Building 72' schooner in Viet Nam

[RFNK]

Yes, about November 2010.
Rick

[KAIROS]

Hi Luke. After seeing the series of photos and video of fairing the bottom....I started wondering about how it is decided, for some large wood boats, to build and finish the hull upside-down then roll it upright for work on the deck and interior.

Was this a consideration for your project? If so, what determined that your schooner be built right-side up?

[Lucky Luke]

Hi Luke. After seeing the series of photos and video of fairing the bottom....I started wondering about how it is decided, for some large wood boats, to build and finish the hull upside-down then roll it upright for work on the deck and interior.
Was this a consideration for your project? If so, what determined that your schooner be built right-side up?

Hi Kairos,
As I have already commented somewhere along this thread, would I have been in charge of this build right from the beginning, I would have had it done upside down without hesitation.

Generally speaking, and even for large -or larger- yachts, is is a good practice to do so.

The top best is, of course, to be able to "roll" the boat so that all the works are done on a nearly horizontal surface; this is done mostly for metallic boat in order to avoid having to do welds "in position" (verticall, or overhead), but this needs a considerable investment in very large "wheels" and rollers, as well as causing local stresses. On a metallic boat, too, it is possible to weld temporary attachments to the plating, which is far moe difficult on a wooden one.

On even a large wooden boat, if the keel and deadwood etc... are a little bit "in the air", the frames are much easier to erect upside down than upright, and the whole hull is totally free of any supports on the outside. The only small difficulty is erecting the scaffoldings which have to go "over" the hull. Inside is a bit messy at the beginning, with a lot of internal bracing, but once the hull is rigid enough and this gets removed, it is very easy to erect temporary floors and scaffoldings. Before planking, a lot of internal structures, stringers, engine beds and others can be made, as well of course as bulkheads, which are very easy to do and trim. The keel is usually done after the frames have been erected.

The big advantage in building upside down is of course when it comes to the finishing, no-way comparable to having to do that overhead, and would it be this only, makes it worth it.

The drawbacks is the rolling over, needing space and causing expenses (which are more than compensated by the other savings). In a well fitted yard, using two overhard cranes makes it just an easy and quick job.

Building upright, though, is still how most boats are done. On large ones, it is the unavailability of lifting equipment, the sheer size of the boat, or simply the builder's practice that will command the construction method. In the case of this boat, which was started by a fishing boat builder, he had things done the way he was used to, as well as the rest of the crew, all fishing boats builders too.

[Lucky Luke]

Well.....while nothing is happening, let's spend some time with girl friends!



....and have some beer: sante, nashtarovia, chok dee krap, cheers, skol, prosit, chuc suc khoe!

[Lucky Luke]

But how to forget this song (and this ship)....???

[P.L.Lenihan]

A veritable coven of the witches of Mayhem! I need a bottle opener like at 2:23! Merci Luc!

slainte!!



Peter

[David Carnes]

Yeh Bluenose II - soon..
http://www.novascotiawebcams.com/sou...-top-view.html

http://player.streamit.ca/Player.aspx?eventid=31 Live stream

[WX]

Thanks Tumzara.

About the thread you are referring to, by "SchoonerUS": yes, these are the strange things on the Internet, and although there will soon be 200,000 views on this thread (thank you: appreciated!), with "only" 22 pages, but this over two and a half years (!!!), I am effectively surprised to see that this person has had nearly 40.000 viewers, this over his 32 pages of certainly interesting discussions (for him), and this over just two and a half...months!

I am sorry then, dear fellow forumnites, not to have a more entertaining style, like Mr. Lenihan , and for the slowness of this construction !

We do what we can!

You Sir, are doing just fine. I don't drop in often but I do enjoy it when I do.

[Sailor]

I wish I knew what that coven of witches were singing about.

[David Carnes]

Although only 48 feet, when you build two, (twins) side by each is that 96 feet?

http://www.twinschooners.blogspot.com/

Another Nova Scotia project.

[David Carnes]

Polish, google translated lyrics,,,,

Mary Port

słowa: Agata Król, muzyka: Maja Lewicka

words: Agata King,
Music: May Lewicka

Każdy, kto po morzu pływa i gdy męska jego
płeć,

Anyone who swims
in the sea, and when the male sex,

niechaj naszych słów
posłucha, bo świadomość musi mieć,

let them listen to our words, because
consciousness must be,

że wpływając w bramy portu, tęskniąc do
kobiecych ciał,

that affects the port gates, longing for women's
bodies,

mając wcześniej pełną
kiesę, nic nie będzie miał.

Having been a full purse, nothing
will.

