Sixareen Building Project - Gallery 3

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In these pictures the fitting of the 3rd board (Ist Swill) is completed, and work continues to fit the 4th board (the 2nd Swill), and the 5th board (the 1st Laand)

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Pictures from 22nd February

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Fresh from the steam box, this board steams up Jack's glasses.

Forward section of the 1st Swill in place on the starboard side.

More steam as the port side board is fitted.

Both forward sections will be left clamped in place over the weekend.

1st Swill completed at the stern.

Some of the planes used in shaping the board edges.

Pictures from 25th February

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The two scarf joints on each 1st Swill board are traditionally angled. Seen from the starboard side, the aft scarfs are angled aft.

The forward scarfs are angled forward.

The final section of the 1st Swill board is fitted.

Inserting a wooden 'clam' holds the after end.

Boring the pilot holes for the nails. Scarf joint is held temporarily with a clamp.

Both sides fitted and nailed.

Pictures from 26th February

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First section of the port side 2nd Swill board is tried in place.

The overlap on the boards is 1 1/4" (32mm). The next section will reach the pencil mark on the frame above, giving a board width of approx 8" (20cm).

Aft section of the starboard side 2nd Swill being tried in place.

Once fitted, clams hold it in place prior to nailing.

View from under the stern.

Marking the template for the forward section of the port side 2nd Swill.

Pictures from 27th February

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Trial fit of forward section of 2nd Swill. Pencil mark on the board edge indicates the amount to be planed off for the bevel which extends 1 1/4" on the face of the board.

Both forward sections of the 2nd Swill being shaped on the bench. On the left, Robbie's board is ready for fitting, while Jack's board has just been cut to shape.

Starboard side board fitted and ready for nailing.

Fresh from the steam box, the port side board is tried in place.

Checking the curvature against a straight edge.

Both sides prove to have the same curvature.

Pictures from 28th February

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Last section of the 2nd Swill in place, nailed but not riveted.

Inside, looking forward to the bow. Now with four boards on each side.

The curve at the stern.

Cutting oak for more clams on the bandsaw.

The same clam parts after planing.

A clam in use, holding the board in its tips and held in place by a simple wedge.

Pictures from 29th February

Work is now under way on the 5th board, which is the 1st Laand.
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Aft section of 1st Laand being fitted.

Clamped round the stern post.

Robbie's new clams get their first use.

Marking the nail spacing.

Boring the pilot holes for the 2" (50mm) copper nails.

Aft, the build has now grown to five boards on each side.

Pictures from 3rd March

Details of the equipment used to steam the boards ready for fitting.
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Steam box, 12 feet long and made of reject larch.

Steam generator, an insulated copper cylinder with an electric element boiling off the water at atmospheric pressure.

Checking the steam output from the 1" bore plastic hose from the generator. From a cold start, one hour is needed to produce sufficient heat and steam for the box to be useable.