Eun
Mara
By Howard Ray
After a month long hiatus due to other commitments (read, Wooden Boat Festival),
construction on the Eun Mara is progressing nicely. We completed the interior,
including paint, before working on the deck structure to avoid the need to wear
a hardhat. That strategy worked nicely, except for the inevitable epoxy drips
on the nice paint job that magically appeared after installing the deck beams.
Ah well, a little scraping and touch up paint is good, honest work.
We're still undecided about how we're going to set up the "galley" and "navstation" areas (in quotes because they are so small that without a sign you would think they were just storage), so we left those unfinished for now.
I had no idea how to approach the milling and installation of the deck beams, so I procrastinated as long as I could. When I finally bit the bullet and started working on them, I found that it really wasn't that difficult. The plans include a full size pattern of the curve for most of them, which made cutting them out not too bad, although I learned early on that the plans are for a mythical boat – you have to modify them to match the boat you're actually building!
And don't let anyone tell you that you can simply reverse a pattern and use it for the other side of the boat – hah! Everyone knows that no two sides of a boat are alike.
The biggest problem that I had fitting the beams was getting the compound angle correct where the end of the beam meets the sheer clamp. I tried all of the tricks that I had read about in various books, but no matter how careful I thought I was, it never seemed to fit quite right. In the end, instead of cutting the beam itself, I first cut a test piece of wood and kept adjusting the saw until the two angles (one determines how level the beam is and the other determines how well it "aims" across the boat) were correct, then I would cut the beam itself. A lot more time and effort, but at least it worked! At this point, all of the deck structure is installed and I am starting to work on fitting the deck itself.
Before winter (I know, I know, but it is coming!), we wanted to paint the hull to protect the wood. There is a great debate about whether to seal plywood (or any wood, for that matter) with epoxy inside and out before painting. The argument in favour is that it prevents water from penetrating and therefore prolongs the life of the wood. The argument against is that the epoxy sheathing will eventually be broken (a crack, a ding, or something) and then water will get in with no way to get out, leading to premature rotting. In my own experience, I have had coated plywood rot, and I know of others with "real" boats (ie made with solid wood) who have had the same experience, so I decided not to seal the wood with epoxy.
Instead, I used a product called CPES from Smith & Co. It is a very thin epoxy (different composition than a gluing epoxy such as West System) that is designed to penetrate the wood and act as both a permeable barrier and as a binder that helps hold the paint to the wood. Unlike regular epoxy, CPES does not form a hard coating on the surface of the wood. Instead, it penetrates the open pores of the wood and changes the structure of the cells so that the wood will not rot, while still allowing the wood to move. Or so says the literature! Ask me in ten years if I believe it or not.
After the CPES, we applied a primer coat and then the first coat of paint. We're not overly happy with the colour and plan to make the next coat a dark blue instead. Next up is to finish the decks, then the cockpit and cabin top. Looks like we should be on schedule for a spring launch! Hmm, what will be in the boatshed next?
The
Judge
By Andre Massicotte
Yes it is a smirk you see on my face. And yes, it is a plastic boat you see
in the background. Mystic Bond is her name, no relation to James.
Mahone Bay is not just for you Windsprint and Schooner sailors. There are lots of other activities going on. This year, I was asked to be one of the four Nova Scotia Boat Builders Association (NSBA) judges to determine which classic wooden boat should deserve a prize awarded by the festival. It is not every day that you get to look at real classy boats inside and out with the permission of the owner. In some instances we were even offered bribes to come on board.
This year there were several boats to look at. The process was interesting. First you had to determine the mooring number of the boat entered in the competition. Trying to find the mooring ball number or quite often the name of the boat was a challenge. Next step, circle the boat and knock on the hull. The owners all thought that we were really polite to knock before boarding. In fact we were just trying to determine if the boat was really wood or glass (FRP). In some instances the fairing and paint job were so marvelous that it was nearly impossible to determine.
Then boarding with owner's permission took place. This involved a bit of gymnastics at times as many boats had high freeboard with few cleats to hang on to. Once aboard, our fearless leader Tim Edwards had to determine who was in charge. On several occasions the Admiral (usually the wife) ordered the captain (usually of the male persuasion) to show us the boat starting with the bilge.
