I really have to admire your perseverance. I know you've edited out all the bits with more "colorful" language. Anyone who's ever worked on a project where there is difficulty at every turn knows a good day is when it's just difficult, a bad day is when you feel like chucking it all. You give encouragement to every sailor -- whether one is putting a boat in the water, or just chasing a pipe dream from the comfort of home. Keep at it! We're all behind you cheering you on.
Found your video blog last night and now watched all your videos. I've got a couple boats myself that need repaired. One clinker and one carvel. Watching you has really made me want to start working on mine.
It pains me to see you struggle to do something by yourself that is, really, a two man job or could go much faster with two. If I was 20 years younger I would be camping on your doorstep asking to be able to be a small part of this endeavor. I admire the fact that you are taking on this huge task and look forward, each week, to your videos and seeing how you overcome the obstacles that crop up. Keep on keeping on and keep sharing so that we are along for the adventure.
Excellent bit of repair work. Another power tool that you might find useful is a Multi Tool; with a selection of blades it can be used to cut the roves off and may help with getting the caulking putty out.
Hi Nick, not to say I enjoy seeing you struggling but it is good to see the whole project, with success and failure, which is part of any great venture. Much preferred to the "..and here is one I baked earlier!" Kind of show.
As someone who lives in southern California (West Coast U.S.A) I am genuinely impressed by your attitude and talents. One thing that has struck me is your ability, much less your willingness, to work in the cold. If it was me I would have a full blown furnace in the place :) I also greatly appreciate that you show your failures as well as your successes. They are an often underrates part of both the learning process and the total experience of a big project. Keep up the good work!
Hi just stumbled accross your blog ...... as a cornish wooden boat builder of 50years + i can identify with your struggles and fear that all familiar crack as a frame snaps on the turn of the bilge ... i feel you pain . You say to yourself " i didnt hear that " but of course you did 😃 . You have a lovely blog going ...keep up the good work and i look forward to future episodes . 👍👍
Wow, thank you for your support, and very kind words. i hope you continue to enjoy the blog, but if i may ask- given your experience: if you see me doing anything preposterously silly... could you tell me!? 🤣 i value the opinions of time served craftsmen such as yourself. Thank you again 👌🏻
@@BothanboatsIdler Absolutely .....Its the easiest thing in the world to critise another mans work I make a point of never do it and i have to say that you are an expert in your own right .. Having said that if i can help in anyway im eager to pass on my 50years experience . Regards Terry .
Thank you for your kind words! I’ll keep it Ive recently invested in better audio/video equipment. So hopefully the vids are a little bit more watcher friendly, untill next time 👌🏻
Hey Nick, just found you and your channel today and gave it a quick binge watch. I find it very impressive to see someone take on such a project all by himself. I hope you keep up the good work and content! Thanks a lot for your videos so far, and I wish you all the best for whats going on lately. Greetings from Germany
Just found the vlog and loving it so far, it’s rare to find a craftsman willing to take time to share his skills and knowledge in the way you are. Thanks for the inspiration and a great vlog fella definitely one of the best on here at the moment
Wonderful job, great problem solving! Working alone is difficult so hopefully your helper can come around more often. As most has said, I wish I was on your side of the pond as I'd love to help as long as I could get in a round on the links occasionally. :)
Haha! Thank you very much, They and i would be glad of you! The towns been very quiet since the c-vid! Hopefully youl make it over for a round at somepoint! 👌🏻
All the bitumen you chipped out of the knee looked perfect. Very sorry to hear that your lumber yards are all closed. Think I would be out and about trying to find older structures that were falling down to salvage wood from. Made some progress none the less. Warmest regards.
@@BothanboatsIdler We can only have so many of life's conveniences available. You do manage well, considering the state of the craft, the most fundamentals of structure that protects your new investment, and the resources you can afford. Bitumen, even in its most pliable state is hard enough to work with. Can't fathom what it must be in the near freezing temperatures your working under. Very best wishes.
Just found you yesterday Nick. Loving it already and am totally hooked and completely up to date after a binge watch. It’s great to hear your concise commentary and I will be watching every time you put up another video. Thank you.
Nice project and great attitude. A couple of tips for steam bending from my own experience if they might help: 1) make sure you steam long enough (about an hour per inch - try different times for your lumber) 2) take steamed frame out and prebend your hardest curve with a jig when hottest, then straighten back out and put back in the steamer for a bit, then fit it into the boat. If you have already bent it to a curve it will take that curve again much easier when cooler. Also looks like a much heavier backing iron would help as much as that sledge hammer was bouncing. Best to you and your project!
