THE HALF BEAMS CONTINUE (they hold up the deck )    12th of August 2015


FIRST AN APOLOGY......to anyone who went to the Quay Day expecting to view Helen II from above.Unfortunately not enough volunteers were available to make this possible.We hope to do something during the Conwy Feast later this year.
So anyway, both Daves are now making the half beams along the deck sides.

So I said to shipwright Dave" if the first set of beams in grey are called half beams ,the shorter ones (only half the size) must be quarter beams.Dave looked at Dave and Dave returned the look and both replied  "no they are half beams"
. I explained my logic for some time so shipwright Dave gave a job to keep me quiet ( I think ! )
I got the exciting task of repositioning  bolts which had blocked the plank nails being fully driven in to the frames (ribs ).

Now all the outstanding nails or screws in the planks are flush with the hull.
I then attempted to further discuss quarter beams
 and was richly rewarded by being charged with cleaning out the shavings building up in the hull ,but I was ready for that one !

Who's a clever boy then ?
Shipwright Dave smiled..........
Apprentice Dave smiled........... Now I'm worried !!!!!!!!!!!
 

THE DECK TAKES SHAPE             12 th August 2015

Another  busy day from the office window.What a view !



Discussions began with Tony Mead and shipwright Dave with a view to sorting out the internal bulkheads (walls ) and fittings.

The half beams support the deck up to the sides of the cockpit which crew stand in.

Apprentice Dave works on fitting half beams to the opposite side of the cockpit.(this is probably not the right word )

The half beams are painted and in place.They are made from 3"x 3" oak beams.
She is built to last !

Then we all did a bit of team bonding, racing Tony's boat in the first race of the river festival.
Wednesday Phil was sent to the pointy bit to photograph the hard working scene while holding up the jenny boom.
We came second after a lot of shouting from Capt. Tony and beer !

Meanwhile volunteer Duncan practices the skills he has learnt on Helen II to fit gunwales (upper edge of boat's side ) to an 18 foot hull in need of repair.


THERE WILL BE AN OPEN DAY ON SATURDAY THE 22 nd AUGUST  ON QUAY DAY.
This will be a chance to see the work in progress.Come and view........for free !

DAVE TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE DECK PLANNING     5 th August 2015

Dave spent the day working out the area and shape of the cabin.
The long beam on the starboard (right ) side is called a carling and will support the cabin side.This has been fitted today.

Then shipwright Dave begins to plan the height  and camber      (slope) of the cabin roof.

Then he walked away ( a long long way away ) to observe the lines he had created.
Wednesday Phil ran behind with the binoculars !
I think apprentice Dave took his sandwiches  with him.

PHASE ONE- JOB DONE !
With the expertise of Shipwright Dave ,we have a boat to be proud of !
The hull is complete and ready for the water. The journey has had its ups and downs (waves ) but a lot of people have enjoyed the ride and have helped to keep shipwright skills alive and active in Conwy.  (We've all learned a lot - especially the "young uns ".)
THANKS to all our funders, contributors, volunteers and students for remaining committed to the original project values throughout the trials and tribulations. 
A special thanks to the HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND  who have supported the project from the beginning and have showed remarkable patience in letting the project flourish at a sustainable rate (i.e. a lot slower than we first thought!  )
So now it's all eyes forward to phase two ....... planning the final build and fit-out ready for a new life on the water  serving the community of Conwy and ,hopefully ,flying the flag further afield if our navigation is up to scratch.

 

While discussions continued , Wednesday Phil just carried on sanding as usual creating a streamline hull.









Several people stopped today and wanted to know why one of the planks is fatter than the others. Phil explained that often these boats would  lie on their side on a shore and when the boat did this the weight of the hull would rest on this plank and the keel...... so a thicker plank gave more support.

I've learnt a lot over time !






And congratulations to apprentice Dave who returned this week after the birth of a daughter. He's come back for a rest..........
Well that's what he told me !

Shipwright Dave finishes the counter around  the stern. 29th July 2015

The end joints on the outer planks were particularly difficult to twist into place without lots of G clamps.

