Caledonia Yawl build downunder

[Larks]

She looks stunning Neil - and as you say: that sheer, really nice! How nice a feeling is it to walk out and now see a boat under the shed rather than an upturned shell?

[John Meachen]

Looking good! I'd be getting some cross spalls in place before too long and probably some props to level the boat athwartships.

[Michael_Owen]

She looks great, Neil! It will be interesting to see the way you fit her out.

I like the looks of this interior on a CY built by Denman Marine.
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Keep up the good work!

Mike

[TerryLL]

Yup, nice job this far. I put higher benches in mine than the Denman boat , just 4 inches below the rail. My old arthritic knees love it. Sixteen inches of sitting height makes for a comfortable cruise.

[neil.henderson]

Yup, nice job this far. I put higher benches in mine than the Denman boat , just 4 inches below the rail. My old arthritic knees love it. Sixteen inches of sitting height makes for a comfortable cruise.

That's a good idea - thanks.

Regards Neil

[neil.henderson]

That a big step forwards, and a big open landscape of boat to fill. Keep on plugging. Here on the "up" side of the planet I'm packing up my sails and flushing the seasons offering out of the boat.

Yup, we're just getting ready for Boats Afloat festival in Narooma next weekend.
https://www.naroomaboatsafloat.com/
So I' am dusting of Bella which is my 17' motor launch, designed by David Payne. Today is about 23 degrees and clear blue skies - very nice after the torrential rain we've had!

Regards Neil

[timber_cruiser]

Neil, Great job on the build! I will be following with interest to see your next steps. I also have a CY, which my wife and I enjoy very much. We find this to be a very versatile boat for camp cruising, day sailing locally and also fishing.

Have you decided on the interior layout? Are you going with the open layout, or with sealed compartments?

[neil.henderson]

Neil, Great job on the build! I will be following with interest to see your next steps. I also have a CY, which my wife and I enjoy very much. We find this to be a very versatile boat for camp cruising, day sailing locally and also fishing.

Have you decided on the interior layout? Are you going with the open layout, or with sealed compartments?

I am definitely going to deck at the bow & stern mainly because I like buoyancy & some dry storage. Less sure about the side benches, whether I leave them open or enclose them. I might go for open slatted side benches because I like their look. I have seen lots of different approaches done on lots of CY's.

What layout do you prefer, and why please?

Regards Neil

[timber_cruiser]

Neil, I like the option of decking the bow and stern, but I have the open layout in my boat. I like having the open space in the bow, and especially the stern which allows me to stand and plant my feet if I need to reach over to deal with the rudder or mizzen.

I use flotation and waterproof gear bags tied under thwarts and seats for storage and buoyancy. My wife and I have practiced capsize and recovery with our layout and it works well. I think the sealed bow and stern deck layout would also work very well.

[neil.henderson]

Neil, I like the option of decking the bow and stern, but I have the open layout in my boat. I like having the open space in the bow, and especially the stern which allows me to stand and plant my feet if I need to reach over to deal with the rudder or mizzen.

I use flotation and waterproof gear bags tied under thwarts and seats for storage and buoyancy. My wife and I have practiced capsize and recovery with our layout and it works well. I think the sealed bow and stern deck layout would also work very well.

Thanks, I'll enclose the bow & stern but leave the sidebenches open - I can always enclose them later though I have little doubt this will never happen as I do hanker after building a Vivier Jewell..................

Regards Neil

[TerryLL]

I enclosed the bow and stern sections mainly because I'll be sailing alone with ballast under the floorboards. Having gone this route before in two other boats, the enclosed sections are a great place to get all that miscellaneous dump stowed away where it won't be underfoot. My side benches are not watertight and will not serve as ballast, but they do offer additional storage spaces.

[Steve TN 15]

[QUOTE= I do hanker after building a Vivier Jewell..................

Regards Neil[/QUOTE]

Yeah Neil I came very close to building a Jewell but it's just too big for the available space, Ptarmigan will be started before Xmas

[biglad]

On the CY I built, I had enclosed bow and stern sections. I could fit the oars on the floor between the two bulkheads which kept them out the way, but easy to get when needed

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[timber_cruiser]

On the CY I built, I had enclosed bow and stern sections. I could fit the oars on the floor between the two bulkheads which kept them out the way, but easy to get when needed

Nice job on the interior layout. I like the way you fit the motor well into the stern compartment.

