Elia

From what I have read, the centerboard method was never used in Greek shipbuilding at the era of sails. In contrary a keel weight (from stones) was a common practice, almost in every type of Gr. hulls-vessels.
I’m almost sure that Tserniki vessels rigged as penna, should have keel weight, which in a combination with its draught (pretty much great), was giving the necessary stability.
As about a fix boom I can only guess that, alike the bowsprits in many Gr. vessels, this “half-boom” was also chosen to be constructed as movable, facing that way the traffic congestion in some ports, or to have the ability (by moving them) to approach (with prow or stern) narrow docks.
Thanks
 

After the theory, some progress…
So, making a summary, I had to build…
A windlass for the anchor. Even at that time was already in use the pump handle windlass, I chose to make a simple one, since some of those vessels didn't have at all.

A coach-roof and a small hatch.

A cargo hatch.

The stem for the “half boom” and some bitts.

A decoration board for the poop deck.

The “κάτσουλα” (katsoula). A peculiar wooden piece that used to be formed by the shipwrights at the upper end of the stern of Tserniki vessels, connecting that way the two sides of the gunwales.

Two options of a tiller.

Some metal work…rudder hinges- chaineplates-cleats.

Thanks
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thank you all.
Vaddoc that’s a good question…
Certainly more free space on the deck must be the first reasonable explanation.
But having been dealing with this rigging, I have come to another possible theory.
 
Starting from the joint of the “half-boom” with the stem, we can see that this was not something special...Just a metal dowel attached at its one end, which was passing through a ring (tube) at the top of the stem. This was giving the ability for certain and limited movements-maneuvers.

 
In all photos showing those vessels sailing, this “half-boom” stays secured on the “bridge”, which should be both considered as immovable….

 
Again from photos, I found that there were two kinds of rigging for the “half-boom”, assuming for different sizes of vessels.
I consider both kinds just only as securing lines, rather than tackles to handle the “half-boom” in sailing. 

 
I have also noticed that the sheet line of the sail, usually appears just holding the clew, going through the edge of the boom although some times appears also as a part of let’s say it “boom traveler”.

 
So in conclusion and without being a sailor, I think there was no need for a typical boom (would be a long and heavy with additional rigging) just only a pole (boom) to keep the sail extended from the stern. The handling of the sail was being made by loosing or pulling the proper lines-ropes (in this case the sheet line, instead of moving the boom).
See the below photo. The vessel is in state of reefing, having lowering the top of the sail.
There were no reefing points, guessing in an absence of a typical boom.
.............
 
Thanks
 

What was strange but attractive in that rigging, was a kind of boom, which was holding the external edge of the mainsail.
This “half-boom pole” was attached on a stem towards the stern, while it was also supported by a construction known from other vessels, which was called as “bridge”.
 

 
Measuring all available drawings and photos in proper angle, I found that the position of the stem varies from 2/3 to 3/4 of the length of the boat, while the length of the “half-boom pole” is about the half of the boat’s length.
In addition I had the information that according to the Greek book “About ships’ rigging” of 1919, for the typical version of penna (normal boom), the mast was usually placed at the 1/3 of the length of the boat and in an angle of 10°-15° towards the stern.
Then I felt ready to go on.
 

Margin plates-false frames and gunwales were set. (I know, I know... but there’s a lack of photos.) 
 
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At this point and before the formation of the deck, I had to find more details about the penna rigging.
My search was continuous in collections and forums, looking for old b/w photos of the area in which that rigging has been developed (ports-historical events of NE Aegean up to western coasts of Black Sea).
What I found, in a combination with a few notable points in the photo of the real boat, convinced me that she was rigged as penna.
The leaning backwards mast with a sail folded on it and a small shadow of a stem, I considered them as good clues.
..................
 
So, at that time early 1900's according to some information of books and the photos I have found, there seem to be two versions of penna rigging.
I think you can see the differences.
Thanks
 

 
To be continued...

Thanks for the comment Vaddoc. 
I don't know what happened to your try but I really never had such a problem, even with a curved stem.
You might be using thinner planks than I do.

