Gartside 116A

[JoshuaIII]

Ok Came back from helping the guy with is old boat... I got a few things wrong...
It's a 70ft, patrol boat made out of steel for the Canadian Navy in the 1950. Quite impressive actually... Everything bronze and brass for the inside for fixture etc... The opening portlight are 16"(12" windows), heavy bronze, with cover when it was war time to protect the windows. 12 of them... Which I will have to put on eBay for the guy...

I've got navigation lamps(red, green and white), made by Perko all copper the old Oil lamp style. The De-Lite. They needed a bit of a refit but didn't take too long as it was mostly heavy paint over it.

Anyway I am going back there tomorrow... As I still don't have my package, will take some pictures too...

I've forgot the interesting part... At the build they put a lot of ventilation between the steel hull and the cover everywhere! During a major refit they(Last owner a few years back) removed them at the bow of the boat, and it's where everything started...

The bow under the wall are rusted shot, you can poke a hole with a hammer. The aft of the boat where the vent was left is perfect, 70% of the surface still is cover with the original primer paint 60 years ago...

[JoshuaIII]

So I am finally done destroying that fregate steel boat and quite happy too... Canada post started back to work so I should received what needed soon for the planking.

I am working on sheave now... The boat need lot's of blocks and sheaves a bit everywhere (About 30), I also have a lot of small 1/2" SB Rod left over from the backbone bolting so will use them for building blocks later on...

Anyway, Sheaves are made of flat saw Black Locust. As I have a lot of old plumbing supply for free, I've insert a copper tubing in those to reduce the chafing on the wood and get a few more seasons out of them. Still lot's more to go, they will go into a bucket of oil for few months as soon they are done.

[Capt Zatarra]

Looks good. I did the copper tube inside my blocks too. And a bronze rod for the axel, Eight years of hard work and no signs of wear. I put the sheaves in oil and cooked them at about 150 degrees F* for about six hours then let them sit for a couple weeks in the oil, before installing them. The body of the block I soaked in teak oil and then varnished. Capt. Z

[JoshuaIII]

Received what needed for the planking!
The stealer on both side are screwed down, my wife have taken a few pictures while working.

In case you wonder, I only fair enough rabbet for the planking I am working on.

[Capt Zatarra]

Looking good! Today after I was done working,( fitting bulkheads) I found myself just sitting and starring at the graceful lines of the ribs and how beautiful they are! And then I see your pictures, the same graceful lines, I will never get tired of seeing them, but I will like them a lot better when they are covered with planks. Way to go! Are you planking by yourself or do you have someone helping you out? Capt. Z

[headonz]

Thats great news,looking forward to seeing her lines revealed as you plank up.

Is the DF all clear and knot free ??

[JoshuaIII]

Hey Capt, nice to see I am not the only one with this syndrome... Sometime I just turn my head to take a tool, and wake up 20 minutes later as I was just watching those beautiful curves...

Yes I am alone for all the building, I've installed lot's of block on the roof to help me out. Planking are not too bad, you should have seen when I was working alone with the backbone pieces, some weight several hundreds pounds.

Headonz yes it's all clear and knot free. Some have a bit of sapwood on the plank but it will be easy to cut around it. I have to say our wood supplier is not the cheapest guy, but he does supply great quality.

[J.Madison]

Looking good! I'm going to be watching the planking with great interest. Did you line off each individual plank or just get the lines of the shear and tuck and use dividers from there? Also are you going to use any type of bedding compound where the planks are fully backed by the large rabbet at the stern?

[trango]

Beautiful!

/F

[Capt Zatarra]

How long are your planks? And I am also interested to know if your going to bed the planks on the dead wood as well?
Capt. Z

[JoshuaIII]

Thanks,
I've first determined the tuck plank, which give me a average girth for the above planking. I've have almost 32" to compensate aft on the deadwood (Zombie wood for Madison). From there I've use the widest plank I have for the stealer then I divided the area to give me a idea of the planks.

I do not use Bedding compound in that area for a few reason:
-You need to push the bedding compound to get back your tight fit, so lot of strain on the screws
-BC go into your caulking seams and make a mess to clean out.
-My planks are Quarter saw so they will swell more against the deadwood making a tight fit.
-The boat will stay in the water.

