Stem decisions

With an NIS, there are many details that are left to the owner-builder to decide. It was one of Bruce Kirby’s principals with this range. He didn’t want to be too prescriptive. Sharpies can be seen as a tight fitting boat, and such a thing is best ‘custom fitted’.

This can be frustrating and induce procrastination, but if you tackle it with whatever confidence you can muster, you will be rewarded with something unique.

In this instance, the outer stem needed sorting. I set the stem face way back when I laminated up the inner-stem and rebated the sides into it (https://wordpress.com/post/paulsboat.wordpress.com/241), and it ended as a flat face.

I’ve lived with this flatness for many years and it has grown on me as a stoic workboat detail, but it has always needed an outer stem to cap it off and provide additional protection.

If you review any of the modern renderings, the sharpie stem appears to be quite flat, but in looking at what other builders have done, you will see a wide variation of bow shapes.

Troy of Adelaide Timber Boatworks gave me a nudge to make a decision on the outer stem profile. So on one quiet Sunday, I mocked up a profile that came from an idea that has been swimming around in my head from the beginning…the catboat heritage.

Sharpies seem to carry some catboat heritage. While they are long and thin and catboats short and broad, sharpies carry a mast in well forward in the bow, they are cat-ketches. Sharpies were workboats as were catboats, hauling nets over the side, running into shallows, dragging for oysters…

A catboat’s bow has always charmed me. They appear to sit plumb vertical, and almost rake aft. It’s a strong, purposeful look. So I mocked up a curve that fairly left the forefoot and pushed forward and headed vertical as it went up.

Trim the Catboat

Trim’s bow

Troy encouraged me on this path, and took my mockup and added further energy to the curve, and while it doesn’t rake aft, nor sit vertical, it feels like it may.

I love it.

The almost-finished profile.

Farewell Iain Oughtred

Whilst this blog is about Norwalk Islands Sharpies, you will see my love of Iain’s boats threaded throughout. There is no doubt that his designs are foundational to me. Not only did his Whilly Boat draw me into boat building, but every single one of his designs, at some time, has stopped my in my tracks and held me for a time. Iain’s work proves that plywood can be made to dance the most beautiful dances.

I would argue that both Iain and Bruce Kirby approached epoxy plywood boat construction from different but highly effective directions. It is fabulous what they have given us.

A lot has been written about Iain since his passing on February 21st 2024, and I am keen not to repeat others’ words, I’d encourage you to read further at these links:
https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/iain-oughtred/
https://www.pbo.co.uk/news/iain-oughtred-tribute-84692
https://www.watercraft-magazine.com/iain-oughtred/

I spent a few days around Iain at the 2011 Australian Wooden Boat Festival and found him to be a gentle soul who has but an inkling as to his effect on the world. He was very quiet and carried a wry smile. I had corresponded with him back in 1988 when modifying the sail plan to his Whilly Boat design, he was kind, but I expect I elicited an eye-roll that most designers should save for us ‘modifiers’.

In the Greek style, gods are human-like and raw, and accomplish heroic feats. Iain is one of my gods.

Steps, decks, doublers and more.

Building not writing.

It’s been a good holiday season for me and the boat, powered by a strongly recovering wrist, a desperation to make real progress, and the inspiring industriousness of Troy’s work.

Thankfully, I’ve been able to afford to have Troy and his assistant Luke working on the boat for longer periods. There is something about professionals, and their detachment from a project, that has a momentum I’ve never been able to hold when boatbuilding. It’s a freedom from all the stifling yet wonderful choices many of us have as owner-builders. The agony and the ecstasy.

The forward tabernacle step is painted and installed and fits the part like a glove. I had to purchase a cute little angle-o-meter to set the rake, and wow does this work well.

The mizzen tabernacle step had to be beefed up, I realised this when the main was complete, so I set about adding another layer of 16mm ply to the existing fixed ‘socket’. The mating fit of this to the horseshoe curve of the carbon tabernacle is important so the stress load is well shared. I used Botecote Epox-e-glue to perfect the fit as a moulding paste. I protected the carbon tabernacle with slippery packing tape so it wouldn’t stick in there. It worked a treat.