 
In any case allow me to show you what I do.
Planking the hull, I bring the edges of the planks as close they can be at the prow and stern.
Preparing the surface to receive the stem, I draw two pencil lines next to the either side of the axis of the prow and at the size as the thickness of the stem. That space between the lines I flatten it, following the proper shape (straight or curved) and taking much care not to go out of those lines.
Small repairs are made by white glue and  sawdust.
Thanks

 
 

Planking was continued by the traditional way...
 
................
 

 

 
The stem and stern-post were set.
 

 

 
After a good filing the surface became quite smooth.
 

 
Thanks
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hi everyone!
 
Thanks for all of your comments and Likes!  Greatly appreciated.
 
Symphony has a large curved sofa in her main saloon, which I've been trying to duplicate.  Here's my attempt at it.  I hope you like it.
 
Here are the latest photos.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi Dennis, Dave and Frank, as well as everyone who hit the Like button! Greatly appreciated!
 
I've made a bit more progress in the owner's stateroom in the aft of the ship. Principally, the work to date includes the settee on the port side and also, I've mocked up the double bed that sits on the starboard side. Once I'm satisfied that the bed frame fits, then, I'll do the final frame. I've still got to do a fair bit more work on the surrounding area, eg settee cushions, mattress, cupboards, etc.
 
Anyhow, here are the photos.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi all
 
Just a bit of an update. I'm still working on the Portside stateroom double suite and also the owner's stateroom bathroom.
 
Still more work to go, but, it's fun and satisfying. Keeps me off the streets!
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi everyone
 
Many thanks for all of your comments, likes and encouragement! It's all greatly appreciated.
 
I've been chipping slowly away at Symphony's interior, lately. Most of it may NOT look like much, (e.g. trimming and adding details such as doors, and a double bed in the port side double stateroom, and associated other things, etc), but when all put together, it all adds up.
 
Everything's still loosely placed in the hull, though, so it still looks a bit wonky. More work yet to go.
 
Here are the latest photos.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi Ben, Igor and all those who pressed the Like button. Greatly appreciated!
 
Well..................and it's a long well....I tried so many times to make the louvred windows using the methods suggested by Ben and Igor (thanks guys!). I tried the wires as well cutting strips into a suitably sized piece of styrene. Neither method worked and it started to do my head in! I guess, I just wasn't in the right head space to make either method look good.
 
In frustration, I resorted to actually cutting thin strips of veneer and gluing them directly into the frames. The results are shown in the photos. It looks passable and just needs some trimming.
 
I've also taken the motor out so that I could take some photos of it. The results are shown below.
 
Anyhow, enjoy the rest of your weeks, everyone!
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi everyone!
 
Well, over the last few nights, I've made more progress on the interior accommodation.  The following photos show the bulkheads temporarily positioned in the hull, hence why it all looks a bit wonky at this stage.  Oh well, heaps of work yet to be done, but that's all part of the fun, isn't it?
 
All the best for the week ahead!
 
Cheers
 
Patrick   

Hi everyone and many thanks for all of your likes and comments! Greatly appreciated.
 
Well, I've finally started on the internal bulkheads. First and foremost, I've started on the engine room which is situated in the centre of the ship. The funny little red thing that you can see in the first photo is, in fact my feeble attempt at the ship's engine. I'm a bit embarrassed about it, because it's so tiny that it was difficult to get any detail on it. If I can, I'll try to take some photos of it (that way, we can all laugh at it!!!).
 
Anyhow, I'm just glad that I've been able to start on the internal work, because that's what I enjoy the most.
 
All the best!
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi folks
 
Thanks for all your comments and likes!!!
 
Here is the latest update: I've partially completed the oval cockpit at the stern of the ship. There's still more fairing and sanding to go, but, it's looking ok so far. Up forward, I've done the companionway hatch that sits right on the foredeck. If you look carefully, you'll be able to see that I've left the sliding hatch open in order to give the foredeck a semblance of 'life'.
 
Still heaps more work to go, though!
 
Enjoy your weekends!
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi everyone
 
Thanks for all your comments and Likes!
 
Here are the latest photos of Symphony's progress; in particular I've built the oval shaped rear helmsman cockpit as well as done a bit more on the main cabin, e.g. companion way framing, etc.
 
The rear cockpit is still to be sanded and fitted out with the seats, binnacle, wheel, etc.
 
