Adios 2020

 With a grateful sigh we turn away from 2020.  Hopefully to never revisit anything similar again.  

One apparent benefit, all these quarantined Netflix-weary people have somehow stumbled across this humble blog.  I had no idea there was any dory building interest in Mongolia and Uzbekistan. And so many of them uncannily carry the same last name, Bot.

Socially distanced introverts, like me, can sometimes get things done in the shop, once those outdoor options go away with the cold weather.  Claro walnut spacers are added, then inner rail length is calculated  along the inner sheer, using the template measurement technique.  Side panels get a coat of Grand Banks Beige since it’s hard to get in there after gunwales are installed.  Gunwale scarfs are cut and epoxied  

Inner and outer rails cut and clamped into place, with every Highland clamp I own. Then gunwale bolt holes are drilled, using a level to help with alignment.  “Up, down a little, ... Go”.  With assistance from Michael.  Thanks Mooks!

I

Back in the MBS

 Found my way back into the MBS once the snow started to fly. First cut the sheer and trimmed the rib ends, then shaped and cut the transom and stem. 

Notched the rib ends for the inner rail, then steamed and bent the ash gunwales using the plastic bag technique I learned from a Louis Sauzedde video.  

Summer Sojurn

 We’re back!  Sorry about no posts for a while.  What can I say, nice summer, bike riding, took up golf again after 12 year break (just long enough to forget why I quit last time).  Hope my faithful readers, both of them, didn’t miss me much. :). 

But the real reason of where I am in the build right now is, as you’ll see below - glassing and sanding.  My least favorite part, ergo the procrastination. 

My attempts below to keep the shop bonehead from making a mistake with the guttering for water drainage:   🤓

Boat turned back over.

Since then been glassing seams and gutters, and sanding.  Which sucks. Therefore, golf. 

Getting cold so probably back in shop soon. 

Steamboat Willie

Able boat building assistants Kevin and Amanda have been doing deep research into new options for the next boat build.

Seems like a power boat is under consideration.  Not sure how that’s going to work on our Western (always capitalized) rivers.

Presenting Steamboat Willie!

Proud Mary is still also under consideration. 

Social Distancing with my boat

Once dory is flipped over the real work begins. While it seems that we’re halfway done it’s more like when a house is framed and dried in.  The finish work takes well more than 50% of the time.

First cross bulkhead support pieces were added:

Followed by bow and sidewall cleats:

Sidewall cleats always look wavy and out of alignment, but are correct. 

And bulkhead plywood is trimmed to match cross pieces top bevels:

Seat braces and spare oar slot took a big chunk of an entire day!  Lots of crazy angles and cuts:

Then spent a few days planning water drainage, gutters and frames and hatch lid sizes and locations, esp various cooler locations (if used ):