Obviously, Admirals do not like many feet on the beautiful teak or carpeting in the saloons we visited. The boat papers and registration were usually available and the particulars recorded for our records. Some of the engine rooms and bilges we visited were real pieces of art. On one boat, there were two full spools of 14 and 16-gage wire in special cradles with thousands of feet of new marine wiring. The owner explained that he likes to have the wiring available in case he wants to add some electrical or electronic toys. Talk of overkill.
After 5-6 boats, you started to feel like a bilge rat, but looking inside those engine rooms was worth the joint pains. Most boats featured original equipment and fittings. There were some really interesting kerosene stoves, lamps and old electronics still in working order. The common element of all these boats, except the Elegante, was that they were works in progress. Most boats had some work being done on them or obvious signs of recent renovation. The care and pride that the owners displayed was terrific. The great majority of the owners did the work themselves (talk of recruitment potential for SWBANS; maybe we should start a chapter BWBANS -Big Wooden Boat Association).
Speaking of Elegante, I never did get a chance to get aboard. Timing and availability did not work out. All I got was the drooling of my fellow judges all over me, even a day after they had visited the boat. (Ed note: There were a certain four SWBANS members who did get aboard for drinks and a personal tour Saturday night)
As to bribes, I had a hard time accepting beer or rum at 10 in the morning. I guess I am not a true mariner yet.
What our members are building and other gossip
Thierry Msika and his son
Joshua are building two Bolger Teals.
Teals are best discribed as a 12 foot version of the windsprint.
Thierry writes:
The boats are nearing completion. We tried one of them a couple of days ago.
The first oar lock version was not a great success. Bolger doesn't always have
wonderful solutions for everything although he tries hard.
I made removable ash thole pins with top and bottom holders. Hope this time
it'll work. I want to try the sail too so I can make a second one for the second
boat.
August has been busy with all sort of things. The highlight was the races in
Mahone Bay and the meeting with you swbans people.
Thierry hopes to bring the Teals to the September paddle at Howard and Donna's
I wonder If Liza finished her new Volkskayak that she was making? She was constructing it with 3mm ply to be lighter and easier to load on her car. Last time I saw it was April and it was near completion then.
Alex Chisholm is back from his 15 months living in Germay and Istanbul. I expect he will be at the Stonehurst party/paddle. He has moved into "the hood", just around the corner from Annie and Rye. That area of Dartmouth is the center of the SWBANS universe now with Annie and Rye, Ken and Katherine, Alex , Faye and Dave and Denise and Greg all living (at least part time) within sight of one another. Can this be a good thing???
By Ryerson Clark
First place Schooner was
won by Miscreant, skipper, Paul Middleton of Virgina
Second place Schooner went to Spirit of Mahone, skipper, Larry
Brown of New York
First place Windsprint
was won by Dragonfly, Ken Lamb and Katherine Sharpe of Dartmouth
N.S.
Second place Windsprint went to Fluke, Don Ives and Aubrey Ives
of Lunenburg N.S.
Third place went to Loon, Annie and Ryerson Clark of Dartmouth
N.S.
First place open class went to Robert Fraser in a trimaran , Dartmouth N.S.
Once again SWBANS sponsored the Mahone Bay Wooden Boat Festival Races. We couldn't have done it as well without the kind help of others. We provided the medals and trophys, the festival gave us $200.00 to spend at Amos Pewter, the Mug and Anchor Pub gave each skipper a $25.00 gift certificate (that many used to buy rounds for the racers, thanks) and member A.D. Tinkham gave three of his original water colours for first place in each class, wow!
Every year it is a real honour for me to race with such good sports. Many travel great distances to be here. A special mention to the two Brents who travel all the way from Los Angeles almost every year and fill crew positions wherever needed.
Mahone
Bay Wooden Boat Festival
By
Annie Clark
SWBANS members played a major role in the Mahone Bay Wooden Boat Festival
this year. We gave presentations and demonstrations; displayed our boats and
projects on the wharf; organized and sponsored the Small Craft Races; raced
in the Small Craft Races; and, oh right, led the organization of the entire
Festival. In fact, I think Howard had to have the cell phone surgically removed
from his ear after the Festival closed.
