The apprentices are making fast work of the Herreshoff dinghy. They’ve leveled the floor mold, steam-bent the frames to the molds, and are ready to steam the keel.
Ryan and Jared striking a pose
Never camera shy, Ryan and Jared strike a pose while Tim is off getting more stock ready to plank
Tim is fine-tuning the planking of the Columbia dinghy
Moving right along, the apprentices have completed all of the planking, save for the sheer, which will be mahogany.
with the 1/4-inch cedar planking, she will be a very light tender
The Columbia dinghy has been flipped upright.
A mahogany sheer to match the mahogany transom.
The Columbia dinghy will be stable with her wide beam.
Jared is letting some steam out . . . . steaming the inside of the boat like this will help to swell up any imperfections created while riveting.
Steaming the frames did not work, so the apprentices boiled them and they fell right into place. As this tender may include a sailing rig (and a centerboard trunk), some of the frames have been left out until a decision has been reached.
The rivets have all been sanded . . . . and will probably never look this polished again
Thought not traditional, the inwale meets the breast hook with a 45 degree angle for a tighter fit than a traditional blunt cut.
The cedar planks were taped off while the inwale was being varnished. The tape was then removed and the five coats of oil are bringing out the beauty in the cedar planks.
The transom shape has been lined off . . . now one of them has to step up to the plate and make the cut!
Jared is finishing up the sunburst thwart in the aft section of the dinghy. They have also cut the transom down and shaped it smooth.
Thwart risers are in.
They've applied a couple coats of white paint and more than a few coats of varnish.
The varnish brightens up the mahogany.
Only 9 more coats of varnish to go!!!!
more varnish . . . more varnish . . . more varnish
The thwarts are being varnish heavily before being fastened in.
The floorboards have been fitted and installed.
Tim and Ryan are wet sanding all the varnished pieces with 320 grit . . . . they only have 237 more coats to go!!
They've also got two more coats of primer on her.
