Orientation
This school has both boat building and marine systems curriculum, both classes start at the same time. This year the school has 39 boat building students and maybe 24 marine systems students. We met Monday morning and did a meet and great of all the staff and students that will be on campus. After which the boat building students were split up into 4 groups and went off with our respective instructors. We were given a tour of campus which included some really cool tools like the planer below.
Introduction to Wooden Boats
The schedule for boatbuilding is Monday – Friday with each day starting with lecture led by lead instructor, Sean Koomen. So far, these sessions have focused on the nomenclature of wooden boats, some of which translates over to plastic boats. I am taking this opportunity to work on my sketching skills. Soon I hope to be able to free hand a fair line! On our first day of lecture we were also required to stand and take an oath. This oath was that, while a student in the boat school, we would not buy or accept a “free” wooden boat. I am in wooden boat Mecca and there are many “projects”. We are reading chapters from “Hand Tools” written by Aldren Watson. The artwork is delightful.
Tools
From mid morning through the end of the day we are in the shop. The course assumes you have no woodworking experience and everyone starts from the same point. In addition, to a few textbooks we were required to supply certain tools. Most of the required tools are of the hand tool variety (we don’t have to bring in our own cabinet saw!). The school has a relationship with a local woodworking supply store where you can buy tools, but you can also bring your own. I did a mix of some of my tools and some from Edensaw (there is a picture of what I purchased in last week’s post). This week we focused on flattening and sharpening our chisels, hand plane and block plane. There are many methods to sharpen edge tools, this school teaches the hollow grind method. Also, we are not using any sharpening jigs to maintain the bevel angle. The hollow grind method is all new to me so I am glad I purchased the recommend two cherries chisels as I would be pretty nervous about taking my pretty veritas chisels to a grinder!
Joinery
For the first week we focused on making a number of different joints in pine boards. We are doing all the joinery with our Japanese hand saws, chisels, pencil, combo square and block plane. We are working on our hand tool skills which include cutting to a line then finessing the wood to get an acceptable joint. My first joints were at best “rough” but I feel like they are getting better. Historically I have used hand tools to “finesse” my power tool work so it is really good for me to focus on my ability to make joints with only hand tools.
Some more boats in progress videos
A traditionally built cat boat. This is a commission build and the interns are currently working on finishing her.
A 24’ Carvel planked Troller might be named Diana Lee