Thank You Chuck and Gary for your kind words. The kit is a real gem and very pleasant to build. Thanks to all the 'Likes'. The garboard is in place. As you can see, before to begin the planking, the hull has been lined and tick marks have been reported on each frame. Finally, I decided to simulate the treenails at this step. It's easier to position them now.

We're back in Florida, and the longboat remains in New Jersey. Before leaving, I was able to make the mast, boom and gaff, which were all made from the square stock in the masting and rigging kit. I also made the horse at the stern from wire and mounted it. I was able to mount the mast, make eyebolts and hooks from wire and make the belaying pins. We are planning to be back in New Jersey for Thanksgiving and hopefully I will get a lot of the rigging done at that time. I will do the stropping of blocks and deadeyes here in preparation for that. Bob

Beautiful work Jean-Paul. I like your careful and meticulous approach to building this model - nice and clean and everything just so. I have no doubt you will produce an excellent longboat. Look forward to your future updates. Gary

Fine work...that is looking excellent. 😊

Thanks to all the likes. I finished to fair the hull. I can begin to plank the hull.

Thanks Chuck. And thanks for the likes. Got a few coats of wipe on poly on the floors and platforms, and added the cockpit benches, filled the gaps and sanded smooth. a few coats of paint on the seats will be next up.

Yep. Very light. But it's surprisingly sturdy. I had no issues faring the frames pretty aggressively.

it always surprises me how light it "suddenly" is

Thanks Michael and also for the "Likes". I am glad to see the Longboat off of the build board. With the bulkhead centers removed, the model is extremely light. I have to be careful as I sometimes seem to be too heavy handed when handling the model.

Looks great! It is always exciting to see it off of the build board without the centers in.

Thanks Michael and Rusty for your comments. I am doing great now and should make a full recovery. I completed the planking and it was time to remove my Longboat from the build board. I removed the supports at the stern and the masking tape that I had used to tape the bulkheads to the build board. I removed the fore section first and then the aft section. A few slight twists of the build board and the Longboat was free from the build board. Next came the removal of the bulkhead centers. I used a razor saw to cut the bulkheads free. Chuck's design made this an easy process. I used my razor saw to cut the bulkhead at the top down to the laser cut line on both the port and starboard sides, gave the bulkhead a slight wiggle and the centers popped free. This was an easy process and I had no issues removing the centers. The model is now starting to look like a boat:

Really nice work😀

Haven't updated the log in a while, but work continues. Molding installed and nails done. Again, if I had it to do over, I'd add the nails after installing each plank. Floorboards were up next. Bending these boards was fairly easy. Even the thicker ones. The tougher part was shaving the nylon line flush with a razor on the bent boards without shaving pieces of the floorboards with the edge of the razor blade. The platforms were next up. The aft platform is easy compared to the little platform at the bow. The angles are tricky, and I cut a few cardstock platforms before I liked one and then transferred it to the wooden platform. I still had filing and shaping to do until I was happy with the fit around the inside edge, and making sure it sat fairly level. Next were the risers and thwarts. I marked the distance from the top of the rail to the top of the risers on each frame as Chuck suggested. Then measured again to make sure. I took a lot of time getting the height right on both sides. Last thing I wanted was to get to this point and then have a noticeable slant to the thwarts!! The risers were then bent to fit, clamped to the sides, and marked of for nails. I applied the nails off the model. Much easier than it would be after installing the risers. Then they were glued up, with a clothespin "clamp" on each frame. Next up was gluing the 2 layers of each thwart together, then fitting them into the slots. The first thwart at the bow was the trickiest. Again, a cardstock thwart was made and cut too fit before trimming the real thwart.. I still managed to mess up the "real" thwart. Luckily there's plenty room around the edges of the laser sheets to cut a replacement thwart! So here it is as of today. I think I'll add a coat of wipe on poly to the floor and platforms before proceeding the the cockpit bench.

Thanks to all the likes. All the frames were now glued. Just take your time and perform several dry tests before performing the real step. I fixed the bases temporarily at the table to facilitate the task, Time to fair carefully the hull.

Thanks so much Art for both your comment and your concern. We will be staying in New Jersey until the storm situation is over. We have someone taking care of the house ( closing storm shutters etc.) and I wish the best to all of you in the area in a scary situation. Bob

Wonderful work so far on this one Bob. I hope you are still in NewJjersey till this storm decides what it is going to do. Is anyone looking in on your house while you are away? I don't know if there is anything I could do but if you need me to just shoot me an email. Best regards

Thanks so much Rusty and the "likes". I'm really looking forward to starting Winnie, as well. Bob

Hi Ryland, I'm glad to hear that all has gone well for you and that you're well on your way back to full strength. Our body has a way of warning us but we tend to not listen, me included, but luckily we can now pay closer attention. My best to you my friend.

It's no surprise that you're doing a wonderful job! Can't wait to see you finish and start the Winnie!

Thanks so much Nils, Grant and the "likes". Bob

Lovely work Bob - just what we have come to expect from you!

Wow Bob, good looking longboat Nils

I've now completed the hull portion of the longboat. This included making and adding the windlass, making and adding the block on the stem and the roller on the stem, and making up and adding the rudder and tiller assembly. The last thing was to make and add the thole pins. I've started to make the mast and spars, which I hope to complete before I leave for home. Bob

Thanks to all the 'Likes'. I test the five single part frames. A great kit from Syren. Everything goes perfectly and the instructions are again a model of pedagogy. Thanks Chuck for your wonderful work !

Great news hope to see you there