What I did, is fair perfectly the rabbet for it. Then shaped my plank everywhere. For final fit, I've painted with red lead the backbone, and clamped my stealer in place. This way I can see where the paint didn't transfer and remove where the paint transfered(Spokeshave great for that). I have to do that once or twice to achieve a perfect fit, which I found more fun to do then bedding compound

My planking are starting small to compensate for the girth. The stealer is about 5ft long, next one about 9ft to slowly reach the maximum of 20ft which will take several rounds as I am working rabbet to rabbet now and its not that far away.

Back of the plank & the rabbet received 2 coats of red lead before screwing it home.

[JoshuaIII]

The broad plank is receiving 2 coats of Red Lead and will be screwed home after that.
This plank touch entirely full length on the backbone for almost 10ft (On 5 to 6" wide), it took me 2 days to do a perfect fit everywhere!

Curves into curves + angles and nib end into the stealer was quite a challenging piece...

Would put picture on soon...

[JoshuaIII]

I know it's been a while since a update... It's actually vacation time with my wife, and I did have a contract to build a new 40ft mast for a sailboat arrived in the local Marina... I may post pictures of that if some are interested on that..

[trango]

I know it's been a while since a update... It's actually vacation time with my wife, and I did have a contract to build a new 40ft mast for a sailboat arrived in the local Marina... I may post pictures of that if some are interested on that..

I hope you're having a great vacation! I'm very intrested in the construction of wooden masts - please keep us updated!

/Fredrik

[JoshuaIII]

Thank Fredrik, the vacation was quite nice even if a lot's of rain. Will try to put news of the mast during that time, we actually received the wood for it, and will start scarfing the planks Monday. It's a square empty box mast about 38 ft long for a steel boat (One of the best steel construction I have seen, you can almost say it's a fiberglass one).

Meanwhile off work I am still working on the boat, just finished screwing the third plank. Now working on the third one on the other side.

[A.Greever]

Looks great!

[JoshuaIII]

Been a while without update.. I am presently doing some crazy hours with that mast we are building... About 13 hours a day, and at the end I always forgot to bring the camera to upload pictures...

Anyway I will do that once it will be less crazy. The mast should be finish within a week, it was a long and tedious work so far as the weather was terrible (Rain 90% of the time) so we were confined inside squeezed to do all the scarfing... Working at night & weekend on the boat...

I stop complaining, and just wanted to give a small update that I am not dead, and both project are going forward.

[svaap]

She is a real BEAUTY!!!

[trango]

Been a while without update.. I am presently doing some crazy hours with that mast we are building... About 13 hours a day, and at the end I always forgot to bring the camera to upload pictures...<br><br>Anyway I will do that once it will be less crazy. The mast should be finish within a week, it was a long and tedious work so far as the weather was terrible (Rain 90% of the time) so we were confined inside squeezed to do all the scarfing... Working at night &amp; weekend on the boat...<br><br>I stop complaining, and just wanted to give a small update that I am not dead, and both project are going forward.

How is things going?

/Fredrik

[JoshuaIII]

How is things going?

/Fredrik

Quite good actually... Mast is finally done and shipped to the owner who will finish the aesthetic of it. Here some pictures of the departure day, I will post pictures of the building later as it's on my other camera.

[JoshuaIII]

[JoshuaIII]

Meanwhile not much on the boat since I was working a lot on the mast.
I've made a new area to work on the side of the boat with the shipmate installed to warm a bit the area and get some coffee at break time. Another plank is on and the other side should be on within 2 days or so...

A friend is helping me with the framing while I am doing the planking. He was the one with who we build the mast and live with outside of work.

[JoshuaIII]

[JoshuaIII]

[JoshuaIII]

Does you guy's seen that beautiful pictures Paul Gartside put on is website lately?
http://www.gartsideboats.com/

Beautiful isn't

[trango]

Fantastic picture, must be a master builder ;-)

/F

[headonz]

Thanks for the update,good to see you back on the job

She is really taking shape.

[JoshuaIII]

Thanks headonz, it'S getting there...

I was going to hung another plank today, but I think it's the end of dry fitting plank. The plank broke at the biggest twist... Quarter sawn BC fir of 1" make not a pretty sound when it brake isn't!