Next the plug, or key had to be made, this is a removable piece of ply that fits the inside of the carbon, and evenly clamps the tabernacle in place. Again the angle-o-meter was employed to ensure a rake of choice could be made. All this needs now is paint, and so it waits until the can is opened for a larger job.

Meanwhile….

Troy and Luke have powered through a final sheer fairing, which I joyfully weighed in on. There is nothing better than contemplating, discussing and tweaking the sheerline. They then set about joining and laying the side decks and cabin sides. Wow this has changed everything. It’s a BIG marker of progress. They did a great job.

I followed up with a bit of cleanup and epoxy coating of bits of the underside. Troy had pre-coated and pre-painted these, but there were parts needing finishing.

We both missed the critical stern quarter deck doublers (under deck cleat support), and these are complex little shapes, not a square edge in sight. So I set about fashioning these up out of laminated 9mm ply and set them in a mortar of e-glue, oozing everywhere. Access to these is through the wet lockers in the stern, the areas either side of the outboard well. With the central stern decking still off, it didn’t require too much contortion.

Once the deck doublers were cleaned up and sanded, the lockers begged for several coats of clear epoxy as they are likely to get banged about with fuel tanks other easily forgotten smell sources. This now all done, the next step is more paint, off-white Aquacote, brings in the light and is easy on the eye.

To truly test my resolve and stamina, I’ve been tackling sanding and epoxy coating the underside of the cabin top. Thankfully Troy had laminated this and popped it off, upside down on the ground. You may remember that I had the brilliant idea of longitudinal cove grooves to create a handsome effect…well each groove needs sanding and careful brushing, 3 coats of epoxy, 3+ coats of paint.

A true test of the fresh wrists, knees and back.

The steps.

In taking the baby steps I need to ease into my fresh wrists, I’ve tackled something small and hidden; the mizzen and main mast tabernacle steps.

For those of you unaware, I have planned for my NIS26 to have folding carbon fibre masts, to speed up launch and retrieval, and lessen the weight aloft. These masts pivot on a tabernacle.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines Tabernacle as :

“a place of worship for some groups of Christians. For the Jews in ancient times, a tabernacle was a type of tent moved from place to place and used for worship. in a Roman Catholic church, the box in which holy bread and wine are kept.“

It’s not one of those.

What Robert has developed is a lower mast partner of sorts that the bottom portion of the mast nestles into when it is raised. The partner supports the mast completely, and when needing to lower, it will allow the mast to pivot on a hinge. You can see an aluminium version pictured below, a snap I grabbed on a NIS day out recently.

And here is another aluminium one on “Golden Dream” under sail on the Derwent river, off Hobart:

“Traditional” boat folks all imagine masts needing rigging known as stays to support the mast. But a key to the Norwalk Islands Sharpies is their unstayed rig. The forces that bear on a mast are managed by the tapered mast shape, and its ability to flex. And the introduction of carbon fibre has changed this game entirely, as the mast weight is less than a quarter of an aluminium or timber equivalent.

All this is to say that the forces on a mast step for an unstayed rig, are very different. The force is lateral rather than the downward in a boat with stays, so the design of the step to mate with a carbon fibre tabernacle involves spreading the load, and providing support.

The carbon tabernacle sections are an open horseshoe shaped, so the receiver of the foot, and the deck through point, must fit that.

Another consideration is that it is all centred, vertical and slightly raked aft to the plans. Lots of mocking up, and double checking.

Pictured finished, is the mizzen, which steps onto the aft of the centreboard trunk, and the main is still a work in progress.

Progress by Troy.

It’s five months after surgery and the right wrist is beginning to be useful. It is a great feeling.

Thankfully I’ve had the funds and Troy has had the time to see some progress in my down time. He has completed the cabin top, it is fully laminated (one layer of 5mm with groves to simulate panelling, and two diagonal 4mm x 200mm strips. Now its all dry and trimmed, Troy has removed it off the boat to enhance access as we move into the next stages.