[neil.henderson]

Nice job on the interior layout. I like the way you fit the motor well into the stern compartment.

Yes, this biglad layout is pretty much what I'm planning. Got 2 floors glued in yesterday. No sidetracked by Narooma Boats A float which starts tomorrow, so am tidying and setting up Bella for a motoring day tomorrow.

Regards Neil

[timber_cruiser]

Yes, this biglad layout is pretty much what I'm planning. Got 2 floors glued in yesterday. No sidetracked by Narooma Boats A float which starts tomorrow, so am tidying and setting up Bella for a motoring day tomorrow.

Regards Neil

Please share some pics!

[neil.henderson]

I hear the suggestion for some more photos, so here is some. I have been distracted by golf, mainly because I started playing really well (for me) for a couple of weeks - had a reality check in today's round so only won a ball - back to boat building now!

I have glued in all those wee blocks for a split inwale - they are seriously dull to glue and fit - 27 a side of the blessed little critters. Remembered to put in a larger one for where the rowlocks will go. Each block is 2.5 inches long and 5 inches apart following Geoff Kerr's advice.
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Some of the floors are in
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Regards Neil

[Alex1N]

Looking great, Neil. The CY looks enormous right way up. I knew that I’d seen (or, as it turns out, heard) that formula for the inwale blocks and spacings somewhere. Thanks! Although it may not suit the Sooty, it’s a start. I must watch that series (yet) again.

Cheers,
Alex.

[KenStocker]

Got 2 floors glued in yesterday. No sidetracked by Narooma Boats A float which starts tomorrow, so am tidying and setting up Bella for a motoring day tomorrow.

Regards Neil[/QUOTE]

A point I've been wondering about...When you glue in the floors, do you seal the bottom sides first, so that they are easier to get too and protected for the long term? I keep thinking that you wouldn't want the weep holes to be exposed, and that the only way to get good coverage would be before installation. (While leaving the glue points bare for adhesion?)

Ken

[neil.henderson]

Hi Ken,
I do seal the limber holes (where floor meets keelson) but that is the only part of the floor that I seal before gluing. If I forget I can seal after gluing in using a cotton bud dipped in unthickened epoxy - I use cotton buds for getting unthickened epoxy into various tricky parts around the build - such as the holes in the rudder blade where uphauls/downhauls get tied.
Does that answer your question?

Regards Neil

[KenStocker]

Hi Ken,
I do seal the limber holes (where floor meets keelson) but that is the only part of the floor that I seal before gluing. If I forget I can seal after gluing in using a cotton bud dipped in unthickened epoxy - I use cotton buds for getting unthickened epoxy into various tricky parts around the build - such as the holes in the rudder blade where uphauls/downhauls get tied.
Does that answer your question?

Regards Neil

Yes Neil, it does. Figured it needed to be sealed, just couldn't figure out how. Great solution, thanks.

Ken

[neil.henderson]

Weather here is great for boat building - clear blue skies and ab1out 22-26 degrees. Have glued in the stbd inwale - port inwale is clamped in place after steam bending yesterday to 'take the fight out' of the ash. Even remembered not to run the router along the last 10-12 inches near the ends so that the breasthook can lie alongside square timber.
And the Echidnas are rattling around - a lot of puggles.

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Regards Neil

[Alex1N]

That’s a delightful photo of the echidna! So sweet! Inwales are looking great, too . Looking great overall.

[neil.henderson]

Both gunwales glued on - no shaping or sanding yet so please excuse the roughness. Must admit I do like this style though they are a fair bit of work at 28 blocks per side and not looking forward to the painting. Never mind, have 2 other boats to use & the weather is warming up so we expect around 27-28 degrees on Christmas day which should mean we'll get our usual morning swim in before a lunch of oysters, prawns & crayfish. Life's tough!

All have a safe and happy Christmas.

