popeye the sailor

so.......on to the assembly of the frames.   these were started in the living room,  kept out of the way.  the first one is the 1/4 plywood.
 

 

 

 
pieces of strip stock was added between the ribs to help lock them in.
 

 
the third keel was assembled using the 3/16 plywood.   the ribs of the other two will be of this thickness,  it shouldn't affect the second one.
 

 

 
I have other parts that I cut earlier.......I'll just weigh out what to use.  the first one needs the bow rabbits,  but I'll do them last {they need sanding}.   I started  on the second one.
 

 
 

where do I begin..........this project was to be well under way by now,  but the way thing panned out,  it has had a very rocky start.   I had thought of the concept during the build of the M&M fun ship,  and my idea was to build three ships.......one of them was to see if there was a market for such a thing.   during all this time,  I've come up with a few more ideas,   so I am going to do them with different ideas......three different concepts,  and see which one works best.   as the title implies,  they will have a holiday theme.....being careful not to offend anyone.   it is my hope that everyone enjoys the construction and creative aspects.
 
we turn the dial of the way-back machine back to December of 2012........I was planning on starting it then.   I had cut the keel parts for two of them,  and the ribs for the first one.  my plan was to begin at this point.  the hulls of these boats will be modeled,  based on the Billing's kit Boulogne Etaples.  the hull parts were traced from the parts panels........sadly,  the panels did not survive the tracing of the rest of the parts.   I had begun to assemble the first keel.
 

 

 
I had made up the stern parts for all three,  but did not use them all.   to save money on wood,  I purchased a 4' x 4' square 3/16 oak plywood panel,  later to be stripped out and used for the rest of the parts.   I ended up making another stern part for the third keel,  so it would be of the same thickness.
 

 

 

 
the project stopped for a while.........until May of this year.   I assembled the keel for the second ship,  but not much else.
 

 
it was not long after this picture was taken,  that the plywood was purchased.........and stripped out a bit later than that.   a couple of weeks ago,  the admiral asked me about them,  suggesting that I should get busy on them,  if I want them for the holidays.   of course,  I laughed........and told her that they would not be done this year,  perhaps next season would be more realistic.  the panels were traced out last week......and the parts were cut out this past Tuesday.   at this point,  two of the hull frames are assembled,  and the third is on the slip.   I should have an update on this build soon.
 
and.......what's life without a few chiggers in it.   things have been rather hectic around the house lately.......we are about to make a move to the third floor of our apartment house........purely a financial move.  so I may be a bit silent here and there,  until these hulls are planked,  and we can get past the crazy stuff.   I can clear my mind of all these ideas......but the most important thing,  to finally get this project of the ground and on the move     I had such a good time with the M&M build,  that I really wanted to get into another one.   it was so easy to come up with this concept......and the directions that these ships can take,  is endless.   for the moment,  the directions will not be brought into it......the construction of the hulls will come first..........but I will mention that the deck layouts will be different to suit their subjects.   this is big.........an armada of holiday vessels.......I hope you enjoy what is to come.
 
 

sounds interesting.....I'm sure you'll find more missing details that can be added.  the model is large enough.  a friend of mine who owned a Billing Boats franchise {warehouse},  was supposed to send me a copy of the plans.   sadly he couldn't get them {I imagine}.   the kit is too expensive and out of my price range {for now,  anyway}.    I haven't had too many problems with the laser cutting,  except for the occasional delamination of parts {ply separation}.
 
I've built enough Billing's kits to overlook the vagueness of the plans........I don't squint so much any more  

sounds interesting.....I'm sure you'll find more missing details that can be added.  the model is large enough.  a friend of mine who owned a Billing Boats franchise {warehouse},  was supposed to send me a copy of the plans.   sadly he couldn't get them {I imagine}.   the kit is too expensive and out of my price range {for now,  anyway}.    I haven't had too many problems with the laser cutting,  except for the occasional delamination of parts {ply separation}.
 
I've built enough Billing's kits to overlook the vagueness of the plans........I don't squint so much any more  

yesterday,  I did manage to reinforce the hull planking to the cabin bulkhead.  it was nice since it's the first time I could use white glue.   I got some more of the scraps from when I cut the bulkheads out.
 

 
one side of the stern has been trimmed off and sanded.   I also hope to lose that notching at the center.   realizing another measurement that I did not take into consideration,  was the width of the hull from the keel.   thinking that the keel might not be centered,  I measured it.........and was relieved to find that both sides measured 3 1/4.  the entire width of the transom is 6 3/4  {1/4 being the thickness of the keel itself}.   good to know  
 

 
these were in the camera........glad I checked.   hope to get more done today  

the stern is in for more adjustments............then the big 'sand down' to shape it.   you may see add-ons here and there....I probably will forget one or two.   I plan on overlay panels for both sides {cockpit and transom} to hide the noncomformaties.
 