Next was nutting out the cabin sides and deck relationship, something that is not overly obvious. Do the sides sit on the deck, or does the deck push up to the sides? Turns out the CnC cut pieces fit best with they sit sitting on the deck. Not wholly traditional, but when ‘glassed up with fillets, it won’t matter.

Troy joined the cabin sides to make single pieces, and his join is exquisite. I had planned a simple butt join, but he has rebated and ‘glassed the joins into invisibility.

Talking Sharpies with Robert.

I’ve been wanting to capture my conversations with Robert Ayliffe and share them with the wider boating community. Being a fan of podcasts I considered this medium, but what I really wanted is for all to have the same opportunity to chat with Robert. We should all be at a boatshow all the time.

The back and forth is everything.

So, with the help of Peter Ironmonger who administers the perpetually useful FaceBook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/223381961340209), we’ve embarked on a series of YouTube presentations, where Robert will present and answer questions of those who join the Zoom call, or even those who propose the questions in writing.

Here is the first session, shared on Robert’s new YouTube channel. You should like and subscribe, and sign up for the next iteration, it will be announced on the FaceBook group.

Wrist and Roof and more.

My after my two times tangle with the surgeon last year, having my left (dominant) wrist fused to stabilise it and manage pain, he promised me my right will need some attention sometime. He was right. It may have deteriorated in sympathy, been a hereditary feature or from overuse as my left was recovering, but late last year it was rattling like a bag of dice.

Regardless, I wasted no time on this one as the success of the left’s procedure has inspired me to get the right sorted.

The other key driver was the sweet smell of a finished boat… Not to say I am close, but I feel I can reach for it. Especially with two strong, pain free wrists.

Not since I spread out the plans have I felt so close to having a boat.

Looking at the below photos, you may not feel as I do, but having the Troy factor on side changes the odds .

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Troy and I decided to embellish the coach roof headliner with longitudinal grooves. It’s a look I’ve always admired. I realise that we are imitating tongue-and-groove paneling and I don’t want a ‘twee’ look, but it creates a pleasant, embracing traditional feel.

Troy developed the technique, but apart from using actual timber strips, had no idea how to execute. He used a router on 5mm ply and it turned out a treat.

This first layer of 5mm will be added to with two layers of 4mm x 200mm diagonal ply strips laminated on top. The shell can then be popped off for finishing, and reattached when the decks and cabin sides are ready.

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I’ve been chewing over the door to the head. It began when Troy suggested the head was a bit large for the size of boat. That got me thinking as I’m very receptive to opinions from those I respect. Four counter arguments sit with me on this:

• I have two daughters and a wife, all fans of comfort.
• I am not getting younger and a comfortable loo is a thing.
• There is the potential to have a shower in the head.
• Bruce designed it that way.

Troy understood these points, but he is worried about movement around the galley. Specifically, the end of the centreboard case is a perfect perch for the chef. Also when nosing through the galley, your bum juts into the head area.

The solution I am working on is a bi-fold door that can leave most of that head area open, and in combination with a cased-in ‘porta potty’ should make the space more usable.

In the background you’ll see the designed, pre-cut bulkhead for the head. The foreground is my mockup.

Note how the proposed door’s top is low to fold against the lower, arched, outboard cabin top, and the centreboard case top ‘perch’ will be left clear.

It’s tight, but it seems to work. I’ll make a 3mm MDF mockup next.

What do I mean when I write “cased-in porta potty”? I am contemplating a box that contains the porta potty toilet that can be closed over it, keeping it out of sight, and possibly venting it to the outside. This will allow for the head door to remain mostly open without the loo featuring in the view and possibly allowing the scent to escape the ‘tent’. More on this as I think it through.

A big loss.

This site is here to tell the building of my NIS26. There are many elements that have come together to ensure this boat touches the water, but one of the foundational, Michael Jansen, passed away 21st February 2023.