Hej, żeglarzu, przygotuj złota pełen
trzos,

Hey, sailor,
prepare a purse full of gold,

kiedy zechcesz po
rejsie znów przytulić się,

boat when you want to cuddle up
again,

bo gdy pływasz łajbą,
taki już twój los -

because when you are swimming Lajb, such is your
fate -

jeśli nie masz forsy,
nie zabawisz się.

if
you have no money, not to have fun.

My czekamy ciągle na was
w tych tawernach setki lat -

We are still waiting for you in the tavern for
hundreds of years -

bo od wieków przecież żeglarz już wypływa w morski
świat...

for centuries
been a sailor, after the maritime world comes ...

Jak będziecie tutaj, w
porcie i zechcecie iść na bal,

As you will be here in the port and would like to
go to the prom,

to wydacie na nas cały
zarobiony szmal.

This
will release us all earned dough.

Hej, żeglarzu...

Hey, sailor ...

Towarzystwo dla każdego z marynarzy znajdzie
się:

Society for each
of the sailors will be:

słodkie
blond, ogniste rude, białe, czarne panny też

cute blonde, fiery redhead, white, black girls
too

i nieważne, czy to
szpetny, czy rasowy będzie chłop,

and void, whether ugly or pedigree will be a
peasant,

gdy zadźwięczy forsa,
wtedy się zjawimy w lot.

when zadźwięczy money, then I zjawimy in
flight.

Hej, żeglarzu..

Hey, sailor ..

[Lucky Luke]

Ha ha! I see you guys get more exited by this "coven of witches" than by Queen of the Grand Banks, Schooner Bluenose, sailing under full dress, and this song with the warm voice of Stan Rogers!!!

....but I must reckon that the Google translation is hilarious!

[David Carnes]

I can't copy Stan Rogers, but I want to see if I can get that Tune up on my Bagpipes.

[PeterF]

That's a wonderful song and a great video. The Bluenose has always been kind of special to me, ever since I built a model of it when I was little. I can't wait to see the restored Bluenose 2 launched.
The schooner on this thread is pretty amazing as well! Any more updates?

[Snoring Sarge]

I will grant the board the old J.P. Morgan saying "If you have to ask, you can not afford it" ( I can't)

What will be the build cost of this Schooner have once it's done? Ball Park figure? + or _ 25,000?

[Lucky Luke]

That the last poster's name is "snoring" quite accurately reflects the activity on this thread - and of this built - I am afraid!

However, it has re-started again!

Not a very exciting way, sure: sanding, shh...shhhh...shhh.... and this on the inside of the bulwark, with all these good and classic looking but difficult stanchions! So: no pictures right now, but the (big!) spars fabrication should start soon: will be a little more interesting! So: just keep hangin' around!

[Lucky Luke]

What will be the build cost of this Schooner have once it's done? Ball Park figure? + or _ 25,000?

Sorry, but as already said, I cannot give the prices here. Would someone be interested in having a boat built over there, he will be most welcome to contact me directly.

[daniel gross]

Glad too hear you're back at it Luke, looking forward to more updates and pictures
Fair winds
Dan

[Sayla]

That the last poster's name is "snoring" quite accurately reflects the activity on this thread - and of this built - I am afraid!

However, it has re-started again!

Not a very exciting way, sure: sanding, shh...shhhh...shhh.... and this on the inside of the bulwark, with all these good and classic looking but difficult stanchions! So: no pictures right now, but the (big!) spars fabrication should start soon: will be a little more interesting! So: just keep hangin' around!

Waiting in anticipation - even the sanding

sayla

[Sailor]

Me too. We need more posts because every time I bring up this thread, the picture in post 1081 comes up with all the plastic bags all over the place. Sad to see. New page, new pics of a beautiful schooner going together please!

[Lucky Luke]

Waiting in anticipation - even the sanding

Well....if that is what pleases you! Anyway: there is no choice since that is all what is being done right now, besdes of course the big job of completing the yard's installations: surrounding walls, as it is now so easy for thieves to come silently with a boat during the night! Our big neighbor (Strategic Marine) is regularly victim of such robberies....we are lucky so far! Also to be done before the rainy season really starts is to finish the cladding on the side of the shed, that will replace these misearble tarps that the wing keeps blowing away!

So: since sanding is being done, here are some pictures of this work, a lengthy one on this size of vessel, but absolutely necessary in order to obtain the finishing we want. Two level of scaffolding now surround the hull in order to facilitate this unpleasant work.

