Cockle Replica Post #1

[Duncan S]

Fantastic photo diary and commentary Alex. Pleeeeeease do keep it going really enjoying it and learning tons (as I’m sure many others are)

Jim Ledger asked ‘what is fibre gum?’ Are the frames bedded to the keel in it or is that sika?

BTW that shop looks very tight for the flip over.------------ I’m sure you have a plan.

[Alex Low]

Ahoy,

Sorry for the lack of response... we have really been burnin' it here.

More clamps. Yes please.

Jim:

Fibre gum is sold as plastic cement, roof tar etc. It is available at the chandler or at the local build all... it used to have more toxic stuff in it... but the can we have says "Now Asbestos Free!" ... ... ... It makes for a nice repairable bedding compound that fills little gaps and helps watertight the garboard. It never dries so you can't paint it - we are just using it below the waterline.

As for red cedar - its close to the planking stock of choice out here. Kiln dried would simply not do for boats - it cooks the lignum and takes the life out of the wood - it wants to split etc (Mr. Smalser could give the tech specs on why/how no doubt) ... ours is pretty green (we measured 20%+ on the meter, though some would say throw out the meter) and it takes steam beautifully.

Here is an example of steamed air dried red cedar in a catboat I built:



As you can see it will turn sharply!

We fastened that boat with screws and the hood ends survived intact.


Duncan,

The frames are bedded in the sockets with copious amounts of sika - then the firbre gum is gooped on top of the sockets on the plank face. Should give the water something to think about...

I will try and get some planking photos up this evening.

Alex

[Sailor]

And I'll be waiting to see them. Now if only I could remember how to post photos of my own project

[Alex Low]

Ok... may I introduce the bilge of our soon to be boat!



And some planks:





That's it... if you want more you will have to come over with beer and flip through the camera yourself.

Alex

[Sailor]

Cool, but how do I post mine?

[StevenBauer]

Mid-April Don't you guys have jobs, family, houses to fix?

I thought this was his job. Looks great Alex. If I was using that fibre gum it would be all over the place, and probably me, too.


Steven

[Daydreamer]

Looking good Alex Low. If I were close enough, I'd be over there now with said beer.

[Duncan Gibbs]

Secret planking eh Alex.... C'mon!! Spill the beans!! We want MORE, (he said in his best Oliver Twist tone).

[Alex Low]

Soon...

all will be revealed!

Alex

[Duncan Gibbs]

.............. twiddling thumbs............biting fingernails...........pacing..........

[Alex Low]

Okay okay... so its not mid April

Okay okay so we are not planked...

but it is because it took so long to hang this thing from the ceiling



anyway - we have 5 planks to go before the big whiskey blow out. we are hoping for next next Friday after a big sweep up...

[P.L.Lenihan]

Hanging from the ceiling, why didn't I think of that.............what a great idea! Wished I had known in advance so that I could have flown over and given you guys a hand holding her up until all the nails were properly driven into the ceiling joist But the floor lighting is the best!

Looking really sweet Alex,as usual!!! Btw., what is that boat with the red lead in her seams to the left of the last picture? A new build or repair?

Peter

[Duncan Gibbs]

Okay okay... so its not mid April

Okay okay so we are not planked...

but it is because it took so long to hang this thing from the ceiling

Not to mention glue all those wood shavings up there!!!... and the mallet on the right hand side!

Sweet work Alex! Cannot wait to see her all planked! Will you caulk, pay, fair and paint her in the upside down position too?

[outofthenorm]

Well, isn't that just downright be-you-tee-ful!

[Russ Manheimer]

Alex,

I continue to be delighted with your work and progress. Fine job on the lining off. Must be a pleasure on a "plank on edge" boat.

Bravo,

Russ

[PeterSibley]

Thank you Alex ...I'm really enjoying your progress !

[Alex Low]

Thanks everybody. We sure did agonize about the lining off... took 3 tries to get that set of lines. It sure will be exciting to see them right side up!

Got another on today - 4 more to go until whiskey...

Alex

[BBSebens]

Beautiful work guys

[Duncan S]

Looking great Alex. Getting very close to whisky time Have an Irish one on me

[Trebuchet]

It's shaping up wonderfully. Well done.

[banjoman]

I was just reading The Rudder Treasury thinking about this post. Going to be a fun boat. Can't wait to see the finished product!

[Garrett Lowell]

Very nicely done, and a great choice of boat. I held out as long as I could, but I just have to chime in and say thanks very much for the pics and the posts.