Michael and I went to Kindergarten together and never lost site of our friendship.We both loved boats, both of our families had a similar journey. His uncle and father built a Hartley Cabin Cruiser together, they’ve owned and raced dinghies. Michael and I sailed together through out our teens. Michael helped my build my Whilly Boat, he crewed on Fresh Aires, we sailed Robert’s Charlie Fisher many times together.

Robert Ayliffe and Michael’s paths joined early on, but it was Michael’s engineering skill in CAD (computer aided design) that, along with Chris Dearden, brought the Sharpies onto the computer drawing board. Chris had drawn the boats for computer cutting of kits, and Michael continued Chris’ amazing work further developing and modifying the designs with Robert and Bruce Kirby.

Most recently he designed a change to the centreboard allowing for a narrower chord while improving the theoretical windward performance, and importantly allowing for a 17cm drop in the height of my centreboard case. This doesn’t sound much, but straddle the case and you’ll quickly find out what he has given me.

When I considered building this NIS26, Michael was the first person I phoned, his counsel was always sought, and he never failed to be a supportive voice of reason when I became carried away.

Speaking of which, it was brought to my attention that the head (toilet) on the NIS26 is quite large. Well who ever said that about a boat? What kind of person? Someone not so large? A masochist?

I messaged Michael this concern, “should I gain more living space at the expense of pooping space?”. Where will I be spending most of my time? He reminded how we used to rate toilets, and how I was no longer flexible, and I have two daughters and a fancy wife. And to leave good design well alone. A modern sage.

There is so much to say about this beautiful man, I expect I’ll be cursing his death at every turn, but mostly when it comes to launching the boat and heading off under sail.

Below these pictures, I have included the eulogy I gave for Michael at his funeral in Geelong, March 10, 2023

In 2020 Robert, Michael, Sam (Michael’s son) and I sailed Sioux up from the Fleurieu to Port Adelaide to get it surveyed

Michael Robert and I sailed and raced Charlie Fisher quite a few times

One of the few times Michael and Chris spent time together. Both worked on the CAD work for Robert brinnig the NIS into the digital era

A great sailor, I was so lucky to share so much adventure with him

When I launched the Whilly Boat Michael was there to share the joy

Michael and I modified my HG Kingswood to compete in the company car rally. Over several nights the Dartmouth Flyer was born

On Jonathan Harry’s Isis, Michael showed his yachting credentials

In 2020 we caught up in Melbourne , it was always a pleasure

Michael’s birthday gift to me back when I was 8.

When Michael’s mother passed away in 2010, Paul headed over to Geelong to build a boat with Michael

We would often do odd things, this time we struck camp outside Vintners Restrauant in the Barossa Valley. This allowed for drinknig and not driving

In the late 1980s I tackled and Oughtred Whilly Boat and Michael was often around to help.

We formed it up ready for gluing before Paul returned home. Michael proudly finished the canoe.

Working on the instructions of the Storer Eureka Canoe

Michael holding my first born, Elizabeth, in Ashford Hospital

Michael and Paul sharing a large brassier as a hat

Paul, his boyfriend Michael and NEW landrover (left the wife and kids).

Elizabeth, Sam and Josephine at Carol and Michaels in Geelong in 2009

Michael kitting up for waterskiing with Duncan Craig assisting at our end of year 12 party

Michael and I competing in the Milang to Goolwa in my Whilly Boat

Jansen and I at St Andrews Primary School together

Michael being pointed in his PAC colours watching Sweeney kitting up

The Gentleman Pirate.

Working inside and out

Troy and I have a bit of a routine going on where he and his crew will work on the bigger external items while I fiddle and fart over the internal details.

Troy’s first project, the motor well, is almost finished, it is just needing some filling and fairing before paint. The fuel lockers are mostly in place and the back deck when fitted will lock it all up. However the lack of a back deck is providing an excellent access route into the boat. This is a surprisingly important consideration as getting in and out of a boat on a trailer requires stair-master effort. And having an easily distracted disposition, I’m in and out like a fiddler’s elbow.