Steam torture will be needed for this one... Darn!

[JoshuaIII]

Ok here a few pictures when building the mast... I don't have much as expected...

Anyway here it is!
The reinforcement inside, tapering at 4 points to spread the load from full to empty



From the bottom looking up before closing it up, the reinforcement was glued with Epoxy and cotton fiber.:



It's copper tube sticking out where the inside wire will come out(The edge not smooth yet):

[JoshuaIII]

Steaming of the plank under way... I had some old insulated 8" chimney pipe laying around, I've use them for the steam box, which also keep the heat inside. A old propane burner to cook corn outside and a big pot of water work wonderfully... A big 20$ of investment (Aluminium flexible pipe and duck tape).

[beernd]

This ventilation thing has me interested.
Since quit a while I ask myself the question, insolate or ventilate.
Could you describe what kind of ventilation it was, was it 'passif' with just ventilation slots, or was it active with ventilators.
I am a wannabe boat builder, and I take all information I can.
And my gut feeling (lacking any knowledge) tells me that ventilation is th way to go.

Beautiful ship you are building, my dream is to be able to build a carvel boat myself in the future.

Greetz Gerrit

[JoshuaIII]

Thanks,
ventilation or not... Well I don't know!

The fact is I didn't have to steam the whole plank only the aft on about 4ft the twist was too big and the last plank broke before being in place. So this steamer is only about 9 ft long and more then half of the plank is sticking out of it with rag helping to hold the steam in. I always leave a bit open so the new steam can get it. You can't blow in a balloon forever

The plank as been just clamped in place, waiting to cool off so I can do the minor adjustment tomorrow.

I got a few picture of the arrangement I can put online if you wish, but will be tonight as no card reader here.

[trango]

I'm really admiring your work - please post many pictures!

/Fredrik

[JoshuaIII]

Thanks Trango,
here the picture... It's not a crazy one but it work well and I can store it away so does not take place in the shop.

Some may say it'S a fire hazard that plywood there, but once the steam start the ply is really humid so no worry there.

[johngsandusky]

Thanks for posting, beautiful work.

[JoshuaIII]

Thanks John,
here when clamping to hung the fifth one...
That's the one that broke and needed steaming.

[Capt Zatarra]

WOW! Looks really good. Is your wife still taking the pictures, becuase they are well done. Is there five planks on the other side as well? If there is I will never be able to catch up to you. I'm still cutting out new deck beams, we got 4 cut out today. How wide are the planks before you cut them to shape? And how long a plank do you like to work with? Keep up the good work, love seeing your progress even if it does show how slow I am moving. Capt. Z.

[JoshuaIII]

WOW! Looks really good. Is your wife still taking the pictures, becuase they are well done. Is there five planks on the other side as well? If there is I will never be able to catch up to you. I'm still cutting out new deck beams, we got 4 cut out today. How wide are the planks before you cut them to shape? And how long a plank do you like to work with? Keep up the good work, love seeing your progress even if it does show how slow I am moving. Capt. Z.

H

Hey Capt! Thanks
Yep it's my wife taking all the pictures, I do not have the eyes for it myself... Will tell her you like them.

I do have 4 planks on the other side, working on the fifth one. I do always keep the planks equal on both side to keep the tension equal on the boat to don'T twist it out of shape.

Well I did not have the deck beam installed yet, so you do catch up on me on that... I also have a boat twice smaller then yours On my design the sheerplank and the beamshelf are bolted together so can't do the deck until the planking is done.

My timber is all 8" wide and 20ft long, the curve begin to be quite good and take the whole 8" even if each planks are about 4 3/4" wide. I cheat a little with the spilling batten to make it fit inside the board and push the board down once done with a clamp. I expect to be done with this problem once the tuck plank will be placed (3 more to do).

The last plank you see is 17ft long, the next one will be the last full lenght (20ft). It's a bit ackward to work alone but I start at the middle and work my way both side to clamp it in place. With your helper it will be easier, long planking is faster then fitting butt blocks that's for sure!