Although Dave is still not happy with the fit ,he can  tweek things at his leisure now to achieve a finish to his satisfaction.

While Dave worked on the stern ,  Wednesday Phil continued epoxying over the nail and screw heads so that the hull will be as streamlined as possible.( I've given up counting how many fill ins  Pat and I have done.)
With the circular sander now repaired,we fine these down to make the hull as smooth  as a baby's rear end !


 

PIRATES' WEEKEND 20 -21 JUNE
The Pirates' Weekend saw nearly all the trustees and volunteers taking a turn in showing off Helen II.

The quay was excellent with a lot of people entering into the spirit of the week end.In the last three years the weekend has grown immensely. Many came into the compound to see the work done.










Murray Taylor held the public spellbound with his demonstration and knowledge of knots.

 


 






 After demonstrations of various knots he passed visitors to volunteer Pat , Duncan or Wednesday Phil for a tour of the boat.

 
Pat and Wednesday Phil took turns to go on  board to explain the building and the internal structures of the boat to all who came .






THEN IT HAPPENED......................
Duncan went up a boy and came down a man ! 
Volunteer Duncan was not initially too keen to take a turn up top explaining to the public what we have all been doing, but with encouragement (bullying ) from Pat and I, he sheepishly climbed the ladder, a little unsure of his confidence level and that was that...

 We both offered to take over while he had a break but the response was always " no I'm fine "
At the end of the day we dragged him off with a rope to go home .His confidence was sky high and his grin unshakable.  "I really loved talking about what we do .When are we doing it again ?" was his final comment. This boat has a powerful effect on us all.

Many thanks to all who visited and also gave donations..
The work has now stopped to allow Dave a two week holiday.
Work resumes Monday 27th July.
 
 

SIR TERRY WOGAN CAME TODAY    24 TH JUNE 2015
The television cameras came this afternoon to do a piece about Helen II for a new series called the Great British Food Trip.

Sir Terry Wogan and co presenter Mason had a full 45 minute guided tour accompanied by Tony Mead (trustee) who explained the aims and objectives  and introduced us all to both.
We then gave them the honour of fitting the shutter ( final ) plank on the port (left ) side to complete the planking.
Once they figured out which way up the plank went ,with shipwright Dave in control,the board was secured in full view of the cameras. What a great sight to all involved in her construction.
Finally they were treated to a selection of prawn sandwiches via Trevor of  the  Conwy Mussel Plant on the quay.

Notice apprentice Dave got in on the food act again!
They were both impressed with the project and wished us well before agreeing to a team photo for our blog.

Left to right....Mason, shipwright Dave, apprentice Dave ,Pat ,Terry ,Tony ,Wednesday Phil,Duncan.
That was an enjoyable day !

So we put Helen II to bed looking WONDERFUL
P.S. Wednesday Phil finished up in the naughty corner again for breaking the rotary sander. Ooops !

Wednesday 16 th June.
Harbour master Mathew Forbes has secured a grant of £5,000 pounds for  the project and so the work on Helen II continues ........

At this time of year,many parties of school children visit the quay and often groups come over to see the boat and Wednesday Phil gives short talks to explain the history and aims of the project.

 

Today Peel Hall Primary School, Salford  visited and were not only extremely well behaved but attentive and interested in the project.Well done to the children and staff (including the lad who kept yawning ! I hope it was the excitement of the trip and not my delivery. )

With the possibility of the T.V. coming soon, Dave perfects his Cagney impression of

 "you dirty rat " with anyone who will listen.

They just need to be less agile than he is and hopefully on the other side of the fence!

The truth is that no matter what we are doing people want to ask questions and are genuinely interested in our work. Many visitors  come back again and again to see the progress.

This plank is a real banana 








 but can you see how it springs open as it is cut ?

You never know how planks are going to react.

If you look carefully at this picture ,you can see how the slab sprung open while being sawn at the mill causing thick and thin sections in the slice. We didn't expect that but we managed to level it via the planer.