Mast Making

Another TWO scarphs this weekend - that means two corner pieces of the main mast - two more to go.Then the sides and fore& aft pieces.Here Brent is making the first "rough" cut with the circulat saw - to be made just right with the router as before.

Navigation table mocked up in ply - to make sure there's enough room ! Can take full size chart with ONE fold!

Well - another week has past and we're getting along with things just fine.Gales the other day -demolished our Gazebo over the woodworking bench and tore a huge panelout of the workshop tent.All under control and will be repaired soon!

Batteries have been installed permenantly under the starboard side bench seat ( two more to be added soon) all controlled by the new 3 stage sophisticated battery charger ( posh price too!!) together with the inverter for 240 volt power.

Saloon start.

This is the start of the portside - the seating,cocktail cabinet and the navigation station and also the permanent location of the household batteries,charger and inverter,etc.The permanent sole was laid and the main hold hatch fitted.

Watch this space!

The First Mast Scarphs.

Plate nuts all tight, glue oozing.....perfect!

Dave getting those nuts tight - one by one!
Ready for the glue.....

Laser target at the end of the 70 foot 4"x 4" scarphed and glued and spot on the target cross.

The laser at the other end. I have allways been worrying that the mast scarphs would be a devil of a job - the carpentry,joints,etc are basic stuff -but our first two scarphs made us a lump of Sitka Spruce 120mm x 120mm.........20 metres in length !!!

With the mast strongback carefully laid out , bolted together and fixed to the heavy steel trestles, all made level and straight.

The scarphing jig and router facing frame, all worked out beautifully! All the preparation came together.......

Brent,starting on the hull exterior - a huge job. Juha at the work bench.

The beginnings of the workshop.

The workshop tent and the bench.

The CREW - Dave (Cardiff!) - Brent (Colorado) and Juha (Finland)

After a disastrous year, one way and another, the Prince Madoc is on the go once again - at last!

We have a new crew - Juha ( Finland) and Brent (Colorado) hopefully Ansell (USA) to join us in August.

Our goal this summer is to paint the outside of the boat,add the water line,boot top coveline and fit the rubbing strakes and cap rail.

Also - build the masts!

MAST MAKING !

It's been a hell of schedule getting this new site organised and the mast timber sorted and ready for machining the scarphs, the timbers are 38 feet long! Well the jig was made for the router and the 12:1 ratio slide made for the router and its jig!

First the cuts were rough sawn with a circular saw, fitted into the slide. clamped and then the router milled off the saw cuts and made a perfect wedge !

The gluing clamping boards and bolts will be made next and then the first two scarphs glued up !

Then one corner post will be complete ready for machining to size and the rebates and chamfer cut. Then there's three more !!

The Mast Shed - 70 feet !

JOINING CONTAINERS TO MAKE THE 70FT MAST MAKING SHED.

THE BOAT MOVE .