Maine Lobster Boat by John Ruy - FINISHED - Laughing Whale - 3/4” = 1’ - Plank on Frame (modified/enhanced)

[John Ruy]

I said to my self, Don’t start another build until you finish the one you are working on. I just had to get it out of the box and put it on the bench. 
 

Just finished my Charles W Morgan Whaler and am still finishing up my New Bedford Whaleboat. 
 

But, I just had to stage my next build, The Maine Lobster Boat. It’s a 1979 Laughing Whale kit out of Wiscasset, Maine. Rescued this beauty on eBay. 

 

 

 

OK, I couldn’t leave it in the box. 
 

Had to lay it out... Maybe 🤔 I’ll just take a look at the instructions. 

 

 

Step one:  assemble the Pre-cut pieces K-1, K-2, K-3 and stem into a Keel. 🧐

 

The pieces aren’t marked, this is like finding jigsaw pieces. 😆 (old school)

 

 

Hand cut pieces require some sanding to allow effective glue joints. I chose CA Glue. Ok this is interesting, can’t stop now. 
 

 

Keel assembled, Step 1 completed. 
 

 

Step 2: Glueing the deck halves together. An hour in and I am reminding myself not to get started, I have a Whaleboat to finish. 😆

 

Too much fun... I’ll be back. 😎

[John Ruy]

I’m Back, Finished The New Bedford Whaleboat and ready to focus on The Main Lobster Boat. Two things I intend to do differently with this kit. 1. Modify the engine compartment. 2. Build out the interior of the forward cabin. Neither of which have I seen done with these kits. My research has turned up two things I did not know Mainers built with Lobster Boats. Racing Lobster Boats and Lobster Boat Yachts.  
 

Wish me luck…

 

Framing the Lobster Boat. No laser cut pieces in this kit. 
 

 

Bulk head pieces were all hand cut, back in the day. Two halves are glued together and carefully shaped to match the drawing. 
 

 

Cutting open a hatch is required to create a battery compartment for an RC Lobster Boat. I will be modifying this as the engine compartment as it would be on the real Lobster Boat. 😎

 

 

Ready for construction. 
 

 

Deck Planking created with lead pencil. 
 

 

Cherry Stain Applied. 
 

 

Penciled Planking and stain applied to upper deck. 
 

 

Lower deck assembly. 
 

 

1/16th sheeting hand cut and added to both sides of the keel. 
 

 

 

 

 

Keel, upper and lower decks assembled.

 

 

 

Chine Logs soaked and bent to form hull framing. These pieces are balsa. 
 

 

 

 

 

Laminated balsa wood to complete chine logs. 
 

 

 

Installed deck supports and backing for hull sheeting. 
 

 

Started shaping the chine logs for installation of sheeting. 
 

 

 

Installed forward cabin flooring. I will be adding furnishing in the cabin. 😎

 

 

 

Built and installed additional framing.

 

 

More shaping to Prepare for hull sheeting.

 

Later… 🍻

 

[John Ruy]

Started the Forward Cabin scratch build. Sketched up a plan. 
 

 

Design on the fly… 🤔

 

 

 

 

 

Onward 🍻

[John Ruy]

Progress… Disadvantage to these vintage kits, no die or laser cut parts. Advantage is the opportunity to improve on scratch building abilities. Cutting Bass Wood sheeting accurately is an acquired skill. 😆

 

 

Framed out forward cabin walls. 
 

 

Fitted interior sheet planking. 
 

 

Traced out cabin exterior walls. 
 

 

Preparing to cut Cabin exterior walls from supplied sheeting. 
 

 

Cut out tracing paper patterns and laid out on sheeting.  Penciled the walls on to the sheeting using the patterns. 
 

 

Acquired the necessary cutting skills to cut out the walls accurately. 
 

 

Finished framing out the walls and matched everything up to the drawings. 
 

 

Now for the forward wind shield. 
 

 

Verified fit, required some trimming. 
 

 

First of several coats of paint…

 

Stay tuned, customizations to the Forward Cabin coming up. First I have to figure out the roof framing from the drawings. Instruction leaves a lot to be desired. Cheers 🍻 

Edited May 13, 2021 by John Ruy

[John Ruy]

Roof framing complete…

 

 

Now the fun begins. 😎

 

 

Berth inside walls installed. 
 

