New boat a-buildin...

[Donn]

...I spent a few hours at Roger's (holzbt) shop today, to photo-document the beginning of a new 14' skiff. Just today, it progressed from a stack of rough sawn oak and pine stacked on his bench, to having the first 4 planks cut, with the planing of 3 12' oak planks and 5 14' pine planks in between.

I'd have never guessed that one would use monofilament fishing line in the construction of a boat.

Pics will follow eventually.

[imported_Steven Bauer]

Donn, you're such a tease. :D

Steven

P.S. Did Roger ever build the Thistle?

[Donn]

Steven...there really isn't much to show but before and after lumber shots so far.

I took a few other pics, of tools in the shop, that I'll post this evening.

I don't know if he's built a Thistle. He has 2 partially built boats hanging from the ceiling of the shop, an Otter, and a teeny little pram he's supposed to be building for his wife.

I forgot to take a pic of the 1960's 8HP Palmer that will eventually go into my Garvey. Next trip.

[oldriverat]

Yeah, ya got that right. Eventually.... :rolleyes: that is.

[Donn]

Here are a couple of random tool shots from Roger's shop.

This is a 12" Crescent jointer that he's trying to get rid of. He needed some digi-shots to send to interested parties. Quite a hunk of old ahrn. It's been converted to ball bearings.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid85/p9f93073b5441386ccba9d59aeac2c0c1/fab6f661.jpg

And this is the heart (stomach?) of his dust collection system...remember, his name is Holzmacher, his company name is HolzBoat, and his handle on the WBF is holzbt.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid85/p5838ad2e809dd783d66f90c2af08eb1f/fab6f652.jpg

I brought home two 55 gallon bags of chips and dust for my garden beds and compost piles from this critter today. smile.gif

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Donn... or Holzbt... how much for that crescent jointer

[Donn]

PMJ...email him at

holzboat@aol.com

copy?

[Donn]

This is a tie to Roger's new boat thread, and Chad's circular saw thread.

Here's a 7 1/4" Skil wormie on the stack of wood destined to become a 14' skiff:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid85/pc1ffa023f51a0c6895b87342384708d9/fab6f65d.jpg

And here's a real circular saw:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid85/p43af980a8a303acf7fdcd372f1cb4487/fab6f658.jpg

12" Skil worm.

[ 10-27-2003, 08:11 PM: Message edited by: Donn ]

[Bruce Taylor]

This promises to be quite the photo essay.

If you continue following the process in such detail, this will be one of the best threads the forum has ever seen.

[Jack Heinlen]

A twelve inch!? Does Roger do timber framing also, by chance?

I remember borrowing a BIG circular saw, Makita, I want to say fifteen inch, for work on a frame Chris and I built once. You can to the work with smaller tools, but it is more time consuming.

Keep us posted Donn, it sounds like an interesting project. I added the article to that last sentence just for you Donn. smile.gif

Is it being built on spec. or commission, or just for fun?

[Donn]

I tried to improve this with PhotoShop, without success, but it'll give you an idea of what the new skiff will look like. I'll try to get better shots of the photos next time.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid85/p0e80ec38c72c2cf9ea9e2127e04bae95/fab596ff.jpg

[Donn]

Today, I got to learn all about stems, chine logs and transoms. Roger cut a Black Locust stem, a pair of White Oak chine logs, and a White Oak transom of 2 pieces, edge-joined with a Mahogany spline. He also planed the edges of the chine and shear planks, and planed a caulking groove for each pair.

It was cold and rainy when I walked into the shop, and he was lighting the woodstove. When I left a few hours later, it was clearing up. Do woodshops always have that effect?

[ 10-29-2003, 03:05 PM: Message edited by: Donn ]

[Donn]

Here are a few random shots of some more of Roger's tools.

One of many bandsaws, having it's blade changed (There are 3 boats visible in the background):

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid86/p1fe4ba336469d572344016aa9f3340ba/fab260c4.jpg

16" jointer:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid86/pbb0e1877ff345619fbbdccc70bc8ebaa/fab260bd.jpg

6" Powermatic jointer:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid86/pe1a877eca01763e12efb14b802ea786a/fab260b6.jpg

[ 10-30-2003, 05:50 PM: Message edited by: Donn ]

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Great pic's Donn. Don't forget the 8HP Palmer.....please? smile.gif

[Donn]

I did forget the Palmer! :mad: Next time I'll do the engine areas of the shop. The Palmer is sitting next to a BMW, and in front of a still crated brand new diesel (disremember brand) for his catboat. I think there's a 7HP diesel (Westerbeke?) sitting further back in the shop. It may be destined for my Sea Bright.

[nedL]

DROOL, DROOL, DRool, DRool drool, drool!!!! :D Thanks Donn! smile.gif

[Ed Harrow]

Geezuz, that monster makes Dumpster Sally look like a pup...

