Good afternoon Vic- I wish, Been working for a change.
Nice ones. I’ve been looking for some examples, Phil!
Oh, yuck!Good afternoon Vic- I wish, Been working for a change.
Show off!
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Having a tough time getting the first plank to stay in place long enough for the glue to set. Then I remembered how they did it on the series called “The Repair Shop.”
Because of the severity of the curves on the ribs of the boat, I suppose I’ll have to bevel the edges of planks so they fit snugly against each other. 
While I’m watching glue dry, I’m making the insides of the gun port covers. The covers are wider than the inside of the gun port frames, so to make it a snug fit, I’ll add these walnut veneer pieces. 
Now I really feel dumb! The ribs were spindly and went crooked when I tried to glue on the planks. Two of them broke. Then I discovered a form for the ribs. Duh! Nothing in the instructions referred to it. 
After multiple failed attempts, I finally got a strake down on the lifeboat. I even broke a couple of ribs and had to glue them back together. In addition to discovering the base form, I kept bending and shaping the plank until it matched the curvature of the ribs more closely. It’s not like the Galilee Boat. The strongback frame on it could take the tension from imperfectly shaped planks better because it was sturdier. 
Whew...
. A challenge for sure Vic.I do like the process of the life boat build. My kit is a plank on solid bulkhead type frame and does not resemble the Victory lifeboats at all. Project for another day tho. I will learn from you. Cheers Grant
They say experience is the best teacher. It’s certainly not the easiest or fastest teacher, though.
I don’t know about comfort. It is a bit of relief to make it right, though. I guess it does encourage some too. I had dreaded going back to the lifeboat for two days. In fact, I avoided the shipyard entirely. I guess I just needed to step back, take stock, and think about it for a while.
That brings back bad memories of me building my lifeboat on the BP, I was so glad there was only one to do.
Hi Vic
I have to say that building those two life boats was very painful
I have to say, building the lifeboat is so similar to the Galilee Boat. The experience I have gained there at a larger scale is transferable to a large degree to the lifeboat. The strakes do require a greater degree of beveling to keep the strakes flush with each other, and the tapering is on the bow instead of aft. It’s still not where I’d like it, but it is doing better. 
The instructions show presenting the lifeboat with rudder attached. I’ve seen a couple of logs with them lying inside the boat. Any ideas on which is more historically accurate or practical? I’m wondering if some place it inside the boat because it might break off when lowering the boat. 
Im also wondering if the larger boat might have a sail and movable mast.
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Looking like a nasty little build, requiring all your attention and expertise... Good luck!
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My opinion is possibly not historically correct, but I think it's more than likely that the rudder would be kept inside the lifeboat; the rudder is way too vulnerable for the hustle and bustle on any sailing vessel. From days gone by; my parents had a small, roadable sailing boat. Whenever it was on the road or in storage, the rudder was always secured somewhere in the boat. The rudder only got attached when the boat was off the trailer in it's element.