Day One

I started! All be it not that much got done as the light was fading and I had to spend most of my time farting around cause I had forgotten to get some strapping to make a little jig on my railing. Instead I had to search for a few bits of scrap just so I could get started (I'll have a new "fancier" and much more effective jig by Wednesday which will be the next time I can plane). I cut the "clear" lengths of fir for the Bow and Stern Stems and marked them carefully.

With the Bow Stem marked I began to plane, quickly noticing that the direction of the 2"x4" was going to make it difficult but with the limited range of my clamps there was noting I could do about it, I'm going to get a couple large "quick clamps" today with my gift card (Thanks Penny & Chuck) so that I might hold the timber in a fashion that will make planning the correct angle a little easier. "It's a learning process for me." But the most important thing is that I know what I need to do now!

The Whimbrel's First Pieces of Timber. Beer pairs perfectly with boat building!

That's gonna be pretty! It already looks like a boat! Maybe not.

So I started planing the bow stem but in reality I didn't get enough planing done to warrant a picture, you'll see it when it's finished on Wednesday. IT WILL BE FINISHED! That is my mantra for Wednesday.

On a Side note I may have found a place to construct The Whimbrel in doors! I local shipwright saw my Craigslist Post and may have space for me to work in, which would mean it could be done even sooner then I anticipated. WHOOOO!

Thanks for reading, next post should be Thursday. IT WILL BE FINISHED!

Inspiration

As some of you may know, it was my 24th birthday yesterday and I'm happy to report a new wealth of inspiration and reading materials. "Instant Boat-Building" by Dynamite Payson, "Fifty Wooden Boats" by The Editors of Wooden Boat Magazine, and "Wood, Water & Light" which is a beautiful photography book that tells the stories of some of the more beautiful wooden boats I've ever laid eyes on.

These wonderful gifts have me chomping at the bit, so... I bought two pieces of Fir 2"x4"x8' to begin the process of beveling the bow and stern "stems" where the side panels will meet in perfect alignment to give The Whimbrel her shape. I will not be shaping them on a band saw or using any other electric tool for this job, I'll be using a block plane to carefully shape the stems, Pure old fashioned wood-working. I'll be posting some images as soon as I get started!

Get Ready. This is the start of something GREAT!

My Work Around Ithaca

Now that I've been working in Ithaca for a little while some of my work has begun to spread itself around, I've had a couple billboards but nothing too cool, but this I am proud of. My Cornell Dasher Board right in front of the Cornell Bench with Captain Collin Greening right up front. The board had to be repaired a few times due to its placement.

GO ISLANDERS!

On Saturday, April 25th "The Islanders" Cal Ripken Little League Team Sponsored by Island Health & Fitness won their first game 4-2! With great pitching and a few amazing plays late in the game, including a great backhanded grab by our first baseman and a great relay to the plate held the other team to only one run in the 6th. Great pitching, defense and a ton of teamwork, congratulations Islanders, you're 1-0!

Funny

Check out this link to a YouTube video that Hobo and I accidentally got caught in twice in the fist minute or so of the video. click here

Progress

I'm happy to report that I have begun to accumulate some of the final tools I'll need to build The Whimbrel. My latest acquisition was a whole mess of clamps so that the process of attaching the Chine Logs and Gunwales will be oh so much easier. Plus I won't have to put to many drywall screws in to secure them while the glue sets. The change is still adding up and I plan to get a semi accurate count on soon. Also, I'm thinking about adding "Google Ads" to my blog, good idea? Supposedly every time someone clicks on the links I get money, which is cool. Will anyone click on the links to help support my canoe fund? Let me know.

There are other things going on out here in central NY. I am helping my friend Matt with his Cal Ripken Little League team and I've been playing with a couple slow-pitch softball teams. The Cal Ripken Team, "Island Health & Fitness" (Sponsor) has their first game this Saturday. It should be a real blast and I hope to cover all the games and keep their current record up here. The main softball team that I'll be on "The Blazing Saddles" will also be updated on here once we begin our season. I may even start a second blog, concerning baseball, softball, little league. Who knows.

Thanks for reading, my next post should be Saturday or Sunday.

OPENING DAY 2009

Because the New Year doesn't start until Opening Day I thought I'd say, "Happy New Year To All." Although the season opened on Sunday, Today is the Big Day where The Boston Red Sox play their first regular season game against the Rays (Thumbs Down). Go Beckett, Go Sox, I'm looking forward to another great season of Red Sox Baseball.

Prediction:

AL EAST STANDINGS*
1. Red Sox WINNA WINNA WINNA
2. Rays 3 GB
3. Yankees 4.5 GB
4. Orioles 16 GB
5. Blue Jays 19.5 GB

* I knocked on wood after typing this.