 

Interior walls for the Head. 
 

 

Added interior details/trim. 
 

 

Berth mattresses made from three layers of Sail Cloth. 
 

 

Mattresses installed. 
 

 

Building cabinetry…. 😆

 

 

Cabinetry installed. 

 

Moving on…. 🍻

Edited May 20, 2021 by John Ruy

[John Ruy]

Forward cabin completed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next step, sheeting the hull

 

Later… 😎

Edited May 22, 2021 by John Ruy

[popeye the sailor]

some mighty fine work there     this looks to be about the same assembly process as the Midwest Maine Lobster boat.  I built the kit and scratch built two others using the plans.  I didn't go to the lengths your going though.........very nice !  

[John Ruy]

51 minutes ago, popeye the sailor said:

I didn't go to the lengths your going though.........very nice !

I have used your build log for reference several times when I have gotten lost. 😆 Nice build(s)…

 

I don’t think I’ll be going so far as planking the hull. Although sheet planking has been challenging.  

I always like to expand the detail of these vintage kits when I can. I have crossed this Working Lobster Boat over to Yacht. 😎

Friend of mine asked me what motor was going into this boat. That’s all it takes…

 

Stay tuned, you know they race these boats in Maine. 

 

Later 🍻
 

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

  that's what happens when I scratch build........I didn't do a good job {I think} when I did the Phylly C. , or at least that's what she turned out to be  

     yea,  I found that you can't go too crazy when build'in a work boat.....ya have to make her look like a work boat.  doing the sheeting didn't work out well for me.....that's why I resorted to planking.......go with what cha know {or at least the principles of it}     I did much better though this time around with the PT boat,  but they wanted me to do it in plastic sheet.  I did it in basswood.  with those plans,  it's very easy to clone another hull.  there are many configurations of this boat,  and one can go nutz fitting them out    I must have missed it,  or did you have to cut out all the parts you needed?  the Midwest kits are die cut.....but for the scratch built Denny zen,  I used the parts panel to trace out the parts {just the hull parts}.  anyway,  it's good to meet other folks who love to tinker with these older models......I've had a couple that weren't even laser cut.  I look forward in seeing more.......you do some really detailed work.   have you looked in on the second scratch built hull?  here's what she looks like........I have pictures of the real boat.......she looks very close to her  

 

I still need to do more to get 'er ship shape.  if you like to see more,  just browse the scratch build forum for the Holiday Harbor Fleet.  there's a fishing boat too {that didn't make the cut}.........the Andrea Gail spawned from this log.

 

look'in forward to see more........all thing Maine L.B.   

[John Ruy]

11 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

 I must have missed it,  or did you have to cut out all the parts you needed?  the Midwest kits are die cut.....but for the scratch built Denny zen,  I used the parts panel to trace out the parts {just the hull parts}. 

The only precut parts in the Laughing Whale kit were the decks bulkheads and keel. Everything else had to be cut out to match the drawings on the plans. No die cut or laser cut parts for assembly. 😆 I trace paper patterns from the plans and transfer them to the wood sheets. The hull sheets have been a new experience for me. I used card stock to create the patterns the cut out the bass wood sheets with an Exacto knife. I’ll be posting that process today. Got the bottom fitted last night. 
 

Thanks for the compliments on my work I’m still learning did my first planking on a Whaleboat this last year.
 

 

This hull is proving to be more of a challenge, but it’s going well. At least I think so, we will see. 😜

 

 

I see we’re practically neighbors, love New Hampshire. Beautiful state, Portsmouth has a lot of great ship building history. 

Cheers 🍻 

[John Ruy]

Sheet Planking the hull…. 
 

 

Used card stock to template the sides of the hull. 
 

 

 

Penciled in the upper and lower edges. 
 

 

Template cut out and laid on to Bass Wood sheet.

 

 

Wet shaping the Bass Wood sheet. 
 

 

Painted the inside, I will have an open engine bay for display. 😎
 

 

 

Glued in place…

 

 

Sides trimmed up and sanded.  Ready to do the bottom sheets. 
 

 

 

Same process, cut paper templates and painted inside of hull sheets. 
 

 

Wetted outside to be formed to the bottom. A little more complicated than the sides. 
 

