Apologies for not updating you earlier. I have been slacking it seems – though not at the college! Time for an update, and there’s a lot to cover.

The five of us have been working together to get DB1 (Deck Boat 1) planked up and fitted out.

With her planking completed, we could take out most of her moulds, and fit in the timbers (ribs). These were bent into place by steaming them.

Once we had most of the timbers in, the last moulds could be removed. Suddenly she looked very roomy.

More steam bent timbers were fitted, and fixed in place with roved copper nails.

She is so beamy that there is a lot of weight way out from the keel. With time there is bound to be a little sagging as a result, but to stiffen her up and reduce this, “floors” were then added. Floors are not what you stand on, they are reinforcements to the lower part of the hull.

Risers next – these strips of wood are fitted inside the boat (more steaming), fixed to the ribs, and will support the thwarts (seats). While I fitted these, the others worked on fitting the gunwales (inwhales, as the Cornish say) inside the top edge of the hull, and rubbing strips on the outside of the top edge (sheer).

Strengthening brackets (quarter knees at the stern, and breast hook at the bow) are now in place (James, Richard and Mark), the bottom boards are in (Tom). I have fitted the three thwarts.

The aft thwart (at the back of the boat) is wider than the others. I have christened it ‘the Duchess’s seat’!

It is a little unfortunate that the forward thwart slopes downwards aft, so that the person sitting on it, facing towards the stern will – whether rowing or passenger – feel they are tipping forwards a little. I am reminded of a ploy sometimes employed by the previous generation of GPs to mine (!): an inch would be cut off the front two legs of the patient’s chair, which helped to discourage then from sitting back and taking overlong to discuss their problems – especially useful on a Friday afternoon apparently So, I have christened this thwart ‘the Patient’s seat’!

I have started making side benches to run between the middle thwart and the ‘Duchess’s seat.’ The above photo shows the stage I had reached at close of play yesterday: the bench has been fitted to sit against the ribs, with a small gap between it and the planks. I now need to make the joints between the bench and the thwarts.

These are going to be a challenge, not only to make the joints themselves fit well, but to get it all to fit into the curved inner line of the hull and ribs.

Yesterday was our last day before a two week Christmas break, so I have some time to mull this over (and improve my drawings)!

It is really good to see the progress we have made in the last few weeks, working together on this little boat. But, the highlights of this week are – as they should be – family times. On Tuesday, we attended James’ Wings Parade at RNAS Culdrose.

And, today is my birthday: we’ve had a lovely time, with Siobhan, David and our gorgeous grandchildren.

With Christmas just a few days away, I wish you all health and happiness for the festive season and 2020.