@@BothanboatsIdler you are welcome. When I have done a fair bit of boat work, that experience came from my years of white oak basketmaking and steam bending or green bending handles and rims. I was taught that once it's been bent (successfully) to a certain curve when green or steamed, it will always be able to go back there because the wood cells have been stretched and compressed as needed. Also, if it won't take the bend when out if the boat and using a convenient bending jig, it won't take that bend when trying to fit it into the boat, so you save yourself some misery. Cheers.
I know absolutely nothing about wooden boats and how they are built, so your videos are quite instructive. As you had to remove all the deck and cabin, that reveals the details of the construction. But it is going to be a huge work to have her back on the waves. Good luck and stay safe! Cheers from the French Riviera.
One good thing about the cold - it really helps to get the tar out, it shears off in chunks rather than just deforming. That must have been very satisfying to see the great condition underneath - makes the job worth doing! Good idea about taking out the bilge stringers, that will definitely speed things up and make life easier.
My hat's off to you, working alone and making progress. I am enjoying it very much. I was surprised the tar was hard and brittle. Easier to work with than I thought. Keep ot up mate ! 👍😎
I felt the same, in summer i had prodded it a bit and it was very difficult to move. In the low temperatures it became very brittle and much easier to remove, an accidental but delightful discovery! Tha k you again!
Really enjoying the build. Also, I have noticed a big improvement in the sound and video quality. Best of luck with the rest of the build. Regards from a cold and wet Lowton.
Its nice to see the struggle with the steam bending in a positive educational way if that makes sense. Really looking forward to the upcoming episodes. Watching in 🇮🇪. Sean
You might look into multi-tools as well for plunge cuts. I've got a pricey Fein that isolates the vibrations quite well but you can get good ones from the major tool manufacturers. I notice the audio improving substantially in this video.
Thank you for the feedback, i really appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment on our progress! And thank you for the tips. Im yet to really “need” a multitool, but i foresee one in the near future! Much to my wallets dismay! 🤣🤣
I don’t think you have much to worry about being short of timber you have months of work available scraping down and removing old paint getting ready to install new. I give you full marks for even attempting to save this vessel keep going.
Great video, your progress is uplifting for your viewers as well. I have a tiny bit of boat building experience so I really get what your doing here. I love the size of this boat big enough to easily crawl around in but small enough to manage the timber without lifts.
Just found you and subscribed immediately. Love the look of the boat! Congratulations on your attitude! This restoration will certainly be a winner! Be safe and well, regards from Sydney, Australia.
Great job. Have you tried double steaming the frame? That is, steam the end, bend it both ways then steam it again and try it. Glad you decided to go with it. Dave Ahrens Northshore boats
After years of being soaked in salt water and the 'nail-sickness' caused by the corroding fastenings will make the timbers brittle. If you use a hand saw drill bits or chisels on the old wood they'll rust from the salt unless given a wipe with an oily rag after use.
Haha thank you so much, ill be releasing a little one in the next few days. I aim yo put one out roughly every 2weeks but thats not always possible. Thank you for supporting the channel! You can check out biffysink on instagram for more regular updates. Thank you again!
Hi again, I did a similar project 25 odd years ago and the benefits of working out side in my opinion, are that the planks don't dry out so quickly. Paul from Cornwall
Another enjoyable installment. It is frustrating watching the rib break and I am not wrestling them in. I can see why boats get in such a state as it easier to put this type of work off.
Try running the blade of your Sawzall down between those planks to get out the caulking. If you decide to try this sand the sides of the blade flat to minimize digging into the planks.
@@BothanboatsIdler Yes. While its running. Effectively saw out the old caulking. If you sand of the set to the teeth on the blade it will hardly cut the planks. Obviously you'd stop short of the ribs.
Looks like UA-cam has muted the sound starting from 15:44 onwards! How does the effort for this job, that is, making or replacing the ribs scale -- up or down -- if one considers a sailable rowboat on the smaller size and a sailing vessel a few feet longer (let's say, something just big enough to have standing headroom but no bigger)?
Hey, thanks for the heads up. Ill check it out. Sorry about that! Im sorry i dont quite understand your question. Are you asking how big Idler is? Or asking the pros and cons vs a dinghy, small yacht vs larger one?
@@BothanboatsIdler Ah, sorry for being obtuse. I was referring to the job of steaming stringers and putting them in place in boats in general, both smaller and larger than Idler. If I were to practice on a rowboat that I have which needs lots of work (if I were to restore it), would the experience help much and would the knowhow I gain from it still apply in a boat that is bigger (shall we say, in the 24 to 27 ft size)... I don't have any serious plans at this time but it's a thought.