Troy is currently working on the cabin sides and top, yay! and it’s really stating to tie up the top of the boat. The tops of those bulkheads are unsupported and have been at risk the entire build. Amazingly I’ve only broken one in the ten years and that was when the boat was being turned over!

Deck carlins fitted and faired ready for the cabin sides and top

Meanwhile, I’ve been working on the quarter berths and settees. The process involves fitting the risers and tops, designing and cutting the hatches then painting out the insides. I’ve been spiling like a real boatbuilder as they all are complex fits.

Painting out the lockers

Quarter berth foot wells

I believe I have tried every spiling method; stick and board, 6mm MDF template fit by tracing, and lastly, hot glue gun and 3mm MDF strips. Every single method has produced mistakes no matter how careful I am. The fastest has been the MDF strips, but it also made the poorest fit. Perhaps the MDF is too floppy, perhaps it is just tricky.

Templating with 3mm MDF and a hot glue gun

I’ve been using a dumbbell set as clamps, plus the neat trick of reversing the Quickgrip clamp ends to make them push instead of pull.

Quickgrip and dumbell at work

Seat risers in!

One little piece of magic that happened occurred when working out the settees. The prime consideration is the distance from the hull outside to the front of the settee. It’s important because it juggles comfort for sitting and sleeping, foot well functionality and storage optimisation.

I began looking at the foot well, I wanted to be able to turn with a size 10 shoe (and not get jammed and bust a knee). I chose to make the risers dead vertical, and not tucked in at the bottom, to maximise storage and simplicity. This dictated the gap to the centreboard case. The next step was to see how comfortable the settees would be.

I mocked up a settee expecting the thigh support to be suitably deep, but the back to be weird. I say weird because the back of the settee is the hull side and at shoulder height the deck comes inboard, then the cabin sides rises from there. I fully expected to feel hunched sitting there.

Not only was the seat top, depth and height sweet, but Bruce Kirby’s settee back worked perfectly! The deck and cabin side all magically works as a back rest. God it felt good. I’ll post some pictures when I remember to take them!

Serious Solid Steps

Those of you with children older than 5, do you remember those first off-to-school days? Do you remember how you felt letting them go? They are still your children, but someone else is now messing with them.

Worry. This is my default position. I worried about both of my daughters and their disembarkation from the mother ship. They are now 18 and 19, and while that gangplank is verrrry long, that same worry is still there. Or at least has been replaced by some other tantalising concern .

This is how it has been over this year as my beloved Sharpie has been in the hands of Troy Lawrence of Adelaide Timber Boatworks.

Troy kindly stored my Sharpie until he and his crew could get clear of their work on the South Australian training vessel One and All. This meant I had storage for much of the first part of the year, and a promise of progress to come.

Troy and his team jumped into puzzling out the motor well. It is a puzzle because each motor has slightly different dimensions and the available space is limited. It must be neat, out of the way and function well.

Cutting that hole in your own hull is anxiety inducing. I am sure it has stolen good progress and sleep! But in the hands of another, and that other is a professional with a can-do attitude, it just happened.

It reminded me of a time building my Whilly Boat when I needed to cut the centreboard slot in the keelson. I must have stared at it for weeks. Then one day, another builder in the shared space who was sick of my faffing, grabbed a 12″ circular saw, mounted the up-turned hull and plunge-cut the slot in minutes. I was swept away with his daring-do.

I learned nothing, I still measure fifty three times before cutting.

So yet again, a hole is cut for me. And following on from this bravery, the motor mount is perfectly angled and epoxied in, the cheeks either side of the slot are heavily glassed, the fuel tank lockers are sized and set up and the cockpit sole is in…wow.

Troy is working to what I can afford, so the progress is not blitzkrieg, but is solid progress. I go down most Fridays and the odd Saturday to potter on the internals, making my own kind of headway, more like Slocum trying to get through the Strait of Magellan.

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Update: I should have mentioned my wrist situation (as a bit of an excuse): things are improving, the stamina is limited, but recovery pain from use is mostly fading overnight without the need for painkillers. 🙂