Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Cutting strips

Set up the table saw on the deck.
.

Four hours later, I'd cut about 85 western red cedar strips. The railings on the deck just happen to be the right height to support the boards as they feed, but I reset the feathered guides with each pass.


That's it for today... tomorrow the shear strips!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Muscongus Bay solstice

Celebrated the solstice paddling in and around Muscongus Bay with friends Judith & Wayne. Four day paddles, from Round Pond, Tenant's Harbor, Broad Cove and Port Clyde, covering 54 nautical miles in all.
Seals, harbor porpoises, osprey and bald eagles, puffins (on Eastern Egg Rock). Went looking for lobsters with the waterproof camera, but no luck!

Favorite paddle was probably the one out of Port Clyde, paddling a chain of islands out to Allen, about halfway to Monhegan before returning, but also love paddling in dense fog one of the days. It's a beautiful area, just far enough off the beaten path to preserve the charms of coastal Maine.

Thanks Wayne, thanks Judith!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Beginning of a Petrel

Just back from a week of reading AP Psychology papers in Kansas City...time for some boatbuilding therapy. Had ordered the plans for a Petrel from Nick Schade after paddling his boat last winter in a pool practice (http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/guillemot/kayak/night_heron/petrel).
After paddling one at the Meet at the Beach wooden boat gathering a couple of weeks ago, I'm pretty sure this will become my favorite boat for day paddles and play in rougher waters.

Cut out a stack of stations today....
....forward of the cockpit............and aft!

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Petrel in the basement

My friend TwoPaddles has been building a Petrel in my basement, the third boat created in that tight space. He blew the stock plans up 107%, used western red and white cedar, stained the hull red.....it's coming together, with glassing done, and awaiting only the completion of hatch lips, coaming, skeg, deck fittings and bulkheads before putting the hull and deck together. Photo below gives a sense of what it will look like....beautiful.
I hope to do one myself later this summer, stock size, maybe a green hull...we'll see.