Weekend Work

Well, as expected the weather put a serious damper on my weekend progress, but I did get some work done in between downpours on Saturday. I whipped through two stems, a bow and stern as well as a small side project (pictures to follow). My new planer is working very well and I'm really getting the hang of making nice straight and even passes.

Although the forecast for the next ten days calls for thunderstorms, I'm hopeful that this week will grant me a few possibilities to get back outside, finish the stems (a little finish work, sanding ect.) and take some pictures of the stems.

On a side note it should only be a few days to maybe a week until the benevolent shipwright returns from his month+ long Atlantic Voyage aboard Penny Rover (His Wooden Cutter Designed & Built)and I can begin my indoor work/assembly. It seems everyday that I drive down the road past Cayuga Lake I want more and more for this project to be finished, especially when the water looks so flat and peaceful. It makes me want to get out and cut a line right through it with the bow.

Penny Rover

The Benevolent Shipwright

Pictures and Progress to come, thanks for reading.

A Lack Of Photos, Not A Lack Of Progress

So I picked up my new (used) Planer yesterday and I couldn't be happier with the results. Sharp blades, well taken care of, and it's pretty quiet, until that is when you start cutting the wood, in which case it becomes quiet deafening. So with some cotton swabs jammed in my ears and and a rag wrapped around my head I set off planing, which went pretty well, taking off only 1/50th of an inch at a time I made great progress, consistent progress as well.

I ran into some problems holding the stem in one place while I planed because I've run out of places to anchor the stem with a clamp. I've tried to wedge the stem to keep it still but it continues to move out of place, not good when you're trying to plane in nice even strokes, If anyone has any ideas I'd be more than happy to hear them.

Pictures to follow.

Today I Move Forward... and Backward... and Forward Again

This afternoon I'm going to pick up a 3 1/4" Electric Planer. Chicago Electrics, and it should look similar to the photo I've placed below. I've decided to back track a bit and re-do the Stern stem, I wasn't in love with the way it came out, and then the *expletive* warped on me. So in for the benefit of speed, I'm upgrading to this...


With the additional task of planing at least one paddle, most likely two, I deduced I would need a Planer for at least 2 days for the duration, which if you're renting one from Home Depot... It costs you $17.00 for 24 hours. As luck would have it, I got one on craigslist for $30. Sharpen the blades and AWAY WE GO.

So, it all comes down to the fact that I'll have some pretty pictures of both stems and the progress I make with my new planer. Look for my next post tomorrow!

The End Of My Paddle Dilema

If you remember a while back I was having trouble deciding what kind of paddle I should use for The Whimbrel, (upon completion) and after some poking around and what would seem to be dumb luck I think I've settled on shaping a version of the Greenland Paddle, created by the Inuits of Greenland and since then been perfected by modern woodworkers. Its unique design and shape make it easier on the muscles for longer trips and they still move you around just as quick using a sliding stroke, kind of a combo between paddles/paddling styles.

3-Piece laminated version

The neat aspect of this paddle is that it can be made with tools that I already posses, except a spokeshave, but I should probably own one of those anyway. And depending on the wood you choose, it can be made for under 20 dollars. A far cry from the 100-300 cost of buying one. I found some plans online and it seems fairly straight forward. This will be a project for after The Whimbrel is finished, but it should be a cool expiriment and a cool hamdmade paddle to go along with my handmade Canoe!

What's The Time? Lumber Time!

This weekend should be relatively exciting as I will be going up the lake to a great lumber yard (as detailed by Justin the Shipwright) to check out supplies of the plywood that will soon take the shape of the hull. As well as the plywood I'll be looking for the timbers that will be used for the chine logs and gunwales.

On a side note, I've been wondering about paddles. Should I go with a Kayak style double-ended paddle or should I get a Canoe paddle? Maybe both? I dunno, I think a classy wooden Canoe paddle would be pretty B.A. but I think that the Kayak paddle will 1) Make it so much easier to get around, and 2) The boat is designed so that you can use a Kayak paddle. "Can't decide, Can't decide....BRAIN ANEURYSM!"

The Plan

So after thinking about this little trip (and I know I'm ahead of myself here but it's fun to think about) I checked out a couple maps and inquired about easy paddling stretches of the river I've found a pretty sweet trip.

Starting at the top of MA, we pick up the river as it flows out from NH and VT (the black dot and the orange) on DAY ONE and travel probably the longest stretch of the trip ending in Greenfield County right before the Connecticut Water Trail. DAY TWO will consist of traveling the length of the Water Trail indicated by the yellow in which we would finish the day near Hadley. DAY THREE is a nice stretch of water leading us down into the middle of MA near North Hampton in green. On our last day on the water DAY FOUR is a shorter stretch to help pick up cars and travel home in the pink ending in Holyoke.

Now, to be perfectly clear, I have no idea how long any of these stretched are, it could be anywhere from 14-20 Miles... Maybe a lot less, so really I would just play it by ear and have a good time. It could take two days or maybe even five, but what's an adventure without some uncertainty? Right?

So all you need is a Canoe or Kayak, Minor Camping Equipment, Beer, and A Sense of Adventure!

Looking Ahead

With the start of a new week I'm looking forward to PROGRESS it will be a great feeling to get some work done after a bit of a lull in work. On my drive back from a friend's house in Albany this weekend I found myself thinking about the possibilities of my soon to be "Light Watercraft." Where I will take her and where she'll take me. As she is designed for slow moving and smaller bodies of water I think it would be ideal for a short distance, maybe 2-3 day trip down the Connecticut River.

Connecticut River (NH)

While I am currently dreaming of such a little adventure, it really isn't to outrages and I believe could be easily planned/executed. The trick is to cruise the flat lengths of the river between dams. Those interested in such a journey need only talk to me about it, I think it'd be a ton of fun and a different way to camp than I've done before. What do you say Tris?

Not A Lot Of Progress

Sorry to anyone (who actually follows my blog outside of my brother Tristan) that I haven't posted anything substantial recently, I hope to start making a lot more progress in the next two weeks. We haven't had great weather, and on the good days I find myself always busy doing something else. But with Little league wrapping up by next week I should have a few more bright afternoons to work on getting things together/finished so that when I move into the new space I will be able to put it together much like a kit. My next step is to buy the plywood that will become the hull, and to build the "frame" which helps by adding stability and the shape of the craft.

I'm now able to update any of my networks without logging in or anything...pretty neat, pretty lazy

Trying to figure out Ping.fm