Author Archives: David

Progress report

Posted on by under Frames & Floors

Today, we laminated the last frame in the current batch of 7. After some finishing work on the frames, they should be installed within the week. That finishes all 75 frames forward of the engine bay and leaves 32 frames to go after the tailfeather work is done. Similarly, 29 floors forward of the engine bay are done and installed with 17 to go. Getting everything done forward of the engine bay feels like a significant milestone in the project.

In other work, the foremast step is completely installed and work on the mainmast step has started. The stem is installed but still needs some shaping of the leading edge. Work is progressing on the tailfeather. In addition to the finishing work on the last 7 frames, we will be focused on replacing worm eaten parts of the keel this week.

David

Drawing lines

Posted on by under Counter Timber

After removing the tailfeather, we noted that the underlying deadwood was sitting a little high. I was convinced that we should remove two pieces and clean and resurface them before applying Dolphinite and rebedding them. The two pieces where held in by a large blind drift. We used wedges to pull the pieces off. Old bedding compound and rust from old plank fasteners and drifts needed to be removed from between the deadwood so that it would lay flat and stable. After refitting those two pieces, John wanted us to replace a piece of the stern post that contained heart wood and had cracked badly. Eventually, I gave into him. Then there was talk about the cracks in the other stern-post timber. We said no. The longer Mahdee is out of the water, the more cracking will occur. We need to draw a line and get her back into the water where she belongs. On the other hand, the new stern post timber John made looks very nice! And we definitely will be replacing some of the badly worm eaten pieces on bottom and sides of the keel.

David

See pictures of the progress of this project here

To lathe or die

Posted on by under Counter Timber, Frames & Floors

With our great and unexpected success in removing the six, 3 to 4 foot long 3/4 inch bronze bolts that hold on the tailfeather and pull together the deadwood and keel, we now needed all of our stock of 3/4 bronze rod to make the new replacement tailfeather bolts. Meanwhile, we wanted to finish up the last floors and frames in the main cabin and forward. Floor 24 was made and ready to install. It originally had 3/4 inch bronze bolts holding it to the keel. The keel bolts were generally 3/4 inch diameter, but there were some 7/8 inch and 1 inch bolts. We had some left-over bronze in both of those two sizes. Frame 24 is a “fat” floor near the middle of the keel. It seemed the ideal candidate for an upgrade to 1″ bolts. Not only would this use up our remaining 1″ bronze, we would be able to postpone an order for more bronze rod. read more

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