placement. Caulked the joint heavy to allow squeeze out. This is the only way to be sure a good seal and bonding.
After gluing with 3 cartridges of 3M 5200 caulking, and 1-1/2 pound of stainless steel screws later. I got the bottom all in.
Let her sit for a few days. To allow adhesive to cure throughly, and for all the wood to adjust to their new shape.
Trimmed the bottom edge flush. I sanded for few hours.
Mainly to get ’er fair……..
Got a better camera working. Nicer pictures.
Scorched marks seen on the keel is result cutting and grinding of screws, for it being a tad too long, about a eight of inch…. All was available at this time is 1-5/8″ long. I wanted 1-1/4″
At this stage she weighed about 75 pounds, maybe more. I couldn’t tell without a scale. All I know is that I can pick her up and carry her at ease.. Not bad for cedar planked boat. And she is stiff and sound.. Let see what she measured to.. A little over 10 feet long, 45″ beam at sheer, 16″ hull depth…. Awesome, just as I wanted to be…
Next step is gunnels, runners, fore and aft seats. Then paint her…….
Its need some kind of protection along the bottom edge as for cedar it is quite soft wood. I made outer chine strips and gunnels from hard pine.
Then flipped ‘er over.. Place runners on the bottom.
Sand and primed the entire bottom and sides
And first coat of this awesome green color
After paint, with seats and thwart installed.
Splash!
Took it out on the water to check for leaks.
Look how she floats! Just Right!
Weeeeee, this is fun…..
I rowed for thirty minutes, having a blast.
She is very sweet handling. I really like this boat. I am sure that my customer will love this boat.. I gotta build me one.
September 29, 2007.. Went to its new home…
