Of Workdays and Pictures

We returned to the workshop after being driven off by the heat for a couple of weeks and darned if we didn't make some progress! In the meantime, I learned how to add pictures to the blog- there's no stopping me now!


Today was busy with six of us on site through the day. Our money shot for the day is the roughing in of the first two new quarter deck beams! Despite the rest of our absence, the shipwright has almost completed the stern and we surprised ourselves today by being able to set the new beams in place as the final job of the day. This puts a whole new perspective on the size of the cabin. Pictured are the shipwright and Larry, who has been out to several events with us and joined us for the first time on the farm today.


Ben is busy completing yet another frame. We have had to replace or modify almost twenty and it is no easy chore to make sure they are properly fitted and match the sister on the opposite side of the ship. Each frame is made of 2 1/2 inch thick white oak and made of several pieces both in width and length which must be put together like a jig saw puzzle and then assembled in place on the ship. The finished weight of each is no less than fifty pounds and often over ten feet in length. Since there is no deck to work from, his involves numerous trips between Luna and the shop for cutting and fitting. Today's frame is supporting the deck beam in the first photo.





Chip and Larry work out the finer details of vent covers which will be located over the bunks in the stern of Luna. We decided it was much easier working on detailed projects now where there is room rather than after the deck is in place. As a result we often spend what seems like lots of time on small projects, but in the end it all fits together beautifully.


Adam works on the deck beam with a reciprocating saw. The beam is six inches thick and attention must go into a square and even cut. While our wonderful band saw could cut this in no time, due to curves to be cut and overall length, it just won't safely fit through so we actually make two passes with smaller saws to cut this. The first is with a radial saw which cuts through about four inches, then we follow through with the reciprocating saw. Fresh blades make it seem like cutting through hot butter. Next will come the sanders to finish out any rough spots.



Thank you for visiting and we will have more updates next week.





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