Skin on Frame rowing boat

[Alan]

All work on the skin-on-teak boat has stopped due to a work commitment but here is another picture from when it was outside:

[Alan]

Finally back on the skin on frame boat. Varnished, epoxied, assembled. Transom knees and breasthook made. And, after advice from the woodenboat forum people, steamed ash frames! This was very exciting; totally new for me and worked well.

[Alan]

Just a short post as long ones seem to disappear. This is where I am now with skin on teak. Interior parts made but still making millions of small parts.

[Alan]

About 90% there now and all covered up for the winter. This boat will have rectangular thole pins (I am calling them thole plates) for rowing, and side stick steering for when electric outboard is used; I still have to work that out.

[Port-Na-Storm]

Hi Alan,
She looks fabulous, well done.

Graham.

[Alan]

The boat was launched at Beale and was found to be a pleasure to row with thole pins working ok. Then taken on a holiday where it was played with using oars and electric outboard; I am very pleased. Picture shows the boat admiring a desirable creek-side property in Cornwall.

[Paul H (admin)]

That's an idyllic photo Alan and you can't beat a curved transom to add something special.

The very desirable property seems to have a canoe and boat house on the starboard side. I'm getting jealous!

Paul

[Alan]

That house is for sale, asking about £775K I think. Lawn to the river - build your own jetty!, back garden to NT property and an outbuilding for tinkering. In the garden was an old sailboat upside down awaiting restoration; interesting clinker design with a "built down" hollow keel. I wish I'd taken a picture of the boat.

[Tink]

Just joined
Love your boat, a really nice job.

I can’t find in the thread what you used to skin in with and where you got it. Did you have any issues skinning? And how has it stood up to a seasons use.

Thanks

[Alan]

Thanks Tink! I can't remember where I got the fabric from but I would have been looking at online suppliers including Pointnorth, I think they have a different name now. The inner layer is "cordura type" nylon with a thin backing of PVC outside and a hydrophobic coating inside the boat. The outer layer is bedsheet type polyester from an East End supplier. The boat has only been on the water for a week and during that time I must have parked on a sharp rock because when I got home there was a tear in the outer fabric which didn't go through the inner fabric. I repaired with epoxy and patches of polyester.

I couldn't really advise on a fabric except that nylon is more stretchy and therefore resistant to tearing, but does not adhere well to paint or epoxy I believe. I stapled the fabric in place but most skin-on-framers seem to sew on. You could search here for Jeremy Harris's "skin-on-tin" boat. There is an article about my boat in Watercraft 127 Jan/Feb 2018.

[Alan]

Here is an official update on Isolde (which still doesn't have the name on it). Short video of the boat on Hickling broad, helmed by Ian who rowed out to me and said "can I have a word?" An hour and a half later, after a coffee on his cruiser and a good look at his own electric International 14 I left!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFnFCrLtU2w

p.s. Thole pins now replaced with rowlocks; more practical.