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[JLMathis]

Hello to any and all. My name is Jeff Mathis, Grimesland N.C.
I have just acquired an 11.5 foot Herrshoff sailing dingy that was started and abandoned. The hull is mostly done. the last lap strake is yet to be cut and installed. No frames or anything else are cut or installed. I got boxes of nails and roves. I have 30 years of home building but no clue about this. I hope I can dive in here from time to time for advice starting with maybe some references to past threads or good reading matter.

Thanks in advance

JLMathis

[Thorne]

Welcome to the Forum!

Our kind hosts at Wooden Boat have a lot of good books on this sort of thing.

http://www.woodenboatstore.com/images/300026.jpg
http://www.woodenboatstore.com/Building-the-Herreshoff-Dinghy/productinfo/300%2D026/



What sort of building space and woodworking tools are available to you? Can you be more specific on the materials -- marine ply, solid wood -- if the latter what kind of wood?

I've had very good luck restoring and/or finishing boats, and I'm sure you will also.

[StevenBauer]

Welcome. Camera?

;)


Steven

[JLMathis]

The wood is cedar. Not sure I can be more specific right now. The previous owner was having it built but the builder has left the area. I have pelnty of shop room, the normal carpenter's tools. I have a 1956 Bull's Eye sail boat I brought back from the grave (granted it's FG) I'll take some pictures and see if I can figure out how to post them.

JLM

[Peerie Maa]

Welcome. Camera?

;)


Steven

He means that we love to see pictures.:D

[SMARTINSEN]

Yes, lots of pictures, please. It is easy to post them, too, and if you have problems with that Thorne will be right along to help you out.

Grimesland looks to me like a nice place to retire to.

[Thad]

Get that book, published by Mystic Seaport. It describes in fine detail the building method and includes the plans. You can scale and measure for the placement of the needed parts, ribs, clamps, risers and thwarts. The rig shown is excellent for the boat. Have fun and don't hesitate to ask for assistance.

[rbgarr]

The dinghy you have may be the same as the one described in the blue booklet shown. The lengths are the same. You may want to get that booklet for guidance, although it won't answer all questions. If it is the same boat, the last plank (the sheer plank) is the most difficult since as designed it is a molded shape (thicker at the top than at the bottom edge). I wouldn't feel compelled to have a molded sheer strake. It would be easier to fit a uniform thickness plank.

I even wonder of the previous builder got stumped by trying to figure out how to make a molded strake (and fit it) and stopped there.

[Hughman]

Welcome to the forum! Pull up a mud bucket and have a beer. There's a post on how to post pics somewhere on here....

[erster]

I take it that this is your other boat? Check your private messages please.

http://www.bullseyeclass.org/evolve.htm

http://www.bullseyeclass.org/graphics/hbe.gif

[JLMathis]

No, the bilge and they were building it as a row boat. The plans show a swing keel but was not cut for one (assuming that is done early on) Interestingly, I do own a 1956 Bull's Eye (fiberglass) Saw it in a guy's back yard and bought it for $200.00. Spent a year on it and race it regularly. You guys don't discriminate against plastics owners do you? This will be my first venture into the world of wood.

JLM

[JLMathis]

Sorry, I misread your last post. Of coourse it is. Been a long day.
JLM