 

Pinned and clamped in place to dry overnight. Tomorrow I will trim up and fit tight before gluing. 
 

Cheers 🍻 

 

 

Edited May 28, 2021 by John Ruy

[popeye the sailor]

that's what I ran into as well......really didn't care for it.   now to trim and sand the excess and keep it from looking obvious.   I did something different with the PT boat.......I did all the fitting on the model, and did it in sections to better retain the contours.  it looks like basswood your using.......I like working with it too    you did it better than I did......I'm a bit on the green side right now     the Whaleboat looks very nice.......lots of intricate detail.  good eye to scale.... 

 

thank you.......I have a few friends {members} that live in Maine.  I live on the outskirts of a big city......would rather live in a small town { a lot less attitude}

    back in my early days of modeling,  I never gave a thought to the history of our state.  but since I've been building boats, turned to wood,  and joined this site,  it kinda woke me up.  I did a scratch build of a Gundalow from the early 1900's.   Portsmouth,  Strawberry Banks are two interesting places to visit for all things nautical.  

this is a more modern vessel....... the Gundalow company built a replica of the Edward H. Adams in 1982.  he piloted a Gundalow called the Fanny M and would move supplies and goods inland from the banks.......1886 - 1900.  they've been used since the 1600's.  the log I did on it might still be here,  if it didn't get lost in the last crash.

 

you've got Kennybunkport.......so we're even.  speaking of which........most of my ideas { believe it or not} came from drivers at the Walmart DC where I work.  the Gundalow was given to me in the form of a copy of the Weirs Beach times.  another driver is the grandson of the Arnold family,  who hailed from Gloucester Mass and Kennybunkport.  the boat was called the Phyllis A and piloted by Albert Arnold.  he was one of the 'Michigan Bears' that migrated to our neck 'o the woods and brought Gillnetting to New England.  he gave me some information to work with,  but I wanted some more pictures of the vessel.  sadly,  I've lost contact with him......I fear he has left the company.  now,  the story I have is that the boat was built in Kennybunkport at Warner Shipyard and spent most of her service in Gloucester.  the boat was named after his daughter Phyllis,  who was 4 at the time of her launch.  he partnered with another Gloucester company,  scant how long it lasted,  but he bought sole ownership in 1950.......the same year that Bernie Warner {of Warner Shipyards} died.  Albert Arnold died in 1967.  the Phyllis A remained in service for a while,  run by relatives Alvin and Richard.

   in 1967,  it left Gloucester for the last time,  bound for her birth place,  Kennybunkport.  me research trailed off from here......so did my contact with the driver,  Kevin Arnold.  now I did learn that Kennybunkport { the Marine Heritage association} couldn't afford her upkeep any more,  and was to be taken back to Gloucester.......haven't heard anything since and haven't had the time to delve into it.

 

guess you can say I like fishing boats.........and ramble     super job sheeting your hull  

[popeye the sailor]

one suggestion  is to sand the bottom edge of the sides where the bottom panels are to join.   when cemented in place,  it will be flush and perhaps easier to trim off the excess where the two quadrants meet.

[John Ruy]

On 5/28/2021 at 11:17 AM, popeye the sailor said:

one suggestion  is to sand the bottom edge of the sides where the bottom panels are to join.   when cemented in place,  it will be flush and perhaps easier to trim off the excess where the two quadrants meet.

Yep… I’ve done that, thanks for the confirmation. Going to tight fit all around prior to gluing. Should sand in to space nicely, if I can get her glued down tight with no gaps. There’s always wood filler, given it’s going to be painted. 👍

Edited May 30, 2021 by John Ruy

[John Ruy]

Gluing down the bottom sheets…

 

 

 

 

Carefully trimmed and shaped Bass Wood sheet prior to gluing with CA glue. 
 

 

 

successfully laid down Wood sheet. Glued all gaps. 
 

 

 

trimmed edges and wood filled seams. 
 

 

One done and one to go. 👍

 

[John Ruy]

Bottom hull sheets complete. 
 

 

I’m feeling pretty accomplished at this point. Everything else aught to be easy-peezey right. 😆

 

we shall see… Later🍻

[John Ruy]

Lots of sanding… 

 

 

Sanding and filling the seams. 
 