Oh, absolutely! I learned to steam oak building greenland sea kayaks. And learned many skills from that. You will learn so much from each project you undertake, from a model boat to a pirate ship each have their own challenges, and learning curves. Size usually incurs only financial and logistical challenges. But the techniques and ideas are usually the same. I hope thats of some use to you!
I am amazed that you can put the ribs in by yourself, really. My boat cost £50, on a trailer ( everything was rotten and rusted through, only the hull was useable ) the nails for the whales cost me £75 too, lol. Pleased to see you have some help when you need it. Enjoying the vids. Atb.
Love watching your videos .Your skill and talent.Will be watching your videos through to final one.Best regards from the Wirral. Ps like your pullover to
Just found you today as its a snow day....binged the lot absolutely loving it.......is there anymore history of when you originally had her...that would make a interesting episode....thanks for letting us join in on the adventure...t
Good to see you progress some,it's so difficult to do most of these this single handed,and the lockdown isn't helping any.Necessity is the mother of invention,you'll dream up ways to make it easier as you go.Top marks to ya,best wishes🙂
Did you save the tar its very useful on an old boat you can soften it by adding used engine oil just melt it over a fire and stir in the oil. Had you thought of using plastic ribs they look very easy to install and are effective. A wee part of me hopes you would use recycled plastic.
I don't know how it is in the UK with lockdown but here in Germany it's still possible to buy building materials of you're a tradesman. Maybe that's possible and there's a local builder who's willing to let you but on his card... It's also love to know where you are in Scotland, I know your accent, I just don't know from where, South Fife, Lochgellie, Rossyth area (my uncle), or Moray, (my brother). Anyway, your optimism is fantastic, thank you. Good luck from an ex-pat...
Greetings, absolutely. As a general rule Tradesmans timber, is grown to fast, has lots of defects and tends to be limited to a few commercial species. Thankfully oak is one of them. However the quality is often lacking and the price exorbitant. For the type of timber i need a sawmill yard is what i need. Im from the East Neuk bud, thanks for being part of the journey! 👌🏻
@@BothanboatsIdler probably used the wrong term, I'm a joiner by trade though no longer working in the profession, I know where I can get air-dried Oak (about €1000/m³) of very good quality but as a private person I'm not allowed to... Shame about Brexit and Covid, I could have brought you a couple of boards, I just don't know when I'm next going to be able to visit brother, last year fell flat. Look forward to your next video...
@@MrIRMOS That would have been handy! I heres to a better 2021 mate! I really appreciate you taking the time to comment and watch these vids! thanks bud!
I saw this on the acorn to arabella page. Interesting idea! 👌🏻 i think my boat is wee enough that i can get by without that extra step. But i may utilise this idea when i come to do the sawn frames. Ill see what options i have available to me at that time. Thank you for commenting and supporting! 👌🏻👌🏻
I would steam the two halves fit them with lots of props and clamps ,let them cool bond them together refit let them set and then screw together using body washers two spread the load ,then pour 2 fingers of malt cheers
@@BothanboatsIdler Seems to be a nice place to live in, but pretty much north for a guy like me, living at 43°N by the Med sea! Have great time restoring your (will someday be) beautiful old boat.
Some breakages are inevitable, but ive fitted 5 and had 2 breakages. Id say that 5/2 is not a good ratio. Maby 10/2 would be more reasonable. My two breakages were down to unseen bit of “grain runout” in the oak and over bending the rib once it had passed peak “bendyness” - due to the bilge stringers. But we are getting better! 👌🏻🤞🏻
Great work! I am just curious why you put spacers between some planks? Are the planks rotten or broken? Why did you decide to use red lead? I am hesitating to use it because of the toxicity!
Hi Michael, The spacers were put in around midships on the port side in order to balance the gaps. There are two planks with butt joints above each other. Coupled with the damaged framing the there was quite a significant “kick out” and the wedges were used to draw this back in. There is an episode where i explain this i think, but not sure which one. The red oxide is used as an old school rot preventative. There are two schools if thought on this one: one that says it does nothing and one that says its important. I decided that i would rather have something even a little bit anti fungal than nothing behind the bilge ribs. So i went with the traditional approach.
@@BothanboatsIdler Thx for your detailed explanation! I am from Canada and getting red lead is very difficult due to the safety regulations. I am restoring an Enterprise sailing dinghy and the previous owner attached the planks with a long vertical butt joint. This lead to the "kick out" where the planks are attached. Unfortunately the "kick outs" seems to let water in and to slowly rot the plank edges and besides this to put more pressure on them. The pre-owner used wood putty where the plywood teared off.