Having such extensive representation at the Festival is great for the Festival and great for SWBANS. It makes my job of acknowledging and thanking everyone difficult but that is a task I gratefully accept. As usual, the Festival is like a trip "home" for us. We are always so warmly welcomed by people we have come to care for as family. There are so many in the town who contribute to our enjoyment and the success of the Festival and none more than our special sponsors at the Pub.
During the Festival SWBANS members are treated as family and as honored guests by the owners and Staff of the Mug & Anchor Pub. Fran and John ( not to forget Ron and the staff of the Pub) always make our time in Mahone Bay extra special. Thank you so much.
There are certain traditions
developing for us and the Festival/Races. The party hosted by Donna & Howard
Ray was, as usual a highlight. I still can't figure out where they found time
to do that this year. I think it has become such a tradition that they may as
well plan to hold it every year because we'll probably just show up
anyway.
SWBANS members, once again, made the Burning of the Teazer a more exciting event by using their boats in the reenactment. Who will forget Brent and his fuzzy hat? All I can say is Thank God they didn't give him the gun. It was scary enough when they began handing pyrotechnics to other SWBANS members. I spent the entire time on shore resisting the urge to scream to the onlookers to duck their heads each time the explosions went off.
It seemed like a quiet year this year. I felt that the wharf wasn't as crowded as past years. Even so, the level of enjoyment for me was not diminished in any way. Some old friends couldn't attend and some new friends joined in. For me every Festival or, at the very least, the races and the time spent with friends on the wharf and at the Pub before and after the races are what makes a great event. I felt this year was a great success because we got to spend so much time with each other. I already look forward to next year no matter what form our gathering takes.
The AGM was well attended and we had some lively and diverse discussions about SWBANS. We'll get the notes and news together for the November edition of the Newsletter as well as a Financial Report. Hopefully, the Secretary/Treasurer is currently too busy enjoying his boat to get them ready for this one.
Once again you showed SWBANS is made up of caring, funny, hard working, innovative and tireless lovers of all things about wooden boats. Thank you for coming to play.
Hope you can all join in on some of the planned events this Fall and Winter. See you there.
A new mooring for Itchy and Scratchy
By
Fraser Howell
Greetings from Glen
Margaret,
Itchy & Scratchy has left the Northwest Arm, for Long Cove,
St. Margarets Bay. We motored mostly through calm fog in July, from the Arm
to the Bay. Only a little sailing on a slight breeze that materialized in Pennant
Bay, and lasted to Peggy's Cove. This was the only time that I've gone out that
way and not seen anything exciting.
Long Cove is a sheltered, shallow bay about a mile south of Woodens River. There are several uninhabited islands nearby, and we have landed on all of them in the last 2 weeks.
The prep for the move started with a new moor. Putting in your own moor can be difficult, the mass is depending upon the bottom and the size of the boat. For I & S, I figured that 400-500 lb in mud would let me sleep at night.
The challenge is to get it where you want it, safely. Dry mix concrete and rocks are easy to get to the shoreline, but must be cast above the high water mark. For a form I used two 17 inch car tires. There are two advantages to tires as forms. They are easy to find in the woods of Halifax county, and even when full of rocks and concrete, can be rolled.
I stacked the tires, put in some rocks and a bit of hefty chain with a shackle, and filled the forms with two cubic feet of mix (4 bags). The next day, at low water I rolled the mass to the waterline and attached a large float with a releasable knot. At high water the contraption floated, and I towed it to where I wanted it, and released it.
If there is an easier process,
I'd be interested in that too.
Jack has our first one for this new section of the Newsletter, repairing a damaged sail
Hello Ryerson.
I'll ask you first, but feel free to pass my call for advice to the membership.
What's the best material and technique for repairing small holes in Dacron sails?
The micro mainsail got wasp nibbled when it was stored in Gerry's shed, so there
are several small holes in the sail. Largest hole is about 8cm (2 in.) and the
smallest ones are approx 2 cm ( half in.). Otherwise the sail is in good shape
and appears worthy of repair. This is one of the last remaining barriers to
launching the micro.
Thanks.
Jack
Reach Jack at: jalo@istar.ca