Hope you enjoy the photos.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick 

Hi Carl, David, Peter, and everyone who commented and hit the Like button. Greatly appreciated!
 
Well, I've done some more work on Symphony's deck, in particular the cockpit flooring. On the real ship, this cockpit houses two long rows of benches for passengers and paying guests to relax. The cockpit also leads to the grand staircase via the main companionway, both of which will be built later.
 
Heaps more cleaning up to go, though.
 
Hope you enjoy the photos.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi everyone
 
Many thanks for your Likes and comments. Piet- I love the symphony analogy. I hope I can get a good round of applause once the concert's over!
 
Well, I've done a little bit more of the large oval cabin; in particular the roof beams. Heaps more sanding, cleaning up and work to go, though.
 
Hope you enjoy the photos.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi everyone
 
Thanks for everyone's comments and Likes, all of which are greatly appreciated.
 
I had some real issues with the consistency of the Matt blue paint that I had originally used for the underwater half of the hull. For some reason, it just refused to flow nicely off the brush, leaving brush marks and otherwise marring the finish. I even thinned the paint, but it still looked like crap! So, reluctantly, I changed the colour to Matt red, which was much nicer to used and produced a much better finish.
 
I also reached a milestone by being able to fabricate the huge oval shaped cabin. It wasn't easy to build by a long shot, as, not only was it a completely curved structure, but it also had multiple rectangular windows in it. I proceeded carefully when building it and, although it may not look like much now, once it has the roof beams, planks and all the other fixtures and fittings on it, I reckon it'll look pretty spiffy!
 
Hope you enjoy the photos.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi everyone
 
Many thanks for all of your comments and Likes!
 
Tonight, I decided to see what Symphony's hull would look like with a matt coloured under hull. So, I promptly taped it up and gave the under-hull a quick coat of matt paint.
 
I'm not totally committed to the colour I chose, so I may decide to change it later on. But, on the whole, I don't think it looks that bad.
 
I also put the drop keel in, ensuring that it can be retracted into the hull, much the same as the real ship's drop keel.
 
Here are the photos.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi ho everyone and thanks for all your Likes and comments.
 
Well, it may not look like it, but I actually have been doing a fair bit of work in terms of measuring and marking the interior layout, eg bulkheads and positions of floors, etc. The only problem is that there's nothing much to show for it, but trust me, I have been doing some work!
 
I have also continued the painting of Symphony's hull. Here are the photos.
 
Still a long way to go, but fun nonetheless!
 
Cheers and all the best!
 
Patrick

Hi everyone
 
After a few rounds of puttying, then sanding, puttying, then sanding, etc, I decided I needed to get some paint on Symphony's hull. So, look what happened! I decided to paint the hull black. At least that way, if there were any imperfections in the hull's surface, what better way to show them up than by gloss paint?
 
Anyhow, I'm not sure if I will stick with the black hull, but that can be decided later on. In the meantime, pls enjoy the photos below.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi Dennis, David, Marty, Pete, Ben, Igor and everyone else for your Likes!
 
Well, Symphony's hull planking has been completed and sanded. I then put a coat of putty on the hull, which will be sanded once again.
 
I also took the hull off the jig, which is sort of a milestone.
 
Here are the photos.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi everyone
 
Many thanks for your comments and Likes!
 
Tonight, I managed to plank one side of the hull. At this early stage, the planks are rough and require filling and sanding, but it's a start.
 
The hull's really starting to take shape now.
 
Please see the photos below.
 
Cheers
 
Patrick

Hi everyone
 
Many, many thanks for all of your comments and Likes! Greatly and warmly appreciated.
 
Well, one of the hardest things I've found is how to ensure that the sheer line of the hull is exactly the same on both sides of the hull. It's always bugged me. So, this is what I did. I glued a template of the hull on each side of the building board and then glued horizontal pieces across the templates. Once the horizontal pieces had been glued, I then removed the side templates, leaving the horizontal pieces standing ready to have the sheer strake glued on later. The idea being that these will exactly mark the sheer line and therby ensuring each side is equal.
 
I hope this makes sense! If not, hopefully the photos will explain things better!
 
Cheers
 
Patrick