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Wooden Boat Fittings
10-03-2008, 11:03 PM
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Nearly six years ago I posted some pictures of Kestrel, a Block Island double-ender, whose owner had become a client of ours (for hinged masthoops among other things) We later also discussed the possibility of designing a comb mechanism for handling sheets back to the cockpit.

Here are two photos of Kestrel as she was then.

http://www.woodenboatfittings.com.au/public/k-beam-s.jpg http://www.woodenboatfittings.com.au/public/k-bow-s.jpg

I commented on the post at the time that, Kestrel..."has had a few alterations made to her from the original construction, but they are being de-altered as time and finances permit." (People familiar with these vessels will readily see the alterations that John wanted to have removed.)

Then out of the blue last year I received an email from Ken Spring of Small Open Boats in Maryland who had seen these photos and recognised them as being of the boat he had been commissioned to do major alterations on. We swapped our experiences of her, and he told me,"John came by the shop today and explained the photos and the mast hoop connection. We have dramatically simplified the boat interior by removing the coffin-like cabins and building a small foredeck, so the running rigging should be much easier to deal with."

Then today I received an email from John himself telling me that the work had finally been completed. He attached photos of how she looks now, of which this is one --

http://www.woodenboatfittings.com.au/public/kestrel-after-reconstruction.jpg

And isn't she just beautiful?

Mike

StevenBauer
10-03-2008, 11:10 PM
She sure is, thanks for sharing.




Steven

dhic001
10-03-2008, 11:38 PM
Got to love that sheer too, its bordering on extreme.
Daniel

outofthenorm
10-04-2008, 05:15 AM
Just switch the skipper's cap for a fedora, and we're back in 1880. Looks great.

- Norm

Wayne Jeffers
10-04-2008, 10:52 PM
. . . And isn't she just beautiful?

The word "gorgeous" comes to mind. Wonderful proportions all around. Thanks for posting, Mike.

Wayne