Ron B

finally getting started...cutting,sanding, gluing,drilling parts fot Doc's keel jig.....only bad choice was using poplar....wood is full of splits,but i'm repairing tomorrow hope to finish drilling and staining...loads of fun.... know it's weird but turning such a small space into a mini workshop is satisfying

that is some nifty building. Merry Christmas to you too.

oops...that's 1/2" not feet.....LOL

1st time using a scroll saw....cutting 1/2' poplar. This will take some patience, some sanding, a little wood filler, a few prayers.

Looks cramped and rough but actually very comfortable given it's in my locker in the underground parking...no one comes in very often, I have power directly across the hallway which is very rare but convenient, and I'm at a corner , so there's room outside the locker to put up saw horses and create a work bench to cut things etc. I'm building Doc's keel holder this week now that I have the scroll saw and drill press up and running. Stay safe and warm everyone.

Yikes, thanks for the heads up.I know from watching Gary Brinker that there a lot of out of spec items and some poor instructions. He's not shy to point them out....if you haven't watched him it can be entertaining. But I guess that what makes the journey fulfilling. Ron

Hey John, Don't feel bad. It seems this piece has caused a lot of headaches....you're coming along nicely. Hope I can do as well when I get my kit. Ron B

Thanks Ryland, Reading like mad and comparing to MSW build notes....great fun. Ron B

Hi David, It is with not a little trepidation that I embark on this 1st build....but you have given me confidence in your cleat explanations, and research...cheers from Willowdale ....winter approaches. Ron B

I hope I do this correctly.... Have been reading many of the logs concerning the bluenose,and have started making contact with some builders. A great group of people who are so willing , and able, to help. A little background. Actually built a tug boat , POB, back in the 70's and quite liked it. No internet back then so just jumped in feet first and enjoyed it. Then came 3 kids , marathon running, racquetball , 4 hockey leagues for me, and 2 for the boys, work, and rebuilding houses....fairly serious rebuilds where i did everything from electrical,plumbing, gas,tile, framing, roofing...you get the idea. I'm hoping all this experience pays off here. I'm starting this new adventure with a bit of a different challenge. I live in a condo , and "she who must be obeyed" ( kudos to Rumpole of the Bailey), won't brook dust, noise, or a mess....so my plan.... my Dremel drill press and scroll saw Thanks to Kijiji and Amazon) will be used in my storage locker...pictures soon to explain how this will work as I know it sounds weird. I'm designing a rolling shipyard that will house a keel holder jig I saw by Doc Blake (just brilliant) and allow me to roll it into the elevator, and up 25 floors to the inner sanctum for the dry and quiet work. Once up there I can take the jig out of the chest and work on the dining room table. I'm thinking of building some shelving in there to store tool s planks etc,hand my cutting mat etc When I have cutting,shaping etc to do, I will have another mini-shipyard in the storage locker for that. I once rebuilt a Volvo engine on a 2 x 4 bench in the corner of my unheated garage in a Canadian winter ....tools tend to stick to your skin, so cut a hole in the roof and installed a little kerosene drip stove,,what the heck was I thinking? (Beer was cold though )...so I figure I can overcome this lack of space conunfrum once again. Have ordered a plethora of tools and material as well as the MSW kit and hope to be ready when it all arrives. Yikes, sorry, didn't mean to write a book. I'll try to post weekly if there's anything I think may be of interest, or I'm stumped....right now I have sore finger tips from making a ton of those modified little bull dog clips to hold the planks to the bulkheads. Oh , and Happy Thanksgiving to those below the 49th. Cheer Ron B

Very nice work and detailed information ,john. I just ordered the MSW Bluenose kit ...my first attempt at this , save for a small tugboat kit over 40 years ago. I'll follow you with interest. Ron

finally caught up...read the whole log tonight..fascinating how your skills and confidence have grown....cant wait to get started Ron