Update - Bow construction under way

Since the last entry Dave has completed the stern and the back deck is on, as is the weed hatch.
On Monday he made the stem iron and put it in place.
He is now putting the steel "planks" on which will create the compound curve of the bow.
(see 2 posts ago - planning the bow)

I shall make another visit on 31st May.
Seeing the hull with the bow in place will be my first real chance to appreciate the lines of the boat.
I'm sure it will be a gem.
Photos will be posted asap thereafter.

Planning the bow.

Here's a sketch Dave made of the bow we are intending to build. At the top is detail of how the stem iron shape of a wooden boat will be constructed. We originally intended to use the stem iron recovered from an old wooden boat but have not found one of the right shape and profile to remodel but Dave has worked out how to construct a good facsimile. As usual, as this is extra to the original detailed quote for the hull Dave has costed the extra work which we have agreed.  Below is a photo (of a photo) Dave took some years ago of  the bow of the James Loader a well known wooden tug. We aim to replicate the subtle tapered profile shape of the stem iron where it meets the planks.

Other details of the bow yet to be decided are the shape of the breast block (see below), the deck beam (cratch beam) etc. Stentor had no deck beam but for practical reasons ie shedding water from the front deck in locks and constructional reasons including the deck curvature and inclusion of a hatch to access under the tug deck we will probably include one.

Here's the bow of a steel "wooden" boat showing the step formed by the breast block.

 Hats off to Ian Kemp.

 

Hull construction

This is a photo of the hull, now with gunnels on looking toward the stern.
Note that the gunnels are welded on (rather than folded over) which gives a square edge.
A top rubbing strake, modelling wooden boat construction, will be added later. This will look nice, provide extra strength and give a little more width to walk along safely.
Temporary cross bracing holds the sides square at this stage. It will be removed when the cabin is on.

Today Dave also marked out the postion of the engine room bulkhead and after measuring the engine and marking it's postion in the boat we could mark up where the Kabola CH boiler would be.

Stern under construction

Below is a plan view photo of the stern showing the eliptical shape.

The photo is a bit blurred and includes my foot because light conditions in the shed are not good, the subject is dark and I was perched on a 2" cross beam and the 6mm counter.

The elevation view shows the upsweep of the stern but the chalk marks showing the postion of the strakes cannot be seen. The shape of the stern and strake positioning has been ascertained by Dave from film and photos of Walkers boats. Some have been examined minutely with the magnifying glass to get the detail and proportions as close as possible to the original.

See Walker pages 66, 67 and 77 for the photos of Arveleecom and Stentor.

The photos do not do justice to the subtlety of shape that Dave has managed.

The hull sides are on.

As of yesterday the hull sides were on and Dave is currently working on the stern.
I'll be going down to have a look on Monday and we will discuss the exact shape of the bow before cutting steel.
Prior to this I am doing my homework studying photos in books recommended by Dave:

Walkers of Rickmansworth - A Walker
Boatyards and boatbuilding - R Wilson
A canal people                    - S Rolt

Although the subject is the boating families operating in the Hawkesbury area Rolt contains some excellent close up photos showing details of the boats in use.

I shall of course update the blog with photos of the build to date ASAP after Monday.