Cathead

When dealing with hood ends, I found it very helpful to use a form with the same curve as the rabbet, to ensure the hood ends stayed in place. Photos and descriptions are here. It's easy to do, you just cut a piece of the scrap wood from which the stem of the keel came, and clamp it parallel to the rabbet. This gives a strong overhang of wood that the hood end can butt up against, making it impossible for it to pop out while drying.
 
I first tried using a clamp itself against the rabbet, for the hood end to push against, but found that a clamp strong enough to hold the pressure also dented the keel. Using the strips of wood works better, as the flat surfaces of wood grain on wood grain have way more friction than a clamp, and a few clamps can be used along the length of the piece, holding it very securely and not risking any damage to the keel.
 
Worked like a charm for the rest of my planking once I figured it out.

When dealing with hood ends, I found it very helpful to use a form with the same curve as the rabbet, to ensure the hood ends stayed in place. Photos and descriptions are here. It's easy to do, you just cut a piece of the scrap wood from which the stem of the keel came, and clamp it parallel to the rabbet. This gives a strong overhang of wood that the hood end can butt up against, making it impossible for it to pop out while drying.
 
I first tried using a clamp itself against the rabbet, for the hood end to push against, but found that a clamp strong enough to hold the pressure also dented the keel. Using the strips of wood works better, as the flat surfaces of wood grain on wood grain have way more friction than a clamp, and a few clamps can be used along the length of the piece, holding it very securely and not risking any damage to the keel.
 
Worked like a charm for the rest of my planking once I figured it out.

This is the final resting place of my Launch, in my bosses office. I'll be organizing photos for the gallery and have them posted soon.

After some adjustments, it all fits. I had originally thought about unshipping the stern crane and toss it overboard, but decided it should stay. I was able to stand the body up and secure it to the aft mast so that it is visible, yet out of the way. The windlass can stay in place, as it too, takes up little space.The support arms for the crane and the hand spikes for the windlass tied together and easily slid under the raised aft deck.

With the crane out of the way, the chest, compass, food sacks and tools seem to have plenty of room. The cargo nets were large enough to support almost all of the barrels.

I decided to only hang four oars off each side. This way the two that are left may appeal to those who can't look with their eyes.

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and input.
 
Hey Boyd, thank you. Your build of this Launch's Dad is inspiring to watch.
 
For my cutlasses, I used a length of brass for the blades with different size brass tubes for the hilt and handle.

I cut a slice in the larger tube and drilled holes through top and bottom of the "C". Then the end of the blade was cut to fit through hilt and handle. Once all pieces were cut and fit, they were soldered. Then just a bunch of grinding, fileing and bending to look like a cutlass. I chose the figure 8 shape for the hilt as it was a distinguishing mark as English made.

After I blackened and let the cutlasses dry I did some final details on the hilt and handle. I very carefully buffed part of the black off to give it a shine. Black thread was then used for the half-hitch whipping for the hand grip. The final step was to carefully blacken only the blade again.(The blades measure at 22 inches, overall length 27 inches)

Quite inspiring, good sir. I shall miss following along. Congratulations on a life achievement.

Quite inspiring, good sir. I shall miss following along. Congratulations on a life achievement.

Quite inspiring, good sir. I shall miss following along. Congratulations on a life achievement.

Quite inspiring, good sir. I shall miss following along. Congratulations on a life achievement.

Arr …
CaptainSteve hath been most busy o'er these last few days, for it doth seem-eth that he hath been a-boasting o’ his Launch around the work-place …
 
“’Twouldst appear-eth that there be such a thing as ‘Bring-Your-Launch-to-Work Day’”, Our Hero were to state-eth, most perplexed.
 
“But, I be most perplexed ... for I know-eth not o’ any other Launch modellers around me place o’ employment ??”, he didst continue.
“Furthermore, apparently this newly proclaimed ‘Day’ be tomorrow ?!?!”
Arr ...
 
But never fear, for CaptainSteve be working better whence under pressure. As such, Our Hero hath been at fever-pitch a-finishing off the décor and details o’ his boat.
“I be aiming,” he were to re-iterate, “to be a-launching me Launch this coming weekend.”
 
To that end, CaptainAndrew hath already been liaised with … the BBQ steaks be marinating at this very moment … and the local publican be standing by wi’ cartons o’ beer …
“Well, I be almos’ done,” Our Hero stated, most triumphantly.
 
Firstly, these be the items which were not to make-eth the cut ...

("Eighteen out o' 79 ... Verily, most hath been included !!")
 
