Hindsight is 50/50 — Maryland Dove

We begin the new year with some new tooling, the installation of our cortez keelson and a slight adjustment in process as we build out and prepare for the landing of our half frames. The half frames are simply the frames in the vessel that are not joined permanently to one another port and starboard. Typically in a vessel like the Dove half frames land on dead wood, the keelson, or some other piece of backbone structure rather than directly on the keel. The reason for this is that the half frames represent shape termination at the bow and stern and are thus highly beveled and curved as they define the entry and exit of water flow along the vessel. On more shapely modern boats with what we call “wine glass” curves, typical of 19th and 20th century yachts as well as many traditional fishing vessels we might find the majority of frames being half frames as we have stern and bow overhang with long lengths of horn timber, raked sternposts, and a cut-away forefoot so that the majority of forward framing land on the stem assembly as half frames. The half frames join together by way of floor timbers which rest either forward or aft of the framing depending on where the frame is in relation to the midships. The heel of bottom of the after half frames is pocketed into out keel, keelson, and deadwood with those furthest aft only into the dead wood as our rabbet swoops upward rapidly.

An example of the construction of one of our full frames. *note the existence of a joining futtock which notches to sit directly on top of the keel

A half frame with wine glass shape back aft notched into the deadwood. *note the floor timber and the lack of joining futtock

The construction of the half frames does not change significantly from the full. Patterns were made with rolling bevels recorded, buttucks, and water lines. After all pertinent information is transferred to our futtocks our rolling bevel is cut and the futtocks are horned, fastened, and set aside for installation. The frames receive temporary cross spauls which sit beneath water line seven (LWL) and water line thirteen. We rig the frame assembly with hoisting straps, crane the frame into position, and carefully guide the heel of the half frames into their socket after removing the lower spaul alowing the frames to pivot on the upper. As always, mating surfaces are painted out in red lead.

Here we can see the half frame notched into keelson, deadwood, and top of keel. The floor timber notches on top of the keelson in a similar fashion to that of the fullframes notching into the keel. The half frames receive a bronze bolt in addition t… — Here we can see the half frame notched into keelson, deadwood, and top of keel. The floor timber notches on top of the keelson in a similar fashion to that of the fullframes notching into the keel. The half frames receive a bronze bolt in addition to a series of trunnels attaching them to the floor.timber.

What else:

Who says that it is only after the fact that we are able to see with crystal clarity the meaning behind and cause of our strategic missteps, tactless botched social encounters, hasty operator errors, and other such self inflicted calamities of large and small caliber? Might it be that the craft person by their need to manifest a desired design- an idea- is required to look with 20/20 vision forward into what is not known and press their idealistic seal harmoniously upon the raw unworked stuff of nothing?

Till next time-

SH

From the Shipyard

Maryland Dove