Barbashela Log 26 Feb 16

26 Feb 16:

Fast Forward, we are framed up to station 6, sealing up cracks, plugging nail holes and returning plank pieces to the bottom.

FMI: "Barabshela" a Rowboat of Captain Thomas Leathers' Design for Ms. Winnie Davis

Barbashela Log 16 Feb 16

16 Feb 16:

Skipper cut out the 3/8 inch cypress plugs.

The plug cutter did a good job at cutting about a 1/2 inch plug. So the system that we found worked for us was to put 1/2 a glued plug in from below, drop some glue in the hole and push the other 1/2 in from the top. We could probably find 1 inch cypress plugs somewhere but we like the local cypress.

Filed off the top of the plug and sanded flush with 100 grit. Stole the Skipper's tiny dustpan.

Trimming out the rotted crossmember at frame 16.

Epoxy and screws to attach the new piece to the 19th Century crossmember. It can now share the load with the forward crossmember that was sistered sometime in the 20th Century.

Port side frame 16 ready for action. We will trim it once the planks are hung.

Old frame will be retired.

Pondering frames 14, 12 and 10.

FMI: "Barabshela" a Rowboat of Captain Thomas Leathers' Design for Ms. Winnie Davis

Barbashela Log 15 Feb 16

15 Feb 16:

Piecing together the old port side frame pieces to see what we have left for patterns, or possible reuse.

Inspector Jack has concerns about the taped frames, he says duct tape would work better.

Repairing frame crossmembers with Pettit Marine Paint Flexpoxy and silicone bronze wood screws.

Frame 8 starboard.

She has a few new pieces and repairs.

Fitting port frame 16.

Repairing frame crossmembers with Pettit Marine Paint Flexpoxy.and silicone bronze wood screws.

FMI: "Barabshela" a Rowboat of Captain Thomas Leathers' Design for Ms. Winnie Davis

Barbashela Log 14 Feb 16

14 Feb 16:

Skipper brushing off the dirt. We found a nylon wheel that fits on a drill, with light pressure and going with the grain is takes off the old paint but not the grain pattern.

She has a transom now, 1 3/8 inch cypress. We had to plane down an 8/4 (1 1/2") board to get the right thickness and attached it with Pettit Flexpoxy.

Chip, brush, scrape, sand and vacuum frame by frame. Check out the putty knife sticking through the seam. The good news is that we run out of boat parts soon as there is not much at the bow.

We can reuse this frame foot, but probably not the rusting nails.

Cut the sculling notch with a jigsaw, then used a diamond file to clean it up. We sized it for an 1 1/2" diameter oar.

Flooded a coat of oil based paint to season the cypress.

FMI: "Barabshela" a Rowboat of Captain Thomas Leathers' Design for Ms. Winnie Davis

Barbashela Log 13 Feb 16

13 Feb 16:

We took a measurement off the photo to get an estimate of the transom curve height, then freehanded an arc and cut it with a jigsaw. Left it a bit proud on top for a bevel.

Cleaning the planks.

Laying down a show coat of paint, to show us areas that need more attention. 2 sets of frames restored, 8 to go plus the stem.

FMI: "Barabshela" a Rowboat of Captain Thomas Leathers' Design for Ms. Winnie Davis

Barbashela Log 12 Feb 16

12 Feb 16:

She'll come back together frame by frame. We'll fill the holes topside on the way towards the bow and flip her to get the bottomside last.

Working on the transom curve and sculling notch.

Nylon brushing the floorboards and using vacuum to catch dirt as it comes off.

FMI: "Barabshela" a Rowboat of Captain Thomas Leathers' Design for Ms. Winnie Davis

Barbashela Log 11 Feb 16

11 Feb 16:

Check out the reverse curve on this steamboat tender.

Cypress for transom and frames.

Cypress for transom and frames.

FMI: "Barabshela" a Rowboat of Captain Thomas Leathers' Design for Ms. Winnie Davis

Barbashela Log 10 Feb 16

10 Feb 16:

Just keep humming the "Bob the Builder" song...,hey that kind of looks like a fish...

Varina Anne "Winnie" Davis

FMI: "Barabshela" a Rowboat of Captain Thomas Leathers' Design for Ms. Winnie Davis

1950s Alcort Sailfish "Winnie"

Our friend spotted an Alcort Sailfish for sale up in NY, and he thought we might want it. So he bought it and brought it down to us during his annual Florida run. We in turn bought it from him and also scored a mast and spars for another restoration project on a Sunfish. Her name is Winnie.

The Sailfish is just under 12 feet long and it has a 65 sf sail. The spars measure 11'7" and it has a tiny rudder. This boat was taken apart for refinishing but the previous owner lost interest....17 years ago. It is in great shape and we'll get to it as we finish up on Barbashela and St. Jacques.

The bare hull weighs 92 pounds, came with all the parts. Just needs caulk and paint, yellow paint that is, like she was originally.



Alcort Sailfish logo.jpg

Kind of like a kit boat!

Rudder mechanism.

1950s Alcort Sailfish mast step and bow handle after a little teak oil, vinegar and metal polish.

Yep those are bronze rivets.

Check out that mast and wooden spars.

18 May 16: Winnie has her first top coat of Valspar Ultra 4000 Alkyd Enamel, Whipped Apricot. She will remind us of Barbashela. So much so that we decided on her final name, "Winnie."

19 May 16: Skipper loves Winnie, can't wait to get her on the water.

65 sf of sail, 11'7" long, 3' beam, 92 pounds.

65 sf Sailfish sail over a 75 sf Sunfish sail.

21 May 16: Winnie went to the Bagdad Riverfest with Zip. Notice where we painted the sides with Rustoleum Topside Oyster White and added an oak rub strip, stained and sealed with Minwax Polyurethane Mission Oak, attached with #6 brass screws.

23 May 16: Skipper takes Winnie out for the first time in many years. Nice light wind day for a test sail.

to be continued...