Oh no! That sounds like a terrible situation to find your self in! If i understand you correctly you are going to at the very least stagger the butt joints to every other plank. Which means replacing every other plank!! That all said, ive never seen or heard of a planked enterprise dinghy... are the plank joins perhaps scarf’s that have come unstuck over time and some one has tried to botch it with a butt block? It is bad practice to put all the scarf joins in one place and is likely the reason they have begun to fail. If this is the case i would cut out a large section of each plank and scarf in a new one. Staggering each joins... hope thats of help. Youll probably have figured that out your self tho, so sorry if that was came across the wrong way. Keep me posted on your success and enjoy it! 👌🏻👍
The pine tar acts as a flexible bedding compound behind the rib. It will prevent and reduce rot pockets on the planking and in the rib. Hopefully prolonging the life of the boat. And... it smells wonderfull! 🤣
Hey Mike, im sure there is a segment earlier on where i mention collecting some oak for the ribs. But if i edited that out then- they are made from oak! 🤣 lovely air dried stuff that i had to soak to bring up the moisture content 👍
2:33 "ALWAYS working by myself AT THE MOMENT" 😂 Haha, Sometimes we don't know what we're saying even when we know what we're saying, you know what I'm saying? 😉 -✌🏼
The lockdown here in Essex, UK has one benefit, time to hunt for interesting content, Aussie couple talking through their restoration, ua-cam.com/video/WeSwfL_KGMo/v-deo.html , may be worth a look when the weather gets too intense. Boat was also “stored” before starting to be rebuilt. Many of the same challenges but indoors in the warm! Definitely improving skills with the camera.
What mighty blows! The whole world shook when you set those roles! LOL!
Do not get discouraged my friend. A hard journey is the best journey.
Just remember persistence beats resistance every time
I really have to admire your perseverance. I know you've edited out all the bits with more "colorful" language. Anyone who's ever worked on a project where there is difficulty at every turn knows a good day is when it's just difficult, a bad day is when you feel like chucking it all. You give encouragement to every sailor -- whether one is putting a boat in the water, or just chasing a pipe dream from the comfort of home. Keep at it! We're all behind you cheering you on.
Wow, thats super kind! Thank you!!
You have really taken on a project. I live in Nova Scotia, Canada and the old timers here would be proud. Smitty
Thank you so much! i love Nova Scotia! Ive had some mad times in Halifax and Dartmouth! Nicest People in the World!
Found your video blog last night and now watched all your videos. I've got a couple boats myself that need repaired. One clinker and one carvel. Watching you has really made me want to start working on mine.
Thank you so much get out there and get at them! nothing better than getting stuck in and messing about with boats!
Thank you for your support!
It pains me to see you struggle to do something by yourself that is, really, a two man job or could go much faster with two. If I was 20 years younger I would be camping on your doorstep asking to be able to be a small part of this endeavor. I admire the fact that you are taking on this huge task and look forward, each week, to your videos and seeing how you overcome the obstacles that crop up. Keep on keeping on and keep sharing so that we are along for the adventure.
Great to see your progress. Thank you for taking us along for the ride.
Thank you for coming! 🤙🏻
Excellent bit of repair work. Another power tool that you might find useful is a Multi Tool; with a selection of blades it can be used to cut the roves off and may help with getting the caulking putty out.
I have watched 5 so far just brilliant👍
Well done on all your effort! It is great to see you work through the difficulties! Thanks for sharing, Rich
Thank you so much, and thank you for watching 👍
Hi Nick, not to say I enjoy seeing you struggling but it is good to see the whole project, with success and failure, which is part of any great venture. Much preferred to the "..and here is one I baked earlier!" Kind of show.
Thank you so much! And thank you for supporting the venture!
Wish I were on that side of the pond. I would love to lend a hand just for the fun of it and maybe a watch at the tiller when she's ready.
Thank you so much for your support!
As someone who lives in southern California (West Coast U.S.A) I am genuinely impressed by your attitude and talents. One thing that has struck me is your ability, much less your willingness, to work in the cold. If it was me I would have a full blown furnace in the place :)
I also greatly appreciate that you show your failures as well as your successes. They are an often underrates part of both the learning process and the total experience of a big project.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much for your kind words they really spur me on!
