Salty Sea Dog

That's an awesome boat!

Yeah, that boat in these pictures is really about 2 feet long isn't it? Very nice!

Wow! Really nice. I love that last top view.

You say obsessive, I say freaking awesome!

Thanks for the detailed explanations and pictures. Fantastic work! The effort you took on these pieces sure paid off.

Amazing!! So how did you make the 90 and 120 degree handrail fittings? That anchor is pretty awesome too. That's some real eye candy there- well done!

So sorry to hear that news Jesse. Sending thoughts of strength your way so you can be the rock your family can lean on. 

Will you be bashing the Billings Boats Osberg kit? That's going to be treat!

Hi Lawrence! Laporte, Colorado is several hours north of me. It's north of Fort Collins near the Wyoming border. I'll check out the LEDs - those sound pretty neat. I need to catch up on your build too. I've been working on the house and we are planning to gut one entire level of the house and re-do it, so I won't be posting much.

Thanks for all the likes donrobinson!! Much appreciated.

Thanks for the kind words Michael! You are doing amazing things at 1:75 though!! 

You know, every time I look at you detail shots, I have to wonder if I should take up origami or beer drinking instead! Your build gets more stunning with each change and addition. Fantastic work Michael!

That last overhead deck shot is great! 

That's a lot of blocks. Good job!  Aargh- that bony fellow will tell no tales!

You are fearfully and wonderfully made brother. Lots of folks are praying for you.

Your whaleboat is looking great! 

This year's flu was a bad one. Hope you feel better soon.

That's some tiny stuff!! I like it!

I started my whaleboat in 1986! Life has so many turns. Wherever your passion takes you, go for it full blast and you will always have the peace of knowing you did your best. By the way, your build is awesome!

Thanks Michael! I borrowed your trompe-l'oeil technique for the tiny trennels on the thwart knees and other areas. Thanks for that! Happy New Years everyone!

Thanks Captain Steve, Mark, Matt & Lawrence. Thanks for the very nice compliments Lawrence - my head is getting so big, my neck hurts! It was a lot of fun making the tiny bucket for you, and your Annie turned out amazing. A belated Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you and everyone.

Best Wishes

I hope everyone is doing well and had a good weekend. I got to spend some quality time in the dry dock and got the new mast hinge installed. The new hinge sits higher up at an angle because of the fore and aft boards and it caused the mast to lean back (the plans show a forward lean). So the solution was to build a mast step with cleats to position the mast at the proper lean. I could have taken the easy out and just made a wood chunk but that doesn't seem to be in my nature. So I opened up my small piece wood locker to scrounge for suitable pieces- everybody has one of these too don't you?!

So the mast step has a box jointed front corner and dadoed in cocobolo strips to position the mast.

The mast step sits at the bottom of a box under the hinge to add a bit more detail the more you look. Got to keep Matt and Ferrit amused!

So far, no snarky notes from the inspector!

Wow! That's a beauty!

Haha! Thanks Julie Mo! I hope to get back into the dry dock this weekend and post an update.

I was just looking at your hatch hardware and noticed the corner jointery of the coamings. Is that a lap joint at the top with a miter carved below it? Very cool!

Just catching up. Thought I was subscribed but I am now. I'm going to have to pass on the logo on the wheel and take up hopscotch with Mark. Maybe take up a nice Scotch Ale instead!

The rudder and hinge is freaking amazing!! The hatch battens are very nice. When you cut the rings from the tubing, did you then file them round? They don't look like bands but actual round wire rings. You're the master! I'm slinking back to my hole now to take up oragami or something...