This picture was taken at lunchtime break, with them guys playing guitar and Chinese chess:




The outside of the bulwark is now as smooth as the whole hull, and hardly needs any filler:




....but the big work is on the inside of the bulwark, where some extra filler has been put in order to ensure that rain and deck wash water will run along the waterway inside of the stanchions, to be collected by small flush deck scuppers that will discharge at waterline, and not do long dirty strips along the hull. Green sea water will discharge through a row of scuppers about 20mm. higher than the waterway. The blocking in between some stanchions is where fairleads wil be fitted. This blocking is set in a rebate in the stanchions so that the outward pull of lines passing through the fairleads do not pull out the bulwark planking. Just one of those little details I like...!

[Lucky Luke]

Slightly off the topic:

On the river when coming from Saigon or back, we pass some strangely loaded boats, like this one with a cargo of roofing palms. Looks like these long hair dogs!




But the funniest ones are these "restaurant boats" that take people around the harbor for dinner....so quite as romantic as a cruise on the Rhine river, but....:




The one here-above, if you obliterate the ridiculous superstructure and moreover the "neon" junk sails (...!!!) has at least a wonderful, huge wooden hull, but look at the hogging of this other one

[RFNK]

She's looking terrific Luc!

Rick

[Lucky Luke]

That "thing" (Tropical storm Pakhar) is moving towards us. Will hit tonight.....

[tigerregis]

Garde ton chapeau monsieur!

[AlanL]

Good luck.

[RFNK]

Well, it looks like Central will have the worst of it, as usual. Good luck though Luc, I hope you and yours all fare well. They're no joke these typhoons. I wonder how many fishermen will be lost in this one?

Rick

[Lucky Luke]

Well, it looks like Central will have the worst of it, as usual. Good luck though Luc, I hope you and yours all fare well. They're no joke these typhoons. I wonder how many fishermen will be lost in this one?
Rick

Not central Vietnam this time, but the path seems to have Pakhar center RIGHT over our heads by tomorrow afternoon! Winds are gusting to 140 kph (90 knots) right now...! As much as 100mm. of rain could fall within the next 12 hours....Surge maybe over a meter high. It has slowed down its progression, but at the same time gained power laying longer above the warm waters of the South China Sea....

All fishermen have been called back, but there is already a (non confirmed) report of twenty lost... .Many are just too far offshore to make it in time with this rapidly growing newborn typhoon...

I wonder what will be left of our (unfinished) shed cladding by Monday morning....????

[RFNK]

Sorry to hear that Luc. Whenever you see a pattern like that you know there'll be untold numbers of fishermen caught out and there'll be plenty of drownings as the rivers rip out more villages. I hope you don't get the worst of it and I hope your crew will all be okay too. Cladding can be replaced but what a hassle! Good luck - we're all hoping for the best for you all!

Rick

[Lucky Luke]

Storm Pakhar is now gone....and with it some of our premises!

Yes, yesterday afternoon and evening were wild: trees falling, metal sheet flying....and this morning offers some saddening view! The Foreman and two security personnel, feeling better there than in their little watch towers, got blocked in one of our storage containers all afternoon, incapable to leave this shelter as metal sheets were flying around.

Here is what is left of the 30 x 5 m. extension all along the shed:




Originally, it is the wall supporting the roof of this extension, which was built with brick only columns, which gave up and took the roof with it, helped by some waves happily not too big as we are in a very sheltered area - from the sea, but not from the wind! The section a bit farther, with concrete columns stood up unscathed.




Of the shed itself, some roofing and side cladding has gone, while the boat looks superbly oblivious of this mess all around!:




Most spectacular is the not even finished 30m. wall opposite the sea that fell down "in one piece" flat on the ground! These unfinished walls were traditionally built, with brick only columns, and proved incapable to withstand the full blast of gale force winds...
The "rich" Strategic Marine yard besides us, with it's sheds closed by big doors, did not suffer anything, of course...!



So, now is time for repairs, with proper foundations and concrete columns like those who have not been affected, repair and finish the shed's cladding, and carry on working!

[skuthorp]

Hi Luke, Well at least when the wall deconstructed itself you were left with the bricks nicely laid out.

Boat is looking good.

[peter radclyffe]

Luc your builders may like to build an S shaped more wind resistant wall

[Lucky Luke]

Luc your builders may like to build an S shaped more wind resistant wall

Hi Peter! Long time no see!

Sure, but as I explained the sections of wall that had reinforced concrete column stood up. It is only those with the traditional brick columns that went down, and broke just above the foundations.
There are gazillions of walls build like that in the whole country, some dating from centuries...but not usually exposed to the full blast of a cat. 1 typhoon (gusts were over 100 knots!) while they were not even rendered yet (which adds tremendously to their strength).
Anyway, although impressive - and saddening - this is minor damage, and will be rebuilt soon (with RC columns!).

The boat and the people were safe, that's what matters.

