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Tony - Words fail me. She is absolutely amazing - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! You have every reason to feel proud of this "slab sided beast". You, sir, have done well!!!

Looking like a ship now, Sjors! What is this "snow" of which you speak????

Thought I would update the list - I still have many of the PDF documents to add to the list, as well as the links to where they are online. Enjoy! Waynes Nautical Resource v-7 25Oct2014.pdf

Lt. Col. McClellan was a very prolific author and historian for the Marine Corps. Among his publications are The USMC in the World War (1920, reprinted 1968), Uniforms of the American Marines, 1775 to 1829 (1932, reprinted 1974), and dozens of others. He also has a number of publications under the name of Ned North.

Interesting stuff, Frolick. Thanks for sharing this! As far as "marines" go, I have not seen anything where actual marines were assigned to any privateers - just naval vessels. I think, as in many things, the terminology is used to describe the role not the actual source in this case.

Larry - Which ship are you building? The nation, era and type of ship can change the correct answer. From your description, it sounds like you are building a double framed ship. here is one example of what the framing in about 1711 for a British warship would look like - based on Sutherland (source is Kenchington, Trevor, 1993. The Structures of English Wooden Ships: William Sutherland's Ship, circa 1710 The Northern Mariner 3(1): 1-43).

Agree on the Underhill book. You also can't go wrong with various books by David MacGregor such as Merchant Sailing Ships 1850-1875: Heyday of Sail (a tad before the period of interest, but a good reference) and also Sir Alan Moore's Last Days of Mast and Sail: an essay in nautical comparative anatomy (1925). There may also be something is some of the works by Basil Lubbock, but would depend upon the ship (Tea Clipper, Down Easter, Western Ocean packet etc.) May also find some relevant information in Chapelle's Search for Speed Under Sail. Good luck!

Good afternoon. Hope you have all had a pleasant weekend. Have finished the workshop reorganization to transition from the EC Berry to the Essex and, wouldn't you know it, before I even start generating saw dust I have a challenge I need some help with. Based on the plans, I need to reduce the thickness of the upper parts of the bulkheads by about 50% (not positive on all of them yet!) There are only a few bulkheads shown in the cross section to pull dimensions from. Bulkeads 4 and 8 will need to be reduced fairly substantially (see plan extracts below). The problem, for me at least, is 2 fold. How do I do it? How do I determine the dimensions for the remaining bulkheads? One thing I am considering, and I can hardly believe that I am saying this, is to remove the tops of the bulkheads (cut them flush with the deck level) and scratch build bulwark stanchions to replace them. I would be using information in the AOTS and other POF plans for the Essex to do this. Is that a viable option (I only have a 16 inch scroll saw and a dremel - everything else is hand tools)? Is there a better way to do this?

Congratulations, Grant - she is spectacular!!!

Brian - I missed this entirely as you were moving through the build. Beautiful work - should look quite sharp in your office

So, then - a detailed update for you. I am still working on the interior - this takes a good bit of careful measurement, cutting, sanding, throw it away and do it again. But, I am learning as I go, and more importantly, having fun! So - since last we chatted, I have nearly completed the ceiling along the port side. Have one small piece to fit in that I pulled after applying primer (just didn't look right). Photo the first - a view of the interior work in-progress. As you can see, I have started fitting the wet well as it serves as a guide (sort of) for the ceiling. I temporarily fit the deck beams that the corner posts will terminate on as a clamping (and measuring) point for the corner posts. Over the next few evenings I began to add planking for the wet well. I am foing to plank the port and forward sides to the top (deck beams) and leave the starboard and aft sides at least partly unplanked to allow a view inside the wet well. The frames at the bottom remain exposed - will be painted with simulated waterproofing. The hull planking will serve as the actual bottom for the wet well with 130 some odd small holes drilled to through to allow water to circulate (at least on the real vessel. I will probably only do a couple of dozen). This gives a nice view from the starboard side of the bedlogs and frames. I need to do a bit of cleanup on the painting here. Another view of the ceiling on the port side showing the missing piece I need to replace And a final view of the ceiling on both sides forward. Well, no gratuitious pictures at the bay today - been a wet, rainy day. Maybe next time! For now, though, the ECB moves back to the storage shaelf and the Essex comes back down for a bit of work. Look forward to any recommendations on how I can make the ECB look better - and thanks for stopping by!

Brian - I did use something similar. Please leave the pictures up - I will need the reference when I get to the deck!

Holy cow - looks sweet, mobbsie! Now, if you have concerns about space in the loft, I could certainly put that redundant Proxon sander to good use for you - just to free up some space, mind you.

Sjors - nice looking sails, dear sir. I will second what Mark said (as if you need my permission to move forward!!!) :im Not Worthy:

Outstanding work, Sal - very nicely finished!

So - not quite ready for pictures yet, but have gotten quite a bit done on the old girl this month. About 2/3 of the way through installing the ceiling, have started framing the wet well, and have the cabing bunks and sole all installed. Once I get the mid-ship sole installed and finish installing the ceiling I will post some photo's. Right now, I am struggling with how to clamp the ceiling planks at the curve of the bilge. No room from below, clamps are too short to come from above. The area that is giving me fits is right along the sole shown in this picture. Given my mechanical skills are minimal (I can change a light bulb, but no metal working talent or experience) and my tools are limited to simple hand tools, any ideas on a good clamping technique that I can devise without having to hire a machinist? Will post a full update with pictures later this week. Thanks, all!

Thank you - that looks fantastic! Hopefully I can come up with a stove that looks half that good!

Dangit, Mobbsie - I hoped no one would notice! You know how I hate planking the hul, but guess I gotta do it now. Appreciate the kind words, Adam. Will see if the bones look as good when I get done with the interior work! Now, Sjors, it isn't that I couldn't find my way to the workshop, I just couldn't get the time to spend IN the workshop!!! Thanks, Popeye - me, too!!!!

Thanks, Bob - it works well having a variety of water access around the island. Thanks - now I just need to talk the boss lady into the idea! I, too, am looking forward to finding out how I finish the cabin! Thanks for the kind words, John. I have been amazed at how much enjoyment there is on this little POF kit - it is a challenge, but there are so many possibilities for making it "my own". Thank you, Frank - will see if you still say that after my next update!

ooops!

Greg - I believe this is the article he is describing. http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/10/columns/austin/05/index.htm

Good morning, Denis. Things are looking mighty fine on there - as always! Somehow it seems so obvious when I see you create these odd shaped pieces - as for me, I guess my mind just doesn't work the same way - I sit there scratching my head over much more mundane pieces that aren't clear from the plans. Carry on, my good man - looking forward to the next episode! Regards -

Those cannon look wonderful - love the subtle tones in them!

Yikes! Where will this beastie live when you finish her??? Looks truly amazing, Kevin. Hope you have a room with a very high ceiling in the house!

Fantastic work on the mini-fleet!