Hi just stumbled accross your blog ...... as a cornish wooden boat builder of 50years + i can identify with your struggles and fear that all familiar crack as a frame snaps on the turn of the bilge ... i feel you pain . You say to yourself " i didnt hear that " but of course you did 😃 . You have a lovely blog going ...keep up the good work and i look forward to future episodes . 👍👍
Wow, thank you for your support, and very kind words. i hope you continue to enjoy the blog, but if i may ask- given your experience: if you see me doing anything preposterously silly... could you tell me!? 🤣 i value the opinions of time served craftsmen such as yourself. Thank you again 👌🏻
@@BothanboatsIdler Absolutely .....Its the easiest thing in the world to critise another mans work I make a point of never do it and i have to say that you are an expert in your own right .. Having said that if i can help in anyway im eager to pass on my 50years experience . Regards Terry .
Good job all around. Your good spirit and willingness to "give it a go" is inspiring to all us land lubbers. Keep it up!
Thank you for your kind words! I’ll keep it Ive recently invested in better audio/video equipment. So hopefully the vids are a little bit more watcher friendly, untill next time 👌🏻
Very good post, much enjoyed, thank you. :)
Hey Nick, just found you and your channel today and gave it a quick binge watch. I find it very impressive to see someone take on such a project all by himself. I hope you keep up the good work and content! Thanks a lot for your videos so far, and I wish you all the best for whats going on lately.
Greetings from Germany
Thank you so much for your comments! And glad to have you along for the journey! 👍
Nick,
I found this article on the Australian National Maritime Museum site about a Charlie Peel design also called Idler built in 1909.
Cheers Eric
Awesome! Ill check it out! Thank you for supporting the build!
Just found the vlog and loving it so far, it’s rare to find a craftsman willing to take time to share his skills and knowledge in the way you are. Thanks for the inspiration and a great vlog fella definitely one of the best on here at the moment
Wow, thats some compliment sir! Thank you so much. I hope i dont disappoint and thank you for watching!
nice steady camera! i like that!
Wonderful job, great problem solving! Working alone is difficult so hopefully your helper can come around more often. As most has said, I wish I was on your side of the pond as I'd love to help as long as I could get in a round on the links occasionally. :)
Haha! Thank you very much, They and i would be glad of you! The towns been very quiet since the c-vid! Hopefully youl make it over for a round at somepoint! 👌🏻
Lots of work to do, but is going good ! Beautiful boat
All the bitumen you chipped out of the knee looked perfect. Very sorry to hear that your lumber yards are all closed. Think I would be out and about trying to find older structures that were falling down to salvage wood from. Made some progress none the less. Warmest regards.
I may have been doing a touch of chain sawing! 😉
@@BothanboatsIdler We can only have so many of life's conveniences available. You do manage well, considering the state of the craft, the most fundamentals of structure that protects your new investment, and the resources you can afford. Bitumen, even in its most pliable state is hard enough to work with. Can't fathom what it must be in the near freezing temperatures your working under. Very best wishes.
Just found you yesterday Nick. Loving it already and am totally hooked and completely up to date after a binge watch. It’s great to hear your concise commentary and I will be watching every time you put up another video. Thank you.
Nice project and great attitude. A couple of tips for steam bending from my own experience if they might help: 1) make sure you steam long enough (about an hour per inch - try different times for your lumber) 2) take steamed frame out and prebend your hardest curve with a jig when hottest, then straighten back out and put back in the steamer for a bit, then fit it into the boat. If you have already bent it to a curve it will take that curve again much easier when cooler. Also looks like a much heavier backing iron would help as much as that sledge hammer was bouncing. Best to you and your project!
Great idea on the steam resteaming! thank you for the tip!
@@BothanboatsIdler you are welcome. When I have done a fair bit of boat work, that experience came from my years of white oak basketmaking and steam bending or green bending handles and rims. I was taught that once it's been bent (successfully) to a certain curve when green or steamed, it will always be able to go back there because the wood cells have been stretched and compressed as needed. Also, if it won't take the bend when out if the boat and using a convenient bending jig, it won't take that bend when trying to fit it into the boat, so you save yourself some misery. Cheers.
I know absolutely nothing about wooden boats and how they are built, so your videos are quite instructive. As you had to remove all the deck and cabin, that reveals the details of the construction. But it is going to be a huge work to have her back on the waves. Good luck and stay safe!
Cheers from the French Riviera.
Glad to be catching up on the progress. Great work as ever through those balmy Scottish days ;)
I admire your dedication to be working out in the cold.
Your dedication is your success ✨ , watching your from Dallas Texas USA 🇺🇸🙋♂️
Thank you for sharing. I like the way you handle a challenge. I can't wait for the next installment.
One good thing about the cold - it really helps to get the tar out, it shears off in chunks rather than just deforming. That must have been very satisfying to see the great condition underneath - makes the job worth doing!
Good idea about taking out the bilge stringers, that will definitely speed things up and make life easier.