[Alex Low]

And then there was one... shutter...

Whiskey plank photos are next.

The hull is looking great. Can't wait to knock all the edges off and really see her come out.



Alex

[Duncan Gibbs]

Bloody marvellous Alex!

Gobsmackingly beautiful and a turnaround worthy of ye olde days of boat building!

Bungs or putty?

[tapsnap]

Very inspiring. Just beautiful.

[L.W. Baxter]

Any minute now?

[Jim Ledger]

That lining-off worked out very well, Alex. The planking looks sweet.

Real nice job.

Jim

[Alex Low]

Thanks Jim,

The party is tomorrow at 4pm. Then some rest. I fear a hangover is in the lurch.

Alex

[The Bigfella]

and what brand of whisky are you planning on?

[P.L.Lenihan]

Very sweet Alex!! No hollowing in the tuck or the turn? TskTsk....Lots of low angle block plane elbow grease coming up next by the sight of things

Wish I could be there for the fun of the roll over!


Cheers!

Peter

[eleventhirtyfour]

Hanging from the ceiling, why didn't I think of that.............what a great idea! Wished I had known in advance so that I could have flown over and given you guys a hand holding her up until all the nails were properly driven into the ceiling joist But the floor lighting is the best!

Looking really sweet Alex,as usual!!! Btw., what is that boat with the red lead in her seams to the left of the last picture? A new build or repair?

Peter

Peter- I'll just chime in here and answer that second part- The shed is Trevor Henderson's boatshed, and that's a Vertue restoration you're seeing. Find more at:
http://www.trevorhenderson.ca/kukri/index.html

[P.L.Lenihan]

Peter- I'll just chime in here and answer that second part- The shed is Trevor Henderson's boatshed, and that's a Vertue restoration you're seeing. Find more at:
http://www.trevorhenderson.ca/kukri/index.html

Thanks 1134 for the link! I used to lust after Vertues for years....time is moving just too darned fast leaving little to hang onto!

Cheers!


Peter

[Alex Low]

Its a boat!





Alex

[outofthenorm]

Breathtaking, Alex. That's about as pretty as it gets.

[Jim Ledger]

Just lovely, Alex. I could look at that for hours on end.

Congratulations on a fantastic job.

[Canoez]

Its a boat!





Alex

That is a stunning photograph. You need to make posters of that one!

[floatingkiwi]

We are going full time on the project and (gasp) we hope to have her in Port Townsend next fall.

Alex

I think you're gonna make it.
Kerry

[Canoez]

Bump - are Alex and crew still in "whiskey plank" recovery today?

[Alex Low]

We are recovered. It was a great party - the bottle of whiskey didn't survive.

Do they match?



Here is the stem getting the laser treatment in order to strike some lines for the transition from stem to keel. The stem and cutwater will taper with the planking lines to a 1/2" at the front - without pinching her nose of course....



Here you can see the stem transition roughed in... the water line is at the 7th plank up from the floor. Also the starboard (right side in photo) of the boat has been hit with the block plane to take the plank edges off... really changes the surface shape!



Alex

[Don Kurylko]

Awesome you guys, just awesome! I love the energy of this project.

[Duncan S]

Fabulous work, well done folks

[Jim Ledger]

Mebbe it's the camera, but it looks like one of the stem coves need a little bit of adjustment.

[Duncan Gibbs]

Superb! Breathtaking! As I head off to my office job, I have to say I'm completely green with envy! What a feeling of total satisfaction you guys must have!!

[PeterSibley]

Beautiful Alex ! Very well done indeed !

[eleventhirtyfour]

If I may introduce Z, the 3.30pm mascot...

[Alex Low]

I should point out - along with the hull becoming fairer every moment - Emerson(1134) donated two days of misery to the process... in fact, his longboarding was so powerful, one of the misery boards exploded in his hands.

The cotton goes in next week!

Alex
(too sore to post photos)

[Duncan Gibbs]

Still jealous... Lucky bastid!!!

Great work mate and looking forward to the shots!

[MiddleAgesMan]

That lining-off worked out very well, Alex. The planking looks sweet.

Real nice job.

Jim

What the Legend said!

[kazeai1969]

Lurking here...fully impressed with your progress thus far and looking forward to future posts - will be here daily!

[Wiley Baggins]

That is a stunning photograph.

That shot looking forward from beyond the transom truly is a particularly striking image; hats off to all involved in the project.