What - there's a BOAT!

I imagine you're all a bit fed up with my blogs about beer and the rowing crew. (Actually, I've just started coaching the Victoria University intermediate... no, not interested? Ok.)


Let's talk about the boat for a bit.


If you can remember back in the olden days, when we started building this thing, there was a small error in the plans and we ended up making a second transom. We have subsequently learned that the plans are more of a guide than something to be strictly followed. Anyway, we had some spare Mahogany. We decided to have a little play and cut it into strips and glue it to some leftover Ash from the gunwales. I am told this is called marquetry. The series of photo's below show the process from gluey mess to the makings of our breasthook. (Not a boatbuilders bra).

Firsly, sandwich the strips between a couple of offcuts of ply and apply liberal amounts of glue and clamps. You can NEVER have too many clamps.

The clamps are off. Not a very interesting picture.

Ok, first look at the 'marquetry'

After a lot of work with the No. 4. Stanley 

And a rough cut with the bandsaw.

We carefully fitted the breasthook into the bows, and sanded, and sanded, and sanded.

We have had to add the knob on the bow.  This is where we are at with it.

We're still working on shaping the bow, and there's a little more to come there. Mostly sanding and shaping and then eventually oiling, it will be lovely.