Great to see such progress Nick, well done. Pleased to see Her getting back to Her original glory. Keep up the hard work. Paula and Roddy ⛵
Aww thanks guys!! Youll be at the relaunch party!! 😉
@@BothanboatsIdler yeeii 😎😉
My hat's off to you, working alone and making progress. I am enjoying it very much. I was surprised the tar was hard and brittle. Easier to work with than I thought. Keep ot up mate ! 👍😎
I felt the same, in summer i had prodded it a bit and it was very difficult to move. In the low temperatures it became very brittle and much easier to remove, an accidental but delightful discovery! Tha k you again!
Really enjoying the build. Also, I have noticed a big improvement in the sound and video quality. Best of luck with the rest of the build.
Regards from a cold and wet Lowton.
Just found your channel and have subscribed and binge watched to catch up. Thanks for taking us along on your journey. Cheers!
Its nice to see the struggle with the steam bending in a positive educational way if that makes sense. Really looking forward to the upcoming episodes. Watching in 🇮🇪. Sean
Its coming along nice.
Greetings from California. Enjoying the story and love the music.
Get a bit of 22 mm ply cut into a big y shape with 2 blocks with radii on the ends to use as a tweeker for bending the rib into the keel by hand,
You might look into multi-tools as well for plunge cuts. I've got a pricey Fein that isolates the vibrations quite well but you can get good ones from the major tool manufacturers. I notice the audio improving substantially in this video.
Thank you for the feedback, i really appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment on our progress! And thank you for the tips. Im yet to really “need” a multitool, but i foresee one in the near future! Much to my wallets dismay! 🤣🤣
I don’t think you have much to worry about being short of timber you have months of work available scraping down and removing old paint getting ready to install new.
I give you full marks for even attempting to save this vessel keep going.
Really enjoying the build. You can see improvement in your channel already. Keep going.
Great to see your jig helped, perhaps a slightly higher one with a tapered pocket to guide the rib in would be worth a try? Good luck.
I think it might just help! Id like to investigate whether i can make something that doesnt involve putting holes into the keel too!
@@BothanboatsIdler Even better!
Great video, your progress is uplifting for your viewers as well. I have a tiny bit of boat building experience so I really get what your doing here. I love the size of this boat big enough to easily crawl around in but small enough to manage the timber without lifts.
Thank you so much, shes a perfect little boat! Big enough to cross a sea (with the right weather) small enough to beach! 😎
You're just going to keep getting better at things - saw the proof today as I watched you!
You are too kind, thank you
Just found you and subscribed immediately. Love the look of the boat! Congratulations on your attitude! This restoration will certainly be a winner! Be safe and well, regards from Sydney, Australia.
Nice one! thank you so much!
I seem to remember something about adding a bit of ammonia to the steam to enhance flexibility. Might be worth looking into.
Always entertaining to watch quality craftsmen. Hard work is it’s own reward. 👍
Very interesting ! Keep up the good work !
Thank you for making these videos they are inspiring
Great job. Have you tried double steaming the frame? That is, steam the end, bend it both ways then steam it again and try it. Glad you decided to go with it.
Dave Ahrens Northshore boats
I’ve been looking at the temperature your working in, “ holy crap “ it’s not warm. 30deg c here. Well done.
Haha, its the flip side for me bud! I cant work in the heat!! 🤣🤣 30C is TOO HOT! 🤣🤣
@@matthiasweigel311 Hahaha! I Would love it!
After years of being soaked in salt water and the 'nail-sickness' caused by the corroding fastenings will make the timbers brittle. If you use a hand saw drill bits or chisels on the old wood they'll rust from the salt unless given a wipe with an oily rag after use.
Nice...
If I was near you I would offer my assistance but I don't think we're in the same time zone or continent for that matter. Looking good !
Just watched all episodes back to back, great videos. But when is the next one out, can't wait. Paul from Cornwall
Haha thank you so much, ill be releasing a little one in the next few days. I aim yo put one out roughly every 2weeks but thats not always possible. Thank you for supporting the channel! You can check out biffysink on instagram for more regular updates. Thank you again!
@@BothanboatsIdler Many thanks, looking forward to it.
Hi again, I did a similar project 25 odd years ago and the benefits of working out side in my opinion, are that the planks don't dry out so quickly. Paul from Cornwall
Another enjoyable installment. It is frustrating watching the rib break and I am not wrestling them in. I can see why boats get in such a state as it easier to put this type of work off.
My heart sank at the sound of that crack. Stupid ribs!
I have just been doing exactly this. Amazing how the rivets pull themselves in.
