Sheer Strakes and Coamings

This week shiny teak coamings have been fitted and installed and the coamings are not far from final installation.   The to do list before launch day is getting shorter!

New Video: Fitting the teak sheer strake.

The teak fairy stopped by this week...

These beautiful  pieces of quarter sawn teak were hand picked from M.L Condon Companies selection of long length clear pieces.  In the coming weeks they will be turned into the seats, coamings, bulkhead paneling, doors, and toe rails of the Herreshoff 20.

Parts, pieces and a lot of excitement.

A buzz is in the air as the Herreshoff 20 takes shape on Burnside St. in Bristol.  A two page article recently came out in Soundings Magazine by it's sailing editor Dieter Loibner.  It can be found here: Soundings Magazine.

This picture shows a mockup of the coaming and the cockpit seats.  The coaming will be full length quarter sawn teak and the seats will be slatted in a comfortable curved shape.

Flipped

The 20 is upright and looking great.  See a short video of the flip here: Flip

Off the mold.

With the final layer of veneers in place, the H-20 hull was lifted off the mold and for the first time we could see how beautiful the inside of the hull looks. 

Glue time!

After much preparation, the diagonal veneers are being epoxied and vacuum-bagged in place.  By orienting these outer layers at 45 degree angles to the first layer of planking we add significant transverses strength to the hull construction.  The result is a stronger and lighter hull than could be achieved using traditional plank-on-frame construction methods.

First layer on, diagonals are next.

More planking...

First layer of the port side longitudinal planking is on and  the starboard side is being worked on presently.  Once all the glue has cured the surface will be lightly sanded in preparation for the diagonal layers, which are Spanish cedar. 

Planking Commences!

The smell of freshly milled white cedar planking rules the shop at 22 Burnside Street as the first layer of planking receives final fitting.  The H-20 is really taking shape now!

Backbone is in and fit.

Almost ready for planking!

More parts!

With every new part , we become more appreciative of the simplicity and beauty of NGHs model.  Below the stem and sheer clamps begin to take shape.

The H-20 takes shape

Progress on the first H-20 is progressing smoothly.  With the molds complete and the first set of laminated frames set up on the jig the stunning lines of Capt. Nats' 1929 model #204 can truly be admired.  Capt. Nat was only 80 years old when he carved model #204.  That makes the H-20 model a culmination of about 69.5 years of designing and building boats.