Building a Beg-Meil in Seattle

[Karlnelson]

I've started building Vivier's Beg-Meil design.

I'm starting with the spars, so there's no actual boat-shaped object yet. (That makes it slightly awkward when I tell people I'm building a boat, and they want to see it, and I'm like..."uh, I have some nice round sticks...")

I'm also blogging the build here: https://boat.karlnelson.net/ I'll try to keep this thread up-to-date as I go, too. But, if you're interested in my (slow) progress to date, check out the blog.

A big reason I'm starting this thread is that I'd like some of the forum's wisdom on a few questions.

1. I'm applying varnish to one of the spars (the gaff), and I'm having trouble with drips collecting on the underside. This image below should show what's going on (although it is helpful to know that I've flipped the spar upside down to take the picture). Any tips for avoiding this? My thoughts so far: hang the spar at a higher angle (I have it hanging above the table right now), or come back a few minutes after applying a coat of varnish to wipe up any drips that are forming. Any other ideas?





2. Both the gaff and boom have several wooden cleats attached to them, as well as their respective jaws. The cleats will be screwed in, and the jaws get a through-bolt and several screws. Should I be bedding them with anything? Maybe something like 4200? I'd like to avoid epoxying them since I figure that'll make future repairs harder.

Thanks!

Karl

[jpatrick]

Re: Building a Beg-Meil in Seattle

Any tips for avoiding this?

Welcome. My best advice is: Apply the varnish in lighter coats.

I know. Too simple. But that's the best I've got. I use Epifanes and don't get drips like that.

The hardware should be bedded. I use both Boat Life and Dolfinite. They are both good. You want a compound that is not an adhesive.

Jeff

[pez_leon]

Re: Building a Beg-Meil in Seattle

Apply the varnish in lighter coats. I know. Too simple. But that's the best I've got. I use Epifanes and don't get drips like that.

Yep, I came to say exactly that. A drip means that you put too much on. When I find them I slice them off with a razor so that they'll dry faster and try to work up the patience to wait until they sand without gumming.

I am very excited to follow your build! Please do keep us posted here.

- James

[pez_leon]

Re: Building a Beg-Meil in Seattle

I took a glance at your blog and saw that you're thinking about building your mast and short of your desired 4/4 stock. I am sympathetic - I feel like a good chunk of the time I spent on my build was devoted to mapping out the optimal use of lumber yard stock, then throwing that out and trying to do it again by the seat of my pants when the lumberyard stock changed.
Beyond the not-particularly-helpful observation that it's awful nice to be able to break down bigger stock (and that a cheap used 14" bandsaw can do wonders with the right blade and maybe some infeed/outfeed rollers) I can only offer the suggestion that you could use 8/4 stock by hollowing out the center of your mast before gluing two halves together. A circular saw makes pretty quick work of this in Sitka Spruce.

[DeanP]

Re: Building a Beg-Meil in Seattle

Hi Karl,

Welcome! I'm building a Beg Meil, too, in Massachusetts. I started with the hull, however, but will be starting the spars soon, so I hope you post lots of pictures to help me along! What type of wood did you select? The photo looks like fir, but I'm not sure. I've been thinking, like you, about laminating thin strips for the gaff jaws. Yours looks good.

Dean

[Karlnelson]

Re: Building a Beg-Meil in Seattle

Thanks, all, for the responses.

I'll try to put the next coat of varnish on more thinly. I'm using Deks Olje D2 (on top of D1), and the instructions say to not thin it, so I think this will come down to technique.

DeanP: I'm using Sitka Spruce for the spars, with Ash for the wearing parts (jaws, cleats, etc). The blog (https://boat.karlnelson.net/) has plenty more details about what I've done...just bear in mind that I'm figuring this out as I go!

pez_leon: Interesting thought re: hollowing out 8/4 stock. I suppose I'd have to turn a decent amount of wood into sawdust, but it'd get the job done. We'll see what the lumberyard has in stock in the next couple of weeks...

Karl

[Peerie Maa]

Re: Building a Beg-Meil in Seattle

2. Both the gaff and boom have several wooden cleats attached to them, as well as their respective jaws. The cleats will be screwed in, and the jaws get a through-bolt and several screws. Should I be bedding them with anything? Maybe something like 4200? I'd like to avoid epoxying them since I figure that'll make future repairs harder.

Thanks!

Karl

I would dry fit the cleats and jaws, then bed them and their fastenings in thick old varnish. Wipe off all squeeze out with a rag soaked in white spirit.

[Rich Jones]

Re: Building a Beg-Meil in Seattle

Welcome!
When I built a 20' full keeled gaff rigged sloop decades ago, I started by building the bowsprit!
The rest followed in time, and I ended up with a nice boat.
I'm hoping to start building a rowing skiff soon and will start with the transom.

[Karlnelson]

Re: Building a Beg-Meil in Seattle

When I built a 20' full keeled gaff rigged sloop decades ago, I started by building the bowsprit!

There is something about starting at the front and working one's way back, isn't there?

[Karlnelson]

Re: Building a Beg-Meil in Seattle

Update: the combo of putting on a *really* light coat plus checking for drips a few minutes later seemed to do the trick.

Next step:sand out the little flies that met their end stuck to the spar, and then put on a ton of light coats of varnish!

[Karlnelson]

Re: Building a Beg-Meil in Seattle

After lots of varnishing, I've finally managed to attach the gaff jaws and cleats, so I have a pretty-much-done gaff now.



I've got a post up with a few more photos and details: https://boat.karlnelson.net/posts/32-gaff/

That leads me to my next question for the wisdom of the forum: I need to leather the jaws. I've got leather. But, what's the best way to attach it? Seems like epoxy would be an option (although one that might be a pain to deal with if I ever needed to re-do the leathering). Is that the best move here? Or try copper tacks?

[Toxophilite]

Re: Building a Beg-Meil in Seattle

Nice job!

You could sew it on the jaws like a sock and nail around the bottom of the jaw, or you could nail it (tacks) completely around like they do when leathering mast partners or sculling notches.

I would be inclined to use lower profile nuts or a carriage bolt with a nut on only one side. I'm wary of things that can snag lines, probably wrong though.

[Karlnelson]

Still haven't managed to apply the leather, but I did finish up a bunch of work on the boom. Here's the latest blog post about it: https://boat.karlnelson.net/posts/34-boom-parts/

[skuthorp]

Re: Building a Beg-Meil in Seattle

After lots of varnishing, I've finally managed to attach the gaff jaws and cleats, so I have a pretty-much-done gaff now.



I've got a post up with a few more photos and details: https://boat.karlnelson.net/posts/32-gaff/

That leads me to my next question for the wisdom of the forum: I need to leather the jaws. I've got leather. But, what's the best way to attach it? Seems like epoxy would be an option (although one that might be a pain to deal with if I ever needed to re-do the leathering). Is that the best move here? Or try copper tacks?

It's a while ago but I laced and tacked wet leather on a gaff I built, but it wasn't my boat and I do not know how it wore in use.

(Interesting stuff going on, I should get up on deck more often but my skills are such the I am always reluctant to offer advice)

[pez_leon]

I don't have enough experience to weight in on leathering that jaw - I just wanted to say great work! Keep the posts coming.

- James