 

Fitting the Keel…

 

 

Bending the Bass Wood strip for the keel. 

 

 

It’s getting there. Needs more rounding along the chine log. 😎

 

[John Ruy]

Installing lights in the forward cabin and engine bay. 
 

 

 

More rounding of the hull. 
 

 

 

Needs more rounding….

 

 

Rudder and prop built and fitted. 
 

 

Finally, got to the hull shape I’m looking to achieve. 😆 

 

 

Starting to build the cabin. 
 

Onwards… 😎

[John Ruy]

Roofing for the cabin. 
 

 

 

Forward cabin roofing with hatch opening. Main cabin framing completed. 
 

 

Main cabin roofing completed. 
 

 

 

Port and Starboard views showing Navigational lights. 
 

 

 

View of the lighted forward cabin through the forward hatch. 
 

 

 

View of the lighted birth and galley through the forward cabin door. 
 

 

Starting to take shape. Time for more sanding filling, sanding Primer and painting. 😎

 

Cheers 🍻

[popeye the sailor]

Billing Boats has Nav lights that have the red and green colored plastic pieces......you just slide them inside.  I use them,  but I've never lit them.  she coming along super.......the hull came out fantastic!   really like your work space.........I've got just the place for that 'wrap around' look {I just moved rooms with our bedroom}.....   there's a nice piece of counter top in the cellar......but I'm afraid that I'd give the landlord a coronary   

 

she's look'in great!   can't wait to see what goes along with that radiator   

[John Ruy]

2 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

there's a nice piece of counter top in the cellar......but I'm afraid that I'd give the landlord a coronary   

 

she's look'in great!   can't wait to see what goes along with that radiator   

Two of the Home Depot Pre-Assembled “Workbench”. Preserves the walls… 🤔 Added the Lazy Susan in the corner with a Magnifying Lamp that swings between work benches. 
 

Speed Shop is working on the engine for this “Retired” Working Lobster Boat. 
 

Later 🍻

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

I saw something similar at Harbor Freight......I put it on my Christmas list a couple of years ago.   what I found under the tree was a metal work station { I call it table black {Game of thrones pun}    it's a nice table........Immune to termites  ....but the light that comes with it isn't too good.  I ordered a crane light for it.  

[John Ruy]

Wood decks masked and first coat of paint to seal Bass Wood. 
 

 

First coat sanded. Tomorrow we rinse and repeat with Primer. 
 

Cheers 🍻 

[John Ruy]

Several sandings later…

 

Airbrushing is a new experience for me. First time for my new paint booth.
 

A bit of research 🧐 then jump in…

 

 

More sanding and more light coats. Amazing how paint brings out the voids in the wood. 😜 No worries there is always filler. Testors Dementional Craft Paste seem to do the trick. 
 

We shall see after a few more sandings and paint. 
 

Cheers 🍻 

[John Ruy]

Coming along…

 

 

More sanding, filling and light coats of paint. Back to the paint booth. 😷

[popeye the sailor]

airbrush is great..........it's a step up from the rattle cans    you have more control with the spray and can do the lighter coats.  I use an airbrush that doesn't cost a lot ..Testor's EZ airbrush.    your progress looks really good  

[John Ruy]

More progress…

 

 

 

Time to mark the water line and mask for painting the underside. 
 

 

Finally getting the flow and thinning down for airbrushing. Starting to feel good about using an airbrush. I see painting more hulls in the future. 
 

Cheers 🍻 

[popeye the sailor]

paint looks very good John 👍   you did a superb job of blending the chine joints.   glad to see your taking to the airbrush so quickly  

[John Ruy]

2 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

paint looks very good John 👍   you did a superb job of blending the chine joints.   glad to see your taking to the airbrush so quickly  

The airbrushing takes a lot of patience. Spray a light coat and walk away at least 10 minutes. Come back repeat all day long. Also having the acrylic thin enough to not plug the nozzle. 😩

 

It pays off, Brushing can not match the result. Just needed to start another project to fill the time between coats. I hate watching paint dry. 😂  

 

So I started my Laughing Whale Lobster Smack. 😎

[John Ruy]

Some touch up required, but all in all not bad. 😎

 

 

 

Ready to start accessories. Cheers 🍻