Don't give up... You are actually building 2 boats like mine in yours... If we meet we can probably put my boat on your deck for repair and still have place to put another one

[JoshuaIII]

Probably next week we are taking vacation (Just wait for some new screws to fasten the new plank). We plan to head toward Nova Scotia, shelburne to see Paul gartside then heading toward the bluenose at Lunenburg.

If there is some wooden boat guy on this forum that are up for a beer on that path, will be nice to arrange something!

[JoshuaIII]

Ok been a while so will do a small update even if it was a %?$#%$# week...

First I had to finish installing a floor on the stern post, which was done with black locust planks. This done I discover the curves is now too big for my planks and had to cut a perfectly nice 20ft long piece into 2x 10ft one(You can see the butt block in the middle of the last plank). So the plank is fasten in place on one side, but the other side it's quite some work!

Actually the plank forward broke off 2 days ago when I was going to fasten it... And Today the plank aft cracked badly in several area even if it was steamed. So cut another one that is cooling off now ... The curves on that plank is really bad fore and aft, going from straight aft to 60degrees twist a few feets further...

Anyway pictures... Here me spiling another plank:


And with another plank on notice the twist aft:

[Capt Zatarra]

That is a lot of twist! You might have to make an offering to the gods of wood and woodworking to get them to smile on your planking. I'm sure someone on the forum knows the right drink and dance to insure a good twist without a split!!! Capt. Z.

[Jamie Orr]

Have you tried soaking the plank for a couple of days before steaming? (It worked for me on much smaller red cedar but I've never tried it on fir.)

Jamie

[JoshuaIII]

Thanks guy... I may try to sing and clamp the piece together!
Thanks Jamie for the trick...

The thing is, I can steam and clamp it into place. The plank is really hot when clamping and easy, but the Fir doesn't keep the shape I am giving to it. So as I need around 3 fits to have a perfect plank, it usually brake when I do one of those after fit.... I may need to steam it everytime but that's quite time comsuming...

[J.Madison]

Well it sure looks good even if it is frustrating. That is kind of how this boat building seems to go. Today I started milling up the oak stock for my frames and it turns out that there was a large amount of internal defects in about half the lumber. Oh well I guess I just have to cut a bunch more. Two steps forward and one step back is still progress!

[andrewpatrol]

Hooray, another real boat thread to watch. After the demise of Mr Cat boat man ( sorry, senior moment, cant remember his name ) its great. Actually, ALMOST makes me feel like I'm cheating with my lapstrake and epoxy mix. Love the beautiful pics from your wife, Joshua

Andrew
Damn, still cant get that name, help, I'm insulting him. Anybody know what happened? What a thread that was

[A.Greever]

Hooray, another real boat thread to watch. After the demise of Mr Cat boat man ( sorry, senior moment, cant remember his name ) its great. Actually, ALMOST makes me feel like I'm cheating with my lapstrake and epoxy mix. Love the beautiful pics from your wife, Joshua

Andrew
Damn, still cant get that name, help, I'm insulting him. Anybody know what happened? What a thread that was

If you mean Jim Ledger, I too was wondering how his build was going.

[andrewpatrol]

Thanks Mr Greever, thats him or should I say sir

[Duncan S]

I discover the curves is now too big for my planks and had to cut a perfectly nice 20ft long piece into 2x 10ft

Yep I had to dothat too; I was very happy with the good straight planking stock I bought untilI realized a good curve in the board would have been good - you live and learn.

[JoshuaIII]

Well it sure looks good even if it is frustrating. That is kind of how this boat building seems to go. Today I started milling up the oak stock for my frames and it turns out that there was a large amount of internal defects in about half the lumber. Oh well I guess I just have to cut a bunch more. Two steps forward and one step back is still progress!

Sorry to ear about your wood issue...It's boat building isn't It's like when you start you want everything to be perfect... After a while you realise you can't be perfect for 5000 hours, how disapointed from myself when I discover this truth about my perfection

I know you also have black locust, I have seen boat with steam bent black locust frames... If this may be a option for you.

[JoshuaIII]

Yep I had to dothat too; I was very happy with the good straight planking stock I bought untilI realized a good curve in the board would have been good - you live and learn.

Yeah.. We had a great deal on those board but they were 8" wide all... A pain but for the price can't complain!