[JimD]

Dito on the drool but what's that lapstrake job behind the tools? Definitly worth a little saliva as well.

[Donn]

That's a little Thompson that Roger's restoring for a customer.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p3bd114a79df0ac95ba6d6ce5f5ffb8a7/fc25c41a.jpg

[Bruce Taylor]

That's more like it. More wood, less ahrn! :D

[Donn]

Update, finally! Roger has made quite a bit of progress on the skiff, but our schedules haven't jived, so he took some pictures. After locating the proper cable to get the pics off his camera, the album has been updated.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p827193dbae3b4ca980510755155749f6/f90a433d.jpg

Oak Island Skiff (http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4288742445)

[Dave Fleming]

M'gosh, Roger sure has some fine Old Arhn in there!
Walker Turner 16 inch bandsoar, Moak jointer. PM planer and on and on.

Donn does he have 3 phase power or does he use a converter for those big machines?

[JimD]

Sturdy looking boat. :cool:

[Donn]

Dave...he has 3-phase.

[Dave Fleming]

Dave...he has 3-phase.Lucky so and so!

[Donn]

If he turned on every tool in the place at the same time, there would be a brown-out all over Long Island. There is a safety feature, however. He doesn't have enough outlets to plug thm all in at once, and half of the ones he has are buried with tools and wood.

Do you need a propane water heater? :D

[Donn]

Monthly update.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid117/p9e2f96beea9547c67180d87d4e79851d/f89de56d.jpg

She's almost done. New pics in the album.

Oak Island Skiff (http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4288742445)

[Dave Fleming]

ACES!

Good honest work in that boat with nice craftsmanship.

[Krueg]

Sometimes when asleep and dreaming, I see a shop very similar to that.

That little skiff looks tough as nails. Thanks for the pictures Donn. :cool:

Eric

[Garrett Lowell]

Thanks Donn. I needed that.

[Donn]

Monthly update, it's finished.

From this stack of wood, late last October:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid85/pca1308bb3d1719e46fd81f11e4f26a5f/fab57c67.jpg

To this, yesterday:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid121/pb9764c388c66f15d6821b978f583d039/f85424f2.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid121/p23224f5e4888620f7ed70e1931673c1f/f85424fd.jpg

More at Oak Island Skiff (http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4288742445)

[Art Read]

:cool: I love it! You know, when I was kid, we had two boats, (not counting the dingy...) One the old gaff sloop I've mentioned here before, DUCHESS. The other a small skiff with an old Evinrude 6 that just wouldn't quit on the transom. Both localy built in P-town during the '20s. DUKE, as best as I remember her, could have been built from the same molds. ('Cept for two seats/bait lockers built into the quarters and a more "dory-like" sheer...)
She was at the "twilight" of her years before I ever given "command" of her though...) Caught my first Mackeral, Blue and Stripper aboard her and spent many rainy low tides bailing her out with a rusty tin can. We finaly sold her after my big brother came home, out of gas, with one broken oar, PADDLING like mad trying to make the beach before a scary leak in the garboards overwhelmed him. Replaced her with MFG(?) 'glass skiff. Nice little boat, but... Sigh. Wonder where the DUKE might be now... Be nice to think somebody out there is still trying to keep ahead of the leaks... ;)

[ 06-10-2004, 08:36 PM: Message edited by: Art Read ]

[Stiletto]

Art, I know what you mean about those evinrude sixes. I rescued a mates one that had been underwater and then borrowed for a couple of years.it to get my 34' tri off the mooring until I sorted my own motor. Its still going strong.

[JimD]

Amazing what can be done with a stack of wood :cool:

[holzbt]

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc1003019.jpg The stack of wood.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc1003036.jpg The stem getting marked for the cove cut on the top.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc1003046.jpg The finished stem.

[Canoez]

I see you got the Herreshoff double-paddle off the bench. ;)

[holzbt]

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc1003013.jpg Patterns laid out to mark stock for sawing. Try to avoid the sap wood if possible. Thats the blue/white wood along the edge, it has no rot resistance and little strength.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc1003058.jpg Planks being sawn out with a skil saw.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc1003001.jpg Sheer planks sawn out.

[holzbt]

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc1003049.jpg Hand planing the edge of both planks at once. They are supposed to be identical mirror images of each other.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc1003040.jpg The lower and sheer planks butted up together showing the outgauge or caulking bevel where the cotton will be driven.

[holzbt]

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc1003042.jpg Transom blank glued and planed to thickness, showing spline in joint.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc1003045.jpg Sawing side bevel on transom. This doesn't have a rolling bevel so can be finished with one cut on each side.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc1003027.jpg Planing white oak stock for chines and frames.

