A grand disappointment.

It will be a few days before i post again. I need to sit back and lick my wounds after loosing the 2014 Grand Canyon Lotto. I had high hopes, well everyone does.

If anyone else knows somewhere else to get a twenty two day dose of wilderness rivers and spirituality i'm listening.

Plank On!!

The layout continues, it seems that the planking and layout is going to to take some time. So here we go!

 

Steam continues and chips fly, just another day in the shop.

 The beam saw continues to be useful. At least when the other Skill Saw is in use.

 Don't worry Sam, there are plenty of planks to go around.

Layout Eh?

Despite what some believe the sun does shine here in the nor-west (when it does it'll knock your socks off)! On the other hand if it was a clear night, its a cold morning. That's where we find the Powell boats, clear and cold.

Big trucks and big equipment mean big wood! The planking stock has arrived, time to kick it into slow gear.

Asa stepped it up! Going for the first plank! 

 I picked up where i left off (i did say last post i had family in town), laying out  planking on the other boat.

 Meanwhile the first boat has its sheer and garboard planks being spiled. For this operation we are using door-skin and tabs glued on with hot glue. Spiling blows my mind, so far the most powerful tool learned in boat school, i highly recommend it.

Asa, meantime was backing out his plank, and becoming something of a celebrity. The day was growing old and with the first plank in reach Ben hoped in as well.

Plank in steam box at about 3:58pm out at 4:43pm and BAM!!!

Haul it fast keep working.

 Worm it into place...

 Finally clamp the  S#!@ out of it! First plank on, just think of what this plank will see in its lifetime.

Layout, its all in the...

Blog is a little behind so i'm putting together a doubler. I apologize for being behind but friends and family are more important than a blog, sooo...  Here is what you've missed!

 With the ribs installed and the rabbit fared up we are moving into the planking of the boats. This is my first time planking a carvel boat so i am really pumped to see the process and figure it out. Like all things boat it starts with layout.

There are some rules of thumb in this operation passed down from the boat ninja Mr. Speck. They have to do with where planks land in the bow and stern, thicknesses and the like. I am not going to spill the beans all over the internet so lets just say, "if you want your planking to look good you better have a plan and you'd better lay it out first!"

 A fair batten is a fair batten, eh? With the edges representing plank seams everyone takes a turn upside-down looking for fairness.

 Once one side is done we have three more sides to lay out. You can never trust a tape measure so tick strips are made up and battens are nailed and checked for fair. Only after that can you get going on the planking.

A little behind.

Just wanted to apologize to the bogospheir. It has been a crazy go of it here in the NW. We have had some of our favorite people here. Which means playing tourist, so join me as i narrate the last few days... We'll get back to the Powell boats tomorrow, eh?

 You gotta hit up the boat yard here we have Adventuress's bow sprit and a derelict's window.

 Than through the galleries of Port Townsend  like Anna's. Found a new artist there that is amazing (pic above) and  at another a new use for firing cones (you either understand that or you don't).

Then it was off to the bars like we were 20 again. Hey Luke glad we stayed above the table!! And with places with games like that i am impressed we pulled it off!

 Without stopping we headed to our good friends house. A baby on the way we paused to look at Deception Pass than to look out there window ind think about the life there bringing into the world. Good luck Ketermans!!!

Finally found a whole bunch of my family in Seattle, hit up Pikes Place, Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe, and the many other sights and smells of the city. 

What up Adele? sorry about the cold! 

See you later Luke!

I promise it will calm down in a few days and i'll get you all up to speed on the Powell boats but for now I'm off to eucher night!