Cockle Replica Post #1

[Duncan Gibbs]

What a major achievement Alex! I was about to type some platitude about "being proud" or some-such. Instead, I'll say if you're not beaming and gloating over Francoise De La Rosa I'll have to get on an aeroplane in the morning and come over there and slap you silly!!

Well done! HUZZAH! HUZZAH! HUZZAH!

Looking forward to the rest of the shots and onto the rigging and sailing bit too!

[BBSebens]

Shes beautiful. Nicely done. Looking forward to pics.

[Alex Low]

Ok... finally have a few moments and a reliable internet connex.

I am going to post a few pics that Jim asked about - but nay worry lads, I will get the launch photos up within the hour.



If you look past the mess, you can see that the covering board is dry fit, at a full 1.5" - with bulwark installed.

This dry fit was used to scribe the arc of the bulwark onto the covering board, before the whole show was removed to route the covering board.

This dry fit would not have flown in a production shop, as it takes a lot of time to clamp and fasten the bulwark on safely, so I imagine a bolder man would have just run a line the thickness of the bulwark onto the fully installed covering board and routed away on deck... maybe next time.

Chainplate and scupper locations were also marked and cut on the covering board before the router was fired up. To get the cove, I used a round bit and a fence on the router that followed the bulwark profile - I had to modify the fence a few times to follow the line - relatively quick work. The rest was hogged out with a big bit.



Here you can see the work done, before fairing.

Close up of one of the (sadly no longer with us) chainplate risers:



And the forward chainplate riser that all three forward plates ran through. I think these would be a great help in stopping water ingress...



Sadly I did not document the routing setup, so that is all I have to offer. Hope that is helpful.

Alex

[Alex Low]

Right, onto launch day.

We had to move her a few feet forward in the shop for the truck to be able to get in and pick her up - this was accomplished with the cradle, block and tackle, a Mazda van, a lot of dish washing liquid and a 10lb mallet.



The truck arrived early, as the tide we needed was at high noon.



As always in the shop - space was 'no problem'!



And she sees the light of day:



And her first view of home - the ocean and the beach she is going in from!



This is happening!



Alex

[Alex Low]

...closer....



thankfully Dan and Nate were pro's and I didn't have a jammer whilst the boat was set down on the beach:



All morning we couldn't stop repeating "Oh my God - look at that!" It took hours to recover from being able to see the entire boat for the first time since the loft floor - and from more than a few feet away!





... and now we wait ...



and wait... so a betting pool erupts...

I guessed 5:25 PST

[Alex Low]

Oh dear, got ahead of myself... we didn't forget to christen her:



Naomi said some beautiful words for our fair vessel and did the honours perfectly.



Hard to believe she isn't floating at this point:



I stopped taking photos at this point and prepared the boarding party - rum in hand.





and there she is... safely rafted up to Native Girl and Sombrio - her escorts back to Silva Bay.



Alex

[MiddleAgesMan]

Again I say...WOW!

[Dave Lesser]

Just stunning, Alex. What a joyous day. Thanks for this thread.

[L.W. Baxter]

Pure bliss!

[Duncan Gibbs]

Excuse me while I wipe the dribble of my chin Alex....

That's better!

As we say in Australia:

'KIN ACE!

[botebum]

As we say in Australia:

'KIN ACE!

My thoughts, exactly!
Congrats Alex! She's beautiful!

Doug

[ILikeRust]

Wow wow wow!! +1 to all prior comments.

Also a question - you show a pic of "one of the (sadly no longer with us) chainplate risers". Just wondering why it's "no longer with us"? Maybe I missed it if you already explained up thread?

[Canoez]

Outstanding! You guys do marvelous work, Alex!

[outofthenorm]

This may be one of the most intriguing boat photos of all time. Hard to imagine how proud you must be. This is thrilling!

[Harry Miller]

What a glorious achievment. Be proud - and thank you for the documentation.

[tapsnap]

Unbelievably beautiful! I can't stop staring at the pictures and admiring her lines and form.

[peter radclyffe]

well done guys

[DavidF]

I've been lurking and contributing modestly since before the changeover, a few years. This is one of the best threads we've seen. It is wonderful how you helped us to be a part of your boatbuilding process from start to finish and no gaps in the middle. You have done us all a great favor. This thread has the spirit of Norm in it.

[John Meachen]

Nice to see the project at this stage,must be enormously satisfying.

[JimM]

Beautiful boat Alex. Built by a craftsman.

[Don Kurylko]

Way to go, Alex and crew!!!! Lovely!