[holzbt]

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc1003038.jpg Sawing out frame stock and chines.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/14foot02.jpg Chines sawn out with bevel slightly greater than side flare so water won't lay on top.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/P3100037.jpg Molds set up. These molds are from a rowing version that I first built almost 30 years ago. The forward and middle molds are used as is. The transom is 8" wider than the rowing version and most of the tuck has been removed from the run so this boat won't squat too badly with an outboard engine. The third mold is not used as it would require too much modification, I never got around to making a new one for the power version of this boat. I just make sure the transom is centered and things work out okay. This is the third power model built on these molds after about a half dozen or so rowing versions.

[holzbt]

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/P3180040.jpg All four side planks are fastened to the stem to form a "V". Cleats are clamped to the aft ends to keep things together. The keelson is clamped in place to help center the stem and determine where it should be fore and aft.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/P3180038.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/P3180041.jpg The "V" becomes a boat. The transom is in place and keelson has been cut.

[holzbt]

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/P3180042.jpg Transom fastened in place.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/P3190044.jpg Chines have been fitted and fastened. The chines are planed fair at this point before the side frames are installed.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/P3280048.jpg Transom knee in place.

[holzbt]

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/P3250045.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/P3250046.jpg Side frames fitted and fastened. I like to put the frames in before planking the bottom. This allows me to easily see what I'm doing as well as making it easier to clamp them in place.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/P3310049.jpg Bottom cross planking well along. I usually mill a sample piece to a measured width and then throw it in a bucket while I'm working on the early stages of building. I don't have a moisture meter so this lets me know how much to expect each plank to swell when the boat is soaked up. I try to plank up the bottom so that it will swell tight without having too much compression set.

[holzbt]

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/P5020051.jpg Off the molds. I caulked and painted the bottom before flipping so I wouldn't have to flip it again.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc051804012.jpg Seat risers and seats almost done.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc051804002.jpg Almost there. Rails, oarlock sockets, eyebolts, and some paint.

[holzbt]

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc060904002.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc060904006.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc060904003.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/misc060904005.jpg 100 hours labor from a pile of oak and pine to painted and ready to launch.

[holzbt]

I hope no one minds me dredging up an old post. I'm stuck in the house with a sick little person and stumbled across the disk with the pic's that Donn took. Just thought I'd fix the dead link.http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/

[BrianY]

Thanks for reposting this! I was actually looking for these pictures a while back - the construction of skiffs like these facinates me for some reason. Anyway, I remembered the thread and the great pictures, but had no idea who posted it and I didn't know what to search for.

2 questions - how much does this skiff weigh? The sides and bottom planks look to be about 3/4" thick - is that right?

[Jim Ledger]

Excellent photo-essay of a beautiful skiff, Rodger, nice, clean work and wonderful details.

Thanks.

[SMARTINSEN]

Nice.

Are the planks white pine?

How have they held up?

[holzbt]

The bottom, sides, seat risers and seats of this one are 3/4" white pine, the stem is locust, and the rest is white oak. I built this for the man who owns the local sawmill. I've known him for quite a while. ( My mother used to drive me there after school to get lumber before I was old enough to drive.) I think there are two very small knots in this boat, he provided me with the clearest stock he could find but I still had to use a few pieces with some sap wood along the edge. The pine has held up well but this boat is only 5 years old. Right now I'm refastening the chines on a rowing version that I built in 1981 that was white pine (with big knots and some sap wood) and red oak. It has been used hard for nearly 28 years and is still fine. The fasteners are showing their age but the wood is still good. I don't know the weight. Two people can lift it when dry but three or four are needed when they are soaked up. All of these skiffs are left in most (or all) of the year.

[JimD]

Turned out very nicely. Thanks for the update.

[floatingkiwi]

Hey Holzbt. Your workshop has too much space, is too well laid out and contains too many tools for one man. You should share it with me. Damn it.

[holzbt]

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/OakIslandSkiffIan09016.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/OakIslandSkiffIan09012.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/holzboat/Oak%20Island%20Skiff/OakIslandSkiffIan09002.jpg

Some updated pic's. The boat is at the end of it's 6th season and is in fine shape. The 3 HP engine pictured is not quite enough to get it up on a plane, much to my son's displeasure. I should get the 6 HP back soon and then it will move right along.

[katiedobe]

Yes but that bow is still out of the water and he seems to be moving along ok. A six will make that thing really go. Does it pound much in a chop? Flat like that I bet it does.
You have a beautiful shop and I loved the photos.

[holzbt]

You don't want to go very fast in a chop, it will do it but you'll be beat up and wet. It's got pretty low freeboard and not really meant for anything too rough. It's great for the creeks and leeds but you want to pick your weather before you go too far out in the bay. I think it does about 5-6 knots with the 3HP with just one little person, right on the verge of planing but not quite there. I've used a sisitership to this with a 6HP many years ago and it did better than 15 knots with two adults aboard.