Bomb Ketch Salamandre 1:48

[BradNSW]

The shipyard moved across Ontario on the Trans-Canadian Highway. The frames from 6, to the stern are complete.

The wide flat-bottomed area for the mortars is beginning to take shape!

The last forward 5 frames should be complete by the time the shipyard crosses into the UP of Michigan!



Everything is dry fit and some rough sanding was done to the interior lines.

The familiar piles of sawdust began to appear under the space between frames.



The last stern frame is very unique and took a full day to complete.
1. The bottom half of the frame was cut away. An extra thick solid block was then inserted. It was rough tapered using an oscillating spindle sander:


2. The thick solid block then had to be sanded to mate with the curved keel piece:

3. Finally, two complex, curved, stern cant frames have to be cut. They will extend into the frame and nest on the top of the flat ledge. This intersection will be very interesting and tricky to construct!

 

[Namabiiru]

The top photo looked at first glance like you were rigging her as a galley with about a hundred oars.

 

[CLB]

Looking great Brad !!!!

 

[dockattner]

Great progress my friend!

 

[Corsair]

Wow, she is going together real fast and she looks great !!

 

[GrantTyler]

Good afternoon Brad . You certainly know what you are doing….lovely progress. Cheers Grant.

 

[BradNSW]

Hope followers were able to keep up with the shipyard as it crossed back into the US. We spent last week visiting friends in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and touring Mackinac Island (pictures at the end).

Workers did manage to begin cutting notches in the top of the frames for the keelson to fit securely in. This was accurately accomplished using a scalpel blade, two blanks (the width of the keelson) and a sharp chisel. See photos below:

1. The blanks were squared up parallel to the keel and the scalpel blade scribed a reference line:


2 . The frame was reversed and a second line was scribed:


3. The chisel was then used to cut to the keelson notch to the correct depth, with the resulting curled shavings:


4. After reaching Wisconsin, workers completed 16 of 42 notches! As the stern/bow begin to curve up, extra measurements and care will be needed to get this rising wood correct. Templates have been made to help check this curve:


Workers relaxing on Mackinac Island:

 

[GrantTyler]

Hope followers were able to keep up with the shipyard as it crossed back into the US. We spent last week visiting friends in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and touring Mackinac Island (pictures at the end).

Workers did manage to begin cutting notches in the top of the frames for the keelson to fit securely in. This was accurately accomplished using a scalpel blade, two blanks (the width of the keelson) and a sharp chisel. See photos below:

1. The blanks were squared up parallel to the keel and the scalpel blade scribed a reference line:
View attachment 536879

2 . The frame was reversed and a second line was scribed:
View attachment 536881

3. The chisel was then used to cut to the keelson notch to the correct depth, with the resulting curled shavings:
View attachment 536880

4. After reaching Wisconsin, workers completed 16 of 42 notches! As the stern/bow begin to curve up, extra measurements and care will be needed to get this rising wood correct. Templates have been made to help check this curve:
View attachment 536878

Workers relaxing on Mackinac Island:
View attachment 536882View attachment 536883View attachment 536885

Good morning Brad. That is quite the job cutting the keelson notches by hand. I am impressed, my notches would look more like your travels crisscrossing Canada and US.
Cheers Grant

 

[Peter Voogt]

Hope followers were able to keep up with the shipyard as it crossed back into the US. We spent last week visiting friends in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and touring Mackinac Island (pictures at the end).

Workers did manage to begin cutting notches in the top of the frames for the keelson to fit securely in. This was accurately accomplished using a scalpel blade, two blanks (the width of the keelson) and a sharp chisel. See photos below:

1. The blanks were squared up parallel to the keel and the scalpel blade scribed a reference line:
View attachment 536879

2 . The frame was reversed and a second line was scribed:
View attachment 536881

3. The chisel was then used to cut to the keelson notch to the correct depth, with the resulting curled shavings:
View attachment 536880

4. After reaching Wisconsin, workers completed 16 of 42 notches! As the stern/bow begin to curve up, extra measurements and care will be needed to get this rising wood correct. Templates have been made to help check this curve:
View attachment 536878

Workers relaxing on Mackinac Island:
View attachment 536882View attachment 536883View attachment 536885

Nice clean handmade notches and travel pictures, Brad.
Regards, Peter

 

[dockattner]

No cars (or truck trailers!) allowed on Mackinac Island - where did you leave the rig?

 

[BradNSW]

No cars (or truck trailers!) allowed on Mackinac Island - where did you leave the rig?

I have a retired teammate who lives on 80 acres several miles south of the ferry. Great times on the island., with its relaxing and stress free pace of life!!

Also spent a few evenings reminiscing around his firepit, watching deer, turkey and wonderful sunsets.