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

What an unbelievably beautiful shape... Congratulations on an absolutely gorgeous boat.

[Daniel Noyes]

Congrats!
nice Job
what a striking set of lines, very extreme
almost a pitty to hide those curves under water, but they may show partially with adequate canvass and a good breeze.

any internal ballast planned?

[htom]

Absolutely lovely.

[floatingkiwi]

It is a pleasure to be able to take a small part in what must be so thrilling for you guys. Absolutely beautiful boat. It has been so inspiring watching this come together.

[Larks]

Excuse me while I wipe the dribble of my chin Alex....

That's better!

As we say in Australia:

'KIN ACE!

then the rest of us say:

"ken-oath!!!"

[PeterSibley]

Load mouthed Ozzie buggers !
Dead set gorgeous !


beautiful work in every respect ...well done !

[ILikeRust]

The funny thing is how in all the pics of the boat under construction in the shop, it seems HUGE, but in the water with a couple people standing on deck, it seems tiny.

Either way, it truly is a thing of absolute beauty.

[Duncan S]

Just great, great, great, what a fantastic sight, well done lads.

Time to enjoy sailing her. (don’t forget the camera.)

Thanks for posting this most enjoyable thread.

[gordocutter]

Oh man I’m speechless. All I can think is: beautiful.
Great work dont forget to share the sailing pictures with us!

[donald branscom]

Thanks for all the great photos and sharing it with us.
Many cold nights too I bet.

[P.L.Lenihan]

Well done Alex and gang!! Superlative in everyway and a damned fine treat for eyes young and old!! You folks deserve a tax break for beautifying the waterfront scenery!!!!!

BRAVO!!!




Cheers!


Peter

[Sailor]

Wish I knew where you had her and when she went in before she went in. I've been in BC for 6 weeks and could have headed to Gabriola Island one weekend. Now I fly out of Victoria tomorrow at Oh dark retarded in the morning (0700) and won't be back till I don't know when. Keep on posting them pics as she gets her rig and sea trials. Beautiful work Alex.

[wintermutt]

They made it!



We met Alex, Jon and the S. V. François De La Rosa at Port Townsend today.
Recognized her immediately from the photos here in the thread.

All I can say is: a magnificent job on a beautiful boat by a couple of great guys, and sorry I forgot to pull out the camera.

[Duncan Gibbs]

Come on Alex! Sailing shots are needed!!! We NEED sailing shots!!

[Duncan Gibbs]

I've found the dock shots with sails bent on, so there's gotta be sailing shots:









Thanks to Gary for these shots!

[Alex Low]

The chaos has been so intense I have very few photos to share currently.

Here is one Ian got on our way down to Port Townsend. We were reaching with a little current at 5.5 knots!

She handles like a dream and is pretty slippery. We can scull around with the rudder alone in fair weather. We have a number of rigging changes to make before she can be single handed, but she is proving to be a wonderful vessel.

Alex

[Allison]

Now that's just beautiful, a nice way to enjoy my morning coffee, Thank you Alex, it's been a great process to watch!

[BBSebens]

Its a thing of beauty. Nice job Alex.

[riversailor92]

Alex,
She really is truly beautiful. I am so glad, after following this thread for so long, to finally see her under sail. She must be your masterpiece. She is very much a work of art. Mozart, DaVinci, Botticelli: amateurs. Well done. Exceptionally well done.

- Cam

[Thad]

Many Many cheers!! Now, you need a topsail!

[WilyBCool]

Make me drool!!!!

[P.L.Lenihan]

Absolutely stunning! I sincerely hope more pictures of her underway will continue to flesh out this lovely thread!


Cheers Alex!



Peter

[yesiam]

Been holding off for an appropriate time to read this thread from start 'til now -- what an exciting Friday eve read. Thank you, congratulations and will be looking forward to more narrative and pics.

[Duncan Gibbs]

Any more progress on the rig... Sailing shots Alex?

[Garrett Lowell]

I'm late again, but I wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS! I take a great big whisky to ya! Beautiful, just beautiful. Please do continue to post more pics.

[Don Kurylko]

Nothing since Port Townsend.... I think some 'murican gals is got them Shanghaied or sumthin.

[Duncan Gibbs]

Alex has taken teasing lesson from Lemmonhands!

[S B]

Lovely job, well done.

[Don Kurylko]

A little bird just told me that Alex is busy with a 6 meter restoration on Saltspring Island. No barnacles on that boy's bottom!

BUT I SURE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE SAILING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COCKLE!!!!! Think he heard that?