New commission - Atkin tender "Vintage" completed!
After finish shaping and sealing quarter knees, breasthook and rubrails, I handed Vintage over to the pround new owner, Dave Clemmer, for final varnish and painting. Dave is a hands on guy, as evidenced by the fine work he has done on his Chris Craft Constellation.
Vintage has been a challenging little project, including a relatively complicated backbone, very noticeable tumblehome moving aft and full sections forward, and lot of volume to cover with the prescribed 9 strakes (nine planks each side). For the beginning of the story check the Archive.
Here is the main thwart and daggarboard case. The purpose of the knees is not so much to hold the seat up, as it is to stiffen the top, or 'sheer' of the boat. The knees are notched to recieve the inner gaurd rail, so this whole business is assembled, prefinished and installed in the boat before the inner and outer rails are rivited in place. In the top corner of the picture you can just see the forward seat, or thwart in boatbuilding nomenclature. As the mast passes through here, this thwart is reinforced with a mast partner or doubler, and the doubler is carefully morticed into the adjacent stringer, called the seat riser.
In the two pictures above, you first see me boring keel bolts after setting up the molds and much of the backbone. The second picture illustrates establishing the plank lines with temporary battens, these lines will later be picked off the molds when patterning the Red Cedar planking stock.
Planking and lift off!
The last plank, called the sheer plank, is Meranti, a high grade of Mahogany broadly speaking in the Philipinne family. Meranti was also used for transom, thwarts, daggarboard case. knees and gunwales.
Here is a nice picture of the backbone detail forward with stem, forefoot, mast mortice cheeks and keel doubler. You can also see the reinforced and morticed seat riser.
For many more images, link to Dave's flickr account
http://flickr.com/photos/26841566@N04/sets/72157605185819020/
And look ahead to more pictures of the finished product on this site!
- Eric Hvalsoe, July 2008
... '66 Resorter returns to the water for second restored season after annual paint and varnish work.
The molded plywood bottom and purpleheart framing looked just like new, ready for the summer!
- Eric Hvalsoe, July 2008
… clients returning
Topside and deck refinishing work on 23' Kutter sloop, and Nord Vinden, a miniature pocket cruising yawl.
... Hvalsoe 16 #4 finished!
No. 4 with a reef tucked in
The Friday morning between Christmas and New Year's I was buried head down on some detail or another of the newest Hvalsoe 16. I had just pulled an all nighter - in the world of boatbuilding, pretty well obligatory before launch day. My clients, Denis and Dana, stuck their heads through the door right on schedule, 8:30 A.M.
centerboard trunk
Eric and Denis ready to launch
I liked the two of them right away. Over the phone and through email Denis had been kept up to date on construction and participated in a number of decisions about the new boat. I like working this way with clients. Denis and Dana were really excited to see thier new 16, named Tern, and voiced much appreciation for the work and care invested in the project.
After going over a few details, we hitched up both the new boat and my own HV 16. A small launch party congregated on nearby Lake Ballinger. It was a raw, blustery Pacific Northwest day, the sun blessed us by midmorning. Denis, Dana, and I had a wonderful sail. Denis has begun sailing relatively recently, and after a few pointers, he really began to get the feel of the 16. Tim was on photo picket duty in my boat, Elysium.
Hvalsoe 16 on the beach
At the end of the day I was left with an empty shop bay, a fine bottle of wine, a restored bank account, and the satisfaction of a job well done for good people. This boat I am sure, will be much used and enjoyed.
- Eric Hvalsoe, January 2008
HV 16, from under the foredeck looking aft
Rolling over the HV 16.
Hvalsoe 16's numbers 1 and 4, Lake Ballinger, December 2007
... '08 CWB classes scheduled
Here's a sneak peak of a pair of classes that I will be teaching at the Center for Wooden Boats. In September, I will teach Lofting, a very important boatbuilding skill that isn't nearly as intimidating as it may seem. (Honestly.) Also, from October 4 -12, 2008 I'll be teaching lapstrake construction at CWB.
If you want to be notified of any more upcoming classes, send me an email. I've really enjoyed writing in this space over the past few months, and am thinking about pulling together a brief "Notes from the Boatshop" e-newsletter that I'll send out in early spring. I suppose that would be a good chance to remind everybody of my upcoming classes, and just a nice way to say hi.
- Eric Hvalsoe, November 2007
… generous donation of an HV 13 to CWB
Jim Simpkins has very generously donated his Hvalsoe 13 to the Center For Wooden Boats. This pretty little lapstrake boat is about 15 years old, in great condition and includes a sailing rig. You will see her in the livery this summer.
Remember, CWB runs on a high percentage of volunteer labor – so if you would like to help maintain these beautiful boats, then find out how to contribute volunteer hours at CWB.
- Eric Hvalsoe, November 2007
A later summer evening at the Hvalsoe shop in Shoreline, Wash.