Regards Neil

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[Steve TN 15]

It's looking good Neil, the inwale spacing really gives it that "salty" look.
I shall assume the shipyard will be closed tomorrow.

[biglad]

You've made a lovely job Neil- coming on beautifully!

[neil.henderson]

Who would have thought that cutting out 2 bits of wood & gluing them into a boat would take weeks? I'll accept my excuse of 4 groups of guests over the winter break was a bit of a distraction.................. For some reason they seem to think that because we live 3 minutes from the best beach in the world, that they should visit us in the summer time - strange........................!

Anyway I have finally attached the breasthooks, made out of 2 pieces of pine glued so that the grain runs roughly parallel to the inwale, with a layer of 9mm ply glued top & bottom. The play really helps me with the shaping of the crowned breasthooks so that I have roughly the same shape both port & stbd :-) I also did what Geoff Kerr suggested and shaped the underside so that the underside echos the curve of the topside - must admit it looks kinda cute. My shaping was done using 2 tools which are real timber removers - a 40 grit disk in a circular sander in a mains powered electric drill, and a flapper disk in an angle grinder. The latter carves timber like butter, effortless but also risky so gentleness is key. Next steps will be making deck beams & mast steps.

Regards Neil

The Bow
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The Stern
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[auscruisertom]

Breasthooks are notoriously difficult for us amateur wood butchers. Nice build.

[KenStocker]

I have to agree with above. Not only the crown, but the compound angles to boot. But looks great when finished!

Ken

[dalekidd]

Nice job! Took me three tries to get my breast hook right. Just a thought on the slotted inwales, though too late for you. On my SD11 I varnished my inwales before attaching them with screws. I figured if I ever needed to refinish them, it would make it simpler. I never did and it might be a lousy idea but that's how I did it. On the CIY I skipped the slotted inwale. I'm afraid I may regret that in the future. The slots are so useful, not to mention they are so so salty!

inwales.jpg

[biglad]

These are looking lovely, Neil!

[Steamboat]

Looking very good Neil! So is D'Arcy a sailor? The reason I ask is we brought home this little guy Dec 9th and was wondering if he'd be a good first mate on the boat. In six weeks he has gone from 7.5lb (3.4 kg) to 33lb (15 kg). He may be a dynamic ballast problem and may find the mainsheet a pull toy.

Floki came home.jpeg

[neil.henderson]

Hi steamboat, D'Arcy is currently working on his learning curve which is close to vertical but he is doing very well and he is much better at walking to heel on the lead so less pulling thank goodness. Chilli on the other hand is an excellent boat companion so long as she (32 kg) is placed in the right spot for her liedown, We shall see how D'Arcy goes.
Your dog (name?) looks like an excellent addition to the crew though young labs do tend to have strong chewing tendencies............ D'Arcy came with a box of dog toys from the breeder which he could play with any time he wanted, he destroyed several of them but none of our precious household furniture or ornaments - the strategy worked really well. One of our previous labs went into the sea on a beach in Scotland and played with a seal who swam in when he heard her bark - labs love water :-)

Regards Neil

[Steamboat]

Hi steamboat, D'Arcy is currently working on his learning curve which is close to vertical but he is doing very well and he is much better at walking to heel on the lead so less pulling thank goodness. Chilli on the other hand is an excellent boat companion so long as she (32 kg) is placed in the right spot for her liedown, We shall see how D'Arcy goes.
Your dog (name?) looks like an excellent addition to the crew though young labs do tend to have strong chewing tendencies............ D'Arcy came with a box of dog toys from the breeder which he could play with any time he wanted, he destroyed several of them but none of our precious household furniture or ornaments - the strategy worked really well. One of our previous labs went into the sea on a beach in Scotland and played with a seal who swam in when he heard her bark - labs love water :-)

Regards Neil

Sorry, I for got to provide his name. Floki is a Cream Colored Golden Retriever (aka English Golden Retriever). I had pressed my wife to name him Hamish so when I suggested Floki as an alternative she quickly adopted the name. My father-in-law was a Danish steam ship engineer so Floki had resonance.

Tom

[Steamboat]

Neil,

I replied to your private message but I cannot confirm that the system actually forwarded the message to you.

Tom