Antique
and Classic Wooden Boat
Restoration, Repair, Refinishing, Building and Sales
| "CHIMAERA" STAGE 1: Building Of The Hull |
 |
| Careful dismantling of
the original vessel using a chainsaw ! ! It took 2 days cutting away
and unfastening the vessel to salvage only 6 original wooden pieces
including the counter-horn timbre (stern post), deadwood, deadwood knee,
upper transom framework, one deck beam, rudder and the cast iron ballast
keel. |
 |
| From the original plans we lofted
the vessel (carefully drawn to full scale) onto 8 painted 4x8 sheets of adjoined
plywood. |
 |
| The mould was then carefully built
and constructed from the lofting, over top which the "new" vessel would
be built. |
 |
| The white oak ribs were steam-bent
over the mould and clamped in place to dry for several months. The ribs were then
removed, varnished and re-fastened to the mould. |
 |
| The mahogany hull planking was
made, fitted and temporarily fastened using clamps and stainless steel screws
with fender washers. This picture shows the original deadwood (dark piece) has
been permanently installed. |
 |
| This picture shows some of the
laminated oak floor timbres which have been built and removed for varnishing before
their final installation. |
 |
| The hull planking was removed,
varnished, and permanently re-installed with bronze fasteners and a fine strand
of cotton caulking with wet varnish between all planks. |
 |
| Liftoff !! After planking
was complete, the vessel was released, lifted off the mould and turned
right side up. The mould was then lifted intact and suspended from the
ceiling where it awaits the next Dragon project. |
 |
| We were asked and pleased to display
our half-finished yacht at the 1994 Toronto International Boat Show. For additional
effect we faired, sanded and varnished the port side only, leaving the starboard
side still rough and untouched. |