John Gardner Boat Shop Mystic Seaport 29 Apr 17

29 Apr 17:

I visited Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT a few years back and enjoyed studying the setup at the John Gardner Small Boat Shop. There is still a lot of activity there and it helps me to see how other folks have their shops set up and what tools they are using. Erik was kind enough to send me a few more photos of the shop recently.

I really liked the shop stool and carpenter bench, so I made some and we use them regularly in our shop.

Here's a link on how to make the shop stool. Ours is named Waldo because we are always looking for it.

Skipper likes the bench too.

St. Jacques Log Pintles and Gudgeons 27 Apr 17

27 Apr 17:

Got the beautiful bronze rudder fittings from Port Townsend Foundry today, what a great job they did! Trimmed the rudder head and attached the pintles with #8 silicone bronze screws. Lightly sanded the okume with 120 then applied the second coat of Total Boat Marine Spar Varnish Gleam Satin from Jamestown Distributors.

FMI: St. Jacques Log

Winnie Log 26 Apr 17 Rudder Carriage Bolt and Transom

26 Apr 17:

We had a question about the length of the rudder assembly carriage bolt on a Super Sailfish. So we went out and measured our Standard Sailfish's bolt which is the same bolt as the Super Sailfish, Super Sailfish MKII and wooden Sunfish. The bolt measured 4 3/4 inches. All of the early Alcort wooden boats and the fiberglass Super Sunfish MKII had a smaller transom than the fiberglass Sunfish. The bolt on the old style rudder assembly for the fiberglass Sunfish is around 7 inches.

Standard Sailfish rudder assembly carriage bolt.

Fiberglass Sunfish rudder assembly carriage bolt (longer).

While I was poking around Winnie I noticed that the transom varnish is kind of crunchy, I think I was in a hurry and used some old varnish. So I'll clean that up and maybe try Total Boat Gleam Satin. I like it on the seat in the Penobscot 14 so far. I also like that JD sends along a free application kit with the varnish that includes 2 paint pots, 2 stir sticks, 2 foam brushes, 2 paint strainers, and a pair of latex gloves FREE (a $10 value).

Winnie's Log

Trailer Parking 19 Apr 17

19 Apr 17:

Our trailer parking area was a mud and weed pit, so we decked over it with pressure treated lumber. It will be easier to maintain now, and provide parking for oversize boats as well.

We were able to use a lot of "beach lumber" in the project, boards that wash up on our beach after storms.

Added a plank road behind the Sunfish Shack as well.

Sunfish Work Dolly 19 Apr 17

19 Apr 17:

We built a work dolly for the Sunfish, Laser Performance was kind enough to share photo of the finishing dollies that they uses to roll boats around at their Portsmouth, RI factory a few years back. It is set a a good working height for sanding, and the bunks articulate to support either the top deck or the hull. It rolls great on flat surface, and we have even pulled it through the yard a few times although bigger wheels would be better for that.

2003 Vanguard Sunfish Crystal got to break in the dolly.

Crystal showing off.

Here's a video of some of the details. Also of note are the carpenter benches, they are modeled off of the benches used in the John Gardner Small Boat Shop at Mystic Seaport. Very versatile as well, they also make nice work and plant stands. They are built to 18 inches tall.



Click here for more shots of the dolly and tips on Sunfish fiberglass repairs.

Cheers
Kent

The Usual Visitors

We have a continual parade of wildlife that swings by to check on progress and supervise. This bald eagle came by a few days ago, and its younger sibling a few days before that.

Dolphins, osprey, squirrels, salamanders and a periodic bear. The parade continues. The most entertaining are the dive bombing pelicans.

St Jacques Log 13 Apr 17 Breasthook

13 Apr 17:

Pulled out the trusty DeWalt jig saw and cut a curve into the breasthook.

Then grabbed the Black and Decker belt sander and shaped a slight crown. Also sanded the tops of the outer gunwale, sheer plank and sheer clamp flush in preparation for the rail cap. Final sanding done with a DeWalt random orbital sander.

For the full story of St. Jacques.

St. Jacques Log 06 Apr 17

06 Apr 17:

Recut the breasthook and sanded it to fit. I left it proud so I can give the top some crown. Attached it with a few silicone bronze screws and need to mark a curve along the aft side.

Cut out the thwart knees, they'll need some trimming to fit.

FMI: Log of St. Jacques

1958 Johnson JW-14 Sea Horse 3

Ran across a nice little outboard motor at Live Oak Trading Company in Gulf Breeze Florida. The Johnson JW-14 Sea Horse is rated at 3hp and was built in 1958. It has just the right amount of character and the shop owner reports that the motor was last run in 2016. Could be a nice project motor for a small skiff or a candidate for a full restoration. They are asking $295 USD but $200 might make it yours :)

FMI: Address: 4222 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 Phone: (850) 203-1999

Axelson Shipyard East Bay Navarre Florida Willow Log 04 Apr 17

Frederick A. and Margaret Hunter Axelson operated a shipyard just outside of Pensacola on East Bay in the late 1800s, they picked a spot across from the Miller Sawmill to have close access to the yellow pine, longleaf and live oak of the area. The shipyard built lumber schooners and lighters to move goods from the local mills to world markets. We took a trip in Willow to see the cove where their homestead used to be. It would be interesting to explore the area for artifacts from the shipyard and look for ballast stones. The home had cypress trees and scuppernong grapes, tended by Margaret.