Try running the blade of your Sawzall down between those planks to get out the caulking. If you decide to try this sand the sides of the blade flat to minimize digging into the planks.
Not while its running i hope! 🤣🤣 oddly i remade my reefing tool using a blunt sawzall blade; it works very well! Good thinking!
@@BothanboatsIdler Yes. While its running. Effectively saw out the old caulking. If you sand of the set to the teeth on the blade it will hardly cut the planks. Obviously you'd stop short of the ribs.
Looks like UA-cam has muted the sound starting from 15:44 onwards!
How does the effort for this job, that is, making or replacing the ribs scale -- up or down -- if one considers a sailable rowboat on the smaller size and a sailing vessel a few feet longer (let's say, something just big enough to have standing headroom but no bigger)?
Hey, thanks for the heads up. Ill check it out. Sorry about that!
Im sorry i dont quite understand your question. Are you asking how big Idler is? Or asking the pros and cons vs a dinghy, small yacht vs larger one?
@@BothanboatsIdler Ah, sorry for being obtuse. I was referring to the job of steaming stringers and putting them in place in boats in general, both smaller and larger than Idler.
If I were to practice on a rowboat that I have which needs lots of work (if I were to restore it), would the experience help much and would the knowhow I gain from it still apply in a boat that is bigger (shall we say, in the 24 to 27 ft size)... I don't have any serious plans at this time but it's a thought.
Oh, absolutely! I learned to steam oak building greenland sea kayaks. And learned many skills from that.
You will learn so much from each project you undertake, from a model boat to a pirate ship each have their own challenges, and learning curves.
Size usually incurs only financial and logistical challenges. But the techniques and ideas are usually the same.
I hope thats of some use to you!
I am amazed that you can put the ribs in by yourself, really. My boat cost £50, on a trailer ( everything was rotten and rusted through, only the hull was useable ) the nails for the whales cost me £75 too, lol. Pleased to see you have some help when you need it. Enjoying the vids. Atb.
Thank you so much! Its still a work in progress, but im refining the technique!
Love watching your videos .Your skill and talent.Will be watching your videos through to final one.Best regards from the Wirral. Ps like your pullover to
Haha you are too kind!
Just found you today as its a snow day....binged the lot absolutely loving it.......is there anymore history of when you originally had her...that would make a interesting episode....thanks for letting us join in on the adventure...t
Haha, thank you. No story’s really of Merritt tbh! Ill see if i can dream anything up! Thank you for watching!
You must have a very understanding missus lol if I had the means to get over to Scotland I'd help you out for a couple days
Very!🤣
Remember when you get frame stock that it has curves in the grain that you can follow for you frames.
Good to see you progress some,it's so difficult to do most of these this single handed,and the lockdown isn't helping any.Necessity is the mother of invention,you'll dream up ways to make it easier as you go.Top marks to ya,best wishes🙂
Thank you so much!
Did you save the tar its very useful on an old boat you can soften it by adding used engine oil just melt it over a fire and stir in the oil.
Had you thought of using plastic ribs they look very easy to install and are effective. A wee part of me hopes you would use recycled plastic.
I have saved the bitumen, and i was hoping to reuse it. But no i dea how to go about that yet! Thanks for the tips!
I don't know how it is in the UK with lockdown but here in Germany it's still possible to buy building materials of you're a tradesman. Maybe that's possible and there's a local builder who's willing to let you but on his card... It's also love to know where you are in Scotland, I know your accent, I just don't know from where, South Fife, Lochgellie, Rossyth area (my uncle), or Moray, (my brother). Anyway, your optimism is fantastic, thank you. Good luck from an ex-pat...
Greetings, absolutely. As a general rule Tradesmans timber, is grown to fast, has lots of defects and tends to be limited to a few commercial species. Thankfully oak is one of them. However the quality is often lacking and the price exorbitant. For the type of timber i need a sawmill yard is what i need.
Im from the East Neuk bud, thanks for being part of the journey! 👌🏻
@@BothanboatsIdler probably used the wrong term, I'm a joiner by trade though no longer working in the profession, I know where I can get air-dried Oak (about €1000/m³) of very good quality but as a private person I'm not allowed to... Shame about Brexit and Covid, I could have brought you a couple of boards, I just don't know when I'm next going to be able to visit brother, last year fell flat. Look forward to your next video...
@@MrIRMOS That would have been handy! I heres to a better 2021 mate!
I really appreciate you taking the time to comment and watch these vids! thanks bud!
are they Copper or broze Roves ? When we were kids we used to find Abonded wooden boats take them all out and sell them for Scrap
Im using cooper nails& roves. Bronze screws when i get round to the framing.