 
you will notice that the hull planking doesn't conform to the cabin and bow bulkheads........that's OK.   this will fan out the hull,  for when I do the bottom planking.   I will cobble in some scrap pieces to better attach and hold the form.   the sides are comprised of six plank strakes......seven for the bow.   I am going to alter the cabin bulkhead to create the cabin......there will be no bow sheer.   I have a picture of another boat I'd love to do.........it can be based from the lobster boat hull as well.  it's interesting,  because there is no sheer on the entire boat.  it's called the Nora Jo.   if I can find the picture,  I'll show ya.....it was given to me by Tom Richardson back in the day.   it's still a pipe dream    it can be seen how it allows the hull to fan out  towards the bow stem
 

 
the stern under went more modification.....yes,  it looks scary,  but once shaped,  it will look better.  covered,  one will never know.  another thing I plan to do to this hull,  is give it a couple of coats of resin,  to eliminate the plank lines and really smooth out the hull.   I'm going to try and not use a filler,  but it's doubtful.   so.......here's the Frankenstein stern  
 

 
....and the double wall that I spoke of earlier......
 

 
the deck planking is finished too........according to the pictures,  there isn't much that comprises the helm.    I think I have a few ideas left in the 'ole brain box.  we'll see  
 

I can't believe I'm saying this..............I've sunk to a new level of lunacy.   after looking and dwelling on the tree boat at the point that it is,  I really can't see her as the Tree Boat.  everything I think of........anything I want to add........will take it further away from the subject.   it wants to be a fishing boat.....so be it.........*POOF!*...........you are a fishing boat.   sorry to do this.........I feel bad.   I just think that continuing with this hull........would be a terrible waste.  I sat there at my desk......pondering what the next move will be.   all I have now is an over grown party boat {the Jingle Belle}.  all is not lost though.....or is it?
 
after I had posted the last group of pictures,  I was musing........mulling over some options.   it all came down to this one option.......I would need another hull to replace it.   oh........before I get into this further,  the displaced Tree Boat will continue........I am NOT trashing it,  in any way,  shape,  or form.   it will become a fishing boat.......I have a name for her soon.
 
anyway.........I recalled the pictures I had posted a while ago.........errrrr...quite a while ago.   I'd love to know where these pictures were taken.....I got 'em off the internet.   there weren't than many.......mostly about the Rouse Simmons........lots of photos of boats with a tree stuck in the middle,  out in the open water.   this boat looks like a lobster boat........so to cut the chit chat short........that's what I went with.   I still have the plans for the Midwest Maine Lobster boat.  
 
 
 
so......I'm going to do what I probably should have done from the beginning.   I'm going to mod the bow a little...not so much of a tapered 'V'.   I decided to  cut a few corners to speed up the assembly.........all the best of intentions,  but not so great as an idea.   there are so many problems.........the stern bore the  brunt of it.   one look and you'll clearly see why I nicknamed the boat 'the Frankenstein boat'.   I gave the hull a longer cockpit deck........that meant that the stern transom was made narrower.   I even double walled it.   it didn't look right,  so I flipped them over {it's OK........you can laugh at any time}.   the result gave me a very odd looking stern.........I cobbled and filled in most of it.....I'll shape it later.   I'll  cover both sides with some flat stock after.........so it's not a total loss.   I have pictures.......not a complete blow by blow,  by enough to make your eyes water {I'd bust out crying too,  if it wasn't so funny}.  so if ya want to see 'em,  let me know....if not,  I'll introduce the boat when it looks more presentable.   but if you were the kid that enjoyed sticking pins in your sister's dolls........just say the word      

I do apologize Mobbsie.....I don't want to confuse anyone.   it's just that the direction that the other hull was taking,  I find it better to just let it go,  to turn out the way it's going to.   I think I picked the wrong hull to portray the subject.  I'm not losing a Tree Boat.......I'm gaining a fishing boat    I think once the hull is assembled,  it will make more sense  
 
 
so I looked in the camera finally........dismayed to find only these three pictures though.......I thought I had taken more.  I've done some work to the stern / transom,  bringing it more to the shape it needs to be.   when I get it closer to what's required I can even every thing out and get back to planking the bottom.
 

 
the top line of the transom is leveled out.   later I can cap this out.........I'll most likely plank over it as well.   for the bottom, I made fillers using one of the proceeding bulkheads,  fitting and cementing it in place.  the same was done to the other side as well.
 