[Sailor]

Glad the important things were safe (people and the boat)

[RFNK]

As you say Luc, everyone there's okay and that's what matters! Phew! Sorry you all have this repair hassle now! Glad you're all okay - phew again!

Rick

[Duncan Gibbs]

Glad the important things were safe (people and the boat)

+1, but sorry for you about the damage that did occur. Just glad it wasn't more serious.

[Sayla]

Amazing that the boat didn't get a serious ding - with all those sheets flying around

sayla

[Lucky Luke]

Amazing that the boat didn't get a serious ding - with all those sheets flying around

Protected by The Gods, she is

[Bernadette]

hi luc
how are you?
bern xo

[GARRBOSR]

I cant get the link, perhaps Im to late?? Also interested in the glassing over, I have maybe a few to do and need more input,

[Lucky Luke]

I cant get the link, perhaps Im to late?? Also interested in the glassing over, I have maybe a few to do and need more input,

While the men are still building up the yard and not making progress on the boat, we shall soon receive our new order of West System epoxy, and will then finish the sheathing, from waterline down. Before that, the hull will have it's first coats of paint to protect the present epoxy from the UV.
The sheathing below waterline, much of it being overhead, will have to be done vertically and not horizontally like what has been done so far. You will see plenty of pictures, no worry!

[Lucky Luke]

The repairs are nearly all done, and the works resume on the boat.
After weeks of sanding, the inside of he bulwark being most boring and unpleasant, the first coat of epoxy primer could be applied, on the inside of the bulwark and "waterway" first:





This first undercoat will be followed by some more filler "touch-up", then a second undercoat, and then the first top-coat or polyurethane.

The paint we use, and shall use throughout, is from Jotun. This paint, whose price is less than ten times lower than those for "Yachting", although having very similar characteristics, is normally made for cargo ships and other exposed structures. Of course, you will not find one liter cans at your shipchandler, not even the twenty liters we use, but only by Jotun dealers.
We do not pretend to achieve a result like what can be obtained using Awlgrip, to cite the most famous but also most expensive one, but something well above, both in color and gloss retention, scratch resistance and longevity than all the classic "Alkyd" and others that are commonly use. However, such paint system could not be used on a traditional planking where the movement of the wood at the seams and in the wood itself would make this hard paint crack, but it is perfect on a very stable support like our epoxy encapsulated hull, with it's thick fiberglass sheathing.

[Sailor]

She's coming alongs beautifully and can't be ready fast enough for me. Keep up the posts, they truly are appreciated out here in binary land.

[A.Greever]

So she survived her first real storm, and she has not even put to sea yet!

[Phil Y]

Luc I assume that with her all glassed up like that you will be taking extreme care with all fastenings that pierce the skin-deck fittings etc. That always seem to be where the trouble starts.

[Lucky Luke]

Luc I assume that with her all glassed up like that you will be taking extreme care with all fastenings that pierce the skin-deck fittings etc. That always seem to be where the trouble starts.

Very good remark, Phil, as this is often forgotten, and most are content with a bit of silicon around the fitting, without any extra impregnation of the edges of the hole.

Effectively, specially when local efforts are applied (fastenings), and moreover when it is on the deck where the always vulnerable plywood will be pierced by rather small holes, my simple technique is to plug the bottom of the hole with a tape, fill up the hole with epoxy, and remove the tape before the epoxy has hardened, letting it run out.
When the holes are horizontal I fill them using a syringe with eventually slightly thickened epoxy and block the hole each side with a tape (or a small piece of plywood held in place by double face for bigger holes). Large holes for skin fittings are no problem and they are easy to "paint".

[Lucky Luke]

I won't bore you to death with things like re-building the wall that has fallen down during the typhoon but, would it be just to keep a little bit alive this long thread, here is just another couple of pictures (there are already a lot!) of the underwater hull sheathing that has resumed now that there is also a roof, and that the West System epoxy has been received.

This is done now in vertical strips, far easier to install when overhead, and also benefiting from the ease to remove temporarily one of the craddle's hull support without compromising the safety of the boat.

[chuckt]

Did the cloth stay stuck to the overhead places? Your overhead application seems to have gone far better than mine. I too wetted my surface first--but with only one coat of epoxy. Maybe your two coats was the trick?

[RFNK]

Not boring at all Luc - great to see it! You have probably already dealt with this but can I ask this: with your vertical strips of glass, are you overlapping at the joins or are you butting them together? I"m guessing that if you're overlapping them then you would have ground trenches to accommodate the joins, but that if you're butting them together, you'd simply be staggering the joins. Am I on the right track?
It certainly looks like you're overlapping them in these photos.
Rick

[Hugh Conway]

Incredible project and a massively great read, thank you Luke!