You've got to have wood.

The Harbormaster skiffs are progressing very nicely thanks to the combined effort of students, volunteers, and especially Dave and Jen.  All four bottoms have been planked, and the first two boats have had their skegs fastened and have been turned upright for interior work.  The other two will be flipped by the SAILOR program students next week.

Once upright, one can see that the skiffs are really very pretty little boats.  

Flipped and looking good.

There is still a lot of work to be done, and Jen, Dave, and volunteer Robinson were working hard at the remaining tasks.  The two remaining skegs needed bolts to be fabricated, and that task was handled by Jen and Robinson.

Robinson threads a copper rod to make a keel bolt.

Jen and students contemplate fastening a bottom.

Dave spent some time fairing the edges of the bottom planks before turning the last two skiffs.  He also began fastening the frames and floors in the two upright boats.

Molds have been removed, and will be stored for use in the future.

Dave checks the fairness of the transom.

Most of the frames are in place in this boat.

We got a good batch of New Jersey white cedar from Chip and Kurt at Medford Cedar last week.  Bad weather delayed milling, but the wood is definitely worth having waited for. It is especially nice to be able to buy good quality wood grown locally, just as local boatbuilders have done for many years.

Now that there is plenty of cedar in the shop, work is proceeding on the Beetle catboat.  

Lee and John select cedar for Beetle Cat planking.  Jeff offers sage advice.

John and Lee feed a board through the planer.

The first garboard plank for the Beetle Cat has been cut and fitted.  It's a good and welcome start, but there are many more planks to go.

Lee test fits a garboard plank.

One down, LOTS to go.

Charles began making a replacement companionway hatch cover for the Herreshoff sloop Hard Tack. The original cover blew off on the highway as the boat was being trailered to the museum last fall.  The old mahogany assembly suffered too much damage and had to be replaced in time for spring sailing this year.

/The old hatch cover has seen better days-- too many of them.

A stack of mahogany boards and splines will be turned into a new hatch cover.

Fitting the top around curved mahogany beams.

Screwed in place, awaiting bungs.

Volunteer Dave drew the assignment of sanding and staining the many lengths of mahogany which will become the ceiling in Misleading Lady's interior.  The work is fussy because any scratches in the wood will be emphasized once stain is applied.  Dave did a great job and the ceiling boards look perfect.

Dave sands boards for Misleading Lady ceiling.

Dave applies stain while Jerry looks on. Note completed boards on horses below.