Porthole Frames, Plasma Cutting and Light Painting

DougPortholes, Steel Boat

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I would like to say thank you for all of the support we are receiving.  It may take a leap of faith to start something like this and to open it up to everybody on the internet, but it is working better than I ever expected.   Yes, there are some shallow thinkers out there, but the overwhelming majority comments are helpful, upbeat and positive.  Water may float the boat in the future, but your support is doing it now. And I can not say enough about our guest workers.  We have obviously tapped into a common dream for folks like Jakob who is currently here from London England.  He took his holiday and savings to fly across the Atlantic to run a grinder for days on end.   I am grateful.  –Doug

 

 

 

Porthole Frames — Welding Grinding and Fancy Photography

DougPortholes, Steel Boat

If there is a certification for grinding then Jakob could pass with his eyes closed.  With his and Jacks help we got all ten porthole frames welded together and ground.  The next step is to bolt the porthole rings on and weld the nuts onto the frame.  So should the nuts and bolts be steel (39 cents each), stainless ($1.50 each) or bronze ($10 each).   Frankly, bronze is a non starter.

And many thanks to Chris Faith for the awesome photo on the bottom of the post.   It is a composite of several photos taken with long exposure times.  See “light painting” for more.

 

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Ten Porthole Frames

Ten Porthole Frames

by Chris Faith

by Chris Faith

British Boat Building

DougSteel Boat

Jakob - all the way from London England.

Jakob – all the way from London England.

Jack and Jakob

Jack and Jakob

Capping off the lead.

Capping off the lead.

Mast Pipe

Mast Pipe

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Tyler Lay delivering our main mast pipe.

Tyler Lay delivering our main mast pipe.

Backing in the Mast.

Backing in the Mast.

Enjoying the evening.

Enjoying the evening.

Welding practice on the main mast construction rollers.

Welding practice on the main mast construction rollers.

Fooling around a the junk yard.

Fooling around a the junk yard.

Picking out our Mizzen Mast.

Picking out our Mizzen Mast.

Blacksmithing, Casting, and Deadlights

DougCasting, Portholes, Steel Boat

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It is a pleasure when you get to meet people who enjoy working, sharing, and learning.   They exude confidence,  not arrogance, but a confidence that anything is possible.  That confidence is infectious and instills courage.  And without courage we do not live to our potential.

Feal the fear

and do it anyway.  LIVE

 

Another Awesome Day in the Boat Yard.

DougSteel Boat

Sean

Sean

Sean hammering out a dragon boat hook.

Sean hammering out a dragon boat hook.

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Jack

Jack

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Tentacles

Tentacles

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Sean working on a deadlight.

Sean working on a deadlight.

Talk with your hands.

Talk with your hands.

David Collins up in VA testing the CNC code for the ships wheel.

David Collins up in VA testing the CNC code for the ships wheel.

Chris Faith's first time welding ever!

Chris Faith’s first time welding ever!

That weld on the left is the second weld Chris Faith did.

That weld on the left is the second weld Chris Faith did.

Fore and Aft and Capstan

DougSteel Boat, Winches

Excellent Day!  Bart and I got the foremast step ready to weld in tomorrow.  Jack and Dave worked on the rudder tube.  And Grant & Serena got a capstan looking really good.

Rudder Reinforcements

Rudder Reinforcements

Sand Blasted

Sand Blasted

Dave Kamp, Leclaire Iowa

Dave Kamp, Leclaire Iowa

Serena and Grant, Tulsa Oklahoma

Serena and Grant, Tulsa Oklahoma

Welding the Rudder Tube

Welding the Rudder Tube

The Next Casting

The Next Casting