And so, with great fan-fare, CaptainSteve were to most heartily proclaim-eth, "Wi'out further fan-fare, here be pictures !!"
 

 
"Oh, and these as well," ....

 
"Finally, this one ..."

 
For all intents and purposes, CaptainSteve's Launch now be complete ...
"I be a-wanting to add just a couple o' final pieces," he didst add-eth, paradoxically. "But they can be a-waitin' until after this 'Bring-Your-Launch-to-Work Day' !!"

So, every since I made my compass, I wasn't a fan of the box it was in.
 
I came across a few good deals on eBay for hardwood veneers and acquired a large assortment of different woods to play around with. This is what a came up with.

Very nice. You and Captain Steve have me planning a creative base for my upcoming steamboat.

All this talk of hairdryers reminds of an unexpected benefit I had working on my launch; doing it in winter in a wood-heated house. The relative humidity is bone-dry in here when the stove's running 24/7, and I found that soaked planks dried really quickly. Not sure what would or will happen when I work on a similar model in our humid summer.

Very nice. You and Captain Steve have me planning a creative base for my upcoming steamboat.

Very nice. You and Captain Steve have me planning a creative base for my upcoming steamboat.

At precisely 'leven hours and twenty-five minutes past Noon-tide, on the Fifth Day of the month o’ April, in the Year of Our Lord, Two thousand and Fifteen (Anno Domini), CaptainSteve didst, finally, re-insert-eth the final bung into the final bung-hole o’ the final barrel o’ his Launch build.
 
“Verily,” Our Hero were to declare, “the matters o’ miscellany have-eth, at last, been put-eth behind me.”
 
Indeed-eth, his legendary list doth finally appear-eth suchly ...

 
Uncharacteristically, he refused to go into any great detail, saying only, “I doth refuse-eth to bang on further as to the details o’ me barrels. Shouldst thou wish-eth to learn more, then see-eth Tuffart’s brilliant barrel tutorial ‘ere.”
 
Suffice-eth to say, his only comment were, “’Ere be pictures.”

 
In addition, minor surgery didst prove-eth necessary on the rudder, as Our Hero doth explain-eth.
“Some clumsy buffoon were to be a-breaking the bulbous bulb a-from the end o’ me tiller-arm,” he didst state, most accusingly.
(And, precisely, who might-eth THAT have been, CaptainSteve ??)
 
“Ahem … “, he didst bluster, “That matter-eth not. But ne’er fear, for I didst make-eth one anew.”

 
Finally, Our Hero were to use-eth the dot-matrix printer employed most pragmatically upon his flour sacks ‘tother eve.
 
“I be a-seein’,” CaptainSteve were to mention, “that in Cap’n Rat Fink’s log he be a-adding initials to a replica o’ Bligh’s personal feed-bowl …”

Here is the Launch on the pad, now I have to put it back together.

All this talk of hairdryers reminds of an unexpected benefit I had working on my launch; doing it in winter in a wood-heated house. The relative humidity is bone-dry in here when the stove's running 24/7, and I found that soaked planks dried really quickly. Not sure what would or will happen when I work on a similar model in our humid summer.

Both actually have a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), which is all too fitting.

As for that sail-forming method, well, I for one am a fan.
 
Nice to catch up after some time away. 

Both actually have a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), which is all too fitting.

I recently returned from a trip to the US East Coast, which included a visit to the Elizabeth II, a working replica ship of the late 16th century, of the kind that would have carried the failed Roanoke colonists from England. Here she is, from the official site:
 
 

 
There are many photos available online if you search the name, and if you are at all capable of visiting, it is a fantastic experience. They have trained re-enactors on board who compromise the actual sailing crew when they take her out of port, and I had a delightful time poking around every nook and cranny of the ship. Also took a number of photos myself, which could be shared if you're looking for a specific detail (and I got it in the camera). She is berthed in Manteo, NC.

As for that sail-forming method, well, I for one am a fan.
 
Nice to catch up after some time away. 

I recently returned from a trip to the US East Coast, which included a visit to the Elizabeth II, a working replica ship of the late 16th century, of the kind that would have carried the failed Roanoke colonists from England. Here she is, from the official site:
 
 

 
There are many photos available online if you search the name, and if you are at all capable of visiting, it is a fantastic experience. They have trained re-enactors on board who compromise the actual sailing crew when they take her out of port, and I had a delightful time poking around every nook and cranny of the ship. Also took a number of photos myself, which could be shared if you're looking for a specific detail (and I got it in the camera). She is berthed in Manteo, NC.

As for that sail-forming method, well, I for one am a fan.
 
Nice to catch up after some time away.