Try band saw it in 2 and bond em both
I saw this on the acorn to arabella page. Interesting idea! 👌🏻 i think my boat is wee enough that i can get by without that extra step. But i may utilise this idea when i come to do the sawn frames. Ill see what options i have available to me at that time. Thank you for commenting and supporting! 👌🏻👌🏻
@@BothanboatsIdler yes but they didn’t bond them
I would steam the two halves fit them with lots of props and clamps ,let them cool bond them together refit let them set and then screw together using body washers two spread the load ,then pour 2 fingers of malt cheers
I admire the work you're doing especially in a Scottish winter. How far north are you?
That's very kind, I'm not too far North. Closest "named place" is St Andrews, just above the 56th parallel. Cheers
@@BothanboatsIdler Seems to be a nice place to live in, but pretty much north for a guy like me, living at 43°N by the Med sea!
Have great time restoring your (will someday be) beautiful old boat.
Try fitting you’re de caulker into your sawsall with a depth block under the fence
Is it common for ribs to break while fitting? I realise the bilge stringers do not help. Keep up the good work.
Some breakages are inevitable, but ive fitted 5 and had 2 breakages. Id say that 5/2 is not a good ratio. Maby 10/2 would be more reasonable.
My two breakages were down to unseen bit of “grain runout” in the oak and over bending the rib once it had passed peak “bendyness” - due to the bilge stringers.
But we are getting better! 👌🏻🤞🏻
Great work! I am just curious why you put spacers between some planks? Are the planks rotten or broken? Why did you decide to use red lead? I am hesitating to use it because of the toxicity!
Hi Michael, The spacers were put in around midships on the port side in order to balance the gaps. There are two planks with butt joints above each other. Coupled with the damaged framing the there was quite a significant “kick out” and the wedges were used to draw this back in. There is an episode where i explain this i think, but not sure which one.
The red oxide is used as an old school rot preventative. There are two schools if thought on this one: one that says it does nothing and one that says its important. I decided that i would rather have something even a little bit anti fungal than nothing behind the bilge ribs. So i went with the traditional approach.
@@BothanboatsIdler Thx for your detailed explanation! I am from Canada and getting red lead is very difficult due to the safety regulations.
I am restoring an Enterprise sailing dinghy and the previous owner attached the planks with a long vertical butt joint. This lead to the "kick out" where the planks are attached. Unfortunately the "kick outs" seems to let water in and to slowly rot the plank edges and besides this to put more pressure on them. The pre-owner used wood putty where the plywood teared off.
Oh no! That sounds like a terrible situation to find your self in! If i understand you correctly you are going to at the very least stagger the butt joints to every other plank. Which means replacing every other plank!!
That all said, ive never seen or heard of a planked enterprise dinghy... are the plank joins perhaps scarf’s that have come unstuck over time and some one has tried to botch it with a butt block?
It is bad practice to put all the scarf joins in one place and is likely the reason they have begun to fail. If this is the case i would cut out a large section of each plank and scarf in a new one. Staggering each joins... hope thats of help. Youll probably have figured that out your self tho, so sorry if that was came across the wrong way. Keep me posted on your success and enjoy it! 👌🏻👍
What was the tar for?
The pine tar acts as a flexible bedding compound behind the rib. It will prevent and reduce rot pockets on the planking and in the rib. Hopefully prolonging the life of the boat. And... it smells wonderfull! 🤣
Did I miss it? Have you said what the timber is you are making the new ribs from?
Hey Mike, im sure there is a segment earlier on where i mention collecting some oak for the ribs. But if i edited that out then- they are made from oak! 🤣 lovely air dried stuff that i had to soak to bring up the moisture content 👍
@@BothanboatsIdler Thanks. I saw that for the laminated ribs, but wasn't sure that you were carrying on with the same material for the steamed ribs.
2:33
"ALWAYS working by myself AT THE MOMENT"
😂
Haha, Sometimes we don't know what we're saying even when we know what we're saying, you know what I'm saying? 😉
-✌🏼
hi if you get a chance go watch his last vid on boatworks today he use a Oscillating Saw with a better blade set up and cleaner cuts great show so far
The lockdown here in Essex, UK has one benefit, time to hunt for interesting content, Aussie couple talking through their restoration, ua-cam.com/video/WeSwfL_KGMo/v-deo.html , may be worth a look when the weather gets too intense. Boat was also “stored” before starting to be rebuilt. Many of the same challenges but indoors in the warm! Definitely improving skills with the camera.
Excellent, thank you. Ill check them out!
hmm... my thoughts DO IT IN WARMER WEATER OR INSIDE ROFL.