 

 
still a bit more to do here...........sanding and shaping

dead eyes look great Nenad..........looks like you might have enough  

nice progress........looking real good  

decking looks awesome Nils   good to hear you caught murphy when you did........damage could have been worse.  glad to hear only minor damage  

I do apologize Mobbsie.....I don't want to confuse anyone.   it's just that the direction that the other hull was taking,  I find it better to just let it go,  to turn out the way it's going to.   I think I picked the wrong hull to portray the subject.  I'm not losing a Tree Boat.......I'm gaining a fishing boat    I think once the hull is assembled,  it will make more sense  
 
 
so I looked in the camera finally........dismayed to find only these three pictures though.......I thought I had taken more.  I've done some work to the stern / transom,  bringing it more to the shape it needs to be.   when I get it closer to what's required I can even every thing out and get back to planking the bottom.
 

 
the top line of the transom is leveled out.   later I can cap this out.........I'll most likely plank over it as well.   for the bottom, I made fillers using one of the proceeding bulkheads,  fitting and cementing it in place.  the same was done to the other side as well.
 

 

 
still a bit more to do here...........sanding and shaping

I do apologize Mobbsie.....I don't want to confuse anyone.   it's just that the direction that the other hull was taking,  I find it better to just let it go,  to turn out the way it's going to.   I think I picked the wrong hull to portray the subject.  I'm not losing a Tree Boat.......I'm gaining a fishing boat    I think once the hull is assembled,  it will make more sense  
 
 
so I looked in the camera finally........dismayed to find only these three pictures though.......I thought I had taken more.  I've done some work to the stern / transom,  bringing it more to the shape it needs to be.   when I get it closer to what's required I can even every thing out and get back to planking the bottom.
 

 
the top line of the transom is leveled out.   later I can cap this out.........I'll most likely plank over it as well.   for the bottom, I made fillers using one of the proceeding bulkheads,  fitting and cementing it in place.  the same was done to the other side as well.
 

 

 
still a bit more to do here...........sanding and shaping

dead eyes look great Nenad..........looks like you might have enough  

looks super Patrick!  

dead eyes look great Nenad..........looks like you might have enough  

nice progress........looking real good  

decking looks awesome Nils   good to hear you caught murphy when you did........damage could have been worse.  glad to hear only minor damage  

looks super Patrick!  

nice progress........looking real good  

I do apologize Mobbsie.....I don't want to confuse anyone.   it's just that the direction that the other hull was taking,  I find it better to just let it go,  to turn out the way it's going to.   I think I picked the wrong hull to portray the subject.  I'm not losing a Tree Boat.......I'm gaining a fishing boat    I think once the hull is assembled,  it will make more sense  
 
 
so I looked in the camera finally........dismayed to find only these three pictures though.......I thought I had taken more.  I've done some work to the stern / transom,  bringing it more to the shape it needs to be.   when I get it closer to what's required I can even every thing out and get back to planking the bottom.
 

 
the top line of the transom is leveled out.   later I can cap this out.........I'll most likely plank over it as well.   for the bottom, I made fillers using one of the proceeding bulkheads,  fitting and cementing it in place.  the same was done to the other side as well.
 

 

 
still a bit more to do here...........sanding and shaping

decking looks awesome Nils   good to hear you caught murphy when you did........damage could have been worse.  glad to hear only minor damage  

decking looks awesome Nils   good to hear you caught murphy when you did........damage could have been worse.  glad to hear only minor damage  

I do apologize Mobbsie.....I don't want to confuse anyone.   it's just that the direction that the other hull was taking,  I find it better to just let it go,  to turn out the way it's going to.   I think I picked the wrong hull to portray the subject.  I'm not losing a Tree Boat.......I'm gaining a fishing boat    I think once the hull is assembled,  it will make more sense  
 
 
so I looked in the camera finally........dismayed to find only these three pictures though.......I thought I had taken more.  I've done some work to the stern / transom,  bringing it more to the shape it needs to be.   when I get it closer to what's required I can even every thing out and get back to planking the bottom.
 

 
the top line of the transom is leveled out.   later I can cap this out.........I'll most likely plank over it as well.   for the bottom, I made fillers using one of the proceeding bulkheads,  fitting and cementing it in place.  the same was done to the other side as well.
 

 

 
still a bit more to do here...........sanding and shaping

Thank you very much Kees and Greg,
 
for the nice words, very much appreciated, and to all who pressed the "likes" button....
 
 
the result of two days deck-planking is the 98% commpletion of the port side, which I´m quite satisfied with. The first planks for the stb. side have been "caulked" at the edges already..., and ready for mounting.
 
Kees,
you`re absolutely right  with "so much to build....."), but I have to go step by step and also try to let my thoughts move ahead, how to do details that still may lay several sequences ahead, so there is time enough to consider alternatives...
 
Greg,
I`m happy that you like it, it`s been on the slipway one year now, and thanks to busy little workers, slowly looking like it should. I`m glad that plating and portholes worked out well enough. In the beginning I had a bit concern, that the resembled riveting may be too prominent, but that provides the nostalgic touch. By doing all this soldering work to date, trust I`m quite practiced in this technique by now.
Thanks for your nice words
 
Nils